今天出的題目是：「修行必先習太極鍛鍊身心。」鍛鍊身心，能得心應手，練得身體軟如棉，硬如鋼。把這個功夫用好了，可以說是刀槍不人，水火不分，那時候才能有相當的定力；有相當的定力，要再會運用這個定力，就會生智慧，所以這是必須的功課。你就再忙也必須來練習；練習得得心應手，運用自如。
這練太極能活動身上的氣血，調理身心；氣血活動了，也就什麼病都沒有了，很少生病。你常常有一種病，就因為你沒有長遠性地練一種功夫；你要會練功夫，這身體越練越強壯，是不會有病的。所以我們一早起，做完了早課，不要就想回去休息睡覺，要練一個鐘頭的太極，然後再打坐，一定就很容易入定，也很容易工夫專一。你要做完早課就想要去睡覺，這愈睡愈愚癡，愈睡愈有病痛。
為什麼有病痛？就因為不會鍛鍊身心，把身體弄得病也來了，煩惱也生了，一天到晚總是板起面孔，那麼黑口黑面地對人。這是不懂修行才這樣子；懂得修行的，對誰都要和氣，不可以板起面孔。我們人遇到人，一定要有人性；要有人的行為，就要互相尊重，不要互相像敵人似的，見到人好像見到鬼似的，不可以這樣子。你這樣子，弄得自己的身心沒有快活的時候。修行不是要你下地獄呢！一天到晚脾氣大大的，吃飯吃多多的，以為這是修行。這不是的，這完全是走錯路了。
我們萬佛城的出家人，都是名揚在外了；外面所知道的，就是人家到了萬佛城，沒有人理人，沒有人睬人，沒有人像個人樣地對待人，所以這不叫擁護道場，這叫破壞人家發菩提心的一種行為。所以在沙加緬度那兒我都告訴他們，在做完早課一定要練習一個小時功夫。你喜歡什麼功夫就練什麼功夫，要把戶外新鮮的空氣吸進來，把那個污濁的空氣吐出去，這麼樣子你天天練，一定會有成就。
我們潘老師，他一生是練習太極拳的，所以現在身體像鐵石那麼堅硬。你們各位如果當面錯過，交臂失之，那你們都不是修道的，都不是信佛的，都不是出家人；所以你們再忙，在這個時候也應拿一個鐘頭來練太極拳。這麼好的機會，你們當面錯過，交臂失之，這真是很愚癡的。
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快交卷子。
從今天以後你再忙都要參加學太極拳，不要像恆生似的，年紀輕輕的，在雪山寺住，住住半邊身子就麻木了，又要吃中藥，又要看醫生。還有你們知道這恆音；恆音也是因為牽掛著工作，也都不運動，那麼年輕的，手也麻木過，因為不鍛鍊功夫的關係。
你們要能鍛鍊功夫，自然就不會有這個病痛問題。比吃藥還好得多；能強健你的身心，比天天打點滴都來得有效。你們不要不識寶，潘教授這麼大的年紀，能天天來教你們；你們要再不學，真是錯過機會了。這是修行的一部份，鍛鍊功夫。
為什麼少林寺功夫那麼好，就因為天天鍛鍊身心。不叫他睡覺，不叫他回去有機會就睡覺，一定要練功夫，這都是練出來的。最近你看見少林寺出了一團，到處去表演武功。其中最引人注目的是一個小孩子，四歲，就能打醉拳、踢腿、縱高，功夫很厲害的。他兩歲就練習，所以練到四歲，功夫就大有進步。
你們現在都是成人了，趕快要練習，不可以懶惰，不可以說我忙，這是必須要做的一個功課。
什麼呢？就是要學習太極，我們一方面要讀書，一方面要學太極，這是文武並重。不是修行修得像個病鴨子似的，也不會跑，也不會飛，也不會浮水了。你們大家都要特別注意，要懂得一點好歹，都可以鍛鍊，不是這麼懶惰。我們練太極的時候，可以在外面大佛像的廣場練，因為那兒有多少人都可以站得開，都可以在那兒練，你們大家都聽見沒有？（四眾答：聽見了。）
不要學得那麼懶惰；你再懶惰下去，我又要給你們叩頭了。
何校長回來了嗎？何校長也應該練太極，免得有高血壓的病。
交卷子了。睡覺可有本事，躺那兒就睡著了，交卷子就慢慢來。 |
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Today's topic is, "In cultivation, one must first practice Taiji, training the body and mind." We must train until we are accomplished in this, and our bodies are as soft as cotton, yet as hard as steel. When we have real skill, then neither knives nor spears can hurt us, and water and fire cannot harm us either. At that point we will have considerable samadhi, and if we know how to use it, then we can attain wisdom. Thus, this is a required course. No matter how busy you are, you should practice. Keep practicing until you master the skill and it becomes natural and easy.
The Taiqi exercises improve our blood and energy circulation and regulate the body and mind. With improved blood and energy circulation, sicknesses seldom occur. If you are always getting sick, it's because you don't regularly practice some sort of gongfu. If you know how to practice gongfu, your body will become stronger and healthier and will not get sick.
After Morning Recitation, don't go back to your room to rest or sleep. You should practice Taiji for an hour and then sit in meditation. You will certainly find it very easy to enter samadhi and develop concentration. If after Morning Recitation all you do is sleep, the more you sleep the more stupid and the more sick you become.
Why do you get sick? Because you don't know how to train your body and mind. You neglect your body until sicknesses come and afflictions arise, and then when you deal with people you're always rude and harsh. That shows you don't know how to cultivate. If you knew how to cultivate, you would be kind with everyone and wouldn't glare at people.
In dealing with people we always have to be humane and respectful. We shouldn't treat people as if they were our enemies, or as if they were ghosts. Otherwise, we'll never have a happy moment in our lives. In cultivation, we're not trying to go to hell. If we think that cultivation means having a huge temper and also eating a huge amount, that's totally wrong.
The left-home people at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas have a reputation outside that they don't pay attention to anyone that comes to the City, and they don't know how to treat people decently. This is not the way to support the monastery. This is the way to keep people from bringing forth the Bodhi mind.
In Sacramento I told them that after Morning Recitation they should practice whatever kind of gongfu or exercise they like for an hour. They should go outside to breathe the fresh air and let out the defiled air. If they practice like that every day, they will certainly accomplish their skill.
Our teacher, Mr. Pan, has practiced Taijiquan throughout his life, and so now his body is as hard as iron. If you all miss this opportunity right before you, then you are not cultivators, nor are you Buddhists or those who have left the home life. No matter how busy you are, you should take an hour out to practice Taijiquan. If you miss such an excellent opportunity as this, you are really being fools.
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Hurry up and turn in your work.
From today onwards, no matter how busy you are, you have to learn Taijiquan. Don't be like Heng Sheng, who is quite young. She was living at Snow Mountain Monastery, and she became partially paralyzed and had to take Chinese medicine and go see the doctor. Also, you all know Heng Yin. Even though she's young, because she was always working and not exercising, her arm also got paralyzed. This is all because they didn't practice gongfu of any kind.
If you know how to practice gongfu, you won't have any sickness. It's much better than taking medicine. It can make your body and mind healthy, and it's much more effective than getting hooked up to the IV drip. Don't overlook this precious opportunity. At his advanced age, Professor Pan still comes to teach you every day. If you don't learn from him, you are really missing your chance. Practicing gongfu is also part of cultivation.
Why was Shaolin Temple so renowned for its gongfu? The monks trained their bodies and minds every day. They weren't allowed to go to their rooms and sleep all the time. They had to practice gongfu. Their skill came from training. Recently a group from Shaolin Temple has been on tour performing martial arts. The most extraordinary member of the group is a four-year-old who knows how to box, kick, and leap high in the air—his skill is pretty incredible. He started training when he was two, so he's learned a lot by age four. All of you adults should hurry up and start practicing. You can't be lazy or say that you're too busy. This is a necessary part of cultivation for everyone—learning Taiji.
You should study on one hand, and learn Taiji on the other, putting equal emphasis on scholarly and martial skills. It shouldn't be that you cultivate and end up like a sick duck that can neither run, fly, nor swim. Everyone should pay special attention to this. You should have some common sense. Everyone can practice it. Don't be so lazy. You can practice outside in the open by the large Buddha statue, because no matter how many people there are, there will be enough room for everyone to stand. Do you all hear? [The fourfold assembly: Yes.]
Don't be so lazy. If you continue to be lazy, I'll have to start bowing to you again.
Has Chancellor Ho arrived? Chancellor Ho should practice Taijiquan, so he won't have high blood pressure.
Please turn in your work. You certainly have great skill in sleeping. You can all lie there and fall asleep. But when it comes to turning in your work, you take your time. |
