林钰堂

转物以观其面面
无以转之
则上下环绕
转人而得面面俱观

由今观昔
便知先见之偏差
筹划将来
应了变化之难测

层层见解 处处误差
如浓雾遮目 不见实相
停念息思 抽身圈外
空明一片 方见本无斯事

世间人际 计较对立
转念佛陀 岂能如斯
立志成佛 余即众生
慈悲喜舍 渡而后已
人事冰消 汲汲佛事

活当知转 转而后活


                     二〇〇八年四月廿一日
                     养和斋    于加州


Turning around Yutang Lin

Turning an object around to see its facets
When it cannot be turned around
From above and below, and all sides around
One turns around it to obtain a view of all its facets

Looking back from now
One learns the biases of previous views
Planning ahead
One should realize that changes are hard to predict

Layer over layer of views, with biases here and there
Like thick fog blocking sight, real situation unseen
Clear thoughts and stop thinking, pull oneself out of the arena
In prevalence of blank clarity, only then can one see through illusion

Among worldly affairs and human relationships
    Full of antagonism and calculations
Turning thoughts around toward Buddhahood
    How could it be like these
Aspiring toward attainment of full enlightenment
    Regard all others as sentient beings
Serve all with compassion, mercy, joy and renunciation
    Never rest till their salvation attained
Thus, worldly affairs dissipated like melting ice
    And all endeavors center around Dharma activities

In life one should know to turn around
As one turns around one is truly alive


Written in Chinese and translated on April 21, 2008
El Cerrito, California


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