禪修層次=Levels of Chan Meditation Practice; 聖嚴法師禪法=Sheng Yen’s Chan Teaching; 美國佛教=Buddhism in America; 次第化=Sequentialization
摘要
聖嚴法師在1981年《禪門囈語》自序中，已經非常明顯地將禪修歷程分為三個階段：集中注意力、心念統一、虛空粉碎。其中，又進一步說明心念統一又分為兩層：身心統一、內外統一。更以「澄澄湛湛、光音無限、一片悟境、虛空粉碎」來說明禪境的高低。再從一些早期在美國的禪修開示記錄文獻中，可以發現在1980 年至1982 年期間，聖嚴法師已將禪修的層次清楚地區分為集中心、統一心與無心。此三個層次，也成為法師未來數十年在帶領禪修時，基本而不變的核心教法。 在1976 年至1982 年期間，有幾篇重要而關鍵的文獻與禪七開示，足以依時間脈絡的演變歷程中，得以完整看到聖嚴法師於此段時期逐漸整合與建構出其禪修教學的次第。尤其在美國當時如雨後春筍般的各家禪修風潮，法師開始走出其不離漢傳禪法傳統，又獨具個人特色的禪法風格。 本研究即是希望在前人對聖嚴法師禪修相關研究的基礎上，利用文獻分析法，蒐集與整理相關的一手與二手資料，進行歸納與分析。希望將聖嚴法師早期的禪修教法內容（尤其是禪七中的開示），特別就「禪修層次」的建構歷程中的相關內容，能更為細緻地梳理、討論與凸顯其早期禪法的發展特色。 In the preface of Chanmen yiyu《禪門囈語》 published in 1981, Master Sheng Yen clearly divides the practice of Chan meditation into three levels: focusing the mind, unifying the mind, and shattering the great doubt. He subdivided the level of unifying the mind into unifying the mind and body, and unifying the self and universe. Once the unified mind is attained, there are four statuses: state of extreme peace and purity, experience of limitless light and sound, attainment of emptiness and enlightenment, and shattered emptiness itself. Later in the literature of his early teachings on Chan meditation practice in the United States from 1980 to 1982, the three specific levels of Chan meditation practice evolved to become concentrated mind, unified mind, and no- mind. These lattermost three levels became the fundamental and core teachings for several decades when he led retreats. During the period from 1976 to 1982, there were several vital documents and Chan teachings, which can chronologically show Master Sheng Yen gradually integrating and constructing the meditation levels in his teachings then. Significantly, the master began to create his own unique style of Chan that nevertheless stayed true to the tradition of Chinese Chan, at that time in the United States when several meditation schools were mushrooming. This study will build up on previous studies of Master Sheng Yen’s teachings in Chan meditation practice, and use the methodology of document analysis to collect, organize, and analyze relevant primary and secondary materials. The aim of this research is to meticulously illustrate the evolution of Master Sheng Yen’s early teaching in Chan meditation practice (especially his teachings during the retreats), with a focus on the constructive process for the content of his meditation levels, thus clarifying the uniqueness of his Chan method, that can be more carefully sorted out, discussed and highlighted developmental features of the law.
