Recently, a friend told me that when the first time she read one of my articles, she was so angry with me that she almost picked up the phone and yell at me. She thought I was heartless to be able to write articles that are so full of idealism, rationality and totally void of any emotions and very cruel. The only reason that she did not do so was because she was so tired from a day of work, that she decided to take a shower first. While in the shower, she wondered why she was so emotional about an article. She thought about why she was so angry and was able to realize that it was due to some past emotional trauma. My article simply touched a nerve. After she was able to resolve her emotion, she was able to read the same article without any emotional outburst.
最近，一個朋友告訴我，她第一次讀我的文章後，非常的生氣，幾乎想打電話罵我。 因為她覺得我的文章充滿理想和理性，但很無情殘酷。她並沒有馬上這樣做，因為當時她超累，決定先洗澡再說。 洗澡時，她很納悶為什麼會對一篇文章有如此大的情緒起伏。 想一想之後，明白是由於過去的一些情感傷害。 我的文章只是觸動了隱藏很深的舊傷，於是，在洗澡的過程，她處理掉這些舊傷，出來之後，再讀同一篇文章，就沒有類似的情緒爆發了。
This conversation made me think about Śūnyatā and detachment, and I thought of another way to think about the traditional interpretation of these two words.
這段故事讓我想到「空」和「放下」，讓我想用另一種角度來說明這兩個詞的傳統解釋。
Traditionally, Śūnyatā is interpreted as "emptiness." I mentioned that on some level, this is not totally incorrect. It is the attitude that one takes after realizing everything is "emptiness" [Note] that matters. Using this story as an example, my article is about as "empty" as "empty" can be. It is nothing more than words. Most people, when they disagree with an article, would simply disagree and move on. But, to be angry because of an article, and to point the anger at the person who wrote the article, it means there is something going on. Is there a need to be angry at "emptiness"? Of course not. The fact that not everyone become angry at the article, means that article itself is not the cause of anger. It is something else, and that is the reader.
Śūnyatā 這個概念被翻譯成「空」，不是完全不正確，問題是大家對待「空」的態度。 用上面這個故事作為一個例子，我的文章是「空」沒錯！ 只是字而已。 大多數人，如果不同意文章的內容，只會不同意，然後跳過。 會對文章生氣、而且對作者生氣，不應該是文章的問題吧！ 有必要對「空」生氣嗎？ 不是每個人都會對文章生氣，所以文章本身不是憤怒的原因，真正的原因是讀者自己。
Śūnyatā as "emptiness" is simply to force a practitioners to ask themselves why they have emotional fluctuations regarding "emptiness." It is not asking you to suppress emotions. It is not asking you to not have emotions. It is not telling you to believe that nothing exists. Everything exists, it just doesn't want you to use everything as the reason for your emotions. "Emptiness" cannot be an excuse. "Emptiness" wants you to know that all emotions emanate from you. It simply tells you to think about the reason that you reacted to "emptiness," and to deal with the reason.
Śūnyatā 被翻譯成「空」 是想要修行者問自己：為什麼要對「空」有情緒的起伏？ 「空」不是要您去抑制情緒、不要求您不要有情緒、不是告訴您一切都是虛空妄想。 一切都存在，它只是不希望您用一切做為情緒的原因。 「空」不能做為藉口，「空」想讓您知道：所有的情緒是從自己發出。 「空」是要簡單的告訴您：去思考您對「空」所有反應的原因，以及去處理這些原因。
How do you deal with the reason of your reactions? By letting it go. Letting what go? Letting the emotional baggage that you have been carrying. The way you do this is to face the experiences and emotions once again, and resolve them in your mind. The contents of emotional baggage cannot be avoided, and you cannot simply take them out and put them on the ground and walk away. You have to take them out, one at a time, look into them and to resolve them. Only then, will these past experiences vanish into think air. Only then, will you be able to improve and keep moving forward.
您要如何處理這些原因呢？ 放下。 放下什麼呢？ 放下情緒的包袱。 您需要面對跟處理這些舊傷和情緒，情緒包袱的內容是無法避免的，您不能簡單的只是把它們放在地上，然後離開。 您需要一個一個的把它們拿出來解決。 惟有這樣，這些過去的經驗才會從情緒包袱消失。 只有那時，您才能有所改變，繼續向前走。
This is what my friend did to resolve her old trauma, and she thinks she's happier for it. Right now, she said that when she felt unjustly hurt, she would read some articles to settle down. But I would like to challenge her to think about why she needs "emptiness" to calm her emotions.
我的朋友就這樣解決了一個舊傷，她覺得現在好多了。 她說，現在，若覺得受到一些不公平的傷害，她會上網讀一些文章來安慰自己。 但我想挑戰她去想一想：為什麼需要「空」來安慰？
As an epilogue, she said that my articles have improved a lot. They are no longer heartless and rational. But I wonder, is it because I changed, or is it because she changed?
後記：她說，現在，我的文章不再是無情和理性。但這是因為我改變了，還是她改變了？
This last sentence brings to mind a famous koan regarding sixth patriarch of Chinese Zen Buddhism Huineng.
這最後一句，讓我想起六祖慧能一個著名的公案。
In the koan , there was a flag moving in the wind. One monk said "Wind moved." Another one said "Flag moved." Huineng said "Not wind, not flag, your mind moved."
But I think "Everything changed."
公案寫，「時有風吹幡動，一僧曰『風動』，一僧曰『幡動』，議論不已。 慧能進曰：『不是風動，不是幡動，仁者心動。』」
但我認為「一切都變了。」
[Note] I am using emptiness here because I am talking about Śūnyatā as emptiness in this discussion.
2012年1月12日 星期四
2011年10月28日 星期五
放下 3 Detachment or Letting Go 3
So to me, this is what it all means. To empirically understand anattā means to have the ability to control the intensity and duration of emotions.
所以對我來說，體會「無我」能啟發控制情緒的能力。
But the ability to control emotions is merely a mechanical tools. What is important is to also to have the wisdom to know the appropriate intensity and duration for a given situation.
但控制情緒的能力只是一個工具。
最重要的是也要有智慧，才能知道在某一個情況下，
什麼是適當的情緒、適當的強度和情緒要維持多久。
If someone is bullying you, and you can raise your anger or meanness to a level surpass that of the attacker, would you not be able to scare the attacker away?
如果有人在欺負您，可以增強您的憤怒、兇惡來超越攻擊者，
難道他不會被嚇跑嗎？
If a con-man is trying to elicit your greed, and you can shorten your greedy instinct to nano-seconds, would you fall for this person con?
如果騙子想要引起您的貪婪，
但您能縮短貪性在剎那（那一秒）裡，
您還會落入這個人的騙局？
If you see a pleasing appearance, would your lust hang around long enough and strong enough for you to get into trouble?
如果您看到一個賞心悅目的外觀，
慾望會在您的心裡強到、久到而產生麻煩嗎？
Would you ever need to let your level of compassion because you are losing motivation or are burning out?
您會讓慈悲心消弱，因為您失去動力嗎？
If you have the ability to control your emotions, and the wisdom to apply them, can you imagine what type of person you will be? You will know when to raise your emotions and when to extinguish them. You will know when to laugh and when to cry; when to be angry and when to be compassion.
You past emotions will no longer be a baggage that you have to carry around, because you have already seen the inside and throw away anything you no longer need.
如果您有能力去控制自己的情緒，也有智慧知道如何應用，
您能想像您會是什麼樣的人嗎？
您會知道什麼時候需要提高情緒，及何時會消滅。
您會知道什麼時候要笑，要哭， 要生氣，要同情。
您過去所有的情緒不再是一個包袱，
因為您已經知道裡面有什麼東西，也已扔掉不再需要的東西了。
Would you not have control of your own life?
您不會有能力控制自己的生活嗎？
This is the ultimate implication of anattā;
to live a fuller life than anyone else.
Laugh when you want to. Cry when you want to,
and be angry when you want to as well.
You won't create "The Dark Side" because of runaway emotions.
And once the emotion pass, it goes away forever.
You no longer need to live with the emotion of the past,
you can live in here and now.
這是「無我」的終極影響：活個最充實的生活。
要笑就笑，要哭就哭，要生氣就生氣。
不會因為情緒，而產生黑暗面。
情緒過了，就沒有了。
不再活在過去情緒裡，只活在當下。
How do you start? As we keep repeating, you start by understanding yourself.
該如何開始呢？正如我們不斷重複的，從了解自己開始。
上一篇 Previous Part
所以對我來說，體會「無我」能啟發控制情緒的能力。
But the ability to control emotions is merely a mechanical tools. What is important is to also to have the wisdom to know the appropriate intensity and duration for a given situation.
但控制情緒的能力只是一個工具。
最重要的是也要有智慧，才能知道在某一個情況下，
什麼是適當的情緒、適當的強度和情緒要維持多久。
If someone is bullying you, and you can raise your anger or meanness to a level surpass that of the attacker, would you not be able to scare the attacker away?
如果有人在欺負您，可以增強您的憤怒、兇惡來超越攻擊者，
難道他不會被嚇跑嗎？
If a con-man is trying to elicit your greed, and you can shorten your greedy instinct to nano-seconds, would you fall for this person con?
如果騙子想要引起您的貪婪，
但您能縮短貪性在剎那（那一秒）裡，
您還會落入這個人的騙局？
If you see a pleasing appearance, would your lust hang around long enough and strong enough for you to get into trouble?
如果您看到一個賞心悅目的外觀，
慾望會在您的心裡強到、久到而產生麻煩嗎？
Would you ever need to let your level of compassion because you are losing motivation or are burning out?
您會讓慈悲心消弱，因為您失去動力嗎？
If you have the ability to control your emotions, and the wisdom to apply them, can you imagine what type of person you will be? You will know when to raise your emotions and when to extinguish them. You will know when to laugh and when to cry; when to be angry and when to be compassion.
You past emotions will no longer be a baggage that you have to carry around, because you have already seen the inside and throw away anything you no longer need.
如果您有能力去控制自己的情緒，也有智慧知道如何應用，
您能想像您會是什麼樣的人嗎？
您會知道什麼時候需要提高情緒，及何時會消滅。
您會知道什麼時候要笑，要哭， 要生氣，要同情。
您過去所有的情緒不再是一個包袱，
因為您已經知道裡面有什麼東西，也已扔掉不再需要的東西了。
Would you not have control of your own life?
您不會有能力控制自己的生活嗎？
This is the ultimate implication of anattā;
to live a fuller life than anyone else.
Laugh when you want to. Cry when you want to,
and be angry when you want to as well.
You won't create "The Dark Side" because of runaway emotions.
And once the emotion pass, it goes away forever.
You no longer need to live with the emotion of the past,
you can live in here and now.
這是「無我」的終極影響：活個最充實的生活。
要笑就笑，要哭就哭，要生氣就生氣。
不會因為情緒，而產生黑暗面。
情緒過了，就沒有了。
不再活在過去情緒裡，只活在當下。
How do you start? As we keep repeating, you start by understanding yourself.
該如何開始呢？正如我們不斷重複的，從了解自己開始。
上一篇 Previous Part
2011年10月27日 星期四
放下 2 Detachment or Letting Go 2
In the previous article, I presented our logic regarding Śūnyatā which is that Śūnyatā implies impermanence. Impermanence implies mutability . Mutability implies that we have a mean to control the change. I will now discuss this in more detail, using "Anger" as an example.
在前篇文章，我介紹我們對「空」的想法，
那就是「空」意味著「無我」跟「無常」。
「無我」跟「無常」代表易變性，
易變性表示我們有控制變化的空間。
現在，我將更詳細的討論這一點，以「瞋」為例子吧！
Figure 1 shows the progression of anger in a person. X-axis is the progression of time from left to right. Y-axis is the level of anger; higher the Y, more angry a person is. The curve that I have drawn is just an example of what I think a typical anger changes over time. Note that the anger level shown here is not what people can observe externally, but what a person really felt inside of himself. Because people can be good at acting, they can be smiling at you while be really angry at you all at the same time.
圖1顯示了一個人憤怒的進展。 X軸代表時間由左到右的進展。 Y 軸是憤怒的強度，越高代表越生氣。
我畫的曲線是一個普通人生氣的變化，從時間＝０開始。
請注意，這裡畫的憤怒強度不是外表所觀察的，
而是個人內心所感覺的。
因為有些人是可以同時對您生氣也跟您微笑。
At time = 0, a person start to feel angry. The anger proceeds quickly to its peak at point A, then it slowly fall backs down. Note that I didn't not drawn the anger back to zero, or no anger because most of the time, the anger still reside within us and we can never completely destroy it. This anger will sit in our subconscious, until next time we are angry. Then, it will surface, making us even more angry and say things like "You did this last time too!"
在時間＝０，一個人開始生氣了。
這個生氣的強度越來越高，達到它的最高點在Ａ，
之後，氣就慢慢消失。但我沒有畫氣消到０。
因為有時，這個氣會一直留在我們心裡，下一次有機會的話，
它就會再次出現，我們就會說類似「上一次，你也是一樣」的話。
Figure 2 is another profile of anger. However, this one is totally different. The anger level quickly elevates and falls back to zero just as quickly. This means that this person, while feels anger, is able to quickly dissipate it and remove the anger from him permanently.
圖2是截然不同的憤怒進展圖。
生氣的強度迅速升高，也一樣快速的降回到零。
意味著：這個人雖然會生氣，但他能夠迅速，
也永久刪除這個氣，且徹底的從內心消除。
On the graph, I showed that the anger starts at time = 0, and the anger ends time = T. If T is less than a microsecond, and you are looking at this person, would you even be able to notice this person's anger?
在這個圖裡，我畫這個人的憤怒從時間 = 0開始，
在時間= T而滅掉。
如果0到T是不到一微秒的時間，
您會注意到這個人的憤怒嗎？
We can replace anger with any other emotions on these graphs, and they will all mean the same thing. The first graph shows how our emotions, as human beings, evolve within us. That we cannot control the duration and intensity of these emotions, we can only ride with it. The second graph shows how a person who empirically understand anattā can handle their emotions.
簡而言之，我們可以用其他的情緒來取代「瞋」。
第一張圖代表我們無法控制情緒的強度和時間的長度。
第二張圖顯示一個體會「無我」的人是如何處理自己的情緒。
If you can do this with all emotions all within a microseconds, would an observer think you have fully detached from your emotions? Of course! But what they don't know is that you have decided that the emotion is not worth exhibiting for all to see, and that's the topic of the next article.
如果您能在一微秒內起滅所有的情緒，
大家能觀察到您的情緒嗎？
當然不能！他們會以為您已經「放下一切」。
但他們不知道您在那短暫的時間，
已經決定這個情緒是不必要被人家看到的，
這將是下一篇文章中的主題。
上一篇 Previous Part Next Part 下一篇
在前篇文章，我介紹我們對「空」的想法，
那就是「空」意味著「無我」跟「無常」。
「無我」跟「無常」代表易變性，
易變性表示我們有控制變化的空間。
現在，我將更詳細的討論這一點，以「瞋」為例子吧！
 |
| Fig. 1 A person's emotional progression, 圖 1 一個人情緒的發展 |
Figure 1 shows the progression of anger in a person. X-axis is the progression of time from left to right. Y-axis is the level of anger; higher the Y, more angry a person is. The curve that I have drawn is just an example of what I think a typical anger changes over time. Note that the anger level shown here is not what people can observe externally, but what a person really felt inside of himself. Because people can be good at acting, they can be smiling at you while be really angry at you all at the same time.
圖1顯示了一個人憤怒的進展。 X軸代表時間由左到右的進展。 Y 軸是憤怒的強度，越高代表越生氣。
我畫的曲線是一個普通人生氣的變化，從時間＝０開始。
請注意，這裡畫的憤怒強度不是外表所觀察的，
而是個人內心所感覺的。
因為有些人是可以同時對您生氣也跟您微笑。
At time = 0, a person start to feel angry. The anger proceeds quickly to its peak at point A, then it slowly fall backs down. Note that I didn't not drawn the anger back to zero, or no anger because most of the time, the anger still reside within us and we can never completely destroy it. This anger will sit in our subconscious, until next time we are angry. Then, it will surface, making us even more angry and say things like "You did this last time too!"
在時間＝０，一個人開始生氣了。
這個生氣的強度越來越高，達到它的最高點在Ａ，
之後，氣就慢慢消失。但我沒有畫氣消到０。
因為有時，這個氣會一直留在我們心裡，下一次有機會的話，
它就會再次出現，我們就會說類似「上一次，你也是一樣」的話。
 |
| Fig. 2 Emotional progression of a person empirically understood anattā , 圖２ 一個體會無我的人情緒的發展 |
Figure 2 is another profile of anger. However, this one is totally different. The anger level quickly elevates and falls back to zero just as quickly. This means that this person, while feels anger, is able to quickly dissipate it and remove the anger from him permanently.
圖2是截然不同的憤怒進展圖。
生氣的強度迅速升高，也一樣快速的降回到零。
意味著：這個人雖然會生氣，但他能夠迅速，
也永久刪除這個氣，且徹底的從內心消除。
On the graph, I showed that the anger starts at time = 0, and the anger ends time = T. If T is less than a microsecond, and you are looking at this person, would you even be able to notice this person's anger?
在這個圖裡，我畫這個人的憤怒從時間 = 0開始，
在時間= T而滅掉。
如果0到T是不到一微秒的時間，
您會注意到這個人的憤怒嗎？
We can replace anger with any other emotions on these graphs, and they will all mean the same thing. The first graph shows how our emotions, as human beings, evolve within us. That we cannot control the duration and intensity of these emotions, we can only ride with it. The second graph shows how a person who empirically understand anattā can handle their emotions.
簡而言之，我們可以用其他的情緒來取代「瞋」。
第一張圖代表我們無法控制情緒的強度和時間的長度。
第二張圖顯示一個體會「無我」的人是如何處理自己的情緒。
If you can do this with all emotions all within a microseconds, would an observer think you have fully detached from your emotions? Of course! But what they don't know is that you have decided that the emotion is not worth exhibiting for all to see, and that's the topic of the next article.
如果您能在一微秒內起滅所有的情緒，
大家能觀察到您的情緒嗎？
當然不能！他們會以為您已經「放下一切」。
但他們不知道您在那短暫的時間，
已經決定這個情緒是不必要被人家看到的，
這將是下一篇文章中的主題。
上一篇 Previous Part Next Part 下一篇
2011年10月26日 星期三
放下 1 Detachment or Letting Go 1
Earlier, I was translating Master Ban Ji's book. She had a section on "Detachment." and I would like to expand on this topic. She had some issues with the common teaching that if one is able to let go of everything, one would immediately become Buddha. She questioned that if we let go of everything, will we still be able to live?
早些， 當我在翻譯半寄師父的書，
對師父寫關於「放下」的內容有些想法。
師父對「放下一切，立即成佛」的說法有點疑問。
她質疑：如果真的放下一切，我們仍然還活著嗎？
If we let go of all our worldly possessions, would we be running around naked looking for things to eat ?
我在想：如果我們放下所有的身外之物，是否需要赤裸裸的跑來跑去找東西吃呢？
If we let go of all our emotions and senses, wouldn't we become like stones on the field?
如果我們放下所有的情緒和感覺，不就變成跟石頭一樣？
Then I had a thought. Don't every one and every Buddhist books all expound on the idea that Bodhisattva is full of compassion? And that we need to be full of compassion. So that means Bodhisattva didn't have let go of compassion. Does that mean that we can keep out compassion too? Why don't we need to let go of compassion? If we get to keep compassion, what else do we get to keep?
那麼，我有一個想法。
大家跟所有的佛教書籍都說菩薩都充滿了慈悲心，
而且我們也需要跟菩薩一樣有慈悲心。
這不表示菩薩放不下慈悲這個情緒嗎？
為什麼我們不需要放下慈悲？不是要「放下一切」嗎？
如果我們能留慈悲，那還有什麼情緒可以保留？
Let us try to solve this issue by applying Śūnyatā to this issue.
Śūnyatā implies impermanence of one-self. To us, impermanence implies mutability, and mutability implies that we have a mean to control the change.
讓我們嘗試用對「空」的瞭解來解決這個問題。
「空」意味著「無我」跟「無常」。對我們來說，
「無我」跟「無常」代表易變性；
易變性表示，我們有控制變化的空間。
早些， 當我在翻譯半寄師父的書，
對師父寫關於「放下」的內容有些想法。
師父對「放下一切，立即成佛」的說法有點疑問。
她質疑：如果真的放下一切，我們仍然還活著嗎？
If we let go of all our worldly possessions, would we be running around naked looking for things to eat ?
我在想：如果我們放下所有的身外之物，是否需要赤裸裸的跑來跑去找東西吃呢？
If we let go of all our emotions and senses, wouldn't we become like stones on the field?
如果我們放下所有的情緒和感覺，不就變成跟石頭一樣？
Then I had a thought. Don't every one and every Buddhist books all expound on the idea that Bodhisattva is full of compassion? And that we need to be full of compassion. So that means Bodhisattva didn't have let go of compassion. Does that mean that we can keep out compassion too? Why don't we need to let go of compassion? If we get to keep compassion, what else do we get to keep?
那麼，我有一個想法。
大家跟所有的佛教書籍都說菩薩都充滿了慈悲心，
而且我們也需要跟菩薩一樣有慈悲心。
這不表示菩薩放不下慈悲這個情緒嗎？
為什麼我們不需要放下慈悲？不是要「放下一切」嗎？
如果我們能留慈悲，那還有什麼情緒可以保留？
Let us try to solve this issue by applying Śūnyatā to this issue.
Śūnyatā implies impermanence of one-self. To us, impermanence implies mutability, and mutability implies that we have a mean to control the change.
讓我們嘗試用對「空」的瞭解來解決這個問題。
「空」意味著「無我」跟「無常」。對我們來說，
「無我」跟「無常」代表易變性；
易變性表示，我們有控制變化的空間。
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