惠澂 came today, to give me five 紅豆杉fir saplings. He has dozens. I planted some last year, gave some to friends, and wanted more, so today he brought me five more. I planted three as soon as he left. At least it was only drizzling by then.
The other two firs I am holding for Qalux, who wants to plant them by his new house, but as he has not even begun construction, I decided to put them in larger pots for the time being. To top off the pots, I went to the irrigation ditch to dredge up some sludge. In the ditch I found a nice large turtle. Its shell is somewhat larger than a sheet of A4 paper. I was holding it and admiring its healthy, shiny shell, bright eyes, and red neck markings, when Yumin pranced over to see what I was up to. I held the turtle to him so he could have a look, too. He was puzzled. Then the turtle, from inside its shell, opened its mouth. You could practically hear Yumin exclaim "Gadzooks! It lives and breathes!" He was astonished, and went into his unknown-prey mode, which attracted Tlahuy. I soothed the turtle and lightly placed it back in the water. Tlahuy and Yumin watched in puzzlement. Yumin seemed to be telling Tlahuy, "No, it's not a rock, it opened its mouth, really!"
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Monday, February 21, 2005
Sunday, February 20, 2005
beagle days
Intuition develops. Without knowing why, I suddenly walked over to the back door and looked out onto the back porch. Yumin was very quietly pulling the hose out of the bucket I keep full of water for them to drink. “YUMIN!” I shouted. He flinched so heartily that his ears flew up. Without looking back at me, he dropped the hose and very softly, very deliberately walked about two meters away from the bucket, where he sat down primly, still not looking at me. He sat for a moment, and then spotted an imaginary intruder. He leapt to his feet, and barking and howling, charged off into the bamboo.
Intuition develops. Without knowing why, I suddenly walked over to the back door and looked out onto the back porch. Yumin was very quietly pulling the hose out of the bucket I keep full of water for them to drink. “YUMIN!” I shouted. He flinched so heartily that his ears flew up. Without looking back at me, he dropped the hose and very softly, very deliberately walked about two meters away from the bucket, where he sat down primly, still not looking at me. He sat for a moment, and then spotted an imaginary intruder. He leapt to his feet, and barking and howling, charged off into the bamboo.
Saturday, February 19, 2005
This is a true story. I have not invented a word of this.
In the early 80s, two wives in a small village in Hualien, on the eastern coast of Taiwan, were pregnant at the same time. The couples were such good friends that, following an ancient Chinese tradition, the parents 指腹為婚 agreed that if they had one boy and one girl, they would marry each other. Sure enough, in 1982 a boy, Chan, and a girl, Wenhui were born, and raised with the expectations that one day they would get married.
In 1986, when the children were about 4, an earthquake of such power struck Hualien that the village was buried. Chan threw himself on top of Wenhui to protect her, but rescuers dug out both unconscious and severely wounded, but still alive. Chan was sent down the coast to a hospital in Taitung; Wenhui's injuries were more serious, so she was sent to Taipei.
When Chan regained consciousness, the nurse told him that the entire village had been destroyed, including his parents: he was the only survivor. He was adopted by new parents, given a new name, and began life again. He didn't believe he was the only survivor. He felt, deep in his bones, that Wenhui was still alive. He had no way to find her. When he entered high school, he searched the lists of new high school students in Hualien, but did not see Wenhui's name.
When Wenhui regained consciousness, the nurse told her that the entire village had been destroyed: she was the only survivor, but fortunately her parents had been away, on the other side of Taiwan. The lucky family was reunited. They began life again, but stayed in Taipei, where Wenhui went to high school.
During the eleventh grade, both Chan and Wenhui chose to attend the same summer camp, because of its theme of herbal medicine. Eight hundred high school students were in the camp, so they were divided into groups of eight. Chan and Wenhui were in the same group. They hit it off immediately, even before they knew each other's names. Wenhui is a pretty common name, so Chan wasn't sure if it was his Wenhui. With his new name, Wenhui did not recognize Chan.
A skit was planned, in which Chan and Wenhui were chosen to perform as boyfriend and girlfriend. During the rehearsal, the girlfriend was supposed to tie an apron on her boyfriend, so Wenhui tied Chan's apron on, with the exact some movement and tie she had used when they had gone to kindergarten together. Chan knew immediately that, beyond a doubt, this was his Wenhui, so he said, "Wenhui, don't you recognize me?" Violins and roses, and they have been together ever since, through college and beyond.
For Valentine's Day, Chan gave Wenhui a yellow rock. When they were three, Wenhui had plucked it from the stream and given it to Chan. He has treasured it ever since.
In the early 80s, two wives in a small village in Hualien, on the eastern coast of Taiwan, were pregnant at the same time. The couples were such good friends that, following an ancient Chinese tradition, the parents 指腹為婚 agreed that if they had one boy and one girl, they would marry each other. Sure enough, in 1982 a boy, Chan, and a girl, Wenhui were born, and raised with the expectations that one day they would get married.
In 1986, when the children were about 4, an earthquake of such power struck Hualien that the village was buried. Chan threw himself on top of Wenhui to protect her, but rescuers dug out both unconscious and severely wounded, but still alive. Chan was sent down the coast to a hospital in Taitung; Wenhui's injuries were more serious, so she was sent to Taipei.
When Chan regained consciousness, the nurse told him that the entire village had been destroyed, including his parents: he was the only survivor. He was adopted by new parents, given a new name, and began life again. He didn't believe he was the only survivor. He felt, deep in his bones, that Wenhui was still alive. He had no way to find her. When he entered high school, he searched the lists of new high school students in Hualien, but did not see Wenhui's name.
When Wenhui regained consciousness, the nurse told her that the entire village had been destroyed: she was the only survivor, but fortunately her parents had been away, on the other side of Taiwan. The lucky family was reunited. They began life again, but stayed in Taipei, where Wenhui went to high school.
During the eleventh grade, both Chan and Wenhui chose to attend the same summer camp, because of its theme of herbal medicine. Eight hundred high school students were in the camp, so they were divided into groups of eight. Chan and Wenhui were in the same group. They hit it off immediately, even before they knew each other's names. Wenhui is a pretty common name, so Chan wasn't sure if it was his Wenhui. With his new name, Wenhui did not recognize Chan.
A skit was planned, in which Chan and Wenhui were chosen to perform as boyfriend and girlfriend. During the rehearsal, the girlfriend was supposed to tie an apron on her boyfriend, so Wenhui tied Chan's apron on, with the exact some movement and tie she had used when they had gone to kindergarten together. Chan knew immediately that, beyond a doubt, this was his Wenhui, so he said, "Wenhui, don't you recognize me?" Violins and roses, and they have been together ever since, through college and beyond.
For Valentine's Day, Chan gave Wenhui a yellow rock. When they were three, Wenhui had plucked it from the stream and given it to Chan. He has treasured it ever since.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
學佛的美國人不多，所以時常有人鼓勵我開『佛學英語』課。對這種建議，一直存疑。
何謂佛學英語?中翻英，最令譯者死不暝目，莫過於佛書。東西觀念差異之大，是一個問題。佛法基于「緣起性空」；其中只有「起」字勉強可以翻譯成英文。加上佛法眾多名相是梵音，從「南無」到「阿耨多羅三藐三菩提」，如何翻成「英文」？
講這些的前提是，上佛學英文的學子，英文已經流俐，說聽寫讀能力已到美國大學程度。既然如此，還是很吃力。若要加強語文能力，學外文不如把中文學的透徹一點（透徹、徹悟，不是「水清」的澈）。佛經的中文很深，夠你去研究。不要說研究，字音正確就很好了。我們最常念的彌陀經，從頭到尾念對的佛子並不多。
問題很多。有人受內地口音影響，把般若的若念ㄖㄟˇ，因為來台法師，有的不會念ㄖㄜˇ（車、蛇念ㄔㄟ、ㄕㄟˊ）。
很多佛弟子該破音時不破，不必變音時很刻意變。解字，廣韻蟹韻，胡買切、曉也；同韻又佳買切、講也說也脫也散也（又出卦韻古隘切除也、同韻胡懈切曲解）。依此，解脫的解念ㄐ一ㄝˇ才對，但很多佛弟子很用心念錯，讀ㄒ一ㄝˋ。何必？
（案：字書韻書不詳處，可訪民語。各方言將了解的解讀g見母，無hㄒ例）
該區別就不區別。供養的養讀三聲、四聲，差很多。論語為政:子游問孝，子曰，今之孝者是謂能養(一ㄤˋ)，至於犬馬，皆能有養(一ㄤˇ)，不敬，何以別乎? 廣韻養韻(上聲)，餘兩切，育也樂也飾也。又漾韻(去聲)，餘亮切，供養。晚輩奉養長輩的養應讀四聲，養畜生的養才讀三聲。很多人偏念ㄒ一ㄝˋ脫、供一ㄤˇ。
土，他魯切，ㄊㄨˇ，夠簡單吧，但也有人硬念ㄉㄨˇ。也許是依據土的另一音；廣韻姥韻、徒古切、土田地主也、本音吐。(此反切幾不見經傳)。第一，徒古切音ㄉㄨˋ，不是ㄉㄨˇ(徒，定扭，全濁)。第二，很明顯本音ㄊㄨˇ，不須牽強讀癖音。第三，把『地主』音用於淨土、佛土，十分不妥。
為甚麼那麼用心念錯呢?可能是未了標誌內行、與眾不同、得到他人不及的祕傳。可能吧。用心念錯不如用心修行。
這是華語問題，至於英語呢，如果一般英語還不熟，何必強求『佛學英語』?
佛重心法。拈花微笑時，釋迦說哪一種語言?在美國弘法多年的宣化上人，英文不大會，洋弟子一群一群來。不是為了他的語文能力，而是因為他有修行。眾人自然服膺威德。
但由此可看出台灣佛教界的一個問題:一頭熱。很多佛子太熱心，有甚麼就抓甚麼，不深思熟慮。你會開車好發個心幫師父開車，你會煮飯好發個心幫師父煮飯，你會雕刻好發個心我們開個佛像雕刻班，你會做麵包好發個心我們開個佛教麵包班。
熱心、發心固然好，但重點還是那個『心』字。一切起心動念觀察的清清楚楚才要緊。太投入外在活動往往是逃避內在乾坤。加上，佛法畢竟不是我執重的宗教，我們不強迫世人接受我們的教義，我們不必向全世界的人佈道說，只有我們對，其他人都錯。佛度有緣人。
更何況，你學英語渡誰？你以為西洋人有那麼好渡嗎?宣化上人的經驗談是:
＂登天難 也不難
教公雞生蛋 也不難
教美國人學佛法 真是難！＂
憑你幾句英文，一點修行，就能弘法？連釋迦在這裡傳此難信之法，是為甚難！不如實實在在地修行，一旦有成就，弟子自己上門，不勞你學英文，也不勞我開班。
何謂佛學英語?中翻英，最令譯者死不暝目，莫過於佛書。東西觀念差異之大，是一個問題。佛法基于「緣起性空」；其中只有「起」字勉強可以翻譯成英文。加上佛法眾多名相是梵音，從「南無」到「阿耨多羅三藐三菩提」，如何翻成「英文」？
講這些的前提是，上佛學英文的學子，英文已經流俐，說聽寫讀能力已到美國大學程度。既然如此，還是很吃力。若要加強語文能力，學外文不如把中文學的透徹一點（透徹、徹悟，不是「水清」的澈）。佛經的中文很深，夠你去研究。不要說研究，字音正確就很好了。我們最常念的彌陀經，從頭到尾念對的佛子並不多。
問題很多。有人受內地口音影響，把般若的若念ㄖㄟˇ，因為來台法師，有的不會念ㄖㄜˇ（車、蛇念ㄔㄟ、ㄕㄟˊ）。
很多佛弟子該破音時不破，不必變音時很刻意變。解字，廣韻蟹韻，胡買切、曉也；同韻又佳買切、講也說也脫也散也（又出卦韻古隘切除也、同韻胡懈切曲解）。依此，解脫的解念ㄐ一ㄝˇ才對，但很多佛弟子很用心念錯，讀ㄒ一ㄝˋ。何必？
（案：字書韻書不詳處，可訪民語。各方言將了解的解讀g見母，無hㄒ例）
該區別就不區別。供養的養讀三聲、四聲，差很多。論語為政:子游問孝，子曰，今之孝者是謂能養(一ㄤˋ)，至於犬馬，皆能有養(一ㄤˇ)，不敬，何以別乎? 廣韻養韻(上聲)，餘兩切，育也樂也飾也。又漾韻(去聲)，餘亮切，供養。晚輩奉養長輩的養應讀四聲，養畜生的養才讀三聲。很多人偏念ㄒ一ㄝˋ脫、供一ㄤˇ。
土，他魯切，ㄊㄨˇ，夠簡單吧，但也有人硬念ㄉㄨˇ。也許是依據土的另一音；廣韻姥韻、徒古切、土田地主也、本音吐。(此反切幾不見經傳)。第一，徒古切音ㄉㄨˋ，不是ㄉㄨˇ(徒，定扭，全濁)。第二，很明顯本音ㄊㄨˇ，不須牽強讀癖音。第三，把『地主』音用於淨土、佛土，十分不妥。
為甚麼那麼用心念錯呢?可能是未了標誌內行、與眾不同、得到他人不及的祕傳。可能吧。用心念錯不如用心修行。
這是華語問題，至於英語呢，如果一般英語還不熟，何必強求『佛學英語』?
佛重心法。拈花微笑時，釋迦說哪一種語言?在美國弘法多年的宣化上人，英文不大會，洋弟子一群一群來。不是為了他的語文能力，而是因為他有修行。眾人自然服膺威德。
但由此可看出台灣佛教界的一個問題:一頭熱。很多佛子太熱心，有甚麼就抓甚麼，不深思熟慮。你會開車好發個心幫師父開車，你會煮飯好發個心幫師父煮飯，你會雕刻好發個心我們開個佛像雕刻班，你會做麵包好發個心我們開個佛教麵包班。
熱心、發心固然好，但重點還是那個『心』字。一切起心動念觀察的清清楚楚才要緊。太投入外在活動往往是逃避內在乾坤。加上，佛法畢竟不是我執重的宗教，我們不強迫世人接受我們的教義，我們不必向全世界的人佈道說，只有我們對，其他人都錯。佛度有緣人。
更何況，你學英語渡誰？你以為西洋人有那麼好渡嗎?宣化上人的經驗談是:
＂登天難 也不難
教公雞生蛋 也不難
教美國人學佛法 真是難！＂
憑你幾句英文，一點修行，就能弘法？連釋迦在這裡傳此難信之法，是為甚難！不如實實在在地修行，一旦有成就，弟子自己上門，不勞你學英文，也不勞我開班。
Friday, February 11, 2005
You learn something every day.
I have a friend named Tohuy. I had thought that was a variation of thuy, fat, but it turns out that the Tayal name Tohuy comes from the Chinese 土匪 tufei, bandit.
Well, if you don't want to name your son Bandit, you could always name him after my neighbor Putaq. Putaq means vomit, barf.
No, I don't know why his parents named him that, but it's a pretty common name.
I have a friend named Tohuy. I had thought that was a variation of thuy, fat, but it turns out that the Tayal name Tohuy comes from the Chinese 土匪 tufei, bandit.
Well, if you don't want to name your son Bandit, you could always name him after my neighbor Putaq. Putaq means vomit, barf.
No, I don't know why his parents named him that, but it's a pretty common name.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Thank heavens, the Monkey year is just about over.
I decided to spice lunch with the seeds of a flower that has bloomed, a fifteen minute walk through the jungle. I stuffed a plastic bag in my pocket, strapped on my laraw (番刀, headhunting knife), and headed out. Tlahuy rushed over as soon as I opened the door, but Yumin was making mischief in parts unknown. Shortly before we reached the flowers, Tlahuy suddenly tensed. His hackles rose and he growled at a thicket. I didn't see anything, but walked by very gingerly. I gathered my seeds and started home. We passed that thicket without incident, but twenty paces on, he suddenly started staring intently uphill. Now, there had been a dog or something, Tlahuy would have been on him immediately, but Tlahuy just stared uphill, his whole body tense. I noticed that the shrubbery had been pressed down by something large and heavy. As I stood there looking, something large and heavy moved in the bushes above us. I didn't see it clearly, but it was a boar, about the size of a golden retriever, which means it would weigh at least as much as me. It moved and sank deeper into the bushes, avoiding confrontation. What amuses me about the incident is how my laraw leapt into my hand the moment it moved. The scabbard is tight, to keep the knife from falling out in our rough terrain, but that laraw was ready in a nanosecond. I looked at my laraw with a puzzled smile ~ how did this get here?~, apologized to the boar, and turned homeward.
I decided to spice lunch with the seeds of a flower that has bloomed, a fifteen minute walk through the jungle. I stuffed a plastic bag in my pocket, strapped on my laraw (番刀, headhunting knife), and headed out. Tlahuy rushed over as soon as I opened the door, but Yumin was making mischief in parts unknown. Shortly before we reached the flowers, Tlahuy suddenly tensed. His hackles rose and he growled at a thicket. I didn't see anything, but walked by very gingerly. I gathered my seeds and started home. We passed that thicket without incident, but twenty paces on, he suddenly started staring intently uphill. Now, there had been a dog or something, Tlahuy would have been on him immediately, but Tlahuy just stared uphill, his whole body tense. I noticed that the shrubbery had been pressed down by something large and heavy. As I stood there looking, something large and heavy moved in the bushes above us. I didn't see it clearly, but it was a boar, about the size of a golden retriever, which means it would weigh at least as much as me. It moved and sank deeper into the bushes, avoiding confrontation. What amuses me about the incident is how my laraw leapt into my hand the moment it moved. The scabbard is tight, to keep the knife from falling out in our rough terrain, but that laraw was ready in a nanosecond. I looked at my laraw with a puzzled smile ~ how did this get here?~, apologized to the boar, and turned homeward.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
At breakfast, a woman asked her husband, “I suppose you know what day it is?” Her husband cringed internally, but told his wife, “Of course I know what day it is," thinking, omidog, I forgot our anniversary again! On his lunch break, he ordered flowers, chocolate, and a beautiful blouse to be sent to home immediately.
When he got home, his wife said, "Oh my, thank you for the gifts! Those make this the most memorable Groundhog's Day ever!”
And a happy one to you, too.
When he got home, his wife said, "Oh my, thank you for the gifts! Those make this the most memorable Groundhog's Day ever!”
And a happy one to you, too.
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