A Buddhist Journal

August 30, 2006

Here Now VS The Past – 回首依依

回首依依,
酒綠燈紅歌舞繁華,
大夢場中誰識我.到此歇歇,
風清月白梵唄空靈,
高峰頂上喚迷徒.

(净业寺的对联)


“Here Now vs The Past”

Look back
to the blinking of fascinating neon lights,
People in that sensual life of vast prosperous dream-field
can hardly recognize me.

Rest here
on top of a mountain peak,
accompanied by the breeze and moonshine,

and chanting aloud
into the emptiness of still sky
trying to wake up those un-awakened.


净业寺位于陕西西安城西南终南山半峪口内,为中国佛教律宗祖庭。寺始建于隋末唐初,
是中国佛教律宗创始人、唐代高僧道宣长期布道传法的道场。
净业寺占地面积约十亩,殿宇规模不算太大,但因地处幽僻,历代战乱破坏较少。
据《长安县》记载,麟德二年
(665),诏令道宣于此建石戒坛,依新法为后续沙门再受具足戒。
唐以后寺渐陵夷。明正统二年
(1437),住持云秀曾加修葺。嘉靖三十四年(1555)地震塔倾,
隆庆年间重修。清康熙五十二年
(1713)诸山长老重建道宣律师塔。道光十二年(1832)又作大
修,并立规约碑记。现寺改为十方常住寺院,立十方碑记。每年结土净修。寺内正殿面宽五间,
形制古朴。两廊及檐额皆为彩绘。有东西学堂、法堂、伽蓝殿三间及僧舍等,寺外东北有道宣
律师舍利塔。寺内堂存有明代所制的《唐道宣律师遗迹》碑刻一方,详细记叙了道宣的生平历史。

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Mind Is Like Full Moon In Fall – 吾心似秋月


The most beautful Full Moon of the year is in Fall. In the middle of Fall,
Chinese people celebrate it with “Moon Festival”.

吾心似秋月,碧潭清皎潔,無物堪比倫,教我如何說。
(寒山大士)


My mind is like the perfect full moon in Fall,

As reflected in the lake with serenity and clarity,

Nothing can compare with it.


How could I explain it? 
It is beyond words.
(Poem by a great Chinese Zen Master Han-Shan) 
Alternative Translation: 

My mind is like the Autumn moon 

Clear and Bright in a pool of jade 

Nothing can compare 

What more can I say. 

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