Zheng Dao正道 The Way

This year, we were given the theme The Way. What does it all mean? How does it fit into the larger picture? We asked our Master what The Way means and this is what She said.

今年，我们的主题是正道。什么是正道？正道与整个大环境有何关联？我们将这些疑问告知我们的师傅，且听她怎么解说。

Our Master speaks…Unlike most other Charitable society (善堂), our Shrine’s philosophy is purely Buddhism. It is not mixed with Taoism or Confucisim.

师傅说。。。我们与其他善堂不同之处，关键在于单纯的佛理，没有与道教或孔子信教混淆的佛理。

The essence of our philosophy centers on a single heart that cherishes the path, this is The Way. When we train our heart and mind and follow this path, we will discover the truth…真理…. With this understanding and comprehension of the truth…. we develop 正念 mindfulness.We will discuss this in more details over the next few years…For now, the key question is how do we walk or follow The Way?

我们的哲理注重的是全心归依佛道的一颗赤子之心，这就是正道。当我们指引我们的心灵与精神一心向佛时，我们就会发掘真理。。。悟破真理后。。。我们就会产生正念。我们将在下来几年详细探讨这些过程。。。现阶段，我们将关注如何踏上或追随正道？

To take this path of The Way, one has to adopt a few precepts – they are only preliminary or precursors along the journey of The Way. These five precepts are to build up the fundamental character of the person. The precepts are against 1) killing living beings, 2) taking what is not given, 3) engaging in sexual misconduct, 4) false speech and 5) the taking of intoxicants.

欲从道，本身必须采取一些戒律，而这只不过是正道之途的初步。这五大戒律旨在锻炼一个人的本质。它们为1）不可屠杀生物，2）不可掠夺非己之物，3）不可进行不当性行为，4）不可发表妄语，以及5）不可服用酒精。

Additionally, we have more…. unlike other Buddhist schools, in addition to the five precepts, we abstain from gambling; we observe vegetarianism on Fridays; we do not abuse or take advantage of others.

此外，还有。。。我们与其他佛教学校有别，因为除了五戒外，我们还忌赌；我们在星期五吃斋；我们不会辱骂他人或占他人的便宜。

From these precepts, we take on the eight steps on the noble path, not sequentially but simultaneously -right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.

按照这些戒律，我们踏上八正道之旅程。我们是同时，而非按序遵守八正道的教诲 – 正识、正念、正言、正行、正局、正力、正心、正思。

We asked Master how she trains the members, She admitted that She is not much of a philosopher but a doer and believer of self reliance.

我们问师傅她是如何训练徒员的，她承认她非哲理家，而是通过行与信来传授教诲的。

Those who are capable, She provides them the basic guiding principles and leaves them largely on their own to seek the path. Occasionally, she steers them in the right way should they deviate. For those who needs more help, She keeps them closer, guiding them, rubbing off some of the virtues to them until they are ready to be on their own.

对于有能力的徒员，她会传授他们基本指导原则，并让他们自己摸索正途。偶尔，她也会为那些迷失方向的徒员指引方向。对于那些需要更多教诲的徒员，她会督促他们、引领他们，让他们从师傅身上体验贤德，直至他们能独立思考为止。

Next phase…下个阶段。。。

From following The Way, we develop the true understanding and we need to constantly develop our mind so that we can develop mindfulness.

一心向正道，使我们产生真正的悟性。我们必须时常锻炼我们的心灵，让我们也能产生正理。

On the purpose of meditation, She says it is to keep our mind calm and still. And with one focused heart, we cherish i.e. we treasure, we value, we become focused. We meditate to train the 5 senses…to calm your sight, mind, smell, hearing, touch, taste…

关于禅坐的目的，她说是为了让心情平和宁静。有了一颗专注的心，我们就能珍惜、爱护、爱惜，我们变得集中。我们禅坐来训练五个感官。。。来缓和您的视觉、心灵、嗅觉、听觉、触觉、味觉。。。

On how to focus our mind, She advises novices and beginners to begin with eyes open, looking at an image of the Buddha. Sometimes, we can use a cup of water and we focus on the water level. Eventually the image of the Buddha will appear before you as you continue to practice, you will get true understanding/ realization.

如何集中信念，她建议新手和初学者开始先正开眼睛，集中于一尊佛像。有时，我们也能集中于一杯水的水平。渐渐地，您在打坐之时，佛祖的图像就会出现在您的眼前，您就会得到真理/ 悟性。