寻道路迢迢
文／澳洲宝林禅寺英文研经班学员 Lee Ann Green
Meditation, peacefulness, quietness has been appealing to me for many years however I have found technique an obstacle, never quite finding the state of mind which I thought I should be in. I was hoping meditation would somehow turn off a busy life for a while and escape reality. My life is busy. I have a family and great friends, I am a Principal of a mainstream Primary School and school for Deaf and Hearing Impaired children, I am a tai chi practitioner and instructor and I have many interests which all seem to compete for the hours in a day. I just craved the opportunity to turn off. I thought that is what meditation would do for me. So off to the Bao Lin I went.
It has taken a while but I am beginning to understand that in fact my craving for escape through meditation was probably misguided or ignorant. Instead of turning off through meditation I am actually turning on and connecting more authentically with reality than ever before. With the combination of mediation techniques along with the Dharma lectures the Abbess has helped me to more readily accept the way things are and use meditation to heighten awareness and understand the true nature of things. I have been guided to reflect on how Buddhism applies to my day to day life.
As most of my waking day is spent at school my thoughts naturally gravitate towards my role as a Principal; and I can always find an application where the Dharma lectures provide both insight into, and a way to perfect practice through my work. These include using mediation to seek the reality of complex matters; breath counting before making significant decisions or chairing important meetings, as I have found that it brings many benefits like slowing my heart rate, calming my mind and helping me to achieve a positive frame of mind which combine to help me make wise and well considered decisions. I also try to focus on compassion when dealing with difficult people so I can keep their wellbeing as an important outcome and reflect on what I need to learn from them.
Respectful and kind relationships are great foundations for a vibrant community and there are clear similarities between the Four Tenets of Chung Tai and the core values for relationship building I strive to cultivate as a principal. At our school we endeavour to build partnerships with parents so that we may build on children’s natural talents that have been lovingly and thoughtfully shaped in the home and pre-school. I have great faith in my teachers’ ability to create a harmonious environment that will enable children to reach their academic potential and achieve success throughout their school education.
Coming to the Bao Lin has enabled me to experience the combination of Dharma, meditation, and lectures in a meaningful way that has led to a significant impact in my life. I am reflecting on my work at a deeper level than ever before. I am astounded just how relevant and necessary Buddhism is to everything I do.
（静坐、平静与安详，是多年来所向往的；但是，我发现静坐的技巧没那么简单，所以从未找到过我想要的心境。我的生活非常忙碌，有家庭、不少好友，并在小学及聋哑学校担任校长，学习及教授太极拳，加上兴趣广泛，所以每天都像在和时间赛跑。我真的渴望歇息一会，我认为禅修可以让我暂时逃离现实，于是来到宝林禅寺。
禅修一段时间之后，我终于开始了解，想用静坐来逃避现实是错的；它不但没有让我逃避现实，反而让我比过去更加贴近现实。住持法师的禅修指导及佛法开示，让我能坦然接受现实，藉由静坐提起觉性，认清事物的真相，并引导我如何将佛法落实在日常生活里。
白天在学校，念头都放在如何当个好校长，在这当中，我总能从佛法中得到启示，并在工作中圆满修行。例如，透过静坐来厘清复杂的事；在作重大决定或主持重要会议前，先修数息观，让自己心跳减缓、平心静气，并帮助我作出具有智慧且面面俱到的决定。面对不好相处的人，我也试着用慈悲心，维护他们的福祉，同时反思还有什么能向他们学习的。
人与人之间相互的恭敬与慈悲，是一个蓬勃社会的重要基石。再者，中台四箴行与教育行者所该具备的核心特质，有着明显的共通性。在学校，我们尽力与家长交流，以期发掘孩童在家中和学龄前就已具备的天赋。我深信学校教师们能营造一个和谐的学习环境，让孩童不仅能发挥潜能，更能在学校教育中荣获佳绩。
来到宝林，让我体会到禅修与教理融合的意义，对我的人生带来深远的影响！现在，我比过去更能深刻地观照我的教育工作。我十分惊喜地发现，原来生活上的每件事都和佛法息息相关！）
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