家中四威儀

文／宋．慈受懷深（1077～1132）

家中行，尋常違順不須爭，

若知步步無階級，何必蓮華腳下生。

家中住，早起開門夜閉戶，

運水搬柴莫倩人，方知佛是凡夫做。

家中坐，一室寥寥是什麼？

靈光一點甚分明，何必青山尋達摩。

家中臥，展腳縮腳皆由我，

若能一覺到天明，始信參禪輸懶惰。

──選自《慈受懷深禪師廣錄》

The Four Comportments at Home

Cishou Huaisheng（1077-1132,Song Dynasty）

English translation: Venerable Miao Guang

When conducting oneself at home, do not quarrel over general orders. If one knows that after each step no rank is achieved, then there is no need for lotuses to blossom beneath one’s feet.

When living at home, open the doors upon rising in the morning, and shut the windows upon retiring for the night. Leave not the tasks of collecting water and carrying firewood to others, for one should know that a buddha evolves from an ordinary human being.

When sitting at home, what is a scarce room? A spark of attainment is rather clear; where is the need to search for Bodhidharma out in the green mountains?

When lying at home, it is up to oneself whether to stretch or retract one’s legs. Should one be able to sleep all through the night, one will begin to have faith that the practice of Chan cannot compare to laziness.

── from Cishou Huaisheng Chanshi Guanglu

(Extensive Record of Chan Master Cishou Huaisheng)