A person scratching an itchy foot through
thick boots.(隔靴搔癢)
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
period in China, there was a famous monk named Fabao. His story is recorded in
history books.
He was a Zen Buddhist monk. The core tenet of
Zen Buddhism is that we must understand the truths contained in Buddhist
scriptures and act in accordance with them. We should not be bound by the text
of these scriptures.
Fabao went to a temple in Kangshan, Fuzhou,
where he held his first course to explain the core principles of Buddhism.
After he had finished his lecture, it was
time for questions. A student raised his hand and asked, 'The Buddhist
teachings you are teaching us belong to the Zen school, which has many sects.
Who is your teacher? Which sect do you belong to? Who founded your sect?"
The teacher did not answer the student's
question directly. Instead, he turned to look out of the window at the mountain
view and replied. 'Do you see Elephant Bone Mountain in the distance? Can you
see Dragon Creek? They are answering your questions.'
The student asked another question.
'This state of perfect brightness and clear
tranquility is what we Buddhists most desire to achieve. But after listening to
your lecture, I feel deeply confused.
You seem to suggest that this state of
perfect brightness and clear tranquility cannot be considered the ultimate goal
of our Buddhist studies.
What you said is very different from my
understanding of the core principles of Buddhism, so I am very confused.
He did not answer directly, but gently asked
the student instead.
'After listening to my lecture, how do you
understand what I meant?'
The student replied.
'I thought hard, trying to understand your
words logically. Are you saying that the self that we can perceive and know is
rootless and elusive?'
After hearing these words, he replied
seriously. 'You're like someone scratching their foot through thick boots.
No matter how hard you try, you'll never
scratch the itch properly. If you don't take off your boots, your foot will
never stop itching.
To understand the core of Buddhism, you must
break free from the constraints of language and thought. You must realise that
you are living in the present moment.
If you continue to try to grasp the essence
of Buddhism through rationality and logic, your efforts will be in vain.'
This idiom literally describes someone
scratching their foot through thick boots.
It is used to describe someone who does or
says things in a way that doesn't quite get to the point, or someone who can't
grasp the essence of a matter.
Dear friend, what insights or thoughts have
you gained from this story?
Have you read any books on Zen Buddhism? Did
you know that Zen actually originated in China?
I hope this story yields some new insights
for you.
隔靴搔癢(A person scratching an itchy foot through thick boots.)
中國的五代十國時代有一個著名的和尚，他的法號叫做(法寶)，歷史書上紀載了一個他的故事。
他是一個佛教禪宗的和尚，禪宗的主要核心思想是我們要理解佛教經典書籍中所蘊含的真理並且照著這真理去修行，我們不應該拘泥與受困於那些佛教經典書籍的文字中。
他到了福州的康山的一間寺廟中，他在這個地方第舉辦第一場講解佛教的核心要義的課程。
他說完課後，到了最後的提問時間。有一個學生舉手發問。
你所教導的佛教教義是屬於禪宗這個系統，禪宗這個系統中又有很多的教派，你的老師是誰呢?你是屬於哪一個教派呢?你所屬的這個教派的創始者是誰呢?
他沒有直接回答這個學生的問題，他轉頭看著窗戶外的山景，他回答。
你是否看到遠處的象骨山呢?你是否有看到遠處的龍溪呢?它們正在回答你的問題。
這個學生又問了一個問題。
圓滿光明與清澈寂靜的這種境界是我們學習佛法的人們最想要達到的狀態，但是聽完你的課讓我覺得非常的困惑。
但是聽完你的課後，我覺得你似乎認為圓滿光明與清澈寂靜的這種境界還不能算是我們學習佛法的最終極目標。
你說的這些話跟我所理解的佛教的核心要義有很大的落差，所以我感覺到很困惑。
」
他沒有直接回答，他溫和地反問這個學生。
你聽完我的課後，你怎樣理解我想表達的意思呢?
這個學生回答。
我努力思考後，我試圖用邏輯去理解你說的話。你的意思是我們能感知與能認識的那個自我，難道是沒有根源且無法捉摸的嗎？
他聽完這些話後，他很嚴肅地說。
你好像一個腳底發癢卻隔著厚厚的靴子去搔抓癢處的人。
無論你多麼賣力你都永遠搔不到真正的癢處，你如果沒有脫下靴子你就永遠無法解決自己腳上發癢的問題。
你如果要理解佛教的核心要義你就要脫離所有語言和思維的束縛，你必須體會到你就活在當下的瞬間。
你如果繼續想要理性與邏輯來理解佛教的核心要義，你將會白費功夫。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一個腳底發癢卻隔著厚厚的靴子去搔抓癢處的人。
這句成語被用來形容一個人形容做事或說話不得要領，這個人無法觸及問題核心。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢
你看過有關於禪宗的書嗎?你知道禪宗其實起源於中國嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為景德傳燈錄-卷22-福州康山契穩法寶大師