In October, I present to you a maple leaf
A Dharma Master’s compassionate message for her students to motivate them with the portrayal of an accomplished Dharma practitioner’s awe-inspiring state of mind and fearless vigour.
October, in the North, the sky is high and boundless.
The clouds continue to display a variety of changing shapes in the sky.
Similar to an unconstrained picture scroll, freely unfolding its graceful expressions.
October, it’s autumn in Canada.
The maple leaves are in full red,
whilst my thoughts are with all of you;
how is everyone doing?
On the river bank, at the edge of the bridge, maple trees of varying heights stand tall and graceful.
One by one, each maple presents her full blossom of scarlet, deep and mild red.
This fiery scenery is so captivating
and leaves one lingering while singing praises !
Yet, there is one tree that surprises with her multicoloured yellow, light green, light red and scarlet.
Such pleasing diversity of beautiful leaves.
The yellow is elegant, the light green tranquil, the light red charming.
Those maple leaves, magnificent like red corals, are swaying amongst the spectrum of colours.
Those scarlet leaves that waltz with the wind amid the blue sky and green earth
are singing inspiring songs of praises like the joyously persevering skylark.
As the cool wind intensifies, chillness invades and the forest woods bare their thin branches,
the maple dresses up in her best colours.
Standing tall on the earth, she gives her all to the world, gladdening our hearts.
That spring and summer collection of zeal springs forth in full glory;
akin to an awakening of one’s mind after a long practice, wherein the flowers of enlightenment burst forth,
giving out Bodhicitta leaves in glorious red and offering solace to all lives.
As a faithful guardian of the brilliant autumn season,
the maple displays her captivating beauty
in full splendour within the autumn landscape
to become the earth’s most dazzling poetry.
In October, I present to you a maple leaf;
do not forget a practitioner’s vigour.
Even as the autumn wind intensifies and the chill sinks in,
we should pour out all our enthusiasm and bloom like the maple tree in brilliant hues.
The maple tree stands between heaven and earth in fiery red,
and is ardent due to every one of her scarlet leaves.
Similarly, when we encounter adversities and embarrassment, we should leverage on virtuous thoughts
to transform such negative conditions into instruments on our path of practice, thereby strengthening the practice of our mind.
Just like this maple leaf,
let’s transform the negative conditions into favourable ones to aid us in making aspirations in the face of adversities,
such that our practice may shine brilliantly to our hearts’ content, amid the cold wind! Let’s wholeheartedly nurture the excellent strength of the Mahayana practice
to reach for that profound, bright blue sky of Emptiness.
十月，送你一片红叶
十月的北国，天高远而辽阔，
云依旧变幻着各种形状在天空，
犹如挥洒的画卷，舒展着别样风情。
十月深秋，
在加拿大的北国，
在枫叶都红了的时节，
我在想念你们，
大家还好吗？
水边，桥畔，婀娜伫立的大小枫树，
纷纷献出那一树艳红或深红或淡红
这一片火热风景，如此夺人眼目，
令人流连忘返，啧啧称叹！
而有的一棵树上，居然有三四种颜色，
鹅黄，淡绿，淡红，艳红，
缤纷入眼，美叶纷呈，
鹅黄娇美，淡绿宁静，淡红如画，
那艳如红珊瑚般的枫叶，就飘摇在这层层彩色之中，
蓝天绿地上，随风舞动的红枫叶，
像精进的云雀，唱着振奋的赞歌。
在秋风渐紧，寒意来袭，万木渐呈枯瘦的时节，
枫树穿上最艳丽的新装，
挺立于大地，贡献于人间，暖热着人心。
那收藏了一个春夏的热忱，忽尔全部开放，
像经过长久修行的心续，顿时绽放证悟之花，
送出了片片鲜红的菩提心叶，仿佛安慰着所有生命。
它忠实守护着秋日时光的灿烂，
将那万千的夺人美丽，
彻底绚烂于秋色风光之中，
成为大地上最璀璨的诗篇。
十月，送你一片红叶，
别忘记修行人的一身风骨。
即使秋风正紧，寒意渐浓的时境，
也应倾尽所有热诚，开放出这一树灿烂。
立于天地之间的那一身火红枫树，
因片片红叶而热烈；
面对逆境与困窘，我们也应运用善念，
将违缘化为道用，在逆境时加深修心功力。
就如这枫叶，
将违缘转为遇难发心之助缘，
从而在冷风中灿烂开怀！
尽情长养大乘的善妙修力，
从而伸向那深邃又蔚蓝的空性虚空。