每個人都帶著自己的欲求來學習佛法，當我們的欲求得不到滿足時，我們會否感到沮喪？我們又會否檢視：我們的欲求和佛陀的核心教育吻合嗎？在佛法的學習過程中，又應如何一步一步地增強我們的信心？ 繼續閱讀▸ “信心”
「無懼面對」— 新冠疫情下，如何理智, 泰然自處
日期： 2020年03月20日
地點：美國寂靜禪舍
主講：阿姜開照、開印阿闍梨
講次：1 講
危難當前，只問蒼生 In face of the crisis, one should focus on the people
《大智度論》卷22：「佛如醫王，法如良藥，僧如瞻病人。」
The Treatis on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, Chap 22 says “Buddha is the best doctor
Dhamma is his prescription,Sangha is his medical Practitioner.”(CBETA 2019.14, T25, no.1509, p.224a22)新冠病毒，可能中國與台灣基於彼此的民情習慣不同、政治背景也不太一樣，近來看見有的朋友（也有佛友）在FB或微信上為此與人發生了爭執，馬來西亞和美國也有人參與口水戰。各有各的理由，似乎都覺得自己「很有正義」，有的學佛人連惡口、詛咒都出來了，阿彌陀佛！
我靜靜在思察，這些口出惡言罵詈的人，他/她的「正義」背後還有什麼是一般人看不見的理由？有沒把「瞋害」包裝成了「正義」？不然，如此凜然的「正義」怎會叫人恐畏呢？呼籲大家停止口水戰，口水不抗毒，只會更傳染。
恭祝大家庚子年身心健康，道心堅固，元宵快樂！
Perhaps it is because Mainland China and Taiwan have different customs and practices, or because the two evolve under different political backgrounds, lately I have witnessed some disputes and controversies surrounding the novel coronavirus among friends (including some Buddhist friends) on social media such as Facebook or WeChat. Some people in Malaysia and the United States have also gotten involved in the verbal altercations. Everyone has their rationale, and each seems to think they have a “righteous” standpoint. Some Buddhist followers even express their opinions using malicious speech and
offensive languages. Amittaba!
I observe and contemplate, individuals who use malicious speech and vent in evil words, does s/he have a cause hidden from everyone else? Is it possible that s/he is hiding his/her “anger” under the disguise of “righteousness”? Otherwise, how can such “righteousness”, when being put forth, be so terrifying?
I urge everyone to stop engaging in verbal disputes. Words cannot stop, but spread viruses.
I wish everyone good health and strong faith in the year of
the Rat.
Happy Lantern Festival!
繼續閱讀▸ “危難當前，只問蒼生 In face of the crisis, one should focus on the people”
建議暫停「共修會」聚眾共修
致各位共修會學員，
為了避免美國流感及病毒性肺炎的疫情擴散，建議大家暫停前往各地共修點聚眾，直至疫情消退為止。這段期間，大家可自行在家裡連線共修。禪舍將為大家提供100條線，先到先得。
美國寂靜禪舍共修會通啟
通知：「共修會」將於美國丹佛時間2月1日週六復課
2020年美國寂靜禪舍「共修會」，將於美國丹佛時間2月1日週六復課。與2019年一樣，相約在丹佛時間每週六下午3:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
新年第一次共修的前半段，將舉行「瑞鼠降福 —— 美國寂靜禪舍新春祈願活動」。安排如下：
第一堂課：3pm- 3:50 pm: 「瑞鼠降福 —— 美國寂靜禪舍新春祈願活動」
— 全球連線，100條線，先到先得 —
活動流程
1、 活動流程簡介（5 mins）。
2、 2019年回顧、2020展望（15 mins）。
3、 恭請開印阿闍梨開示（15 mins）。
4、 恭請開印阿闍梨帶領大眾一起稱頌三寶、唸誦《吉祥經》、懺悔、功德迴向（15mins）。
第二堂課：4pm- 5:00 pm：阿闍梨「共修會」開示
— 全球連線，100條線，先到先得 —
開示內容
綜貫「天人四輪」之福德善根而趣向於止觀解脫，依《瑜伽師地論》注釋，即處所圓滿、教導圓滿、正行圓滿、資糧圓滿四者。
馬來西亞太平「慈悲禪七」報導
2019年12月21日（六）至28日（六）美國寂靜禪舍開印阿闍梨應馬來西亞霹靂州太平佛教會之邀指導七天的慈悲禪修課程。 繼續閱讀▸ “馬來西亞太平「慈悲禪七」報導”
檳城「念處軒」弘法活動 Dhamma Activities in Nianchu Xuan in Penang
阿闍梨2019年12月17日於馬來西亞檳城「念處軒」的活動圓滿。是日白天，「念處軒」主人Upekkha、Upekkha父母及餘家人準備豐富的午齋供僧。下午，阿闍梨受邀為Upekkha「念處軒」佛龕、佛像灑淨，及為Upekkha大姊及外甥舉行三皈五戒儀式。
是晚的「學佛知苦，但快樂」開示吸引了近60人前來聆聽。屋內屋外都坐有熱心聽法的居士。阿闍梨以「念處經」出發，為大家解釋了如何「知苦」，「正觀苦」來助長菩提正覺。
隨喜讚嘆Upekkha及家人請法、組織活動、及促成弘法因緣。Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu!
On Dec.17th, 2019, Acariya was invited to Nianchu Xuan in Penang, Malaysia, for a series of Dhamma activities. In the daytime, Acariya and other Sangha members accepted a meal offering from the household of Nianchu Xuan, Upekkha and her family. In the afternoon Acariya conducted a Water Purification Ceremony for the Buddha’s statue and the niche, and also presided over the ceremony of Taking the Three Refuges and Five Precepts for Upekhha’s older sibling and nephew.
At night, the cozy house has been stuffed with nearly 60 people, coming for the night’s Dhamma talk on “Understanding the Truth about Sufferings, and Be Happy”. Drawing references from the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, Acariya expounded on how to understand sufferings and to develop rightful insight into the nature of sufferings to help us achieve enlightenment.
Well Done to Upekkha and her family, for requesting the teaching, organizing the activities and facilitating the promotion of Dhamma.
文/圖/英譯 Text/Photo/Translation：Sacca
網絡用語巧解枯燥難懂的巴利文複合詞 Explaining the Dry Pali Compounds Using Internet Slang
阿闍梨昨晚跟檳城一些佛友交流，跟大家解釋什麼是巴利文的複合詞時說：「你們知道什麼是「不明覺厲」嗎？就是說我雖然不明白你在講什麼，但是我覺得你很厲害。這樣表達太囉嗦，所以縮短起來用四個字來表達「不明」「覺厲」。這就是複合詞。」
Mind-blowing ！聽完忍不住「喜大普奔」😄
In last night‘s Dhamma exchange with friends in Penang, one asked about the literature languages in Buddhist studies. Acariya explained the compound words using the popular internet slang in Mainland China – Incomprehensibly Terrific (不明覺厲), which is the short way of saying What You Said is Incomprehensible to me, but It Sounds Terrific. Acariya continued, the full expression is wordy so it was shortened to Incomprehensibly Terrific. That is like how compound is made.
😄 What a mind-blowing way to turn a piece of dry knowledge to something juicy!
文/圖/英譯 Text/Photo/Translation：Sacca
開印阿闍梨弗吉尼亞弘法行
Richmond城是維吉尼亞州的首府，開山寮道場落於Richmond城外寧靜的一個小城中，住民多半是以務農為主。當地有許多佛教信徒，每個週末都有固定的聚會，研討佛法，切磋琢磨，再加上開山寮道場地理形勢，又寬擴，又方便，不時都會舉行禪修法會。 繼續閱讀▸ “開印阿闍梨弗吉尼亞弘法行”
西雅圖慈心禪一
20190902 西雅圖「身念住」禪一圓滿，這次我們最小的學員才七歲半。
We had a wonderful one day retreat on the Mindfulness of the Body in Seattle, and also an amazing and diligent young student, Siya, who’s only seven and half year old.
