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Coming
Out of Retreat
•Guru's
Talk•
(By
Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu)
(Translated by Cheng Yew Chung.
Edited by TBN)
Before I went into retreat at Leaf Lake, a disciple asked
me, "Guru, when will you come out of retreat?" For a
moment I did not know what to say, choosing instead to remain
in silence. Here, let me quote you a gongan (a Zen story)
entitled "Go With The Flow" taken from The
Transmission of Light.
Upon first meeting the Zen master Mazu, Zen master Damei
experienced great enlightenment and soon moved deep into the
mountains, where he stayed in seclusion.
One day, a travelling monk who had lost his way in the
mountains came upon Zen master Damei's cottage. He put his
palms together and respectfully asked, "Master, how long
have you been living here?"
Damei said, "I've seen the mountain's green change to
brown several times."
The monk then asked, "Where is the road down from the
mountain?"
Damei said, "Go with the flow."
I shall elucidate on this gongan. Zen master Damei, who
lived in seclusion in the mountain, was aware that the
mountain had changed its colour from green to brown and from
brown to green through the years. Such is the cycle of spring,
summer, autumn and winter, which occurs endlessly through
time. Day after day, month after month, year after year, the
sun rises and sets daily without fail.
As to the reply "go with the flow," Zen master
Damei was saying that as long as he followed the direction of
the stream, the lost monk would descend the mountain and find
his way to the towns and villages where people lived.
So, when my disciple asked me when I would emerge from my
retreat, my reply was, "Go with the flow." This
means letting things happen naturally. I realize that nature
has its own course, as does my life within its influence. I
have since realized the ways of nature. Hence, my study of
Buddhism occurs naturally. So does my propagation of the
Dharma, my enlightenment, and my retreat. This natural course
of events is affected by karmic circumstances and thus may
change accordingly.
When my disciple asked me when I would come out of my
retreat, my reply was to let things happen naturally and go
with the flow! Going into retreat and coming out of retreat
should be a natural thing.
--->回目錄
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