第八辑 把心带回家 Volume 8: Bringing the Mind Home
在初学禅坐的时候，即使是在一片混乱中（就是思想很混乱），也要把注意力放到呼吸或持咒上。初学者就是观呼吸或者持咒，把你的心收回来。
When we begin to meditate, even in the midst of all the confusion (which means scattered thoughts), we should focus our attention on the breath or a mantra. Beginners can practice mindful breathing or chanting mantras to bring your mind back.
如果你会观照，你可以把心放在生起念头的地方，看着那个生起念头的地方，这是一种高级的修法。
If you can mindfully observe, you can focus your attention on where the thoughts arise, and look at it. This is an advanced method.
古代禅坐教授法中记载：开始禅坐的时候，念头总是一个接一个地出现。
In the ancient meditation instructions, it is said that at the beginning, thoughts will arise one after another.
念头就是生起杂念的源头，念头还不是念，念就是杂念、妄想。
Thoughts are the source of mental distractions. Thoughts are not yet the actual thinking itself. Actual thinking is mental distractions.
念头就像老鼠洞一样，老鼠从里面探出头来，等于念头就出来了。我们要像猫一样，在门口看着，老鼠头一探出来，你就抓住它了。
The arising of a thought is like a mouse popping its head out of a mouse hole. We need to watch at the entrance like a cat. As soon as the mouse's head appears, you catch it.
刚开始禅修的时候，觉照就要像猫逮老鼠一样，看着老鼠洞，老鼠的头冒出来，就要逮住它。
When you begin to meditate, your awareness should be like a cat watching a mouse hole. Once a mouse's head appears, you catch it.
刚开始妄念太多、太杂，又太快，也太乱，像潮水一样涌出来，并且刚开始的时候觉察力也不够，觉知得很慢，就会感觉很累，有些人甚至会有沮丧的情绪，感觉很乱，会感觉沮丧，有挫败感。
In the beginning, there can be an overwhelming amount of scattered and rapid thoughts, surging like tides. Moreover, in the beginning, the mindfulness is not strong enough and the awareness is slow, which can lead to a feeling of exhaustion. Some people may even feel frustrated and chaotic.
念头总是一个接一个地出现，从未停止过，好像是峻峭的高山瀑布。流得太快了，这个时候你只能慢慢来了，着急没有用。
Thoughts constantly arise one after another, uninterrupted, like a steep mountain waterfall flowing rapidly. At that point, you can only take your time. Being impatient won't help.
渐渐地，禅坐的功夫进步了，思想就像溪流穿过深而窄的峡谷，它就变慢了，不像瀑布了，但是还是比较快的。
Gradually, as you perfect meditation, thoughts become like the water in a deep, narrow gorge. They slow down, no longer like a waterfall, but are still pretty fast.
然后慢慢地思想就更缓慢了，像一条大河缓缓地蜿蜒流向大海。
Gradually, thoughts flow even slower, like a great river slowly winding its way down to the sea.
最后，心变得像平静安详的海洋，就是水已经回归大海了，
Finally the mind becomes like a still and placid ocean, which means the water has returned to the ocean.
大海有波浪，只是偶尔还会有涟漪或波浪出现。当然波浪有大有小，这就因人而异了。
The ocean is ruffled by only the occasional ripple or wave. Of course, the intensity of the waves vary from person to person.
易明之光 Mini读书@2023