藉病进修_Practicing through Sickness

安宁一片执已逝，声色起灭似浮沤；
随起随灭念未生，万象历历一体中。

跋

曾居士数年前退休以来，每日念佛、诵经、打坐以及从事佛法的服务。但去年一年之中，病痛不断，约每周即需就医一次。幸而彼之精进修行感得菩萨屡次梦示：“这也是修行的一部份，是过程，必须静心、忍耐，更加精进”。甚至拉其右手，教以在痛苦时即按手掌中心。果然有效地减轻痛苦。他的身体也日渐好转。

记得陈上师曾提及“平安成就古来无”之语。亦是彼在病苦之际蒙菩萨开示的。病苦的折磨可以考验行者的信心及真诚，进而增长行者的忍耐力及恒毅心。在佛、菩萨的加被下，行者深重的宿业藉着病苦的轻受而得抵消，因此病后能更顺利地进修。经过病苦，行者对他人的病苦才有正确的体会，因而易于发展真切的慈悯胸怀。藉病进修，使修行落实于生活，而不沦为安逸闲暇的消遣活动。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二○○二年二月十一日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　养和斋　　　　于加州

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_两篇翰墨：f0616、f0591

F0616 is an article in over 10 sections displaying 10 variations on the practice of Chanting Buddha's epithet.
F0616是一篇以十个以上的段落来演示念佛法门的多面。

Several of such variations had been requested for calligraphy; the attached is Variation 7.
好几个当中的曲段被要求写成翰墨，附呈所写的是第七段。

May all beings attain Enlightenment soon!
愿一切众生早日成佛！

Yutang
钰堂

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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