傾聽寂靜
文／ 美國佛心寺研經班學員 Tania Herman
There are many sounds produced from many sources. They are loud and some even deafening. The rumbling of the cars, the typing on the keyboard, the discussion in the monthly meeting, the arguing of the children in the back seat, and the commercials for toys on TV, to mention a few.
Although loud sounds continuously bombard my ears, it is possible to listen to silence. When I pay attention to silence, I can perceive deeper thoughts and analyze my actions. Buddhism teaches me to be mindful. When I hold still to a situation, it allows me to choose how I'm going to react to it. I can observe the lesson and save myself from feeling pain or inflicting pain on others.
Being mindful helps me practice tolerance, and tolerance brings me peace. Practicing tolerance frees me from regrets and expands my view of the world surrounding me.
I can stay in line at the store and not be angry because the cashier is too slow; maybe I would be too in her situation. I can drive and not be bothered by the cars that cut in front of me; maybe they have an emergency. I interact with people of different religions, cultural backgrounds, and races, and accept and respect those differences.
My perceptions were modified when I started practicing Buddhism. I became aware of the control I have over my choices. Tolerance is like the gift that keeps on giving; the more I practice it, the more tolerant I become, and with this, the more peace and tranquility I achieve.
（日常生活中存在著很多聲音，分別來自不同的地方。它們很吵，有的甚至是震耳欲聾。隆隆的車聲、打字的鍵盤聲、月報會議中的談論聲、車後座孩子們的爭吵聲，還有電視上的玩具廣告聲……這些只是其中的一小部分。
雖然耳朵不斷地承受著各種聲音的疲勞轟炸，可是我們還是能夠聽見「寂靜之聲」。當我傾聽寂靜，我可以感受到自己內心深處的念頭、可以分析自己的行為。佛法教導我們要攝心觀照，當我沉靜專注時，我可以選擇回應事情的方式，可以觀察事件本身，使自己免於痛苦，也避免造成對他人的傷害。
攝心觀照幫助我學習寬容，寬容帶來了平靜。寬容使我不再懊悔、遺憾，同時也開闊了生命的視野。
當我能設身處地為他人著想時，我可以在店裡大排長龍時，不因收銀員動作緩慢而生氣。開車時，我不會因為有人超車而煩惱，我知道或許他們有緊急的事情。當我和不同信仰、不同文化背景及不同種族的人相處時，我學會尊重和接納差異。
自學佛以來，我開始調整我的想法。我清楚地知道，自己是人生選擇的主宰。寬容就像源源不絕的禮物，愈練習，心就愈加自在。藉此，就能達到內心更深層的寂靜與平和！）
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