AIAB

An Enjoyable Experience - Mindful Practice

By Sharon Suen

In mid-December, our teacher Parry led us to visit Tai O, and some Plum Village monastics came along too. In the past, I thought monastics were strict and serious. However, the Plum Village monastics were totally different from my previous impression. They were pleasant and nice, they even chatted with us in a friendly way. The tour was full of joy.

Before having our lunch, a sister reminded us to cherish the food and eat with gratitude. We were so lucky to have the meal, since it was formed by many elements. For instance, the nourishment from sunlight, rain and soil, the perseverance of farmers, the efforts from greengrocers, and the chef’s cooking skills. After hearing her reminder, I realized that without any part of the above, we could not enjoy the meal. The food on the table, or even everything in the world, is formed by causes and karma. We should cherish everything we have.

Afterward we went to Lotus Pond Temple for mindful practice. The air was particularly fresh on Lantau Island. The walking path towards Lotus Pond Temple was surrounded by a lot of trees at it sides. Also, there was a lawn of grass in front of the temple. The refreshing scenery made me feel relaxed.

After we arrived at the Temple, we practiced total relaxation on the grass lawn. We followed sister’s guidance, tried to relax our body. We could merely see the sky in urban area, as it is surrounded by high buildings. When I lay on the grass, I found that the sky is much wider than what I thought. I could feel the warmth of the sunshine, the freshness of the breeze and I could hear the twittering from birds. It was indescribably comfortable. I realized that it is easy to be happy, only if we drop our worries, become aware of breathing, our body will be able to rest, and our mind will also be at peace. Thus, we attain inner peace and happiness.

Next, we practiced walking meditation. We went up the hill without hurry. We walked just for walking. I enjoyed and was aware of every step I made. I could even feel the gravel under my feet. I have never felt this way before: feeling I was present with each step. Instead of concentrating on walking itself, I used to think of other things while walking. I found that the slower I moved, the more I could feel.

Then, we took turns to share our feelings. I appreciated the chance to practice meditation as I have never been that relaxed. As a Hong Kong student, I have never-ending work to do. Stress from different aspects, especially academic, makes me feel suffocated. Now, I have learnt the way to relax my body, as well as my mind. I will practice mindfulness frequently, in order to attain inner peace. Lastly, we sang Plum Village songs together and ended the wonderful day.

一次愉悅的經歷── 修習正念

十二月中，Parry老師帶我們遊覽大澳，幾位梅村法師也結伴同行。我原本以為出家人不苟言笑，十分嚴肅，但是梅村法師跟我想像中的截然不同。她們和藹可親，又主動跟我們聊天，整個旅途都充滿歡聲笑語。

享用午餐前，法師提醒我們要珍惜食物，並懷有感恩的心進食，因為它們是由多種元素匯 聚而成的，我們能享用它們是非常幸運的事。法師的話使我恍然大悟── 陽光、雨水、土壤的滋養，農夫辛勤的耕作，菜販高聲的叫賣，廚師精心的烹調等等，缺少了任何一環，我們都無法進食這些菜餚。桌上的食物，乃至世間一切事 物，全都是因緣和合的結果，我們應當惜緣。

午膳後，我們前往蓮池寺禪修。大嶼山的空氣特別清新，通往蓮池寺的小徑兩旁種滿樹木，寺外更有一片綠油油的草地，使人心曠神怡。

抵達目的地後，我們先在草地上進行深度放鬆。我們依從法師的指示，讓身體休息。市區 內全都是密不透風的高樓大廈，幾乎把天空遮蔽了。直至躺在草地上，我才發覺天空是多麼遼闊，多麼蔚藍。溫暖的陽光灑在身上，柔風輕拂臉龐，耳邊傳來鳥兒啁 啾聲……環境舒適得非筆墨所能形容。原來快樂很簡單，只要放下一切擔憂和煩惱，隨著呼吸的起伏，身體逐漸放鬆，心就能平靜下來，達致內在的平安，並獲得喜 悅。

接著，我們做行禪的修習。我們魚貫地上山去，不慌不忙，只為步行而步行。我享受每一步，並覺知自己踏出的步伐，甚至感受到腳下碎石的觸感。如實自在地步行，這種經歷是前所未有的。平時走路我只會想其他事，從來沒有專注步行。動作放慢，才能感受更多。

下山後，我們輪流分享感想。我非常感恩有禪修的機會，因為我從來沒有如此放鬆過。平日總有做不完的工作，來自不同方面的壓力(尤其學業)使我喘不過氣來。現在掌握放鬆身心的方法，我定必多加修習，讓內心時刻感到平安。最後，我們一起唱梅村歌曲，美好的一天在歌聲中完結。

Mindfulness Practice – Hiking without Laughter?

By Parry Leung

Eight years after graduation, still being an “atheist”, I had a chance to join a 7-day retreat organized by Plum Village Hong Kong. What we did in the retreat camp was nothing special: we exercised, walked, ate, sat, lay down and relaxed… Indeed it was very special: through conscious breathing. Ven. Phap An taught us patiently that we could know we are walking, we could know we are eating, and we could even realize the subtle changes happening in our body and mind. Miraculously, after several days of practice, a lot of daily experiences were differed. I enjoyed slowly massaging my teeth with the toothbrush in the morning, rediscovering the intimate relationship between my teeth and myself. It contrasted to my usual practice of brushing the teeth for “making it brushed”. The sky was different, the flower was also different. Only in 7 days a brand new and much more interesting world was revealed. During the retreat, I received the “Five Mindfulness Training”, hoping that I could continue the “knowing” practice in my daily life. It happened by this way that I became a “practitioner”.

Several years later, I taught in a local institution. During and after regular classes, students and I discussed issues like social problems, religion, and the meaning of life. In an occasion, I had the chance to bring a group of students to visit the Lotus Pond Temple and try meditation. However, some struggles suddenly surged within my mind: In secondary school, I felt uncomfortable when I was “preached” upon by some religious believers. Now that I have received some Buddhist practices, was I also “preaching” to my students? Is “missionary” activities really needed? Would students feel pressure? “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” Was I committing such a mistake? Would students feel bad for “silent hiking”? Would students feel embarrassed for “collective singing”? Also, if there is really “no self”, why do I bother myself with so many concerns?

All worries were gone at the Tai O bus stop when I met the students with five monks and nuns from Plum Village Hong Kong. All the students greeted us with big smiles and joyful clapping. Maybe the students felt the kindness of the monastics; maybe it was a novel incident for students to meet with the monastics…

Things manifested in their own way, and it turned out that there was nothing I needed to worry about. In the morning, we toured the fishing village, visited a disappeared stilt-house, and met the unseen pink dolphins. In the afternoon, we arrived at the Lotus Pond Temple, which is also a monastery where the Plum Village Hong Kong brothers and sisters live. With the kind guidance from monks and nuns, we meditated peacefully on the lawn under the warm sunshine. We also tried hiking meditation. However, when we walked down the hill, students could no longer hold their voices and laughter, they enjoyed a happy loud walk with the monastics.

It is also nice and enjoyable to chat and talk with friends during hiking. However, we all know that city people are good at finding joy in the crowd, while not many of us can enjoy the blessing of staying alone without feeling loneliness. Walking meditation opens another door for us. In silence, we listen to our steps, the singing of birds and the orchestra of trees and wind. It does not matter whether there is “voice” or “voiceless”. We walked mindfully, our capacity of “knowing” enhanced.

At nightfall we were on the way back to the temple. One student (major in sociology) sighed, “When we are all struggling hard in order to join the game of Capitalism; they (monastics) have already left the game.”

I smiled.

正念修習──沒有談笑的行山？

大學畢業八年後，還是「無神論者」的我，有機緣參加了梅村舉辦的「七日禪」。禪營內做的事不算是很特別：做早操、走路、吃飯、靜坐、躺著休息…但其 實又很特別：主持禪修營的法印法師，很用心的教導我們，如何透過呼吸覺知道自己在走路、覺知道自己在吃飯，以致覺知道自己心理狀態的微細變化。奇妙的是， 過了幾天，發現很多平常的體驗都與別不同，就如早晚「刷牙」也會慢慢地享受用牙刷按摩牙齒，重新發現自己與牙齒的親密關係，不再為了「刷完牙」而刷牙…。 藍天不同了、花兒不同了。禪營不過七天，卻開啟了一個全新而有趣的世界。當時還接受了梅村的「五項正念修習」，希望能於日常生活中把這個「覺知」的練習持 續進行下去。

如此，自己便「有點意外的」成為了一個「修行人」。後來又開始在一間大專院校任職講師，也會與「九十後」的學生談到社會問題、宗教和信仰等話題。當 真正有機會帶學生「參訪」寺院體驗禪修的時候，內心「掙扎」突然湧出來了──那是源於自己中學時代，在校內曾被不同的宗教硬銷，如今，當我接受了佛學理念 時，我又會否在硬銷學生呢？有必要「傳教」嗎？會否讓學生感到壓力？自己以前「己所不欲」，如今是否應「勿施於人」？「靜默」行山會否令同學們覺得不自 在？集體「唱歌」會否太肉麻？還有，如果真的「無我」，為何會有這些煩惱？

一切疑慮都消失了──當我與五位梅村僧人到大澳巴士站與同學會合時，同學們見到我們慢慢走過來，竟高興得拍手大叫大笑。或許法師們燦爛的笑容感染了 他們，或許大家很少機會與出家人一起遊山玩水，覺得新鮮好奇──總之，一切發生的，都好像是一件自然不過的事。而擔心有點「別扭」的，可能只是我自己。早 上，我們二十多人一起探訪一間已經消失了的棚屋，又出海探望一群見不到的海豚；下午，我們到了昂坪「蓮池寺」，在和煦陽光以及法師的指導下躺在草地上禪 修，又到上山靜默行禪；不過，下山時，同學們還是忍不住高聲談笑嬉鬧得「一團糟」，與法師們一起「樂在其中」……

其實，與朋友們一面行山一面聊天，也是很美好和快樂的一件事情。不過，都市人都很會在人群中尋找快樂，卻少有機會在獨處中領悟幸福。行禪給我們開啟 另一扇大門，在靜默中聆聽自己的足跡、鳥兒的歌唱、樹木和風的合奏。「無聲」也好，「有聲」也罷，重要的是大家都增加了「認識」的空間，為觀察事物開啟一 個新的向度。

日落了。離開的路上，（都是主修社會學的）學生感嘆道：我們還在為進入資本主義這個遊戲掙扎不休的時候，他們竟都已經離開資本主義了。