11月21日

佛寺楹聯( 之八 )
一心常忍辱，

萬事且隨緣。
煩惱使剛強得伏，
菩提以柔軟而成。

人身難得而易失，
良時易往而難追。

養成大拙方見巧，
學到如愚始見奇。

合抱之樹發於毫芒，
千里之行始於初步。

心隨境轉即是眾生，
心能轉物即是諸佛。

壽無量，法無邊，無是無非無煩惱；
人有緣，度有難，有因有果有菩提。

從十二因緣，看人間種種情形，眼界應當寬也；
以三時果報，想世上般般遭遇，心中可否了然。

看天下窮途之輩，幾個曾經惜福？
但報應來時，方知有苦；
問世間得志諸君，誰人願意修行？
待光陰去矣，徒嘆無常。

──選自《寺院楹聯集錦》

November 21

Temple Couplets
English translation: Miao Guang and You Zai

Remain wholeheartedly in patience,
Follow the conditions for everything.

Afflictions enable rigidity to be subdued,
Bodhi is accomplished with gentleness.

A human life is difficult to obtain; thus, it is also easy to lose.
Time passes easily; thus, it is also difficult to chase.

To train oneself to appear foolish,
    one's cleverness will appear.
To study until one appears dull,
    one's distinctive quality begins to appear.

The girth of a tree grows from a tiny seed;
A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet.

Sentient beings allow their minds
    to be led by the circumstances.
The buddhas use their minds
    to transform the circumstances.

Immeasurable life, limitless dharmas;
    no right or wrong, no afflictions.
People have affinities, liberation has difficulty;
    with causes and conditions, there is Bodhi.

From the twelve links of dependent origination,
    observe all the conditions of the human world,
    to broaden one's perspective.
In accord with the karmic retribution of the three periods,
    think of all the encounters that we come upon,
    is it possible to clearly understand our mind?

Take a look at all those who had dug their own graves.
    How many actually cherished what they had?
Only when karmic retribution falls upon them
    do they finally realize the true meaning of pain.
Ask all those who are successful in their own reign
    for their willingness to spiritually cultivate;
When time has gone away, there is nothing left
    but to sigh upon the everchanging matters of this world.

── from Siyuan Yinglian Jijin (Collection of Temple Couplets)