莲池 ——索达吉堪布

圆容

莲池 | Lotus Pond

闽南佛学院大殿前有一泓宽阔的莲池，晚春临近，池中的荷花也相继开放。一场春雨过后
，霁日从云层里露出笑颜，照着花瓣和叶子上凝聚着的晶莹雨滴，使之散发出五彩的光芒
# S7 J; ]2 [. q) e3 g) \9 P3 ]! W& s，将白色的花儿映得分外妖娆。翠绿的荷叶，如凝脂般地透出雍容华贵的气质，将莲池装
1 ^4 L" @; h: U( O6 C1 F8 b$ [( L点得生机盎然。蜻蜓、点水鸟穿梭其间，肆无忌惮地享受着花叶的芬芳；放生的鱼儿遨游
浅底，向莲茎诉说着自由的舒畅；岸边的树木新绿荡漾，为归燕谱写出春的乐章；往来的
僧众步履悠闲，是否已体会到“春在枝头已十分”的境界？
' B3 @) M# [$ C4 j, YRight in front of the main hall of the Minnan Buddhist Academy, there is a large lotus pond; late
6 b3 |6 D' A( O+ X9 S9 R/ Vin the spring, lotus flowers start to blossom one after the other. When the sun comes out smiling
from behind the clouds after a shower; the crystalline water droplets on leaves and blossoms
sparkle brilliantly. White flowers, reflecting a riot of colors, become notably charming to the eye.
Verdant lotus leaves, ever elegant and poised, give the pond exuberant vigor; dragonflies and
! @9 T  u5 j* Zbirds glide smoothly over the pond, taking in the flowers’ fragrance to their hearts’ delight. Fish
9 _- B1 ~. q" L+ A7 D; ?3 ewhose lives have been saved are now swimming at will in the pond, chitchatting to the flowers of
4 m+ v8 K% i7 e2 m# M6 Z5 {( ^the marvel of freedom. The trees around the bank are bedecked with green baby buds, as if
composing a spring symphony to welcome the returning swallows. Monks promenade leisurely
! q* ^0 d! h" v7 [and meditatively; have they felt in the air that “spring is making a full display of itself over the
- T+ V5 ~  l4 ^' j9 O0 y) r( Dtreetops”?
这令人陶醉的春色莫非是佛菩萨的化现？身临其间，不仅身心通泰，更令我体会到“青青
翠竹，无非般若；郁郁黄花，尽是法身”的深刻涵义。
+ z# ]/ p3 ~5 o  Y9 J6 D9 Q8 bThis spring scenery is utterly enchanting; could it be anything but the display of the Buddhas and
2 u4 E8 v! V* g# P0 LBodhisattvas? As I immerse myself fully in it, not only do I feel refreshed mentally and physically,
/ K; u8 l! a7 z4 O8 rbut also am inspired to realize the profundity of this Zen poem:
Bamboos, all green and vibrant, are nothing but the display of wisdom
/ t# k( T+ {( b! SFlowers, all yellow and lush, are entirely the expression of Dharmakaya.
; i0 i0 f' _# [, S$ F% ^修建莲池的法师，可谓具有真知灼见，在修建莲池之初，即在四周建造了围墙，使这里远
离了世间的喧嚣，为修行人提供了一个寂静的场所。难怪连一墙之隔的厦门大学的学子，
5 Q0 K- ~& _/ {( F3 H3 _也喜欢到此温习功课，享受这佛门独具的幽静。
The layout of this pond was well conceived by the monks who built it. Having a wall built around
it, the pond is isolated from the noise and busyness of the city and provides a quiet retreat for
practitioners. No wonder even students from next-door neighbor Xiamen University also like to
visit here, to enjoy the unique seclusion of the monastery while doing their homework.
想起曾见过的一副对联：“风声、水声、虫声、鸟声、梵呗声，总合三百六十五天击钟声
$ m/ c" r7 c  g# S，无声不寂；月色、山色、草色、树色、云霞色，更兼四万八千丈峰峦色，有色皆空。”
  a$ \9 }  ^1 l: c3 RAn antithetical couplet comes to my mind:
The sounds of wind, water, insects, birds, and chanting, all together with those of gongs of 365
; U1 d8 [& _8 {, E+ Z  r* Q0 Ydays—there is no sound that is not silence.
The forms of moon, mountain, grass, tree, and sunset, as well as those of 48,000 mountains—all
forms are nothing but emptiness.
6 M2 Y# R. ^! A3 c若能将之题于大殿，也许也能给人以一些启迪吧。
& ?4 u; b! u( i6 r" V0 i% aThis couplet, if posted inside the main hall, may invoke some inspiration in people who read it.
4 i, H8 @8 y* x4 i3 G在如此的环境里修行，真是令人惬意的事。我多么希望喇荣圣地也能有这样的一汪莲池啊
* y6 T8 ?, r. h/ k' d！
* y: S8 E8 ^9 Z5 ^To do one’s spiritual practice in such a setting is quite a blessing. How I wish we could have a
1 a- V  ?3 {4 C; Plotus pond just like this at Larung Gar!
1 z* z5 {( y, w& e; A) a/ v壬午年三月初七　　
2002年4月19日 　
书于莲池畔
8 |; b* ]* O! s- d* z7th of March, Year of RenWu
April 19, 2002
By the Lotus Pond
  N1 o: l: b/ l" w$ K. Y