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問：T.M.我們中國叫「超覺靜坐」，也是另外一種靜坐的方式，講究一種非常自然的一種聲音，然後想它，然後我們的心就會沉到所謂的海底。到那種境界的時候，非常快樂。我曾經有過幾次的經驗，可是後來覺得這個聲音，使我想起一種動物，就是蝦，這個聲音很類似蝦，結果我就想起一個具體的東西。後來接觸效果沒有原先那麼理想，我不曉得為什麼？
答：你這種想聽到聲音，聽到什麼，其實這都是一種妄念，這是一種妄覺，不是一種超覺。超覺是很自然的，沒有貪、沒有求、沒有一個期待，你有所貪、有所求、有一個期待，這不是「超覺」，那可以說是「不覺」。你聽見什麼聲音，這是「見有若無心自安」，你想聽一個聲音，那還是都是妄，是一種妄覺，不是超覺。超覺，是沒有做作的；有所做作，你想什麼，那都是妄想。
問：可是老師教我們的時候，我們都必須去想一種聲音。
答：這叫頭上安頭、騎驢覓驢，哈！騎這個驢去找驢去，一樣的。
問：我懂了！那就是都不要想了。
答：「念動百事有，念止萬事無。」心止念絕真富贵，私欲斷盡才是真福田。你想聽一個聲音，那都是向外馳求呢，到外面去找嘛！
問：關於T.M.，就是超覺靜坐，好像現在世界各國都很流行，我是在臺灣學的，這個活動、這種靜坐的方式好不好呢？適合不適合？
答：啊！這就是為的那一些個沒有辦法結雙跌坐的人，想著這麼一個別開生面的法門。其實，你若想靜坐，先要練習跏跌坐。你不練習跏跌坐，你就那麼很自然的說是什麼，就得到了道了，我覺得不可能的。你若不讀書，怎麼樣也不會認字的；你若不真心來修行，怎麼樣也不會工夫到了。你就想那麼說是吃一點迷魂藥就開悟了，這是無有是處的。
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Question: In China, T.M. (Transcendental Meditation) is called "transcendental awareness meditation" and is another style of meditation that involves listening to very natural sounds and contemplating them, thus enabling our minds to sink to the “ocean bottom." When one reaches that kind of state, one feels extremely blissful. I experienced it several times, but then that sound started reminding me of shrimp, because it sounded a lot like shrimp. So I started thinking of something concrete, and after that, the results were not as ideal as before. I don't know how to explain this.
Answer: When you hope to hear certain sounds, that is a false thought; it is a kind of false awareness, not transcendental awareness. Transcendental awareness is very natural; it is free of greed, free of seeking, and free of expectations. If you are greedy for something, seeking something, or expecting something, then that's not transcendental awareness. That could be called "non-awareness." When you hear some sounds, you should "perceive as if not perceiving, and your mind will remain calm." If you wish to hear certain sounds, that is still false; it is a false awareness, not transcendental awareness. Transcendental awareness is free of conscious effort. If you make conscious effort and think about something, that is all false thinking.
Question: But when the teacher is instructing us, we are supposed to contemplate certain kinds of sounds. Answer: That's known as "adding a head on top of the head you already have" and "searching for a donkey while riding on a donkey"! While riding on a donkey, you are going around looking for a donkey. It's just like that. Question: I get it! So I shouldn't think about anything at all. Answer: "When thoughts move, a hundred matters come into being. When thoughts stop, the myriad affairs cease to be." When the mind stops and thoughts are cut off, that is true wealth and honor. When selfish desires are completely severed, that's a true field of blessings. If you wish to hear a sound, you are seeking externally, going outside to find something!
Question: Transcendental Meditation seems to be popular in many countries around the globe. I learned it in Taiwan. Is this type of meditation good? Is it appropriate?
Answer: This is a Dharma-door that breaks fresh ground; it was devised for people who cannot sit in full lotus. Actually, if you want to meditate, you should first practice sitting in full lotus. You might say you can very "naturally" obtain the Way without having to sit in full lotus, but I think that's very unlikely. If you never study, you will never learn to read. Likewise, if you don't cultivate with a true mind, your skill in cultivation will never become mature. You might think you can take some hallucinogenic drug and become enlightened, but that's impossible. |
