三祖的《信心铭》中，开篇即是“至道无难，唯嫌拣择。但莫憎爱，洞然明白。毫厘有差，天地悬隔”。
The opening lines of the Faith in Mind by the Third Chan Patriarch state, “The Way is not difficult, it only abhors picking and choosing. Without love or hate, everything becomes clear and undisguised. A hair’s breadth difference, and heaven and earth are set apart.”
至道，即最高的道。真理其实没那么难，因为它本来就在那里，每个人都具足认识的潜能。但只要开始分别拣择，难免会落入二元对立、是非评判，落入意识的分别系统，就和真理背道而驰了。
The Way refers to the highest truth. The truth itself is not difficult, for it is always there, and everyone possesses the potential to recognize it. However, the moment we start to discriminate and choose, we inevitably fall into the trap of duality and judgment, entering the system of mental discrimination, and thus stray from the truth.
如果我们已经体认大道，其实分别也没关系，那是差别智的作用。正如《维摩经》所说：“能善分别诸法相，于第一义而不动。”安住在空性层面，是知分别而离分别的。而凡夫的分别往往带着强烈的执著，就会卡在二元对立的世界，无法体悟清净本心。
If we have truly realized the Way, then distinctions themselves are not a problem; they are simply the function of discerning wisdom. As stated in the Vimalakirti Sutra, “One who can wisely discern the characteristics of all phenomena remains unmoved in the ultimate truth.” To abide in the realm of emptiness is to possess discriminative wisdom while transcending discrimination. However, the discriminations made by ordinary beings often come with strong attachments, trapping them in a world of duality, making it impossible for them to realize their pure, original nature.
为什么禅宗重视生活中的修行？因为禅修就是一种心法，是让我们认识心的本来面目，然后把这样的正念带入生活，面对每个人、每件事都能带着觉察，保有清明的状态。
Why does Chan Buddhism emphasize practice in daily life? It is because Chan practice is an exploration of the mind, a way for us to recognize the true nature of our mind. Through this, we can bring such mindfulness into our daily lives, facing everyone and everything with awareness and maintaining a state of clarity.
这种觉察使我们不会陷入所缘，因为它和境界是有距离的，不会落入执著，也不会被分别所干扰。进一步，这种内在观照还能平息外境和念头带来的困扰。
This kind of awareness prevents us from getting caught up in external conditions because it helps us to keep a distance from them. We do not fall into clinging, nor are we disturbed by distinctions. Furthermore, this inner observation can help calm the disturbances brought about by external circumstances and our own thoughts.
禅修面对的问题无非是两类，一是内心呈现的影像，一是种种心念活动，包括烦恼、情绪等。
The problems faced in meditation are essentially twofold: the presentation of mental images, and various mental activities, including afflictions and emotions.
其实人都是活在影像和念头中，因为看不清，就会被卡在对影像和念头的执著中，无法走出。事实上，这些影像和念头有多大力量，和我们的在乎程度有关。你越是在乎的，在内心累积的情绪力量就越大，产生的干扰也越大。
People actually live in these mental images and thoughts. Because they cannot see clearly, they become ensnared in attachments to these mental images and thoughts, unable to break free. In fact, the power of these images and thoughts is related to how much we care about them. The more we care, the greater the emotional power accumulated in our minds, and consequently, the greater the disturbances produced.
中国历史上，《金刚经》《心经》之所以会成为民众喜闻乐见的经典，就在于其中传达的空性正见。当人们了解到“一切有为法，如梦幻泡影，如露亦如电，应作如是观”，就能在不同程度上化解外境和内心带来的困扰。
In Chinese history, the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra have become popularics among the masses because of their profound right view of emptiness. When people come to understand that “all conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning, and should be viewed as such,” they can, to varying degrees, alleviate the disturbances brought about by external circumstances and internal states of mind.
摘自《正念禅修的要领》
作者：济群法师
Excerpted from:
The Essentials of Mindfulness Practice
By Master Jiqun
