Words of Wisdom - False Thoughts 妄想

12.坐禅要有忍力

Chan meditation requires great endurance

● 各从其类，各打妄想

False thoughts arise according to their kind

因为坐在那个地方，没有事情干了，这猴子就要不老实了；不老实就想入非非。想入非非，从非非想处天来的，就尽打非非想处天的妄想；从忉利天来的，就尽打忉利天的妄想；从地狱来的，就尽打地狱的妄想；从饿鬼道那儿来的，就打饿鬼的妄想；从畜生那儿来的，打畜生的妄想；从阿罗汉那儿来的，就打阿罗汉的妄想。阿罗汉说不要打妄想，要没有妄想，要无念无生。从菩萨那儿来的，就打菩萨妄想：「唉，什么时候我可以证得这妙觉这果位呢？」

Because of the current inactivity [in the meditation hall], the monkey mind cannot stay still and so indulge in fantasy. Those who come from Naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatana[1] heaven will have false thoughts about that place; this is similarly true for those who come from the Trāyastriṃśa[2] heaven. Those from the realm of naraka (hell), preta (hungry ghosts), tiryagyoni (animals), or Arhat also have false thoughts about their respective realm. Arhats are supposed to not engage in false thinking and when false thoughts no longer arise, one will transcend and be free from the cycle of rebirth. Bodhisattvas would have Bodhisattva’s false thoughts of, “Goodness! When will I realize the Fruition of Wonderful Enlightenment (Buddhahood)?”

唯独到佛的境界上是没有妄想了。嗯，还有一个妄想，这个妄想佛也免不了的！什么妄想呢？佛要度众生：「哎，众生我怎么样能把他们度尽了呢？」你说，这个也是妄想。所以在这个世界上，各从其类，那一界就打那一界的妄想。

Only by realizing Buddhahood would one be free of false thoughts. Ah, but there is still one false thought that even the Buddhas cannot avoid having: "Sigh! How do I liberate all sentient beings?”  One may consider this is also a false thought. Hence in this world, each sentient being gives rise to false thoughts according to its kind and the realm it comes from. 

(revised by Bo Han Zhu and reviewed by James Lin)

Editor's Note:

Copy from the Official Website (Chinese) of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association - www.drbachinese.org