九、靜坐觀心 真妄畢現

9. Sit quietly in meditation, and you will perceive both the true character and the distracting thoughts.

夜深人靜獨坐觀心①，始覺妄窮②而真③獨露，每於此中得大機趣④；既覺真現而妄難逃，又於此中得大慚忸。

【注 釋】

① 觀心，觀察自己的心性，即反省自悟。佛教主張的修為之法。

② 妄窮：妄，非分或越軌的念頭；窮，窮盡，消失。

③ 真：本性中真實自然的東西。亦作本真。

④ 大機趣：自然的樂趣。

【今文解譯】

夜深人靜，獨坐觀心，一開始總會感覺到心裏的非分之想都消失了，而本性中真實自然的東西流露出來了；每當於此，心中就深受鼓舞，仿佛悟得了人生的真諦。可是，繼而發現自己並未因為本真的流露而摒棄那些非分之想時，心中又不免十分慚愧。

【English Translation】

When you sit alone introspecting in the quiet of late night, you will first, from the bottom of your heart, perceive the disappearance of the distracting thoughts and then the appearance of the true character. Every time at this moment you will be rejoiced to find that you have comprehended the real meaning of life. But when you are aware that the true character can not take the place of the distracting thoughts, you will feel quite ashamed of yourself.