Thorough Comprehension of Life(10)
達生(十)
1 Ziqing was a famous sculptor. His works all were vivid as if they were living.
梓慶是一名雕刻師。在他手中所雕出的作品，模樣兒都栩栩如生，彷彿含有豐富的生命力似的。
2 Once he sculpted a tiger-shape musical instrument. The woody tiger was vivid and vigorous as if it was ready to jump up to bite. Everyone who saw it was frightened.
有一次，他雕製成了一個虎形的樂器。這隻木雕的虎，看起來神氣活現，好像隨時都會跳出來咬人似的。看到它的人，無不被它嚇一大跳。
3 Duke Lu saw the work, he asked Ziqing, “How do you sculpt it?”
魯侯在見過這件作品後，他問梓慶︰「你是怎麼雕出來的？」
梓慶削木為鐻，鐻成，見者驚猶鬼神。魯侯見而問焉，曰：「子何術以為焉？」
4 Ziqing replied, “I am a craftsman without much knowledge. I dare not boast that I have any special craft. However, it is true that in work I devote my mind to it without thinking others.
梓慶回答說︰「我只是一名工匠，沒什麼學問，不敢說自己有什麼傑出的技藝; 不過，當工作的時候，我心無旁鶩，非常的專心，有關這一點，那倒是真的。
對曰：「臣工人，何術之有！雖然，有一焉。
5 For example, when I decide to make the instrument, I must calm down to accumulate my energy and prepare well before working on it. My way is: Firstly, I fast for three days to make my heart empty, namely, remove my hunger for any material gain and the reward of it.
比方說，在我決定要雕這件樂器之前，我一定會先靜下來，養足精神，做好準備工夫。我的做法是︰先齋戒三日，使心中不含任何功利的念頭，也不去想，當我做成此件作品後會得到什麼報償。
臣將為鐻，未嘗敢以耗氣也，必齋以靜心。齋三日，而不敢懷慶賞爵祿；
6 After this work is done, I fast for another five days to remove the mind of gain and loss. I don’t consider others remarks on my works, despite criticism or praise.
這個過程完成之後，我再齋戒五天，使得失心完全除去; 我不會去擔心別人對我這件產品會有什麼批評，褒獎或讚譽。
齋五日，不敢懷非譽巧拙；
7 After the procedure, I fast again for seven days. In these days, I try my utmost to put aside my consciousness, remove my prejudice and have self-nature, Buddha-nature, Qi, calmness and refinement to dominate my limbs. When my mind and body reach this level, I go to the forest to choose the suitable stuff.
當這個過程完成之後，我又齋戒七日。在此期間，我力求意識靠邊站，心中沒有一點成見。讓自性、佛性、氣、拙火、妙用等來主導四肢的行動。當身心皆已達到了這樣的狀態之後，我才啟程，開始到森林中去選材。
齋七日，輒然忘吾有四枝形體也。當是時也，無公朝。其巧專而外骨消，然後入山林，觀天性；
8 After I find the right log, a vivid tiger-shape musical instrument occurs to my eyes. Then I start to sculpt; it actually, does not take much time the work is accomplished.
當我找到適當的木材後，一件活生生的虎形樂器就隱隱然形成在我的眼中; 這時我才開始雕刻，不需要多久的時間，一件作品就這樣完成了。
形軀至矣，然後成見鐻，然後加手焉；不然則已。
9 I deem that my work is accomplished by the great wisdom, such as self-nature, Buddha-nature, Qi, calmness and refinement, according to the natural instincts. All works sculpted under this rules are vivid from an uncanny workmanship. This is somewhat like the man of perfect practice. He has no-learning medical skill. In the treatment, he just hits patient’s apertures under the guidance of Qi. His consciousness in this time is to have no regard to the process of curing.
我想，我的這個方法，是以自性、佛性、氣、拙火、妙用等大智慧，按照自然的天性去完成的。所以，造成了我的作品一件件有如鬼斧神工，栩栩如生。這有點像修行完備的人，他具備了無學的醫術，當他為人治療時，純為假藉氣的導引，為人點穴，順氣; 在此期間，他的意識是完全置身於事外，從不出一點主意的。」
則以天合天，器之所以疑神者，其是與！」