【道心惟微】事事差不多，人生差很多

我爷爷出生于19世纪末，活到一百岁去世。在百年的日常生活中，他始终守持着中华民族的一些优良传统。

My grandpa was born in the late 19th century and he passed away a centenarian. Traces of some of the good old Chinese traditions were upheld by him in his day-to-day activities of up to a hundred years. 

我们小时候在爷爷面前吃饭，规矩都是很重的：碗筷之间不能碰出声音；吃面条、喝稀饭不能有吸溜声；夹菜时，筷子不能伸出很远，就夹你面前的菜，还不能夹太多，更不能在里面挑三拣四。

Rules were of paramount importance during our younger days when we dined together with my grandpa: no sound was to be made when the chopsticks touched the bowl; slurping sounds were not tolerated when eating noodles and sipping porridge; one was not supposed to stretch too far with the chopsticks when picking food, and even so, you were not supposed to help yourself to too much of the food that was right in front of you, not to mention being picky. 

实际上，老祖宗的这些规矩，我爷爷对我们实施的这些训练，其中一个很重要的目的就是培养我们后辈子孙做事的细心、细致、谨慎、专注。

In fact, my grandpa’s drilling of such rules laid down by the ancestors carries the pivotal purpose of cultivating us, the descendants, to be mindful, meticulous, cautious & focused. 

“人心惟危，道心惟微，惟一惟精，允执厥中”，这是中国文化里非常著名的“十六字心传”。在欲望驱使下，人心是很危险的，因此人生在世，要有向道之心。而道又是微妙不可思议的，需要很宁静很细心地去感受和体会。所以学道、行道，心性要专一，行为要精到，知道自己应该站在怎样的立场上，秉持怎样的原则。

“The human heart is but crafty, the heart of the Way is but faint & esoteric, only the focused & diligent can govern the country”-- this is the renowned “sixteen words commentary on the heart” of the Chinese culture. Propelled by desires, the human heart can be dangerous. Thus, one has to keep one’s heart on the Way during one’s lifetime. And this Way, is wondrous and beyond imagination. It needs to be explored in an extremely peaceful and meticulous manner. So, one needs to be focused when learning & practicing the Way, one has to behave & act in an appropriate manner, upholding the appropriate principles. 

好比一辆车驶进车流，原本是很危险的，但只要司机能很细致地处理好每一个细节，就能有效地远离危险。所以“允执厥中”，就是既要能掌握尺度，保持灵敏性，同时不放松、不放逸。就像我爷爷教的，碗怎么捧，筷子怎么拿，恰如其分，这其实就是中道。

It is like a car cutting into traffic, which is dangerous. But as long as the driver handles every detail meticulously, such danger is effectively kept at bay. Hence, “keeping to the centre” is to be in control of the scale, to maintain the agility and at the same time, not relaxing and not letting oneself loose. Just like my grandpa’s judicious teachings on the way to hold the bowl and the chopsticks – which is in fact, the middle Way. 

古时候，人们在确定每年立春的时辰时，会到郊外挖一个深坑，请有道者往里面放一片羽毛。等到某一时刻，地底阳气博动，羽毛从坑中飘出，这便是立春的时辰。从书中的这些记载我们也可以知道，体会天地之道，人真的要很细心，粗心大意，你的敏感度可能还比不过动物，诗里就说，“春江水暖鸭先知”。

Back in those ancient days, people would dig a deep hole in the outskirts every year, and upon confirmation of the timing to the beginning of spring, they would engage the one who practiced the Way to place a piece of feather inside. At a certain point in time, when the Yang-qi beneath the ground pulsated, the feather would float over the hole and this was the indication of spring time. We can know from the book recordings that it takes a meticulous being to experience the Way of the heaven & earth. The sensitivity of a careless being is probably lower than that of animals, just as the poetry goes “The ducklings know first of the warmth of the spring waters”. 

我们在法堂里看的片子，每一部里面的镜头都很多，剪辑的时候每一个镜头都要推敲，多一点不行，少一点也不行。一帧一帧地剪，一帧一帧地挑，仔细地处理，专注地把握，最终才有一个满意的成品出来。

When we watch films in the dharma hall, there are many scenarios in every film and the editing of every scene has to be carefully deliberated upon, not too much, not too little. Each and every of the scenes that are selected and cut have been meticulously handled, staying on top of things single-mindedly, producing a satisfactory piece eventually.

我们修行更是这样，经典里说“菩萨畏因”，就是菩萨特别重缘起，对因把握得非常细致。而“众生畏果”，苦现前了才知道害怕。

It is likewise for our practice. As mentioned in the sutras, “Bodhisattvas are mindful of the cause”, which means that Bodhisattvas are extremely particular about the genesis to everything, and handles the cause meticulously. Yet, “Sentient beings are mindful of effects”, being fearful only in the face of sufferings. 

举个例子，像我们供水时，就是有讲究的，水盏之间的间隔要保持在一到两毫米，倒水的时候不能太浅也不能溢出。为什么要这么做？能做到这样代表你心很细，很专一，细心专一你的心就很清净，而以清净心面对佛陀时，就会产生很大的功德。

For instance, we are very particular when it comes to water offerings. The gap between every cup of water has to be maintained at about 1mm to 2mm away from each other. When pouring, the water should neither be too shallow nor spill over the rim. Why? Being able to do so means that you have a meticulous heart and are focused. Being meticulous and staying focused brings about a peaceful heart, and when you face the Buddha with a peaceful heart, great merits will be produced. 

反过来说，杯子乱摆，水随意倒，这是不是怠慢佛？就像你家里来了客人，杯子要轻轻放，倒水要不多不少刚刚好，连手势都要做到位，这代表你有待客之道。

Conversely, should the cups be arranged in a disorderly manner, water poured as per one’s wishes, isn’t this a case of slighting the Buddha? It’s the same when you have guests over at your place, the cups have to be gently placed, the amount of water poured has to be just right and even the gestures have to be appropriate. These make you a good host.

修行就要细心、恭谨，在这个过程中，以三宝为对境，降伏自己的身口意，在体悟佛的智慧的同时增长自我的智慧。但这种消化和成长又是很微细的，它是一个潜移默化的过程，好比春雨之于草木，是“润物细无声”的。

Practicing requires one to be meticulous & respectful. During this journey, one should hold the Triple Gem as the prime focus, subduing one’s body, mouth & mind, growing our wisdom as we experienced the wisdom of the Buddha. Yet, such assimilation and progression are extremely minute, it happens imperceptibly, like the spring rain that nourishes the grasses and trees, it “nourishes delicately in silence”. 

像我师父悟公上人，身材那么魁梧，头也大，耳朵也大，但我师父做事却非常细致。这一点从我师父的外貌上就能看出，你看他的眼神，清澈安定，他的鼻子又特别秀挺，说明他老人家如如不动中的周致细腻。那时候在普陀山，别人都怕他，这种怕不是说他怎么去对付别人，而是他一身的正气和光明的见地，是他的戒定慧的功德力的彰显。我们有一句话叫“望之俨然，即之也温”，看上去威严肃穆，接触时方觉柔和慈悲。这就是化物之功，润物细无声。

Like my master, Grand Master Ven. Wu-gong, who is so well-built with a big head and huge ears, yet, my master is extremely meticulous in handling things. One can tell by just looking at my master. You will see that his eyes are clear and calming, his nose is especially high-bridged, which signifies his unwavering all-encompassing attentiveness & delicateness. Everyone feared him back then, at Mount Pu-tuo. Such fear was not the fear of him dealing with others but rather, the aura of righteousness and light of view, a manifestation of the strength of the merits of his precepts, samadhi & wisdom. We have this saying: “The look of solemnity is but warmth”, while he appears majestic & solemn, one feels his gentleness and compassion as one comes into contact with him. This is the art of transforming beings, nourishing delicately in silence.

修行就是这样，要很细致，修到后来你自然就会具备一种超然物外的品行，心胸越来越博大，灵性价值越来越丰富。这其实就是福慧，福报和智慧，智慧是一种空性的光，福报是一种快乐的受用。这种福慧之力在自利的同时又可以利人。

This is what it takes to practice, one has to be very meticulous. As you progress, you will eventually possess a demeanour that surpasses material things, the capacity of the heart grows broader, and one’s spirituality gets richer. This is in fact blessings & wisdom; wisdom is the light of true emptiness; blessing is the joy of benefitting from such usage. Such strength from the blessing & wisdom benefits oneself & others concurrently.

所以，学习佛法真的要真实，不能自欺欺人，不能轻易随便，知道什么是对的，那就跟住，融进入，细心地体验，细心地回光返照，慢慢地，你就会转凡成圣。

Thus, one has to be truthful when practicing the dharma, not deceiving oneself or others, not giving in to one’s wishes easily and to know what is right. One will then be abiding in, blending in, experiencing and reflecting meticulously. You will then transform from a mortal to a saint in time to come.

这个过程中没有“差不多”，一旦认为差不多，就会差很多。

The “lack of finishing touch” does not exist in such a journey, the moment one thinks that it is almost completed and makes no difference, it will then make all the difference in life. 

——摘自传喜法师开示

- Extracted from the preaching of Master Chuanxi

学习佛教英文词语：

欲望 –desires

道 – the Way

中道 – Middle Way

细致 – meticulous

菩萨畏因 – Bodhisattvas are mindful of the Cause

众生畏果 – sentient beings are mindful of effects

缘起 – genesis

功德 –merits

威严肃穆 – majestic & solemn

灵性 – spirituality

智慧 – wisdom

福报 – blessings