「地獄空」攝影集即將在八月中元節前出版,由知名設計師與攝影家黃子欽設計,內附在下二位高徒精美繪製符咒、心經版畫書籤、愣嚴咒牌、尊勝咒語...等,感恩十方大德助印,希望疫情退散,平安喜樂,後記如下:
野放台灣五十餘年,貪狼獨坐,三方四正殺破狼格局,少年多舛,白手起家,隨展覽雲遊四海,如閒雲野鶴常持各類底片機流連廢墟、山川、宮廟忘返,遂設幻影堂自詡堂主,一日三省「凡所有相皆是虛妄」,常宅於暗房沖片放大通宵、鍾情黑白世界之單純,彩色照片俗世繽紛花俏做作甜美甚至比現實更現實故少拍也。知天命之年有餘,了悟人生一瞬、眨眼即逝,雖非仙人,亦無道骨,初聞離垢地生清淨心,但離華嚴「不動地」尚遠,待修持也。
2017年盛暑拍畢《巨神連線》,心律不整差點心肌梗塞向閻羅王報到,意識死神隨伺在側,人生苦短,如何了生脫死、盡斷煩惱、無所罣礙、遠離顛倒……總不得解,蒙釋迦摩尼佛開示飆淚三晝夜,聞佛法數載始知自我渺如塵埃,甚感慚愧。閒暇乃參訪名寺古剎,禮敬焚香佛陀菩薩羅漢諸神天仙王爺媽娘,台灣宮廟千奇百怪、宗派錯綜複雜(佛教、道教、一貫道、天主教、基督教、齋教、回教&大同教、儒教鑾堂、天帝教&天德教、慈惠堂&勝安宮、軒轅教、道院、理教、萬國道德會、會靈山……)、神棍橫行(依人不依法、偶像崇拜、斂財、邪淫),因歷史變遷、社會動盪、政治鬥爭、意識形態等因素導致佛道混雜,但地獄造景稀少,後專注拍攝各殿閻王、判官、陰司、獄卒、七爺、八爺乃至一切罪人,各寺造景巧妙、耐人尋味,意境乖張溢於言表,造型扭曲非常人所能塑也,然匠心獨運、自成一格,專研西方藝術數十載方知真誠樸拙最美,絲毫不輸喬托(Giotto di Bondone,1267~1337)乃至米開朗基羅(Michelangelo Di lodovico Buonarroti Simoni 1475 ~ 1564)矣。
創立於1986年的石門金剛宮風景優美可眺望北濱,雖主祀四面佛,儒釋道眾神尊也不含糊,可過七星橋解厄、繞行五百黝黑羅漢敲鑼印心、跪拜亞洲最大臥佛涅槃像,安太歲自不在話下,甲子太歲爺雙眼長出手掌印象甚深,1994年經閻羅王指示廟公建造一條肚內設極樂世界及陰曹地府之神龍,行走暗黑通道觸動感應機關,只見面容猙獰受刑者呼天搶地喊冤、身邊盡是血肉糢糊殘肢敗屍腦漿塗地,十殿閻羅各司其職、威儀攝人。新北市林口區青嶺湖北文紫祥宮包公廟則以壁面彩塑地獄浮雕獨步全台,粉嫩色彩搭配卡漫風格,尤為造型簡直恐怖到可愛透頂,該廟主祀森羅殿閻羅天子包拯(包青天),陽世冤屈者可至此參拜祭解,求破懸案者眾,逢中元普渡皆以紙紮船渡亡魂至彼岸,全台唯一閻羅天子巨像籌備中,四周環繞墓地,適合修不淨觀也。台灣首尊彰化八卦山大佛旁南天宮(1971)地府則是首座電動地府,規模精小但驚嚇度破表,略顯破敗但五光十色仍蠻凶悍,出自已故台南大道長金登富之作,而電動神明起始可追溯至1960年代北港朝天宮。倒是嘉義水上鄉白人牙膏觀光工廠「戴相府」、「將軍府」設置十殿地府出乎意料之外,乾淨亮麗、ㄧ殿ㄧ間、簡單樸實。由高雄蓮潭龍虎塔龍口入內可見全臺唯一交趾陶地獄牆面,尊尊栩栩如生,續入龍身乃進聞聲救苦白衣觀音大士三十三化身浮雕隧道,造型設色甚為古錐。高雄大岡山超峰寺入口處「西方三聖蓮池海會」(阿彌陀佛、觀世音菩薩、大勢至菩薩巨像)旁設靜態十殿閻羅(1970年代初),雖略為陳舊然韻味猶存,續往上行可抵「證菩提道-釋迦如來應化事迹」雕塑園區,一攬世尊畢生精華。如來年邁時,琉璃國王為報長期被釋迦族輕蔑之傲慢心,世尊雖三次單獨伽跌坐 阻擋大軍進攻之路,但因緣果報無法逆轉,昔日婢女所生王子瞋恨無以復加,還是滅了祖國。自持神通第一目犍連不忍無辜百姓慘遭屠殺,遂以缽盛救度五百族人,最終卻化為血水,佛言神通廣大仍不敵千百劫業力,因緣果報屢試不爽。其母死後墜入餓鬼道飢餓難耐,目犍連遂展神通救渡,但所食尚未入口皆化為赤火,佛陀囑咐農曆七月十五日僧眾解安居自恣日,於盆中設甘露美食供養十方僧眾,因此超度亡母。後世「盂蘭盆法會」乃至「水懺法會」、「瑜珈焰口法會 」皆為消業障、斷塵垢之超渡儀軌,既渡亡魂也自懺悔。
台南麻豆代天府規模宏大、造型豔麗,不但可遊十八層地獄尚可逛天堂(1979年興建,1983年開放),燈光絢爛、聲響駭人,獨自漫步宛如觀落陰、地獄走一回。先過「心頭山」、入「清心池」、進「陰陽界」、抵「交簿廳」、達「鬼門關」、遊「補經所」、探「枉死城」、行「奈何橋」,至ㄧ殿泰廣王照「孽鏡台」現造惡原形,睹抱柱、火床等小地獄。二殿楚江王開「陰查簿 」判案定奪,觀糞尿泥、餓鬼、舞池、寒冰、膿血、鞭韃、舌犁、劍葉、戟腹拋接、砧截……等小地獄。三殿宋帝王刑罰為倒吊、銅鐵刮臉、挖眼、搗樁、倒烤、吸血、穿肋、抽筋、蛆蛀等小地獄……兼遊「四生(胎、卵、濕、化)回魂府」。四殿五官王掌管腰斬、拔舌、沸湯、刺嘴、剝皮、箭樹、車崩、射眼……等十六小地獄。隨五殿森羅王豋「望鄉臺」回眸親人最終眼後觀擊膝、誅心、刀山、飛刀火石……小地獄。六殿卞城王別稱「大叫喚大地獄」,轄火牛、虎啖、噬腎、鉗嘴含鍼、釘喉、磨摧、砍頭……等小地獄。七殿泰山王為「熱惱大地獄」,窺烙手指、抽腸、頂石蹲身、油釜滾烹、割舌穿腮……等十六小地獄。八殿都市王掌管「大熱惱大地獄」兼火狗、鐵汁、鐵蛇、鋸劈斷肢、釘板、灸脊、鐵丸、磅秤……等小地獄。九殿平等王直轄十八層「阿鼻大地獄」,直透地心、內中陰森、不見五指、滿溢地漿,皆為極犯,另轄紫赤毒蛇鑽孔、夾頂、鐵鴉、針雨、蜂蠍……等小地獄。至十殿輪轉王上「觀生臺」、「轉劫所八司」(查驗司 、稽善司 、考過司 、恩怨司 、壽命司 、支配司、掌劫司 、授生司)後至「孟婆亭」飲「醧忘湯」忘盡前塵往事,依前世功德過金、銀、玉、石、木、竹六種橋樑至「轉輪臺(紫河車)」入六道輪迴轉生投胎。據《十八泥犁經》記載,人過世後七七四十九天為「中陰生」,經閻羅王審判善惡業力判定去留或懲罰百千萬劫,犯五逆重罪則墮入「無間地獄(阿鼻地獄)」永劫不復。地藏王乃幽冥教主,統轄十殿閻羅,逢三曹普渡便在各殿設「講道所」超度尚存善根之鬼魂。
人類居於五趣(阿修羅、人、傍生、餓鬼、地獄)雜居地五濁惡世之堪忍世界,犯十惡業(殺生、偷盜、邪淫、妄語、兩舌、惡口、綺語、貪慾、嗔恚、愚痴)者必墮三趣惡道。如何出「三界」(欲界、色界、無色界)二十八天?凡人無此意識,別說能破「十二因緣」(無明、行、識、名色、六入、觸、受、愛、取、有、生、老死)還滅門,更別想斷除「四聖諦」(苦、集、滅、道)集地八十一品見惑與八十八使思惑(五利使-身見、邊見、邪見、見取見、戒禁取見、五鈍使-貪、瞋、癡、慢、疑),了悟「五蘊」(色、受、想、行、識)本空、「十二入」(眼、耳、鼻、舌、意、色、聲、香、味、觸、法)空、「十八界」空,破俱生我執與分別我執、法執甚至空執,生十一處「善心所」(信、精進、慚、愧、無貪、無瞋、無痴、輕安、不放逸、行捨、不害),降二十六處「惡心所」(貪、瞋、癡、慢、疑、惡見、忿、恨、覆、惱、嫉、慳、誑、諂、害、憍、無慚、無愧、掉舉、惛沉、不信、懈怠、放逸、失念、散亂、不正知),須知善根斷盡則陷永劫輪迴、無垠轉世之苦。
地獄可能空滅嗎?若地獄空乏人間多鬼怪,地獄淨空世間何嘗非淨土?若能證空性何處現地獄?
地獄曠古來便廣泛流傳各部族間,老死生滅為自然運行之基礎、宇宙意識之核心,然今文明昌盛如咱城邦並非慾望消弭之所,惡性所及實無可根除,礙於憲法國家法律社會軍隊企業公司學校家庭團體之層層束縛不亞於十八層,乃遁於壓抑、束己情懷,暗埋心底、日久貪嗔痴慢疑怨噌會疊穢。而六塵未熄,心多妄念,妖魔鬼怪魑魅魍魎孤魂閃靈出沒於荒郊乃至人間,會靈於曠野密林以增性靈乃出世高人修煉之舉,我等凡人擅闖宛如迪士尼般之人造地獄,三魂七魄尚不足以出竅,驚邪恐怖淒厲猙獰倒滿足了自以為是的慚愧,豈不謬哉?
病毒肆虐年半有餘,全球確診者逼近一億八千萬,枉死者近四百萬,堪比戰爭規模,望眾生發慈悲心、令往生者安息、善待其他物種、平等有情眾生。地獄本空,唯妄念生起一切羨慕嫉妒恨而地獄現前。盡以此書作為世界新冷戰獨裁者、超限戰者、暗網駭客、陰險狡猾冷嘲熱諷落井下石者之良知備忘錄矣。
姚瑞中寫於2021年端午節
Postscript
I have been living recklessly in Taiwan for more than fifty years. According to Zi Wei Dou Shu (Purple Star Astrology), Tan Lang is the sole star in my house of Self. This star, which represents xxx, forms an equilateral triangle with that star Qi Sha and Po Jun on the square chart and constitutes a Sha Po Lang pattern. The pattern indicates a kind of turbulence and change, a life of wandering with ups and downs and it tells a lot about my life. After my ill-fated youth, I started from scratch and traveled around the world with exhibitions that I participated. Like a flaneur, I wandered around ruins, nature, and temples with every type of film camera obliviously. Thus, I founded the Hall of Illusion and claimed to be the master of the hall. Several times a day, I pondered a quote from the Diamond Sutra, “Everything with form is unreal.” In addition, I usually stayed in the darkroom developing film and enlarging those negatives overnight. However, I treasured the simplicity of the black and white world. The earthly, gaudy, garish, phony and pleasing qualities within colored photos make the images even more realistic than the real world. It is not my cup of tea, so I seldom took colored photos. In Confucian thought, the age of fifty marks the stage knowing the mandate of Heaven. I am now at my fifties and realize how ephemeral human life is. However, I am not an immortal, nor having sagelike characteristics. I just learned that the stage of stainless (the second bhūmi) and develop a pure mind that is free from doubt and defilement. However, I’m still far from the immovable state and need to practice.
In the summer of 2017, after filming the work Incarnation, I experienced a severe heart rhythm problem which almost triggered myocardial infarction and could have killed me. Consequently, I realized that death was waiting for me and the life is too short to figure out how I can liberate myself from the cycle of Birth and Death. I couldn’t comprehend how to be free from all afflictions and worries and how to avoid delusive ideas. I wept for three days and nights after being enlightened by Shakyamuni Buddha. Up to the moment, I felt ashamed that I failed to realize that the self is as insignificant as dust after these years learning and practicing Buddhism. Since then, I have visited famous temples and monasteries in my spare time, worshiping Buddha, Bodhisattvas, arhats, and all the deities and immortals. Taiwan’s temples are myriad with a enormous number of sects, including Buddhism, Taoism, Yiguandao, Catholicism, Christianity, Chinese religions of fasting, Islam& Baháʼí Faith, Confucianism, Tiandiism& Tian-De Teachings, Xiwangmu cult, Yellow Emperor Sect, Precosmic Salvationism, Liism, World Wide Ethical Society, séance cult, etc. Some people even claim that they can mediate communication between the deities or spirits of the dead with human beings, having their believer rely on themselves instead of the orthodox dharma or dogma and pay excessive respect and admiration for the mediums or objects, accumulating wealth through such an unfair means or even harassing their believer sexually. Due to Taiwan’s historical changes, social turbulence, political struggles, and ideological issues, Buddhism and Taoism are somehow mixed. However, there are few emphases on the concept of the hell. As I took photographs of Yama of each court, judges, wardens of the underworld, jailers, General Fan and Hsieh (the ghost escorts) and all sinners, I found few temples cleverly created hellish scenes that are intriguing, exaggerating, and extraordinary. However, the creations are unparalleled unique. I have been studying Western arts for decades and then I came to realize that simplicity makes the most beautiful works of art. These hellish scenes can even compete with works of Giotto di Bondone (1267-1337) and Michelangelo Di lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564).
Jingang Temple Shimen District, founded in 1986, overlooks the beautiful North shore. Although the temple is mainly dedicated to Phra Phrom (the Thai representation of Mahabrahma), spirits of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism can also be founded in the temple. The worshipper can go cross the Seven Star bridge to relieve bad luck, walk along the five hundred arhat statues and knock on the gong to affirm one’s Buddha nature. Furthermore, the worshipper can also prostrate themself before Asia’s largest statue of Buddha in Nirvana (the Reclining Buddha statue) and pacify the Taoist Tai Sui deity of the year. I was impressed by the Jia-Zi Tai Sui General that a pair of palms grow out of his eyes. In 1994, the biō-kong (the person taking charge of the temporal affairs of a temple) received a divine inspiration from Yama (the King of Hell) that he had to build a sacred hall in the shape of a divine dragon, with the interior designed according to the World of Ultimate Bliss and the Underworld. When the visitor walks in the dark hallway, they will see the tortured people (dioramas, of course) scrunching their faces and crying bitterly and loudly in excessive grief as the visitor triggers the mechanism. One will even find them in the midst of flesh, body liquid and blood, mutilated limbs, and rotten corpses. While each of the ten Yamas are focusing on their own duties, showing their sacred dignity that collect visitors’ attention. The Baogong Temple in Linkou District, New Taipei City exclusively features colorful depiction of hellish scenes in relief in Taiwan. With its pastel shades and cartoon-like style, the relief is both grotesque and adorable at the same time. This temple is dedicated to Bao Zhen (also known as Justice Bao) representing the incarnation of Yama. Living people who have been treated unjustly can come worshipping Bao Gong and receive exorcism. Therefore, many people come here for seeking to solve unsolved cases. In Zhongyuan Festival (the ghost festival), the temple will burn the Zhizha (paper craft) boat to ferry the ghosts to the other shore, which is the shore of enlightenment. The only giant statue of Yama in Taiwan is still in the making. The temple is surrounded by a cemetery, suitable for meditating on the loathsomeness and impurity. Nantian Temple (1971), located next to the Eight Trigram Mountains Buddha in Changhua, features the first animatronic underworld. Despite the small size, the animatronic underworld is intensely shocking. Though it’s slightly worn, the colorful dioramas are still brutally ferocious. The creator was the late venerable Dao Zhang (Taoist priest) Jing Deng-fu while the origin of animatronic deities can be traced back to the 1960s Beigang Chaotian Temple. On the contrary, the Whiteman Toothpaste Tourism Factory in Shuishang Township, Chiayi, features ten Yamas with individual booth. The place is unexpectedly clean and polished yet keeps a simple and modest tone. Then, the Dragon Pagoda of the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Lake in Zuoying, Kaohsiung, holds the only relief of hellish scenes made of Kochin ceramic. All the figures are vivid and life-like. If one goes further into the pagoda, they will see a relief tunnel of the thirty-three incarnations of the white-robed form of Guanyin (Avalokiteśvara) on a white lotus, with a lovely and interesting design. Another Hall of Yama is built in the 1970s next to the entrance of Dagangshan Chaofeng Temple, located in the Alian District of Kaohsiung. Visitors will also see three statues of the Three Holy Ones of the Western Pureland (Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta) which assemble at a lotus pond. Although the hellish scene looks somewhat antiquated, you may still find its previous charm. If one goes further, they will reach the sculptural garden of “Attaining the Bodhi Way: the Incarnation of Sakyamuni Buddha,” where the visitor can see the essence of Bhagavato’s (meaning the Blessed one, one of the common epithets for Buddha) life. When Tathāgata (another epithet for Buddha) was old, the king of Kosala wanted to avenge the arrogance of the tribe of Shakyas who had long despised him, regarding him as a son of a maiden. Although Buddha has sat in lotus position alone three times to stop the army from attacking his tribe. However, one can never reverse the cause and following karma. The prince born of a maiden was so furious that he eventually destroyed his homeland. Maudgalyāyana (one of the Buddha’s closest disciples), who is said to have had supernatural abilities that surpassed the other disciples, could not bear to see the slaughter of innocent people. Thus, he saved five hundred people of his tribe with a pātra (an eating utensil of Buddhist monks). Unfortunately, everything he did was in vain, those who were saved eventually turned into a puddle of blood. The Buddha said that the supernatural abilities cannot surpass the power of karma. The cause and effect work all the time. When Maudgalyāyana’s mother fell into the path of hungry ghost, he used his supernatural abilities to save his mother from hunger. However, all the food turned into fire before being fed to his mother. Later, the Buddha commanded the monks to put nectar and dishes in a basin on the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar for the monks from all directions to free his mother from reincarnation. In later times, the Ullambana Dharma Service, the Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance, and the Yoga Collection for Feeding the Searing Mouths Dharma Service are rituals to eliminate karmic hindrance and to cease to worldly delusions. Through such practices, one can free the dead as well as confess their repentance.
Madou Daitian Temple is a magnificent and colorful temple in Tainan. Not only can the worshippers visit the eighteen levels of Hell but also the Heaven (it was built in 1979 and inaugurated in 1983) here. The lighting and sound effects are stunning and frightening. When walking alone in the space, one may feel like taking a Guan Luo Yin trip (a Taoist necromancy which leads people’s spirits to hell and communicate with the dead ones) to visit the underworld prison. Before arriving the first court of the underworld, the visitor will walk through the Mountain of Heart Summit, the Pure Heart Pond, the Frontier between the Living and the Dead Realms, the Soul Registry Hall, the Portico of Demons, the Center for Complementary Teaching of Canonical Books, the Citadel of Premature Death, and the Bridge of Vanity. When one arrives at the first court, they will see King Chin-guang, who is in charge of the court, using the Mirror of Retribution to show the earthly form of evil creatures and also witness the sub-hell of Pillar-Holding and Fire Bed, etc. At the second court, King Chu-jiang collates the register of sins the souls of the dead have committed to impose the punishments. Here, you will see the sub-hell of Excrement and Urine, Hungry Ghost, Burning Dance Floor, Ice, Pus and Blood, Whipping, Tongue-Raking, Sword Blade, Stomach-Piercing, Chopping, etc. Next, the dead at the third court, ruled by King Song-di, will receive the punishments including inversion tortures, face-skinning with steel and copper knife, eye-wrenching, pounding, blood-sucking, rib-piercing, roasting, tendon-taking, being eaten by maggots. The visitor can pay a visit to the Palace of Soul-Resuscitation for the Four Forms of Creatures (birth from an egg, birth from a womb, birth from moisture, and birth by transformation). King Wu-guan is in charge of the fourth court. There are sixteen sub-hells at the fourth court including Waist Chop, Tongue Removal, Boiling Pond, Mouth-stabbing, Skin-peeling, Sword Tree, Burning Wheels and Cart, Eye-shooting, etc. Next, at the fifth court, sinful souls are allowed to ascend the Tower of Hometown-Viewing to take a final look of their family. The visitor will witness sub-hells of Knee-striking, Heart-slicing, Blade Mountain, Flying Swords and Burning Stones, etc. The King of Bian City takes charge of the sixth court, which is also known as the “Great Hell of Screaming,” with sub-hells including Fire Cattle, Tiger-Biting, Kidney-Eating, Mouth-Poking, Throat-Nailing, Iron Mill, Decapitation, etc. The King of Tai-shan is in charge of the seventh court, the “Great Hell of Heat and Fire.” The sixteen sub-hells at this court include Finger-Searing, Bowel-Hauling, Stone-Bearing, Boiling Oil, Tongue-Removal and Cheek-Piercing, etc. Next, the King Du-shi is in charge of the eighth court, the “Great Hell of Intense Fire and Heat,” and the sub-hells including Fire Dogs, Molten Iron, Iron Snakes, Dismemberment, Steel Spikes, Burning-Marrow, Iron Ball, Scale, etc. The ninth court is ruled by the King Ping-deng. It is known as the biggest court, Avici Hell (the Hell of Incessant Suffering), which if the lowest level of the hell realm and the interior is gloomily and terrifyingly dark. Those who committed the most serious evil deed will be sent to the Avici Hell. Sub-hells such as Poisonous Snake, Brain-Removal, Crow-Gnawing, Raining Needles, Wasps and Scorpions are included at this court. After arriving the tenth court, ruled by the Great King of the Reincarnation Palace, one can visit the “Observatory of Life on earth” and the “eight bureaus of the Reincarnation Palace” (including the Bureau of Judicial Control, the Bureau of Good-Actions, the Bureau of Bad-Actions, the Bureau of Debts, Gratitude, and Vengeance, the Bureau of Longevity and Destiny, the Bureau of Familial Ties, the Bureau of the Reincarnated, and the Bureau of Birth). The sinful one will be sent to the Pavilion of Mengpo and made to drink the Soup of Forgetfulness to forget all past affairs. According to the sinful one’s merits of previous life, they will go across one of the six bridges (gold, silver, jade, stone, wood, bamboo) to the “Reincarnation-Wheel (Wheel on the Crimson River).” Finally, one is able to reborn in the six realms. According to the Aṣṭadaśa nāraka sutra ( the Eighteen Hells Sutra), after one passes away, they will enter an intermediate and transitional state between death and rebirth, known as antarābhava in Sanskrit, for forty-nine days. The being will be evaluated by Yama, who will decide if one should get reborn or get punished at the hell. Those who committed the Five Grave Offenses (killing one’s father, killing one’s mother, killing an Arhat, shedding the blood of a Buddha, and creating a schism within the community of Buddhist monks and nun who practice for attaining enlightenment.) will be sent to the Avici Hell and stay there eternally. Kṣitigarbha is the Lord of the Nether World, ruling the ten court of Hell. The lord will set up the “Hall of Teaching” at each court to salvage those sinful ones who still obtain few merits at the offering rituals.
Human beings live the Sahā world (sahāloka in Sanskrit, meaning “endurance of suffering,” a concept of mundane world in Mahāyāna Buddhism) where they share with other reincarnations (including beings of the hells, of the preta, and of malevolent nature spirits) with five turbidities (the Kalpa turbidity, the view turbidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the life turbidity). Those who commit the ten evil deeds (killing, stealing, adultery, lying, using immoral language, slandering, equivocating, coveting, anger, and false views) must fall into the three evil paths (animals, preta, and hell). However, how can one escape from the three realms/ twenty-eight heavens (including the six heavens of the desire realm, the eighteen heavens of the form realm, and the four heavens of the formless realm)? Worldly people who don’t have such an awareness cannot leave the cycle of the twelve nidanas (meaning causes or motivations), let alone eliminate the eighty-one afflictions (that have been produced due to misunderstanding regarding reality) and the eighty-eight illusions (including five afflictions of advanced practitioners, also known as five views: view of self, extreme view, evil view, view of attachment to views, and view of morality; and five unintelligent temptations: desire, anger, stupidity, arrogance, and doubt) of thought within the three realms and four Arya satyas (noble truths, including suffering, arising, ending, and path). They cannot realize that the essence of the five skandhas (referring to aggregates of clinging, including the matter of form, sensation, recognition, mental formation, and consciousness) , the twelve ayatana (meaning sense base, including six internal bases: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind and six external bases: visible objects, sound, odor, taste, touch, and mental objects), and the eighteen dhātavah (meaning compositional elements of human existence, including six consciousness, six faculties, and their objects) are the emptiness and the void. Furthermore, they cannot dispel the two reasons for clinging to the idea of the self and the attachment to elemental constructs and even believe in the two (false) tenets that that karma and nirvana are not real and that the ego and phenomena are real. As a consequence, they fail to develop the eleven wholesome mental factors (faith, energy, conscience, being ashamed, non-attachment, non-aggression, non-delusion, calmness, equanimity, conscientiousness, and non-injuriousness) and cease the sixteen unwholesome mental factors (desire, greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, doubt, wrong view, wrath, enmity, hypocrisy, vexation, jealousy, parsimony, deceit, flattery, harming, ambitiousness, stupidity, lacking of faith, idleness, being unrestrained, forgetting, distraction, non-discernment, ). One must bear in mind that once all our virtuous roots are discontinued, they will be trapped in the never-ending reincarnation and the suffering of infinite continuity.
Is it possible that the hell will be empty one day? If the beings in hell will become extinct while evil spirits inhabit the mundane world, the world could be considered as a pure land. If we could witness the nature of the void, then hell will exist no more.
Since ancient times, the concept of hell has been widely spread among all tribes. Aging, death, beginning, and end are the basis of nature and the core of cosmic consciousness. However, the prosperous civilization as our island is not a place where desire can be eliminated. It’s impossible to eradicate evil nature. Since fetters brought by the constitution, the state, the law, society, the military, corporations, schools, families, and groups are not less than the eighteen levels of hell, the mortals repress themselves, bury their feelings. Day after day, greed, anger, stupidity, arrogance, doubt, and resentment are stacking. However, since the six dust (visible objects, sound, odor, taste, touch, and mental objects) has not yet been extinguished, people in the mundane world are still full of delusions. The demons, devils, evil spirits, and the wondering dead exist in the wilderness, while only advanced practitioners with transcendent would attempt to make contact with the dead in the wasteland and forest. Worldly people like us trespass in Disneyland-like man-made hell. It is absurd and ridiculous that the hellish scenes cannot stop us from perpetrating evil deeds, but the horrific and cruel scenes yet satisfy our self-righteous shame.
The pandemic has been boiling over for more than a year and a half. The number of infected patients worldwide is nearly a hundred and eighty million, and the death toll has risen to four million, which is equivalent to a war crisis. I hope that we can all be compassionate, give peace to the dead, treat all sentient beings well and equally. The hell is innately empty; however, deluded and misleading thoughts would give rise to all jealousy and hatred and then manifest the hell before us. This book merely serves as a memorandum of conscience for dictators of the world’s new cold war, supporters of unrestrained warfare, dark web hackers, and those who are cunning and contemptuous and maltreat others when knowing they have problems.
June 2021,
Yao Jui-chung
mirror first take 修 音 在 鄭家朗 Isaac Cheng Facebook 的最佳解答
//此刻,我想提醒生活在黑暗的人,不要習慣黑暗,也不要因為習慣而為黑暗辯解,甚至倒過來嘲笑那些尋找光明的人。
此刻,我要跟同行者分享,入獄不會是句號,也絕不應該是句號。在爭取公義的路上,今天的判決可以是逗號、分號,甚至是問號、感歎號,但肯定不是句號。
此刻,我想警告威權政府,即使你們殺掉所有公鷄,也無法阻止晨曦的到來。//
—————— 邵家臻
《執拗的低音:邵家臻入獄前的自白》
各位:
大家看到這影片時,我已被裁定有罪及被送入監倉,傳媒對此有不少報導,我也想自我報導一下。在這七分鐘的影片中,為何參加佔中、聆訊過程中的感受、以及對佔中後的香港的想法,是我希望大家透過這影片,再一次去明白一個抗爭者的血肉故事,我會盡量做好自己,亦希望您們繼續守護香港。稍後見。
邵家臻
2019年4月25日
====================
‘A Statement by SHIU Ka Chun’
Dear all,
When you see this video,I have been sentenced eight months behind bars. Though there are some related news report, I want to report it by myself. During this 7mins video, the reason why I took part in Occupy Central, the feeling during the trial and my feeling after Occupy Central are what I hope you to know a factual story of a social activist. Better myself. And I hope you safeguard our Hong Kong. See you soon.
SHIU Ka Chun
25/4/2019
#雨傘運動
#和平佔中
#佔中九子
#公民抗命無畏無懼
#OccupyCentralwithpeaceandlove
#Umbrellamovement
#CivilDisobedience
《執拗的低音:邵家臻的陳情書》
A statement by SHIU Ka-chun
Translation by Hong Kong Free Press
2013年的復活節前夕,我決志參與「讓愛與和平佔領中環」;2016年的復活節前夕,我決定出選立法會社福界功能組別選舉;2019年的復活節前夕,我因「公眾妨擾罪」上庭,正等候法官發落。這就是我的陳情書。
On the eve of Easter in 2013, I decided to join “Occupy Central with Love and Peace” (OCLP). On the eve of Easter in 2016, I decided to run for a seat in the Social Welfare functional constituency in the legislature. On the eve of Easter in 2019, I am in court for public nuisance charges and am waiting for judgment. This is my statement.
1989年,我進入了浸會「學院」修讀社會工作,很快感受到「搞掂自己」與「搞好社會」之間的高度反差。1989年6月4日是一面鏡子,照出國家的暴力,也塑造了今日的自己。作為六四的一代,把八九六四鐫刻在生命之中,是因為它決定了我的相信或不相信,決定了我忠誠於誰、反叛於誰,決定了我的愛和恨。
In 1989, I entered Hong Kong Baptist College to study social work, and quickly realised the disparity between “taking care of myself” and “fixing society.” June 4th, 1989 was a mirror, which reflected the nation’s violence, and also moulded who I am today. As a member of the June 4th generation, I etched the incident into my life because it determined what I believe or disbelieve, to whom I am loyal or disloyal, what I love or hate.
我不相信這塊土地不需要有熱情而誠懇的異議者,不相信社會改革是種潮流,可以因為out而被淘汰。如果沒有改革氣氛,我們就一點一點地慢慢搞吧。
I don’t believe that this land does not need passionate and earnest dissidents, and neither do I believe social reform is a kind of fashion that can become outdated. If the atmosphere is not right for reform, then we can do it slowly, bit by bit.
第一階段,我相信文字戰勝時間。革命,我是做不到的,它必須用血和肉來交換。沉默,我也是做不到的,於是我唯有以一種最冷靜的方法,對社會的不公不義,提出針砭。
In the first stage, I believe that words can defeat time. I am incapable of revolution, because it demands blood and flesh, but I am also incapable of silence. So I can only use the most dispassionate way, of critiquing the injustices of our society.
第二階段,我以為「一個人行,行得快;兩個人行,行得遠。」2013年年初,我跟志同道合的社工們學習如何抵抗暴政,如何做組織,也做好自己;如何在受傷中學習而堅強;如何抵抗恐懼和絕望。簡言之,就是如何在社工界搞社會運動。
In the second stage, I thought “one person can walk fast, two people can go far.” At the start of 2013, my fellow social workers and I learnt how to resist tyranny, how to organise, and how to play my own part well. I learnt how to become stronger after being injured, how to resist fear and despair. In other words: how to start a social movement among social workers.
由2013年1月16日戴耀廷的文章開始,「讓愛與和平佔領中環運動」正式拉開戰幔。既然我在4月下旬以社工身分出席了佔中記招,成了傳媒口中的「十死士」,我不能有負眾望,所以我不斷為佔中運動製造有利條件。例如「我係社工我要佔中」座談會、社福界商討日、佔中社工隊、9月29日社工界大罷工等。
“Occupy Central with Love and Peace” officially started with an article written by Benny Tai on January 16, 2013. I attended the OCLP press conference in late April in my capacity as a social worker, and was coined by the media as one of the “ten martyrs.” Because of this, I could not disappoint people’s expectations, so I kept on creating conditions favourable to OCLP. For example, the “I’m a social work and I want to occupy Central” forum, a deliberation day for the social welfare sector, the social worker team for OCLP, and the social welfare sector strike on September 29.
在「無家者和平佔中商討日」時,認識當時還在生的翠姐。翠姐,患了末期肝癌,在通州街橋底露宿,儘管已經六十多歲,但仍希望為民主出一分力,堅持要我們推着坐輪椅的她參與「毅行爭普選」。翠姐說,以往的政治大事,都有意無意地將她拒於門外。她在街頭,活得像曱甴一樣……
At the OCLP deliberation day for the homeless, I came to know the late Chui. Chui was suffering from late-stage liver cancer and slept under the bridge on Tung Chau Street. Despite being in her sixties, she wanted to play her part for democracy, and insisted that we push her in her wheelchair to take part in the “Walk for universal suffrage.” Chui said, major political events in the past have either intentionally or unintentionally excluded her. She was living on the street, like a cockroach…
運動時的壓力,不僅來自政府威權,也來自群眾──早上你對強權大膽批判,博得民眾好感;很不幸,晚上回家時,你可能已經成為千夫所指的渣滓,因為中午你發表了一個不受歡迎的觀點。我不住提醒要有「獨立精神」:一,獨立於權威與商業;二,獨立於群眾;三,獨立於自己的榮辱。
The pressures during the movement did not only come from the government, but also from the crowd. In the morning you can boldly criticise the establishment and win the public’s affection. Unfortunately, when you return home at night you may have already become a derided scoundrel, just because you expressed an unpopular viewpoint at noon. I was always reminded to have an independent spirit: independent of those in power and big business, independent of the crowd, and independent of my own sense of honour and shame.
2014年12月中旬,政府清場。恐懼幾乎無處不在,社會上已找不到任何未被其染指的領域了。恐懼已成為最普遍的情緖,人們甚至透過它來觀察世界。不是說我沒有懼怕。只是不想自己就是這樣的怕下去。我不可以餵養自己的恐懼。
Mid-December 2014, the government cleared the streets. Fear was almost everywhere, and there was no uninfected space in society. Fear had already become the most common emotion, and people even used it to see the world. I’m not saying I was not afraid. I just didn’t want to continue being afraid. I could not feed my own fear.
我出選立法會,是要想非暴力抗爭未完。我要用行動告訴同路人,可以失望不可絕望;要出選,是要守住議會,用議席撐住社運;想出選,也要入議會守住左翼社會政策立場,倡議社會公義。我以「暗室點燈,絕處種花,突破樽頸,復興社工」作為競選口號並成功當選。
I ran for the Legislative Council because I wanted non-violent resistance to not be over. I needed to tell my companions that they can be disappointed but not lose hope. I ran for office to safeguard our council, to support the social movement with my seat. I ran for office to secure a left-wing viewpoint on social policies inside the legislature, and to promote social justice. I ran with the slogan of “Lighting a candle in a dark room, planting a flower at the end of the world, break free from the bottleneck, revive the social welfare sector” and I won.
過去兩年多的議會工作,諸般不順,百不稱心,雖然在「檢討院舍法例」、「整筆撥款津助制度檢討」、中學小學及幼稚園的「學校社工」、「新屋邨社工隊」、「檢討綜援」上有少許進展,但整體來說,議會工作的挫折感仍是不為外人道的。你問我做議會工作累不累?累也要站着。
In the past two years of working at the legislature, nothing has gone right and everything has been disheartening. There has been some minor progress in reviewing the law for residential care homes, the Lump Sum Grant Subvention Scheme, the school social work service, the social worker team for new housing estates, and reviewing the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. But in general, the sense of frustration coming from my Legislative Council work is unspeakable. You ask if my work is tiring or not? Even if I am tired I have to stand.
此刻,我跟八位正派的人一起佇立面對審判。這些正派的人,無論大時代如何變遷動盪,也不管社會怎樣信仰破產、人慾橫流,在他們眉宇間都是堂堂正正、自尊自重、慎言篤行、有耻且格的。
At this moment, I stand with eight righteous people to face judgment. These people – no matter how the times change, how society becomes spiritually bankrupt, dark desires running wild – will live righteously and with respect. They are cautious in their words and deeds and can tell right from wrong.
此刻,我也要向三子報告,你們給我的任務,今天我總算完成。由「十死士」,到「揪着三子褲頭的人」,到今天的同案,甚至同囚。這條苦路,跟你們一起行完。能夠行到盡頭,是我的榮幸。
At this moment, I want to report to the Occupy trio: I have completed the task you gave me. From the “ten martyrs,” to the “person holding up the pants of the Occupy trio,” to co-defendants today, and maybe even fellow inmates. I have walked this bitter road with you to the end, and it was my honour.
此刻,我想提醒生活在黑暗的人,不要習慣黑暗,也不要因為習慣而為黑暗辯解,甚至倒過來嘲笑那些尋找光明的人。
At this moment, I want to remind those who live in the dark to not get used to dark, not to defend darkness out of habit, and not to scoff at those who search for the light.
此刻,我要跟同行者分享,入獄不會是句號,也絕不應該是句號。在爭取公義的路上,今天的判決可以是逗號、分號,甚至是問號、感歎號,但肯定不是句號。
At this moment, I want to say to my companions, a jail sentence is not a full stop and should not be one. On the path to justice, today’s judgment can be a comma, a semi-colon, even a question mark or an exclamation mark – but definitely not a full stop.
此刻,我想警告威權政府,即使你們殺掉所有公鷄,也無法阻止晨曦的到來。
At this moment, I warn the authoritarian government: even if you kill all the roosters, you cannot stop the coming of the dawn.
mirror first take 修 音 在 Tommy Cheung 張秀賢 Facebook 的最佳解答
掛住你,臻。
《執拗的低音:邵家臻入獄前的自白》
各位:
大家看到這影片時,我已被裁定有罪及被送入監倉,傳媒對此有不少報導,我也想自我報導一下。在這七分鐘的影片中,為何參加佔中、聆訊過程中的感受、以及對佔中後的香港的想法,是我希望大家透過這影片,再一次去明白一個抗爭者的血肉故事,我會盡量做好自己,亦希望您們繼續守護香港。稍後見。
邵家臻
2019年4月25日
====================
‘A Statement by SHIU Ka Chun’
Dear all,
When you see this video,I have been sentenced eight months behind bars. Though there are some related news report, I want to report it by myself. During this 7mins video, the reason why I took part in Occupy Central, the feeling during the trial and my feeling after Occupy Central are what I hope you to know a factual story of a social activist. Better myself. And I hope you safeguard our Hong Kong. See you soon.
SHIU Ka Chun
25/4/2019
#雨傘運動
#和平佔中
#佔中九子
#公民抗命無畏無懼
#OccupyCentralwithpeaceandlove
#Umbrellamovement
#CivilDisobedience
《執拗的低音:邵家臻的陳情書》
A statement by SHIU Ka-chun
Translation by Hong Kong Free Press
2013年的復活節前夕,我決志參與「讓愛與和平佔領中環」;2016年的復活節前夕,我決定出選立法會社福界功能組別選舉;2019年的復活節前夕,我因「公眾妨擾罪」上庭,正等候法官發落。這就是我的陳情書。
On the eve of Easter in 2013, I decided to join “Occupy Central with Love and Peace” (OCLP). On the eve of Easter in 2016, I decided to run for a seat in the Social Welfare functional constituency in the legislature. On the eve of Easter in 2019, I am in court for public nuisance charges and am waiting for judgment. This is my statement.
1989年,我進入了浸會「學院」修讀社會工作,很快感受到「搞掂自己」與「搞好社會」之間的高度反差。1989年6月4日是一面鏡子,照出國家的暴力,也塑造了今日的自己。作為六四的一代,把八九六四鐫刻在生命之中,是因為它決定了我的相信或不相信,決定了我忠誠於誰、反叛於誰,決定了我的愛和恨。
In 1989, I entered Hong Kong Baptist College to study social work, and quickly realised the disparity between “taking care of myself” and “fixing society.” June 4th, 1989 was a mirror, which reflected the nation’s violence, and also moulded who I am today. As a member of the June 4th generation, I etched the incident into my life because it determined what I believe or disbelieve, to whom I am loyal or disloyal, what I love or hate.
我不相信這塊土地不需要有熱情而誠懇的異議者,不相信社會改革是種潮流,可以因為out而被淘汰。如果沒有改革氣氛,我們就一點一點地慢慢搞吧。
I don’t believe that this land does not need passionate and earnest dissidents, and neither do I believe social reform is a kind of fashion that can become outdated. If the atmosphere is not right for reform, then we can do it slowly, bit by bit.
第一階段,我相信文字戰勝時間。革命,我是做不到的,它必須用血和肉來交換。沉默,我也是做不到的,於是我唯有以一種最冷靜的方法,對社會的不公不義,提出針砭。
In the first stage, I believe that words can defeat time. I am incapable of revolution, because it demands blood and flesh, but I am also incapable of silence. So I can only use the most dispassionate way, of critiquing the injustices of our society.
第二階段,我以為「一個人行,行得快;兩個人行,行得遠。」2013年年初,我跟志同道合的社工們學習如何抵抗暴政,如何做組織,也做好自己;如何在受傷中學習而堅強;如何抵抗恐懼和絕望。簡言之,就是如何在社工界搞社會運動。
In the second stage, I thought “one person can walk fast, two people can go far.” At the start of 2013, my fellow social workers and I learnt how to resist tyranny, how to organise, and how to play my own part well. I learnt how to become stronger after being injured, how to resist fear and despair. In other words: how to start a social movement among social workers.
由2013年1月16日戴耀廷的文章開始,「讓愛與和平佔領中環運動」正式拉開戰幔。既然我在4月下旬以社工身分出席了佔中記招,成了傳媒口中的「十死士」,我不能有負眾望,所以我不斷為佔中運動製造有利條件。例如「我係社工我要佔中」座談會、社福界商討日、佔中社工隊、9月29日社工界大罷工等。
“Occupy Central with Love and Peace” officially started with an article written by Benny Tai on January 16, 2013. I attended the OCLP press conference in late April in my capacity as a social worker, and was coined by the media as one of the “ten martyrs.” Because of this, I could not disappoint people’s expectations, so I kept on creating conditions favourable to OCLP. For example, the “I’m a social work and I want to occupy Central” forum, a deliberation day for the social welfare sector, the social worker team for OCLP, and the social welfare sector strike on September 29.
在「無家者和平佔中商討日」時,認識當時還在生的翠姐。翠姐,患了末期肝癌,在通州街橋底露宿,儘管已經六十多歲,但仍希望為民主出一分力,堅持要我們推着坐輪椅的她參與「毅行爭普選」。翠姐說,以往的政治大事,都有意無意地將她拒於門外。她在街頭,活得像曱甴一樣……
At the OCLP deliberation day for the homeless, I came to know the late Chui. Chui was suffering from late-stage liver cancer and slept under the bridge on Tung Chau Street. Despite being in her sixties, she wanted to play her part for democracy, and insisted that we push her in her wheelchair to take part in the “Walk for universal suffrage.” Chui said, major political events in the past have either intentionally or unintentionally excluded her. She was living on the street, like a cockroach…
運動時的壓力,不僅來自政府威權,也來自群眾──早上你對強權大膽批判,博得民眾好感;很不幸,晚上回家時,你可能已經成為千夫所指的渣滓,因為中午你發表了一個不受歡迎的觀點。我不住提醒要有「獨立精神」:一,獨立於權威與商業;二,獨立於群眾;三,獨立於自己的榮辱。
The pressures during the movement did not only come from the government, but also from the crowd. In the morning you can boldly criticise the establishment and win the public’s affection. Unfortunately, when you return home at night you may have already become a derided scoundrel, just because you expressed an unpopular viewpoint at noon. I was always reminded to have an independent spirit: independent of those in power and big business, independent of the crowd, and independent of my own sense of honour and shame.
2014年12月中旬,政府清場。恐懼幾乎無處不在,社會上已找不到任何未被其染指的領域了。恐懼已成為最普遍的情緖,人們甚至透過它來觀察世界。不是說我沒有懼怕。只是不想自己就是這樣的怕下去。我不可以餵養自己的恐懼。
Mid-December 2014, the government cleared the streets. Fear was almost everywhere, and there was no uninfected space in society. Fear had already become the most common emotion, and people even used it to see the world. I’m not saying I was not afraid. I just didn’t want to continue being afraid. I could not feed my own fear.
我出選立法會,是要想非暴力抗爭未完。我要用行動告訴同路人,可以失望不可絕望;要出選,是要守住議會,用議席撐住社運;想出選,也要入議會守住左翼社會政策立場,倡議社會公義。我以「暗室點燈,絕處種花,突破樽頸,復興社工」作為競選口號並成功當選。
I ran for the Legislative Council because I wanted non-violent resistance to not be over. I needed to tell my companions that they can be disappointed but not lose hope. I ran for office to safeguard our council, to support the social movement with my seat. I ran for office to secure a left-wing viewpoint on social policies inside the legislature, and to promote social justice. I ran with the slogan of “Lighting a candle in a dark room, planting a flower at the end of the world, break free from the bottleneck, revive the social welfare sector” and I won.
過去兩年多的議會工作,諸般不順,百不稱心,雖然在「檢討院舍法例」、「整筆撥款津助制度檢討」、中學小學及幼稚園的「學校社工」、「新屋邨社工隊」、「檢討綜援」上有少許進展,但整體來說,議會工作的挫折感仍是不為外人道的。你問我做議會工作累不累?累也要站着。
In the past two years of working at the legislature, nothing has gone right and everything has been disheartening. There has been some minor progress in reviewing the law for residential care homes, the Lump Sum Grant Subvention Scheme, the school social work service, the social worker team for new housing estates, and reviewing the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. But in general, the sense of frustration coming from my Legislative Council work is unspeakable. You ask if my work is tiring or not? Even if I am tired I have to stand.
此刻,我跟八位正派的人一起佇立面對審判。這些正派的人,無論大時代如何變遷動盪,也不管社會怎樣信仰破產、人慾橫流,在他們眉宇間都是堂堂正正、自尊自重、慎言篤行、有耻且格的。
At this moment, I stand with eight righteous people to face judgment. These people – no matter how the times change, how society becomes spiritually bankrupt, dark desires running wild – will live righteously and with respect. They are cautious in their words and deeds and can tell right from wrong.
此刻,我也要向三子報告,你們給我的任務,今天我總算完成。由「十死士」,到「揪着三子褲頭的人」,到今天的同案,甚至同囚。這條苦路,跟你們一起行完。能夠行到盡頭,是我的榮幸。
At this moment, I want to report to the Occupy trio: I have completed the task you gave me. From the “ten martyrs,” to the “person holding up the pants of the Occupy trio,” to co-defendants today, and maybe even fellow inmates. I have walked this bitter road with you to the end, and it was my honour.
此刻,我想提醒生活在黑暗的人,不要習慣黑暗,也不要因為習慣而為黑暗辯解,甚至倒過來嘲笑那些尋找光明的人。
At this moment, I want to remind those who live in the dark to not get used to dark, not to defend darkness out of habit, and not to scoff at those who search for the light.
此刻,我要跟同行者分享,入獄不會是句號,也絕不應該是句號。在爭取公義的路上,今天的判決可以是逗號、分號,甚至是問號、感歎號,但肯定不是句號。
At this moment, I want to say to my companions, a jail sentence is not a full stop and should not be one. On the path to justice, today’s judgment can be a comma, a semi-colon, even a question mark or an exclamation mark – but definitely not a full stop.
此刻,我想警告威權政府,即使你們殺掉所有公鷄,也無法阻止晨曦的到來。
At this moment, I warn the authoritarian government: even if you kill all the roosters, you cannot stop the coming of the dawn.