佛隨念課程報導
itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ sammāsambuddho vijjā-caraṇa-sampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisa-damma-sārathi satthā deva-manussānaṃ buddho bhagavā’ti.
那世尊，亦即是阿羅漢、正遍知、明行足、善逝、世間解、無上士調御丈夫、天人師、佛、世尊
文: 緯琳
今年年初開印阿闍梨指導了禪修入門課程，介紹了兩種修行的業處，其中一種就是「佛隨念」。在入門課程中，阿闍梨簡單介紹了十種佛陀的功德。基於此因緣，寂靜禪舍二，三月開始，組建「佛隨念」網絡課程籌劃小組，積極地籌備及推動佛隨念的實地修行課程的準備，構想出利用網路的連接，將禪堂帶到學員家中的客廳，書房內，讓學員們與長老有直接的資訊溝通，深入地了解佛陀的功德。
四月的佛隨念網絡禪修班課程一共有六堂課，一星期一次。阿闍梨每個星期五上課講解兩項功德，即是：1. 阿羅漢，2. 正遍知、明行足，3. 善逝、世間解，4. 無上士調御丈夫、天人師，5. 佛、世尊，6. 最後一堂課以“如來” 作總結。每堂課開始，先由禪真法師領導大家攝心靜坐。從身體姿式，呼吸，放鬆，到如何出靜，利用身念處學習如何專注所緣。這對初學者有極大的幫助，對有些禪修經驗的學者也有複習的好處。
每一堂課，阿闍梨都會援引經論、註疏以及巴利文的原義來解釋佛陀的每一種功德的涵義，並寄給大家課程中所用講義。這次課程另一個收獲是學員下課之後，每天都要在家靜坐修習至少30分鐘，專注體會佛陀的每一個功德。將它作了實地的練習，並且要與阿闍梨報備每天禪坐時的心得及問題。而阿闍梨則於每週的講解中，詳細地回答學員的問題。對學員們來說，六個星期的集中訓練，在修行的道路上，是含有極大啟發及利益的。
此次的「佛隨念」網絡禪修班，共兩百多人報名參加。每週五有約一百七十人左右線上共修。學員們來自亞洲，歐洲，及北美各地。而課程的圓滿，離不開來自美國、加拿大、中國、新加坡四個國家的義工積極的籌備和關心。在此，也對所有護持和關心這次活動的僧眾和居士們，說一句「謝謝」。願您們的善行成為美好的菩提資糧。
“每一堂課，阿闍梨都會援引經論、註疏以及巴利文的原義來解釋佛陀的每一種功德的涵義，並寄給大家課程中所用講義。這次課程另一個收獲是學員下課之後，每天都要在家靜坐修習至少30分鐘，專注體會佛陀的每一個功德。”
“Acariya Kaiyin emphasized the importance of recollecting not just the name, but also the meaning behind each of the merits. He presented related discourses, commentaries and sub-commentaries with great care and thoroughness to shed light on ancient Pali texts on each epithet, such that participants could get through to the meaning of the merits.”
Earlier this year, Acariya Kaiyin led two online Introduction to Meditation sessions, in which he outlined two different meditation subjects. During the session-Recollection of the Buddha, Acariya Kaiyin briefly presented the merits of the Buddha embodied in Buddha’s ten epithets. The warm reception of these introductory meditation sessions prompted the Santa Monastery to consider leading a more structured meditation class dedicated to an in-depth explanation of the Buddha’s merits. Since February this year, a coordinating group for such a purpose was formed. Group members met regularly over the ensuing weeks to plan and prepare the content and format of the class. Transforming restrictions on in-person meetings into an opportunity, they conceived turning participants’ living rooms and studies into one vast online meditation hall, over the internet. Utilizing modern technology, they organized Santa Monastery’s first online mediation class on the Recollection of the Buddha.
Over each of the six weekly sessions of the Recollection of the Buddha Meditation, every Friday afternoon from mid-April, Acariya Kaiyin explained in detail on average two different merits of the Buddha each week. They are, namely, Arahant in session 1, Perfectly Enlightened and Accomplished in True Knowledge and Conduct in session 2, Fortunate and Knower of the World in session 3, Unsurpassed Leader of Persons to be Tamed and Teacher of Devas and Humans in session 4, The Enlightened One and the Blessed One in session 5, culminating in Tatāgatha in the final session. Acariya Kaiyin emphasized the importance of recollecting not just the name, but also the meaning behind each of the merits. He presented related discourses, commentaries and sub-commentaries with great care and thoroughness to shed light on ancient Pali texts on each epithet, such that participants could get through to the meaning of the merits. These PowerPoint slides were then shared with participants for revision after each session.
What is also remarkable about this online meditation class is its practical aspect. Each weekly session began with Venerable Chanzhen leading participants to sit for around 15 minutes to collect the scattered mind. From sitting posture, breathing, letting go of tensions, to how to emerge from meditation, Venerable Chanzhen shared all sorts of tips on how to establish good meditation techniques and how to focus on meditation subjects using mindfulness of the body. When participants practiced every day as part of the class activities, both novice and seasoned meditation practitioners alike found these reminders greatly helpful. They practiced recollecting the merits of the Buddha for at least 30 minutes per day, noting their experience, challenges, concerns and progress, and shared with Acariya through an online portal. Acariya set aside half an hour each week to address such challenges and concerns and made recommendations. Such an intensive 6-week training proves to be greatly beneficial and inspirational to practitioners in cultivating mindfulness in their daily rituals.
Over 200 individuals registered for this online Recollection of the Buddha meditation class. Every Friday, around 170 participants logged in from various parts of Asia, Europe and North America. The successful organization and hosting of this online class could not be completed without the active coordination and support of many volunteers from the United States, Canada, China and Singapore. To all of them, and to all monastics and lay followers who participated in this online class, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your contribution and support. May your wholesome deeds be deposited in your stream of consciousness leading to the path of enlightenment.
