桃花悟道   (靈雲志勤禪師       )

三十年來尋劍客，
  
幾回落葉又抽枝。     

自從一見桃華後，   

直至如今更不疑。   

  
“Spiritual Liberation by
Encountering the Peach Blossom”  

Being a sword seeker for over 30 years, and      

Having experienced so many seasonal cycles of
falling leaves and breeding new branches.

Ever since once upon my encountering the
peach blossom,      

No more doubt exists on the path of  liberation
as of today.    

—— Poem by ancient Zen Master Zi-Chin
of Ning-Yuen Monastery ——    

 灵云志勤禅师悟道因缘   

灵云志勤禅师，长庆大安禅师之法嗣，福州长溪人。初礼
大沩，久未契悟。时长庆大安禅师于沩山充当典座。
　　
一日经行，灵云禅师见桃花灼灼，因而悟道，平生疑处，一时
消歇。于是作偈曰：
　　　　
“三十年来寻剑客，几回落叶又抽枝。
自从一见桃华后，直至如今更不疑。”
　　
沩山禅师看了他的悟道偈之后，反复诘问，遂与之印可，
并教诲道：“从缘悟达，永无退失。善自护持。”
　　
古人讲，开悟的契机因人不同而千差万别。有言下荐得，
有从缘悟得，有读经明得。诸般悟处，以从缘悟得，得力
最大。因为从缘悟得需要有长期的修行作基础，是量变到
一定的程度而发生的质变，而且完全是无心而得。因此，
一旦从缘悟得，便永不退失。从灵云志勤
禅师的悟道偈中，可以看出，他在睹桃花悟道之前，整整苦修
了三十年。没有这三十的功夫，纵然天天见桃花，亦不得悟入。
　　
志勤禅师悟道后，不久即回福州灵云山传法。
其座下曾有僧问：“如何得出离生老病死？”
志勤禅师道：“青山元（原）不动，浮云任去来。”
　　
这一答语，对于我们这些怖畏生死的凡夫来说，应该说是一个
很好的安慰。生死是什么？原本是人的妄想。究实而言，无生
死可得。若悟本来面目，生死不过如浮云一般，而我们的自性
何曾减损过一毫，何曾移动过一步！

志勤禅师在灵云山驻锡期间，与雪峰义存禅师之间多有机锋往来。
雪峰禅师曾作偈送双峰古禅师，最末一句是：“雷罢不停声。
”志勤禅师知道后，另作一句云：“雷震不闻声”。
”雪峰禅师听说后，遂赞叹道：“灵云山头古月现。”      

Zen poem study: 

Zen master Zi-Chin was popular in late Tang Dynasty
(around 860-880). He practiced very hard for 30 years
on the path to spiritual purification and liberation.
He called himself as a “Sword Seeker”because a proper
sharp sword can cut off the illusion and attachment.
That means he was always trying to find appropriate
ways to break through in his Zen meditation and has
accumulated over 30 years solid ground of practice.   

There were many peach trees around him in the garden
of monastery. He saw it for 30 years but has never paid
his attention to it at all. However, one day in the Spring
during his walking meditation, he saw the peach blossom
and got enlightened on the spot.    

By the law of nature, the peach tree grows new branches,
leaves and flowers on the season each year. These flowers
and leaves will fall after season. The same cycle constantly
repeated every year but the law of nature has never been
changed. He suddenly realized that his true mind is just
like the law of nature which remains unchanged although
the seasons kept changing it self. He thus got enlightened
by this occasion of encountering the peach blossom.
He therefore made this famous poem.   

Peace to all beings.

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