《生活禅钥》 || 物质生活要简朴，精神生活要高尚

发布时间：2024-12-15 12:12

禅意生活：简化物质，追求精神满足 #生活乐趣# #生活艺术# #创意生活方式# #生活禅意#

18 在生活中修行，在修行中生活 ⑤

中文录音 | 圣学

物质生活要简朴，精神生活要高尚

修行和生活是一致的。有什么样的生活就有什么样的修行，有什么样的生活就有什么样的心态。反过来也可以说有什么样的心态就有什么样的生活。所以身心是一致的，内外是一致的。

世界上一切的物质由地、水、火、风四大要素组成，外在的世界由地、水、火、风构成，人的身体也是由地、水、火、风构成，“四大”是构成一切物质的基本要素，这是印度的古代哲学对物质世界的基本分析。中国古代哲学家将物质世界分析为金、木、水、火、土五行。“四大”与“五行”，多一个、少一个，实际上基本要素不多也不少。

身体要健康，必须四大调和，四大不调，人就会生病。佛教徒的问候语有一句话：“四大轻安否？少病少恼否？”一大不调，百病丛生，如果四大不调，就有四百种病，加上四大本身各有一病，就是四百四病。可见四大的调和，对于身体健康至关重要。

外四大失去平衡，体内四大也会跟着失去平衡。比如说气候忽冷忽热，内四大一下适应不了，马上就有反应，不是感冒发烧流鼻涕，就是肚子疼。可见内四大和外四大是息息相关的。我们仔细去体会，就会知道内四大健康如何，在一定程度上取决于外四大的情况如何。如果我们所处的环境极为恶劣：风沙太大，雨水太多，或过于干旱、过于炎热，我们的身体都无法适应，都会引起种种疾病。内四大要能适应外四大，必须经过长时间的锻炼，使内外四大协调起来。

人类的生存越来越受到威胁，就是因为外四大的变化太剧烈了。种种的原因引起外四大的激烈变化：科技的发展，环境的污染，山河大地人为的破坏，一切矿藏物质的过量开采，生命资源的日益减少，绿色覆盖率一天一天地在萎缩，气候的干旱、转暖······种种种种的原因，引起外在世界一天一天不适宜于人类的生存和生活，所以人类就有各种各样的疾病。过去从来没有听说过的疾病，现在一个个地发生了。医药再发展，也赶不上疾病发展的速度。但是人在这样的环境当中，感觉到生存的重要，用各种各样的药品来维持身体健康，想方设法使我们能够方便，使我们能够过得舒适。殊不知，你越想过得舒适，你对资源的破坏就越严重，你对大地的索取越多，环境的破坏也就越严重。生活简单一点，更有利于环保，更有利于人类多生存一段时间。生活资源浪费得越大，开发得越多，人类能够生存的时间就越缩短，人类每向前走一步，每发展一步，就距离地球毁灭的时间更近一步。这是一个客观事实，是科学家的预测，并不是宗教徒的杞人忧天、耸人听闻。

在这样的时节因缘下修行，我感觉到提倡高尚的精神生活、简单的物质生活，对于人类的生死存亡有着极其重大的意义。精神生活高尚一点，那么对物质生活的追求可能就会淡化一点，相反，精神越空虚的人，越是需要用外在的物质来满足自己的虚荣与追求，越是会过度地耗费资源。

学禅的人要考虑这些事。如果不考虑这些事，我们的慈悲心从什么地方来体现呢？我们对众生的关怀、对人类未来的关怀，从什么地方来体现呢？我们“奉献人生”的理念就变成了一句空话。我们学禅的人，为了感恩一切众生，首先自己要过一种淡泊的生活、清净的生活、简单的生活。生活越简单越好。生活越简单，我们对大自然的索取就会越少，我们的自主性就越强，我们就会有自力更生的精神，就能战胜诸多的困难。一个过分依赖外在世界的人，一定是一个没有能力的人。我们学禅的人要锻炼意志，使精神生活充实起来，使物质生活既简单又健康又卫生。

生活简单的人，容易料理得整洁卫生；屋子里堆满了东西，可能到处都是尘土，到处都是细菌，因为他没时间去收拾，没时间去晾晒，更没时间去洗涤。

佛陀在世的时候，规定出家人三衣一钵。生活多么简单！所以，简单朴素、干净利索，是非常好的。太豪华、太现代，浪费资源，与道不相应。（未完待续）

18 Cultivate within Living, Live within Cultivation ⑤

音乐：《五行》| 王凡

英文录音 | 徐博

Be simple in material living, be noble in spiritual living

Cultivation and living are mutually consistent with one another.Whatever is the kind of living, whatever will be the kind of cultivation and mindset; the same goes the other way. Body and mind are at one with each other, and the same applies to inner and outer states of being.

The material world is an assemblage of the Four Elements that are earth, water, fire and wind.Be it our body or what is external to our body, these four elements are the basic ingredients of materiality or matter. This is basically the conclusion of the analysis on the material world by ancient Indian philosophers. In ancient China, however, philosophers perceived the matter of the world as consisting of the Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

For there to be a healthy body, there needs to be harmony of the Four Elements.There is this common greeting in Chinese that goes: “Are the Four Elements light and well? Do you have any illness or affliction?” It is said that a hundred ailments would arise should there be irregularity in one element, so we can imagine how important is harmony and health of the elements within our body in terms of their effects on our physical wellbeing.

Furthermore, the constitution of our body will be upset if the Four Elements in the external environment are not in balance.For example, our body would immediately react to any sudden change of temperature in the environment, likely causing a runny nose, cold or flu. This indicates how closely related are the Four Elements within and outside of the body. Careful observation on the environment we live can sometimes be telling of the conditions of our health, and our body cannot usually sustain treacherous external conditions like sandstorms, floods, droughts and extreme temperatures. To be able to survive such conditions would require a long period of training to enable harmonization of the Four Elements when adapting the internal to the external conditions.

An imminent threat to human survival is the severity of change with respect to the Four Elements in the external environment which is usually the result of a combination of causes.Technological progress, environmental pollution, human destruction of the natural landscape, excessive excavation of the minerals, depletion of resources for sustenance, consistently diminishing green belts, climatic problems such as frequent droughts and global warming etc. are the most commonly known reasons for bringing the world to the brink of becoming unsuitable for human survival and possibly the emergence across the globe of novel diseases and viruses. Medical research to find remedies could hardly catch up with the spread of new diseases, and the risks posed to human lives are deeply felt. At the same time when man has need of more medicines to maintain their physical health, they also want more luxury and comfort in living, unaware that this would only lead to further erosion of the natural resources. The more you take from the land, the more serious is the damage to the environment. A simpler way of living is beneficial to preserving the environment and in turn more favorable for human existence.Faster depletion of the limited resources of the earth would mean reduced duration of human existence. Every step we make to move forward in technological advancement is one step nearer to extinction of mankind. This is an objective warning of scientists and not a religious postulate to startle or scare.

At this juncture of our cultivation when mankind is facing a threat to life and existence, I think it is meaningful to suggest a simple lifestyle and promote a noble sense of mental spirit.As one’s mental and spiritual being becomes more noble, there would be less of want for the material side of living. Conversely, a life that is devoid of spiritual substance would increase the need for material satisfaction and vain pursuits that are more consumptive of the planet’s resources.

A Chan follower must take this to heart, or is there a better way to have our compassion manifested? The resolve “to offer a life of service and contribution” would be rendered lip service if there is no concern for sentient beings and no consideration for the future of mankind. For the sake of all beings to whom we ought to be grateful, Chan followers should first of all lead a modest, pure and simple life.The simpler the living, the less we would use up nature’s resources and the more we would rely on ourselves in living, thus becoming more able to personally overcome the challenges of survival. One who is heavily dependent on external aid must be one of low individual capability. As Chan followers, we must train our minds for resilience and tenacity, thus strengthening our mental being that would welcome a simple and healthy way of living.With fewer things in the house to look after and maintain, it is a lifestyle most suitable for easy housekeeping that saves time and is hygienic.

During the time of the Buddha, monastics were allowed to have no more than one alms bowl and three robes. What simple living! It is wonderful to be able to live simply and modestly. Too much modern pomp that is bound to be wasteful of resources is not in consonance with the Way.( to be continued )

Learn both English and Chan.

The 18th Issue

又学英文，又学禅。第18期

What to Study 学习内容：

18. Cultivate within Living, Live within Cultivation

在生活中修行，在修行中生活

When to Study 学习时间：

December 17to January6, for three weeks.

12月17日至1月6日，为期三周。

How to Participate 参与方式：

An article as a period, a total of 20 issues. You can join us at any time and take part in any of the 20 sessions.

以一篇为一期，共计二十期。可随时加入，参与学习其中任意一期，乃至二十期均可。

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This method of Chan cultivation is Living Chan, whereby we would have to continuously observe and contemplate our body and mind as they really are. We need to be mindful every moment, acutely aware of our every move. We must also apply right view to every instant of living and watch over every present moment with clarity of mind. This is Living Chan.

在我们日常生活中，不断地观照自己身心的实相，对自己的一举一动念念分明，分分秒秒在在处处提起正见、安住正念、观照当下，这便是生活禅。

——净慧长老开示生活禅法

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