106. Staying Busy with Tilling and Persevering

¹ The cultivation of quiet sitting is like any other training. It is primarily a learning process. On one hand, you study a method, and on the other hand, you tap the workings of qi in your body, allowing them to take place naturally.

¹ 靜坐亦如一般訓練，重在學習。一面學習方法，一面在生理上開發氣機，聽任氣機在體內自然發動。

² Since each person’s constitution is different, the process of cultivation differs. Although they all share a common principle, their progress is not the same.

² 由於每個人體質不同，修持過程有異，其修持原理雖有一定，然每個人同時進展情況則未必一致。

³ Quiet sitting is a method of cultivating the Dao. Once you study quiet sitting, you embark on cultivating the Dao. This will be a long journey. You are not going to get there in a single leap. It will not be effective to work by fits and starts, much less sitting for a long spell and then quitting for lack of results.

³ 靜坐是修道方法之一。既然學習靜坐，即是步入修道途徑。修道為一長程途徑，既非一蹴而就，又不宜時輟時續，更不可坐一段時間因無所獲而作罷。

⁴ To cultivate the Dao by doing quiet sitting, you must swallow bitterness, make your will steadfast, and not get ahead of yourself. You must persevere. Do not ask about the harvest, only keep busy with tilling. In time, you should reach a breakthrough.

⁴ 故而修道人必須茹苦含辛，堅毅卓絕，按部就班，持之以恆，不問收穫只求耕耘，久之當可有所突破。

⁵ Having observed the co-strivers in the Quiet Sitting Classes, most of them study in their spare time while they hold down a job, and many of them have family burdens. They face many trials in ordinary life, and for them cultivating the Dao is arduous task. Along with the worldly duties they shoulder they make other worldly plans. ^[23] In truth, they have it harder than contemplatives who dedicate themselves to the Dao.

⁵ 試觀學習靜坐同奮，多係業餘學習，本身既有工作，又多有家庭負荷。人世原極坎坷，修道又屬艱辛。今既肩負入世職責，又要作出世打算，實較專門修道之士更屬艱苦。

⁶ Be aware that mundane work is laborious and taxing to the spirit. The prospects it offers are fame, wealth, and admiration. It holds forth dazzling attractions and lurid possibilities. The greater the temptation, the deeper the pitfalls. One can easily slip in a single careless moment.

⁶ 按入世工作誠屬勞頓傷神，其遠景或為功名利祿，或為富貴榮華，五彩繽紛，光怪陸離。誘惑既大，陷阱更深，稍一不慎，難免墜足。

⁷ Now we must keep our worldly bearings as we carry out other worldly practices. More than other worldly seekers of the Dao, past and present, we must have a better understanding of our environment, if we are to accomplish two things at once.

⁷ 今以入世姿態作出世功夫，必須較古往今來專門修道之士，對時代環境要有更深一層的體認，才能一舉兩得。

⁸ Those of us who are co-strivers must relish detachment from material possessions and find inner joy. In the midst of ordinary life, our minds must become detached from worldly desires. We must be determined. Over time it will become a habit, and we will find contentment in what we do.

⁸ 因此同奮必須恬澹自甘，在塵遺塵。必須痛下決心，日久成習，自可安之若素。

The Women’s First Chinese Original Quiet Sitting Class, September 12, 1983

第一期正宗靜坐坤道班－民國七十二年九月十二日