空中环顾　林钰堂

云上清明蓝无际，地面依稀景成局；
蜿蜒奔驰知车流，极目穷搜欠人形。

跋

在飞机上可见云上之晴空，一片蔚蓝，无有穷尽，恰如空性之无限而含融一切。地面景物依稀可分辨出山川、湖海、市集、林野，而交织成连绵之多姿。细长肠道上可见车流奔驰；极目四顾却见不到人形。由此观之，足悟个人之微不足道。从而放舍主见、习性、偏好、讲求等等由自我执着而起的心行，便易契入广大、无限如虚空之真实。

有些学佛者好以“明心见性”、“已经开悟”来互相标榜。我个人学佛多年，却觉得能体会自身之微不足道，与他人皆是平等，因而对他人皆真诚地存着敬重与感谢的心，才是在解脱道上真正的受用与进步。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　一九九九年二月二日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　养和斋　　　于加州

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Looking around in Space　Yutang Lin

Clear brightness above clouds in boundless blue;
Indistinctly forming a scenery are objects below on Earth.
Winding flows of running dots are known to be cars;
Searched all around but could not find the shape of a human.

Comment:

During flight one can see the sunny sky above clouds as a boundless space in blue. Sunyata is boundless and encompasses everything; it may be likened to this blue space. Objects on Earth may indistinctly be distinguished as mountains and hills, rivers and streams, lakes and ocean, towns and wilderness that knit into a continuous piece of colorful varieties. On slender roads flows of cars can be seen running through. Looking in all directions still could not find a shape of human. It seems to enlighten one as to the minuteness of one person. Based on such awareness one would yield prejudices, habitual tendencies, preferences, demands, etc., which are rooted in grasping to one's self. Thereby it would be easier for one to attain the truth that is open and boundless as the unfathomable space.

Some Buddhists like to label one another as "comprehend mind and see nature," or "already enlightened." As for myself who has practiced Buddha's teachings for many years, the real enjoyment and advancement on the path toward liberation is derived from a genuine respect and gratitude toward others, which in turn sprouts from a realization of the insignificance of one's self and the equality of all beings.

Written in Chinese: February 2, 1999
Translated: September 7, 1999
El Cerrito, California

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