今天是新年，我祝各位新年快乐。本来这是世间的风俗，我们出世的人，不应该再有这种习气。可是要知道我们大家还在这个世界上，如果和世间距离太远，那么和人的距离也远了。所以还是依世俗之礼，向你们说一句“新年快乐”。那么我再对你们说一首偈颂：

今逢一九八二年，
十方聚会来参禅；
回光返照观自在，
万佛城中选圣贤。

Today is New Year's Day, and I bid all of you a Happy New Year. This is, in fact, a worldly sentiment and we who seek to realize world-transcending wisdom should not dwell on such mundane habits. Nonetheless, we should recognize that we are still part of this world, and if we leave the mundane world too far behind, we'll also be leaving people too far behind. That's why I invoked a bit of standard etiquette to give you all my greeting: Happy New Year! I'd also like to recite a verse:

The year 1982 is now close at hand;
All ten directions' cultivators come to
   practice Chan.
Reverse the light and introspect:
  contemplate at ease.
At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas,
   we will choose sages and worthies.

新年是快乐，我们参禅应该得到禅悦为食，以参禅做为饮食。真正参禅的人，吃饭或未吃饭？忘了。穿衣服或未穿衣服？忘了。睡觉或未睡觉？忘了。参到极点处，上不知有天，下不知有地，中不知有人，和虚空合成一体，到无人、无我、无众生、无寿者的境界。既然是这样子，那么腿痛也不怕痛了，腰酸也不怕酸了，一切一切都要用忍耐的功夫来忍受着。既无人、无我、无众生、无寿者，那又有谁在痛呢？尤其是这种痛要过关，痛过去就不知痛。如果过不了关，便总是在痛中；若过了关，不但不知痛，而且非常自在，非常快乐。

Since the New Year brings happiness, we can all realize the state of "taking the bliss of Chan as our food," and let our sustenance come from Chan meditation. A person who is genuinely doing the work of Chan has forgotten whether or not he has eaten. He has forgotten whether or not he got dressed. He has forgotten whether or not he slept. When one investigates to the ultimate point, he is no longer aware of heaven above, earth below, or people in between. He has merged completely with empty space. He no longer has any sense of self, others, living beings, or a life span. In this state he fears neither the pain in his legs nor the ache in his back. No matter what comes up, he uses the skill of patience to endure it. Since he has no sense of self, others, living beings, or a life span, who remains to feel pain? Once you pass through the gate of pain, you are no longer aware of any pain. If you don't pass the gate, however, then the pain is still there. If you pass through the gate, then not only does the pain stop, but you also feel very carefree and happy.

“参禅”这一法门，没有再比它更妙的，能得到禅悦为食，法喜充满的境界。因为这个缘故，所以古来参禅的人，可以连坐几天，不起于座。那么他的腿痛不痛？当然痛啊！可是他能忍受，能忍人所不能忍的，受人所不能受的。他有一种勇猛精进的力量，只知向前进，不知向后退，所以才有成就。

The Dharma-door of Chan meditation has no rival in its wondrousness; one attains the state of "taking Chan bliss for food, and being filled with the joy of Dharma." This is the way Chan meditators in ages past could sit for days on end without leaving their benches. Do you suppose their legs hurt? Of course they hurt! But they were able to endure the pain; they could tolerate what others found intolerable; they could endure what others found unendurable. They had the strength and vigorous courage to only advance and never retreat; this is how they succeeded in cultivation.

参禅要有忍耐心，那是开悟的本钱。好像做生意一样，有了本钱，生意才能发展，才有希望赚大钱。我们参禅，要克服痛关；通过痛关，过了关之后，光明大道就在眼前，直达明心见性的境界。没有过关时，就好像“山穷水尽疑无路”的境界；过了关，好像“柳暗花明又一村”的境界。

Chan meditation requires patience; patience is the basic capital of your enlightenment. For example, when we go into business, we need some capital. Only then can our business expand; only then can we hope to earn money. In Chan meditation, we must make it through the gate of pain. Penetrating this gate comes first. Once we're through, a brightly-lit road appears before us, and we travel on it straight ahead to the state where we can "understand our mind and see our nature." Before we pass through the gate, we are in a state where "the mountains have ended, the rivers have vanished, and we doubt there is a road ahead." But then once you pass the gate, your state becomes like "another village appearing, there beyond the bright flowers and shadowy willows."

舍不了死，换不了生；
舍不了假，成不了真；
舍不了苦，得不了乐。

If I can't renounce death,
   I'll never gain life.
If I can't renounce what's false,
   I'll never gain what's true.
If I can't let go of suffering,
   I'll never attain happiness.

我们参禅，要有这样的精神，才能有所成功。要把困苦艰难的关打破，然后才能得到另外一种境界。因为这个缘故，所以我们要专一其心来参禅。各位注意！我们是来这里参禅，而不是来这里混光阴的，要拿出真正的志愿来参，拿出真正的忍耐来坐。要知道世间的事，没有不劳而获的，没有出力，而想得到代价，哪有这样容易的事？那是痴人妄想，不可能的事。非得拿出真正的力量来，才能有所成就。新年大家都有新希望，希望今年开悟，希望大家向这个目标迈进，若不到开悟的境界，不停止参禅。

We must use this kind of spirit in our investigation of Chan if we want to have any accomplishment.We have to smash through the gate of trouble and difficulty before we can attain another state of reality. This is why we must concentrate our minds as we meditate. Please pay attention! We have come here to practice Chan, not to fritter time away. Apply yourself to the investigation with genuine determination and true forbearance. We know that nothing in the world comes easily; how can you expect something in return for nothing? Only fools think that way; only they dream such impractical dreams. The only way to success is through your own efforts. We all bring forth our brand-new aspirations at the New Year, hoping to get enlightened, perhaps. Let's all make that our goal ahead, and not stop meditating until we actually reach the enlightened state!

一九八二年禅七 一月一日至八日
开示于万佛圣城万佛宝殿