Third translation by the one thought traveler. Again if you know Chinese and can help out with or improve this translation, please post a comment or contact me, it will be much appreciated!

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5b4d23f60102e2vr.html


观自在的三个阶段 (The Three Stages of Observing/Contemplating Freedom)
(2012-07-31 08:44:30)

涉入修行,从一个凡夫到一位观自在菩萨,大约经历三步路: Embarking on cultivation, from being an ordinary person to becoming a Bodhisattva that observes/contemplates freedom (another name for Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva), there are roughly three steps to undergo:

一、观“自在”。 观“所”期。

1. Observe "freedom". Period of observing "object".

读这三个字时,重点落在“自在”二字上,“自在”是所观的对象。凡夫修行,开始观察身心及其动作,行住坐卧,所行无碍……这是最粗浅层次的“观自在”。

When reading these three words, the emphasis lies on the word "freedom", "freedom" is the object of observation. When an ordinary person practices, and begins to observe the actions of mind and body, walking-standing-sitting-lying down, whatever is performed is without obstructions... this is the coarsest level of "observing/contemplating freedom".

此时的“观”是动词,自在是“宾语”,动宾结构。此时之观,重点落在所观的对象,即心所,一切法“尘”之上!

At this point in time, "observing" is a verb, "freedom" is an object, it is a verb-object structure. At this stage of observing, the emphasis lies in the object of observation, the object of mind, the "dusts" of all dharmas!

此个阶段的修习,是“背觉合尘”阶段,练习所生成的主要效果是专注、清静。属修定的范围。
这种观还属于凡夫位的观。

This stage of practice is the stage of "turning one's back on Awareness and uniting with the dust", the main results that come from such cultivation is concentration and tranquility. It belongs to the arena of cultivating samadhi.

This kind of observing still belongs to the observing of ordinary beings.

二、“观”自在。观“能”期。

2. "Observing" freedom. Period of observing "Subject"

读这三个字时,重点落在“观”字上。此阶段的重点,在于所观的主体。

When reading these three words, the emphasis lies in the word "Observing". At this stage the emphasis lies in the Subject of observation.

这是又进化一层的观自在,由开始观心所,移行到开始观察心上来,即那变化中的不变者。

This is "observing freedom" being evolved to another level, from the "observing the objects of mind" at the beginning, proceeding into beginning to observe the Mind itself, that is the changeless Subject in the midst of changes.

此时,“观”字的词性,开始由动词化为名词,“观”是主语,“自在”是宾语,主宾结构。这一阶段的观行重点,在心的觉性上,即对尘而生的心镜上。

At this point, the word class of "Observing" , begins to be transformed from a verb into a noun, "Observing" is a Subject, "freedom" is an object, it is of a subject-object structure. At this stage the emphasis in contemplation lies in the Mind's Awareness-nature, that Mind's mirror which manifests when encountering dusts.

这个阶段的观,是“背尘合觉”阶段,即修行人常说的“返闻闻自性”、“观观”、“见见”、“闻闻”、“觉觉”等。此期开始涉入修慧。

At this stage of Observing, it is the stage of "turning one's back on dust to unite with Awareness", or what practitioners often call "turning the perceiving around to perceive Self-Nature", "Observing the Observing", "Seeing the Seeing", "Hearing the Hearing", Awareness of Awareness", etc. From this phase onwards one begins to embark on practicing Wisdom.

这种观属于菩萨位的观。

This kind of Observing belongs to the observing of the Bodhisattva seat.

三、观自在。离能所期。Observing freedom. Period of departing from subject-object.

此时的观,不在二元里缠缚了,离开了能与所。没有观者,没有所观,纯一心光。心如明镜,得大圆镜智。

The observing of this point in time does not fall into the binds of dualism, it departs from Subject and Object. There is no Observer, there is no object of observation, there is purely a single mind's luminosity. Mind is like a clear mirror, attaining to the wisdom of the perfect great mirror wisdom.

此时的“观自在”三个字,是“观——独自存在”、“唯‘观’存在”的意思。此时的语句,不再是主宾或动宾结构,它仅是一个陈述句,不含有“动作”。

At this point the words "observing freedom" means "observation - alone exists", "only 'observation' exists". At this point the sentence is no longer of a verb-object nor subject-object structure, it is purely a declarative sentence/statement, and does not contain any "action".

这是离“能、所”期,入“无为法”期,成“大菩萨”期,受“寂灭乐”期,做“无事闲人”期,了悟“诸法无自性”期。

This is the period of leaving "subject, object", entering into the "dharma of non-action"/"unconditioned dharma", the period of becoming the "Great Bodhisattva", enjoying the "bliss of quiescent cessation", the period of becoming the "free man without anything to do", the period of realizing "all dharmas are without self-nature".

此时深知“一切法体本空,一切法相唯识”,直观经验到“诸法空相”。心经二百六十字的陈述,正是在这样的“观自在”下所见到的。
这是涉过彼岸的佛观。

At this point one deeply understands, "the nature of all dharmas are originally empty, all appearances of dharmas are purely [the fabrications of] consciousness", directly experiencing "all dharmas are empty appearances". The state of the 260 words of Heart Sutra, is precisely seen in this kind of "contemplating/observing freedom". This is the Observing of Buddha that has crossed over to the other shore.

上述三观,对一些人是有次第的,对一些人没有次第。进化层次低的修行者只能观到他所进化之时和之前的事物,进化程度高的修行者能同时观和观到一切境界。

The above-mentioned three kinds of observing are gradual to some people and non-gradual to some people. Those practitioners at a lower state of evolution can only observe up to whatever is within and prior to his present state of evolution, whereas those practitioners at a higher level of evolution can simultaneously observe all states.
1 Response
  1. Anonymous Says:

    The buddha said:bhikkhus,whenever there is arising,ill(dukkha)is inevitable.

    One ,must strive hard to experience release from arising,only then can liberation possible