[转载］正念、心理健康与真正的佛法修行

 [转载］Mindfulness, Mental Health and the Practice of the True Buddha Dharma 

正念、心理健康与真正的佛法修行 (avocado 牛油果)
I am a Buddhist, I am a researcher, and I am a nurse. Being all three has brought about amazing experiences in different ways, but ultimately all three are intertwined. This was something I began to notice more and more. Why did I say that?
As a researcher, my areas of interest and focus were generally on mental health. Looking particularly at the effects of mental health, and various therapies help on improving it. Mental health refers to all those emotions we experience from day to day. This includes stress, anxiety, sadness and happiness etc. For example, high levels of long-term stress and anxiety can lead to a poor physical health and as a result to a lower quality of life. It is evident when we witness people turning to alcohol or tobacco or illicit substances in aiming to relieve the stress and anxiety. Moreover, researchers have found links of long-term stress and anxiety to depression and schizophrenia.  
Going back a few years ago, I started a research on a very fresh concept of mindfulness and how it could improve the mental health. Mindfulness has been exploded in popularity in the last few years. Did you know that mindfulness has been nicknamed the 60-second tranquiliser? Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. By being fully present in this way – not forcing things or hiding from them, but actually being with them, we create space to respond in new ways to situations and make wise choices. We may not always have full control over our lives, but with mindfulness we can work with our minds and bodies, learning how to live with more appreciation and less anxiety.
When I first investigated mindfulness, I repeatedly thought in this way “Hey… This is very similar to Buddhist teachings!”
If you are in the practice of teachings by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III – I am sure you will immediately notice similarities to his teachings and this concept of mindfulness – especially in his teachings on meditation. For those who are interested, do see the link below. The idea of breathing techniques in achieving mindfulness, and focusing on the present seems not to be a new concept after all. Looking into this further, mindfulness has been cited to be of Buddhist origins.
With my own experience and understanding as a Buddhist, many problems in life seem to arise from the attachment of “self”, and not being able to “let go”. Some people live in hatred for their whole lives, whilst others live in anger or sadness. Many mental health patients I spoke to all had these triggers which led them down the road to the mental illness. Whilst I do not question that there is a biological factor to the mental illness. However on the nurture side of the argument – I feel that these people were so strongly attached to the notion of “self”, that it had a strong negative impact, resulting in mental illness. Practicing the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has taught me not to hold on to events, situations, possessions and whatever it may be, so tightly; ultimately we will never be able to hold onto them forever – this is the law of impermanence. Dwelling on the past is useless, as it has already gone and passed; anticipating the future that is yet to happen is also futile. Why not focus on the present moment? Be the best we can in the present moment, which will no doubt have a positive impact on everything else – mindfulness.
As a nurse, I witness impermanence all the time – people’s health is in deterioration or departing from this life every moment. Everything they are so worried about, everything that they stress about, everything that they try to hold on to so tightly does not matter when they stop breathing.
All these real-life experiences together have brought me closer to understanding the teachings expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. I believe that the true Buddha Dharma is not just a belief or a religion, but is for a way of life – a guide to that ultimate state of mind and being to gain a true sense of happiness.
Link to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Expounds “The Great Dharma of Zen Practice”: http://www.hhdcb3office.org/html/information/announcement_no40_e_2013_12_04.html 
 avocado
(The above is purely personal understanding for reference only, all greatness and inconceivable virtue should be in accordance with the dharma discourses of the Buddha Master. Amitabha.)
我是一个佛教徒，我是一个研究员，我亦是一个护士，这三种角色，也从不同的角度带给我不可思议的体验，但我愈来愈感受到，最终其实三种角色都是互相交织在一起。你会问何以见得？
作为一个研究员，我的兴趣及专注的范围，大致上是关于心理健康，特别是关于心理健康的效应，以及不同治疗的方法，从而去帮助改善心理健康。心理健康，就是我们一天内所体验的情绪，包括紧张、焦虑、忧伤及喜悦等。
例如，长久的高压及焦虑可以导致健康的衰退，而最终做成生活质素的下降，尤其当我们看到他人沈溺于酒精或烟丝或违禁品去减轻压力及焦虑，这是很明显的情况。而研究员会更深入，目的找出长期紧张、焦虑与抑郁、及精神分裂的联系。
几年前，我开始研究一个崭新的概念，是关于正念和它如何改善心理健康。正念被推崇的程度，在这数年间大大地爆发。你知道吗？正念被昵称为60秒的镇静剂呀。正念的形成，是基于把一个人醒觉程度的焦点放于现在这一刻，而同时安住地确认及接收感受、想法、及身体触觉；亦即是完全活在此刻──不强作或掩饰任何事情，而是真真正正与它们共存。我们创造了新的领域，用新的方法，对处境作出反应及作有智慧的选择。一般而言，我们未必经常能完全控制着我们的人生，但有了正念之后，我们可以协调我们的思维及身体，学会怎样用更多的欣赏及更少的焦虑去活出来。
当我刚刚开始查探正念的时候，我重覆地想──咦……这真像佛教的教导！
若果你已经开始学习南无第三世多杰羌佛的佛法，我相信你会立即留意到正念的概念和佛法相似的地方──特别是佛陀传的禅修大法，若你有兴趣的话，请看看下面的连结。以呼吸技巧达成正念，及把专注放在此刻看来并不是一个新概念；而且，正念也表明是源自佛教的。
从我个人作为一个佛教徒的体验及理解，人生中甚多问题似乎都是由于依附“自我”而产生，以及不能“放下”。有些人生活在憎恨当中，另一些活在愤怒及哀伤中。很多我曾与他们谈过话的精神病患者都各自有一件事触发他们，带领他们走向精神病患的路，虽然我不会质疑产生精神病是有其生物因素，然而从孕育角度来看这个论点──我觉得这些人都是强烈依附于“自我”的想法上，而由于它带有负面的冲击，因此构成的精神病。修行 H.H. 第三世多杰羌佛的教导，教晓我不要拘泥固守某些事件，事态或身外之物；因为归根究柢，我们是不可能永远抱着它们不放──这就是无常的定律。栖息于往事是于事无补，因为已经发生及已经过去，期盼于未来未发生的事情亦徒劳无益。为何不把焦点放在眼前这一刻呢？我们应该做到此一刻的最好，这肯定会不容置疑地把所有事物套上一个正面的影响力──正念。
作为一名护士，每一天我见证着无常──病人的情况恶化及往生。他们所担心的每一件事，所有他们焦虑的、所有他们极力坚执不放的事情，在他们停止呼吸后都一点不再重要。
连结往第三世多杰羌佛说法“禅修大法”：

http://www.hhdcb3office.org/html/information/announcement_no40_2013_12_04.html
所有这些经历累积起来，带领我对 H.H. 第三世多杰羌佛所阐释的教导更加亲近，我深信真正的佛法并非只是一个信仰或宗教，而是生活方式──指引我们前进那最终的想法及心态，就是真正快乐的意义。
笔者: 牛油果

译者: 小蜜蜂