作者：[日] 铃木俊隆
译者：梁永安
简介：
铃木俊隆（1905～1971年）：凭着六祖「人虽有南北，佛性无南北」一句话，立志教授全无佛学根基的美国人修习禅道，在西方建立第一所禅寺，将禅宗引入西方。这本书是由铃木俊隆的美国弟子整理的他坐禅时的演讲辑录。
作为佛教徒的乔布斯（Steve Jobs）就是从这本书开始接触到这种东方哲学的。在这本书中，铃木俊隆禅师用最简单的语言，从日常生活的情境切入，阐明如何在生活中保持初心，实现禅 心。禅师说，我们必须抱着初学者的心，放开执著。初学者的心（a beginner's mind）是空空如也的，不像老手的心（an expert's mind）那样饱受各种习性的羁绊。
《禅者的初心》（节选）
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
In our scripture (Samyuktagama Sutra, volume 33), it is said that there are four kinds of horses: excellent ones, good ones, poor ones, and bad ones.
《杂阿含经》第33卷提到了四种马：最上等的马、次等的马、下等的马，以及最下等的马。
The best horses will run slow and fast, right and left, at the driver's will, before it sees the shadow of the whip; the second best will run as well as the first one does, just before the whip reaches its skin; the third one will run when it feels pain on its body; the forth will run after the pain penetrates to the marrow of its bones. You can imagine how difficult it is for the fourth one to learn how to run!
最上等的马是看到鞭影，就知道主人要它跑得快或者跑得慢，要它跑向左或跑向右。次等的马跑起来跟最上等的马一样好，不同的是，它要等到鞭子接触到皮肤表面才会知道主人的心思。下等的马要等到感觉皮肉痛了才会跑，而最下等的马则非要等到痛入骨髓才会听话。各位可以想象后面这第四种马有多难调教。
When we hear this story, almost all of us want to be the best horse. If it is impossible to be the best one, we want to be the second best. This is, I think, the usual understanding of this story, and of Zen.
读到这段话，我们每一个人几乎都想要当最上等的马。如果本身不是这块料的话，我们也希望至少成为次等的马。我想，这也是人们对这段话（乃至禅）的宗旨的一般了解。
You may think that when you sit in zazen you will find out whether you are one of the best horses of one of the worst ones. Here, however, there is a misunderstanding of Zen.
你或许觉得通过打坐，你会领悟到自己是那匹良驹，还是一匹劣马。但是，这里有个误解。
If you think the aim of Zen practice is to train you to become one of the best horses, you will have a big problem. This is not the right understanding.
如果你认为禅修是为了让你能成为上等马，你就会有大麻烦了，因为这并非对禅的正确理解。
If you practice Zen in the right way it does not matter whether you are the best horse or the worst one. When you consider the mercy of Buddha, how do you think Buddha will feel about the four kinds of horses? He will have more sympathy for the worst one than for the best one.
如果你是依照正确的方法修行，那么你是良驹或劣马就都不重要。以佛陀的慈悲而言，你认为他对这四种马会有什么观感？比起最上等的那一种，他一定会对最下等的那一种有着更多的同情。
When you are determined to practice zazen with the great mind of Buddha, you will find the worst horse is the most valuable one. In your very imperfections you will find the basis for your firm, way-seeking mind.
当你下定决心要以佛陀的伟大心灵来禅修时，你就会发现，最下等的马才是最有价值的。在你自身的不完美中，你会为你坚定的求道之心找到基础。
Those who can sit perfectly physically usually take more time to obtain the true way of Zen, the actual feeling of Zen, the marrow of Zen. But those who find great difficulties in practicing Zen will find more meaning in it. So I think that sometimes the best horse may be the worst horse, and the worst horse can be the best one.
那些轻轻松松就能把打坐练好的人，通常都要花更多时间才能掌握到禅的真实感和禅的精髓。但那些觉得禅修极为困难的人，却会在其中找到更多意义。所以我认为，最上等的马有时就是最下等的马，而最下等的马有时就是最上等的马。
If you study calligraphy you will find that those who are not so clever usually become the best calligraphers. Those who are very clever with their hands often encounter great difficulty after they have reached a certain stage. This is also true in art and in Zen. It is true in life.
如果你研究过书法，你就会发现，能成为最优秀的书法家的，都不是特别聪明的人。那些非常聪明的人通常到达某个阶段后就会停滞不前。这个道理既适用于艺术也适用于禅。对人生来说，这个道理也是同样真实。
