藉病進修_Practicing through Sickness

安寧一片執已逝，聲色起滅似浮漚；
隨起隨滅念未生，萬象歷歷一體中。

跋

曾居士數年前退休以來，每日念佛、誦經、打坐以及從事佛法的服務。但去年一年之中，病痛不斷，約每週即需就醫一次。幸而彼之精進修行感得菩薩屢次夢示：「這也是修行的一部分，是過程，必須靜心、忍耐，更加精進」。甚至拉其右手，教以在痛苦時即按手掌中心。果然有效地減輕痛苦。他的身體也日漸好轉。

記得陳上師曾提及「平安成就古來無」之語。亦是彼在病苦之際蒙菩薩開示的。病苦的折磨可以考驗行者的信心及真誠，進而增長行者的忍耐力及恆毅心。在佛、菩薩的加被下，行者深重的宿業藉著病苦的輕受而得抵消，因此病後能更順利地進修。經過病苦，行者對他人的病苦才有正確的體會，因而易於發展真切的慈憫胸懷。藉病進修，使修行落實於生活，而不淪為安逸閒暇的消遣活動。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二○○二年二月十一日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　養和齋　　　　於加州

Practicing through Sickness

----- Original Message -----
From: Yutang Lin
To: Dharma Friends
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 5:13 AM
Subject: Two More Works in Calligraphy_兩篇翰墨：f0616、f0591

F0616 is an article in over 10 sections displaying 10 variations on the practice of Chanting Buddha's epithet.
F0616是一篇以十個以上的段落來演示念佛法門的多面。

Several of such variations had been requested for calligraphy; the attached is Variation 7.
好幾個當中的曲段被要求寫成翰墨，附呈所寫的是第七段。

May all beings attain Enlightenment soon!
願一切眾生早日成佛！

Yutang
鈺堂

Practicing through Sickness　Yutang Lin

Since ancient time no accomplishment without hindrance;
Tortured through suffering from illness increases training.
Heavy karmic debts are converted into lighter disturbance.
Growing compassion through undergoing common illness.

Comment:

Upasaka Zeng has been practicing chanting Amitabha, recitation of the Diamond Sutra, and meditation daily and engaging in Dharma services since he retired from teaching a few years ago. However, in the past year he experienced all sorts of illness. He needed to seek physician's treatment almost weekly. Nevertheless, his continuous diligent practice has won blessing from Bodhisattvas. They appeared in his dreams to encourage him by saying, "The experience of illnesses is also part of your practice. It is a process that you need to go through with calmness, patience and more diligence." One Bodhisattva even held his right hand to show him that when he feels pain of illness he could press the center of palm for relief. It has proven to be an effective method for reduction of pain. His health has been improving.

In Yogi Chen's writings he also mentioned that he once heard heavenly voices saying, "Since ancient time there has never been a case of accomplishment without going through hindrances." Such revelation was given to him while he was suffering severe sickness. Tortured through sickness a practitioner's faith and sincerity was put to test, and thereby the practitioner's endurance and resolution would be cultivated. With Buddhas' and Bodhisattvas' blessings a practitioner's heavy karmic debts are transmuted into lighter suffering from illnesses, and thereby dissipated. Consequently, after such illnesses the practitioner could advance more easily on the path. Through experiencing illnesses a practitioner gains proper empathy to such sufferings of others. Consequently, it becomes easier to develop genuine sympathy and compassion. Practicing in this way through sickness would render Dharma practices a daily matter of real life, instead of serving just as a hobby in leisure.

Written in Chinese on February 11, 2002
Translated on March 5, 2002
El Cerrito, California

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