余息　林钰堂

潜泳途程视存氧，已耗将半必回头；
人生余息知多少？珍惜心力修菩提。

跋

潜水者皆需留意存氧之量。下水一次之途程，必在消耗所携氧气一半之范围内，才能安全返回水面。一生之呼吸，次数亦极有限。但少有人对余息尚存多少加以留意。年过半百，不由得对此开始警觉。由于珍惜，才易觉悟不将之浪掷于爱莫能助的事上，而集中心力于修养无有偏私的菩提大心。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二○○一年十一月廿七日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　养和斋　　　　　于加州

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Air Remaining　Yutang Lin

Scuba-diving journey hinges on oxygen remaining;
Reaching half the amount left one must turn around.
How many breaths remain for the rest of one’s life?
Treasure one’s intents and energy to nourish Bodhi.

Comment:

Scuba divers need to remain mindful of the amount of oxygen left. For safe return to the water surface each underwater journey cannot exceed the distance that will use up half of the oxygen. The number of breaths in one’s life is likewise very limited. However, few would be mindful as to how many breaths are still left. When one is over half-a-century old one could not help but to become aware of this matter. Out of treasuring one readily awakes, and would not waste the remaining breaths on things that could not be helped. Instead one just concentrates on cultivation of the great Bodhi mind that is free from partiality.

Written in Chinese on November 27, 2001
Translated on November 28, 2001
El Cerrito, California

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