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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0078

Tape no. 2B 04:10 ~ 11:45

Date : 2018/12/27 ~ 12/30

Outline: Foundation

Topic: Opening Veneration – Veneration before commentary

English Lamrim Vol 1, Page 33

Vol. 1 of Master’s discourse handbook P51-L4 ~ P55-LL4

[Master Jih-Chang’s commentary book 1, tape 2B on page Prologue 16~21] Therefore, speaking of this, I have this recollection: while I was studying earlier, I came across several stories. Master Zi-bo [A.D. 1543~1603] was one of the four major Masters during the late Ming dynasty. He was a very outstanding practitioner. Thus, everyone called him Honourable Venerable Zi-bo. Due to his accomplishment, he reached a very thorough realization. He endured various hardships and explored specific topics until he achieved great doubt [a Zen practice where practitioners forced themselves with huge effort to explore fundamental questions]. The biography portrays that he delved so much into exploring the question that [his] head and face were swollen. His head, face, and body were all swollen up, which indicated how hard he practiced. Thus, he reached realization. Upon the realization, he said, “Alas! If I were under the guidance of great teachers like Lin-ji [A.D. ?~867] and Deh-shan [A.D. 782~865,] I would have been enlightened by being struck with a stick and wouldn’t have gone through all these hardships!” By reading the biography, we might consider these sentences merely some light topics. Now, let me briefly bring [the hardship to earn realization] to your attention. [00′59″]

Let’s look at why his “head and face were all swollen.” It is beyond our imagination to fathom what would lead to a swollen head and face; we probably have no idea. Here, let me introduce you a contemporary person, whom you might have the opportunity to meet in the future. He probably is close to forty; I forgot his exact age. For a while, he studied hard all by himself; what did he do? [He was] in a “pratyutpanna-samadhi*” retreat; he engaged in [the cultivation of pratyutpannasamadhi.] It was more than a decade ago when I just returned from the US. Upon my return, he came to visit me. He told me that he was studying at a Buddhist academy. I said, “You should continue with the program.” He told me, “Well, I really could not continue the program anymore!” I knew that he was a practitioner too, and nowadays most Buddhist academies will fill their curricula with courses like English and Japanese languages, which he had no interest at all. Later, I said to him, since you already started the course, why not continue the study and finish the remaining three-year program. He replied, “Venerable, why did you come back here?” I said I came back for a retreat. I then briefly went over [my experience abroad] with him… He stayed with me for three days, and then he returned, beginning [his practice of “pratyutpannasamadhi”.] [02′01″]

[*pratyutpanna-samadhi: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratyutpanna_Sam%C4%81dhi_S%C5%ABtra ] About the pratyutpanna-samadhi, few knew how to apply it. I said, “This pratyutpanna-samadhi is not easy at all, and you should not do it hastily.” However, with great determination, he would like to give it a try. Well, since that was what he wished, I told him what to go about it. Actually, I was not an expert. Nevertheless, since I had studied the teaching and had some understanding of the proper procedures, I told him how to practice it. After returning [to his place], he wrote to me later, describing how he got started…. Of course engaging in this type of practice doesn’t mean this: well, once I plan to start the practice, then I would complete the entire practice in one try; this is not so. Rather, it should proceed with gradual progress; following certain crucial points. The first step is to sever external connections; there is no other choice; you simply need to cut off external interactions! Then, the next is to make some preparations. First, you need to get ready for the practice physically and mentally; then get yourself ready for the daily walk. In the beginning, try to walk for two hours. Well, it will not be easy. After you walk for a while, gradually it will become much easier. Then, you could increase the practice to three hours, then four hours, and eventually walking slowly for twenty hours becomes possible. It is not easy! Without trying it yourself, you might consider twenty hours of walking seems easy; try it for yourself. You can’t even keep walking for two hours in one session, let alone asking you to walk for twenty hours straight. [03′03″]

Another experience of mine was in the suburban area in New York. There were two students, one of whom was a westerner. As soon as I arrived there, they’d like to start the practice. I told them to take their time, but they were very impatient. They were so eager to rush into it that I figured it was futile to stop them. Since the prayer hall upstairs was quite spacious, I said he [referring to the westerner] might start his practice there. He made a daily schedule. For the first day, I was not sure how he survived; I had no idea. Early on the second day in the morning, he said, “Well, Master, I am not able to continue!” “Why?” “The first part of the day, I am fine, but in the afternoon, I am unbearably fidgety. I declared that I would stay with the schedule but I can’t stick with it. I finally had to give up in the evening; it certainly was tough!” So this is my personal experience as well as the experience of the people around me. [03′45″]

Let’s go back to the aforementioned person who practiced pratyutpanna-samadhi. He persisted in walking, walking, walking, and walking… In the first three months, he did not make any progress, having a little achievement. But after walking continuously for a much longer period, what happened to him? Edema, his feet became swollen. If it were for us, well, just a little bit of hardship would be unbearable. When the swelling first started, he was aware of this effect out of the predecessors’ experience he had learned; without perseverance and strong will, it would be impossible for him to endure and overcome the hardship! When he pressed his legs with his fingers, his skin would retain a dimple even after being depressed, just like that. It took about half a day, half a day for the dimple to disappear, but then the swelling would happen again! The puffiness was extremely severe! The swelling would first start from the feet, then the thighs, and later the lower part of the body, but he still clenched his teeth and persevered with his practice. After three months, he did not find any sign of achievement. Well, well, he took a break for a good rest and started over again. The second time was different. He described his practice that he eventually walked for over twenty hours. He said that he would not lean on the wall or rest in the middle [of the prayer hall]. In the center of the prayer hall was the statue of Buddha. When he was walking by, sometimes he was so fatigued that he would gently lean against the wall. As soon as he leaned on it, he immediately dropped asleep, flaking out right away! He just went out like a light in no time! While he was dropping off, “thump!” he collapsed on the floor. But he would get up right away! Sometimes he sat on the floor, not wanting to get up. However, this was definitely out of the question! He struggled so hard for a long while so as to stand straight again. He must not lean against the wall, for once he leaned on it, he would drop off in no time! See what a grueling challenge it was! This was such strong, unyielding willpower here! [05′08″]

Despite such difficult circumstances, he slowly and gradually continued with the practice. Aha! Here came the most interesting part – there came the effect! A sense of pliancy arose within him, and the physical edema gradually subsided. He felt the pliancy and was incredibly refreshed within. In fact, without internal willpower, it is impossible for you to press ahead. Therefore, there are two requirements: one is the strong willpower, which you just cannot do without. The other is the correct approach. Only with correct approach and strong willpower will you be able to continue with the practice. Without the correct approach or proper guidance, he could not achieve these true aligning effects. Without achieving the effects, well, all the sufferings he went through were in vain; they bore no fruit! He met the two requirements, namely, [both strong willpower and correct approach,] so the physical swelling and mental afflictions subsided, and he felt incredibly refreshed! The entire worldly afflictions were gone; such fresh, cool feeling is beyond description! If you strive hard enough, you will attain such experience; nothing can compare to that kind of joyfulness. [06′01″]

Then, to what degree is this fresh, cool feeling? I will briefly give you a general description. He strived really hard; usually, he had a very good appetite. Newly ordained monastics all share a similar experience of abiding by the precepts of having two meals a day. Soon after you engage in this daily routine, and because you are not accustomed to it, namely without the evening meal, you will have a big appetite and eat a lot. We often fill up our alms bowl; sometimes one meal is not enough, and we even have two meals. Gradually, his appetite was reduced. Every day, with a small bowl like ours, he could only take slightly more than half a bowl of very watery porridge; no more than that. Any more intake would cause discomfort. Besides, the thirty minutes immediately after the meal is the most uncomfortable part of the day. After the meals, the feeling of clarity and coolness disappeared; that is how it goes, and then he felt laden both physically and mentally. This is the first [benefit of the feeling of clarity and coolness]. [06′46″]

The next benefit is that as he was gradually aligned with the practice, during steaming summer days, he still wore a knitted cap like a helmet. Well, he did not feel hot. (He took it off today, for he just had a cold the other day.) Then, during winter days, as we know that winter can be pretty cold here, he still wore the same cap and the same robe without feeling cold. Therefore, when he truly attained the effect – it is not like something that we can force to make it happen – [naturally, he was not affected by eating, heat, and coldness.] So, I mention his case here as an example; he endured many hardships during the process and tried three times in total. In such circumstances, he is still far from attaining enlightenment, still a great distance! That is the fact. So we often consider the case of swollen head and face a storytelling, and a rather easy task, but if you give it a try, you would appreciate the hardships of this swelling head and face. [07′36″]

Well then, why did Master tell us a story like this? In the beginning, he talked about the lineage of teachers and attach high importance to it. Speaking of the lineage, Master had a recollection. Then he mentioned Master Zi-bo, who diligently penetrated the meditation subjects, from which he derived a cluster of questions*. His biography describes how his diligence in finding answers to the cluster of questions stressed him so much that his head and face were swollen. Actually, having read the biography, we might lightly browse through this description of swollen head and face without pondering why. [We would read the story like this:] after experiencing swollen head and face, he attained enlightenment. After attaining enlightenment, he said, “Alas! If I were under the guidance of great teachers like Lin-ji [A.D. ?~867] and Deh-shan [A.D. 782~865,] I would have been enlightened by being struck with a stick and wouldn’t have gone through all these hardships!” He let out such lament and grief! [08′19″]

[*Exploring specific questions: this is a technique of Chinese Lin-chi Zen school which denotes the practice of raising, glimpsing and chasing a question in order to produce a cluster of questions. When this cluster of questions is penetrated, the practitioner is considered as enlightened.] Master explained how serious the swollen head and face was for us to understand why the lament. He also gave us a story of how a contemporary practitioner applied pratyutpanna-samadhi. Over here, Master raised several key questions. For a person to successfully accomplish a task, there are two prerequisites; namely, strong willpower and correct approach. With correct approach, and persistence in practice with a strong will, one would eventually achieve the goal. However, proper guidance is also required; that is, it doesn’t work without a proper and systematic guidance. [08′55″]

Master also mentioned two students in the suburban area in New York. They were so anxious that they couldn’t wait to get started! This state of being anxious and impatient - in which we sometimes find ourselves experiencing such a desperate state of wanting so much to get what we wanted - they hastily went into the retreat, beginning their practice. However, they couldn’t continue the practice and ended their retreat the very next day. Why? It was due to lack of preparations. [09′16″]

On the contrary, a person who was engaged in practicing pratyutpanna-samadhi had a thorough understanding at the very beginning and was clearly aware of the sequential orders. He clearly knew that he should start with 2 hours of walking, then gradually intensified the training, and eventually achieved 20 hours of walking [in one day]. However, even though he applied the practice in such a systematic order, it was still full of hardship. Master described that the practitioner’s legs were so swollen that the skin would retain a dimple even after being depressed. [09′38″]

If he walked continuously without sitting or lying down, then he must have exerted himself with all his might! So much so that he could overcome the initial reaction of drowsiness followed by overly painful sore legs! He would also feel the pain in the lumbar area when reaching the extreme! I am not sure if he would ache all over. The practitioner’s body was swollen; he would fall asleep right away when leaning against the wall. If so, he would collapse to the floor; by then he might not have the strength to get up. But, against all odds, he got up again and kept walking, just like that. Pay attention here, he had three rounds of such practice, and each lasted 90 days; he was engaged in three rounds of such grueling training! So we can imagine what strong willpower this practitioner had! [10′20″]

What state did he attain in the end? He was not affected by the weather, be it cold winter or hot summer. As for the diet, all he needed was very little, and that was fine for him. Overeating would not work because that would hinder him from feeling clear and refreshing. His need for material goods was very little, yet his mind was extraordinarily refreshing and blissful. And Master said not only did his swelling subside, but also the immeasurable refreshing coolness arose within him! It seemed all his worldly afflictions were gone. Such sense of refreshing was beyond description! Master continued by saying, “If you strive hard enough, you will attain such experience of incomparable joyfulness.” [10′58″]

[I am] not sure if anyone has ever experienced any short retreat? Taking retreat usually requires sufficient preparations in advance. Master emphasized especially that “there is no other choice; you simply need to sever at one stroke - make a clean break!” That is, you need to cut off the external connections. It won’t work if you were to sit in the retreat room, being fickle minded and reflecting on all the occurrences happening to you since young, as if you were sitting on the busy street; that is impossible for you to focus on the virtuous object. Thus, be it taking the retreat or listening to the teaching, we actually need to rely on the lineage and the guidance from a virtuous teacher. If so, we would save ourselves a lot of hardships. [11′29″]

Master emphasized the intensity of this “having swollen head and face” in particular! With such strong willpower, the practitioner survived the inconceivable hardships of swollen head and face. When he was not able to walk and was swelling all over yet with no rest at all, did it ever occur to him that he might be tired to death? But what kept him persevering on? It was all his strong faith, believing by doing so, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would definitely bless him. Hence, he made it despite all the hardships! Master used this example to illustrate the hardship one would experience when one had a “swollen head and face.” [12′04″]

Venerable Zi-bo went through such hardship and became enlightened. Having attained enlightenment, he would have cried with exuberance, claiming, “Alas! I have finally gone through such a difficult process of swollen head and face. I am enlightened!” He should have been in such ecstasy, but instead he said upon the realization, “Alas! If I were under the guidance of great teachers like Lin-ji [A.D. ?~867] and Deh-shan [A.D. 782~865,] I would have been enlightened by being struck with a stick!” That is to say, he didn’t need to endure such pain of swollen of head and face at all, as one strike by the virtuous teacher would make him enlightened! The lineage of virtuous teachers would save us from going through many hardships; we don’t need to take a detour to achieve realization and become enlightened! [12′42″]

In this case of the pratyutpanna-samadhi, we are amazed that such a remarkable practitioner does exist among Buddha’s disciples! He was able to strive with utmost effort and tenacious willpower to validate Buddha Dharma, and he is one of our contemporaries. This is really impressive! [13′00″]

讲次 0078

科判 道前基础

主题 〈皈敬颂〉论前皈敬

音档 2B 04:10 ~ 11:45

日期 2018/12/27 ~ 12/30

广论段落 P1-L6 如极难量胜者教……我礼龙猛无着足

手抄页/行 第1册 P51-L4 ~ P55-LL4　( 2016 南普陀版：第1册 P51-L3 ~ P55-LL3 )

手抄段落 所以谈到这一点哪……头面俱肿辛苦的状态。

所以谈到这一点哪，我自己内心上面有一个感受，最早以前我那个时候看书啊，曾经看过几个公案。这个紫柏大师是明末四大师，这是个很了不起的大德，所以那个时候人家称他为紫柏尊者，因为他的成就，他大彻大悟了。那么他大彻大悟了以后，他自己就好辛苦啊，也参了个话头，他起疑情。这个传记上面说他，描写他用功的情况——疑至头面俱肿。这个头面、身体都肿起来，这样。后来就开悟了，开悟了以后他说了一句什么话：[唉！假定我在大善知识如临济、德山会下，一棒便醒，何用如此这般！]那我们单单看那个传记就这样，好像轻轻松松的几句，现在我这个简单地跟你们说一下。 [00′59″]

先看[头面俱肿]是什么情况？我们无法想像这头面俱肿是怎么一回事情啊，不大晓得。那么这个地方，我提一个，这也是现代的人，这个人将来你们有机会见到他的，今年还不到四十岁恐怕，我忘记掉了。他有一个时候他自己一个人用功，干什么啊？闭[般舟三昧]，闭般舟三昧。那个事情也不知十几年了，那时候我才刚去美国回来了，回来了以后啊，他一看见我回来，就来找我，就跟我谈。说他也在一个佛学院念书，我说你去念佛学院嘛就去念了。他也跟我说：[唉呀！我实在在这个地方念不进去！]我也晓得他是个修行人，那么现在一般的佛学院里面都弄课程排了一大堆，还要什么英文啊，还要什么日文，他尤其是没有兴趣，这样。后来我就说你这个既然念了，好好地把它剩下的三年念下去。他说：[法师你回来干什么？]我说我回来要闭关，我就跟他简单地......。他跟我一直住了三天，后来他就回去就开始。 [02′01″] 　　

然后呢，做那个般舟三昧，没有人知道它。我说：[这般舟三昧，不这么容易的，你不要贸贸然啊！]他一定要去做，那好，那既然这样做，告诉他那个办法。其实我也是个外行说实在的，不过那因为学过教法，大概的次第了解一点，我就告诉他。那么所以他回去了以后，他就写信跟我说，我现在怎么开始......。当然这个跑，绝对不是说，哦，我订一个功夫一口气，到晚上，这样！是那么先慢慢的次第，照着哪几样重要的东西。第一个，第一个就是外缘哪，这个没有其他的路好走——一刀两断！那么然后呢自己准备的功课，一方面准备功课把那个的身心调治；然后，后面开始就每天开始走。刚开始的时候试试走二小时，唉，走得觉得很辛苦，走了以后慢慢觉得就好了，开始变成三小时、变四小时，到后来慢慢地可以走到，每天走到二十小时，就这样。这个不容易呀！你们没走过，觉得二十个小时轻轻松松，你们走走看。不要叫你们走二十小时，就叫你们一口气走两小时，就受不了。 [03′03″] 　　

我另外一个经验也是，那时在，就是在纽约乡下，有两个学生，有一个是外国人，我刚去的时候他们就修行。我说你们不要急啊，他们急得要命，我想急得要命也没办法啦，反正你上面那个这个大殿很空，你就去试试看。他也是弄个功课表摆在一天，第一天不知道怎么苦熬过去，我不知道，第二天早晨一大早他说：[啊！师父，不行了。][为什么啊？][在那里就是上半天还可以，到了下半天哪，是坐立不安，自己又说了不出来，不出来又不行，到最后熬到晚上，实在不行！]所以这是包括我自己的经验，我周围的人。 [03′45″] 　　

那么我刚才说那个人哪熬下去，就走走走走......他第一次三个月并没有什么多大的效果，效果不大。但走到后来啊，他就发生了什么现象呢？发生水肿，那个腿都肿了。要我们哪，啊，那稍微受一点苦就受不了，他那个开始一点肿，他因为已经听说过，晓得古人的经验，你没有这个意志克服是绝不可能！他那个手按下去的话，按了下去手指拿掉，一个洞，就不回来了，就这样。然后呢要半天、半天，它那慢慢又这样，这样地厉害法！刚开始脚，到后来那个​​大腿，到后来到那个下半身整个都肿了，他还是咬紧牙关做下去。那么到了三个月没什么消息，好、好，休息一下再来，那第二次又来。那第二次来了情况就不一样，就这样。他那个时候又描述啊，到后来到二十小时以上，他说他四边、中间都不靠的。那个佛堂那个佛像摆在中间，那走过，走过去他有的时候实在累了，累了他跑到墙壁上这么轻轻一靠，一靠就睡着了，一靠马上睡着了！睡着了马上就[咚！]跌下来，再爬起来！有的时候坐在地上想不爬起来，哦！不可以，那撑了个半天又撑了又直在那里，不能靠到墙，一靠到墙他马上就睡着了，这么严重法！所以这个意志力，意志力啊！ [05′08″] 　　

在这种情况之下，但是他慢慢地、慢慢地继续下去的话，欸，有意思，来了，境界来了！然后产生轻安，这样，然后呢慢慢地消掉了。后来他那个轻安的、心里的无比地清凉，实际你心里上如果没有的话，绝对没这个力量支持你的。所以具要两个条件，一个有坚强的意志力，没有坚强的意志力是不行的；还有呢，正确的方法。有了正确的方法，照这个坚强的意志力，坚持下去。如果没有正确的方法，正确的指导的话，他得不到真实相应的这种境界。真实相应的境界这个得不到的啊，白吃苦，没有用，没有用！所以他两样东西总算都得到了，后来身心上慢慢地消了，他感到无比地清凉啊！那个所有的世间的烦恼，这个清凉啊，无法形容的！你们真正用功，你们一定会体会到，那是种无比地欢喜。 [06′01″] 　　

那么清凉到什么情况呢？我普通可以说的就简单说一下。他这么辛苦法，平常他的食量也很大，因为我们刚出家的都是啊，大家持午的人都有这个经验，等到你开始持午没有多久，刚开始不习惯，等到晚上多久不吃的话，欸，胃口非常好，食量很大。我们平常有那个钵啊满满的一钵，有的时候还不够，还要吃两餐，到后来他慢慢地饮食减少。他每天啊我们这个小碗，稀饭稀稀的大半碗，不能再多吃，多吃吃下去啊，而一天最难过的时候，就是吃过饭那个半个钟头。吃过饭那个清凉的感觉就没有了，就这样，然后身心都会沉重，这是第一个。 [06′46″] 　　

第二个好处，慢慢、慢慢地相应了以后啊，夏天这像蒸笼一样，他还戴着一个毛线帽子，像那个盔一样，欸，他也不觉得，不觉得热。（今天他拿掉了，因为他那两天才感冒。）然后到了冬天，到了冬天我们晓得这里天气还是满冷的啊，他还是那个帽子，还是那件衣服不觉得冷。所以他这个真正地来的时候，不是我们说硬作的事情，就是这样。所以我这地方我倒顺便的提起来他那个公案，他做的过程当中啊非常辛苦，他一共试了三次。在这种情况之下，离开那个开悟还远得很，还一大截啊！这样。所以我们平常听别人家说很容易，头面俱肿，好像一个故事，如果你们自己试一试，就晓得这个头面俱肿辛苦的状态。 [07′36″] 　

好！师父为什么要讲这样一个故事呢？说前面提到师承，很重视师承，师父说谈到这一点，他内心里有一个感受，然后就提到了紫柏尊者，紫柏尊者参话头，起了疑情。他的传记里描写他用功的状况，就是这个疑情把他折腾到头面俱肿。其实我们看了传记，可能这四个字就过了，头面俱肿之后他就开悟了。开悟之后，他说：[唉！假定我在大善知识临济或者德山会下，一棒便醒，何用如此这般啊！]就这样慨叹！ [08′19″]

因为这样的一个慨叹，师父就讲了头面俱肿是怎么样严重，也说了一个现代的修行人，他修行了般舟三昧。在这里师父讲了几个很重要的问题，一个是要想成功一件事情，要具备两个条件：一个是要坚强的意志力，还有就是正确的方法。有了正确的方法，照着这个坚强的意志力坚持下去，就能够成功。但还要有正确的指导，如果没有一个正确次第的指导是不行的。 [08′55″]

师父还讲了纽约乡下有两个学生，他们急啊，急得要命！这个急得要命的状态——我们有的时候都可以体会自己会进入那种状态，就一直想要得到自己想得到的那件事——结果就上去闭关了，然后第二天就跑出来了。为什么？因为什么都没有准备。 [09′16″]

而修般舟三昧的这个修行人，他一开始了解了很多，次第都很明显，而且他非常清楚开始先走两个小时，一点点练，后来练到了走二十个小时。但是就算按着次第来，也是很辛苦，师父讲他那个肿，肿到按下去有一个洞都回不来了。 [09′38″]

如果一直走，不坐、不卧，这个应该是拿出拼死的精神吧！才能战胜那种首先是会想睡，然后腿大概是痛到不行了吧！走到极点，腰也会痛吧！不知道全身骨头是不是都会痛？他就全都肿了，甚至靠在墙上一下就睡着了，然后会跌倒在地上，跌倒在地上没力气爬起来，他还要再爬起来、再走，就是这样子。而且，注意哦！是三次，一次是九十天哦，是进行了三次这样的训练！所以可以想像这个修行人如此坚强的意志力！ [10′20″]

最后他得到了那个境界是什么？冬暖夏凉，都没问题。饮食方面，吃一点点就可以了，不能吃多，因为吃多会妨碍他的那种清凉。对物质的依靠降得很低、很低，但是心里却非常非常地清凉和舒适。然后师父说不仅仅消肿了，他感到无比地清凉啊！那是所有世间的烦恼好像不见了，都是如此清凉，是无法形容的！师父后面讲说：[你们真正用功，你们一定会体会到，那是种无比的欢喜。] [10′58″]

不知道大家有没有小闭关的经验？闭关的要求通常要做很充分的准备。尤其师父这里边强调说：[没有其他的路好走——一刀两断！]就是外缘。不能坐在关房里朝三暮四，把从小到大的事都想出来了，好像坐在闹市里一样，那就没法专注在善所缘上。所以无论是闭关，无论是听法，其实都要有一个师承、有一个善知识指导，这样的话我们会少受很多苦。 [11′29″] 　

师父用这个[头面俱肿」的强度哦！一个修行人有这么坚强的毅力，撑过了头面俱肿那样难以想像的一个难关。走不动了的时候、身体全肿了的时候，他又一直都不休息，可能有的时候会觉得自己会不会这样累死啊？但是为什么他能坚持下去呢？就是他有坚强的信念，觉得这样佛菩萨一定会加持他。就这样地把它完成了！用这个例子，讲一下[头面俱肿]是一个怎样痛苦的过程。 [12′04″]

像紫柏尊者就经历过这样的过程，然后开悟了。开悟了之后，其实他应该说：[哎呀！我终于经历过这样头面俱肿的过程，开悟了！]应该是这样的无比欢喜才对。可是他说：[如果在大善知识临济、德山会下，一棒便醒！]就是：我根本不用经历这个头面俱肿的痛苦，只要被善知识棒喝就可以开悟了！师承，可以让我们少受很多苦，不走弯路就能够去证悟、能够去开悟！ [12′42″] 　

我们会在修般舟三昧这个公案里，看到在修行人、在佛的弟子里，居然有这等精彩的人啊！他能够拼了命地用这样一个顽强的意志，想要去证悟佛法，而且就是我们同时代的人，真的是很佩服！ [13′00″]