Bodhi Mind Reflection

Glimpsing the Ultimate via the Lens of a Mundane Hobby

Steve Williamson (Chuan Yuan 傳遠)

Can we catch glimpses of ultimate reality via the portal of our mundane everyday activities? I believe we can, and when we do, we’ll rediscover–if we’re observant–the Dharma in every minute of each day. One method is to take our hobby or our passion and examine it for Dharma lessons so that when we dive into that passion, we dive into the refreshed waters of the Dharma. But also, our hobby–this mundane passion–can become a vehicle for sharing the Dharma. My mundane passion is photography, particularly portraiture. In portraiture, everything is a sharing, whether we’re fully aware or not! So, let’s see where it takes us. We humans made about 1.4 trillion photographic images in 2020. Photographs have become so ubiquitous with digital technology, do we even know anymore what is real and what is illusion? Most of us recognize the photograph as an illusion of what we casually call reality. But from a Buddhist perspective, wouldn’t it be a mistake to misperceive our daily world as some kind of solid reality? Trying to truly see, I am training myself, step-by-step, to perceive photographs rather as an illusion of an illusion. Indeed, the Diamond Sutra teaches us that:
All conditioned phenomena  Are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow,  Like dew or a flash of lightning;  Thus we shall perceive them.
Therefore, when I make a photograph, it is an illusion–regardless of how much light I infuse into my image–of but a shadow only. The subject of my photo is itself just that shadow. My practice is to try to keep this illusion in mind as I release the shutter. But it is a challenging task because I constantly slip into viewing daily life as some sort of solid reality. Challenging tasks demand practice…and then more practice. One element of that practice is to remind myself of Dharma principles while composing a photographic image. First-time photographers often merely seek a “successful” image: one that “turns out”. As we gain skill, photographers visualize what we want in the final image (the Effect) and put into place the photographic methods (the Causes) to make that possible. If we want a very light-infused image, we open up the lens aperture and/or prolong the shutter speed to expose the film to more light (or expose the sensor to more light in digital photography). We close down the light passing through the lens if we seek a darker photo. If we desire a photo of a person’s head, we might use a longer lens to “zoom in” so that the rest of the body and background are excluded from the frame. Each of these choices–and so many more–is the selection of a cause that we put into place to give us the effect we seek. Examined closely, it is obvious that there is no effect that is not brought about by a particular set of causes. While this is obvious when making a photographic image, it’s not always so clear in our daily lives. We often default to the idea that life’s circumstances are “just the way they are”, or just willy-nilly. The more I learn about and practice photography, leading me to the clear proof that there is no effect without its commensurate causes, the more profound the principle of causality becomes for me in daily life…but only if I pay close attention and mindfully apply that causal perspective rather than that casual perspective! The concept of perspective is one of the essential elements in photography, as it is in all the visual arts. The deeper I plunge, the more I realize that the array of perspectives from which I choose when composing a photo is, truly, infinite. That’s a huge realization. As but one example, I can point my lens looking down on my subject or looking up from below. And while these represent but two choices of perspective, neither of these or any other perspective is the correct perspective, because a “correct perspective suggests a solid reality, not the porous dew or flash of lightning. Relating to daily life, why do I so often get totally hung up on my perspective? My viewpoint, my opinion, can sometimes become so solid–I’m certain I’m right!–that it’s as if I invented Truth itself. Yikes! Photography can be an excellent teacher about perspective…again, if I only observe. A photo represents one choice of perspective on a scene that itself is only one of many conditioned phenomena. Meditation within a Mundane Hobby? Another Dharma exploration of photography I’m eager to try out is the insertion of meditation as a prelude to a portrait session itself. I haven’t yet done this with others due to Covid; it’s just an idea at this point. But wouldn’t it be great to begin every portrait session with a brief meditation, to call the portrait subject and call myself, the photographer, into the best mindful state for a portrait? Once Covid is contained, my intention is to call my subjects into a five minute meditation prior to their next portrait session. It calms me now just seeing it in my mind’s eye. Mining for Kindnesses My grandfather was a coal miner. My mother would tell me that when she was a child, he’d come home from that mine covered in soot, head to toe. All that shone through until he’d finished with his two nightly baths were his twinkling eyes and that big, bright smile. That image has stuck with me all these years, almost like a mental photograph; it must be well-lodged in my mind’ memory bank! I knew him many years later as a kind man, one who had recovered from alcoholism in his early adulthood, I’d been told. He turned to faith after surviving his car being hit by a train. One of the lessons he taught me–only by observing his actions–was that one could be friendly with a stranger every time you met one. If he took me to the store, he’d always have a few kind words for the clerk, engaging each as if they’d known one another for years. Smiles all around. I’m still working on that particular skill, but I have taken to approaching “strangers” on the street for a photographic portrait/interview exchange. I offer them a photo of themselves if they’ll only answer a question or two. It helps if I carry an obviously old or funky camera. Charmed by the quirky camera, they let down their guard a bit. I’ve tried out various interview questions, but the one I come back to over and over is: “What is an Act of Kindness that someone has done for you? It could be big or small. It could be something that happened this morning–like someone opening a door for you–or it could be a profound kindness that changed your life. Would you like to tell me about any such an Act of Kindness?” As I advance in age, more folks are my juniors these days than not. The Second Tenet of Chung Tail is to be kind to our juniors. Slyly, I also find that being older than most of the “street strangers” I reach out to is helpful. Culturally, we tend to trust older ones, so I use that to my advantage! But, can I also comport with that Tenet of being kind to my juniors by reminding others of the very power of kindnesses. I hope so. It seems to work if my observations of these strangers’ changing demeanors are an accurate indicator. Most folks open right up; they visibly relax when pondering kindnesses. Some relate a more minor kindness, but most have a particular one at the ready that they are especially eager to relay. One example comes to mind from just last week. Chris, a young father in his thirties, told me about how he has always had awful birthdays. I found Chris because he was hanging out with his 3-year old boy who was playing with his scooter. His son wore a helmet with a brightly-colored, plastic dinosaur ridge, or crest, along the top that was translucent, and it glowed as it caught the bright Winter sunshine. That lighted dinosaur crest is what caught my eye, but my attention turned toward Chris, my hoped-for next “victim” for a portrait/interview. Describing being plagued by awful birthdays–or was it an annual reminder of one particular birthday?–Chris revealed some hurt, even anguish. I could tell that for him birthdays represented something very palpably difficult and meaningful. Chris continued that a few years ago, however, a friend surprised him by taking him to Six Flags Amusement Park for his birthday, and he’d invited Chris’ best friends too. This delighted Chris for two reasons. He enjoyed the day at the park with his friends immensely, but he was even more obviously and deeply touched by his friend’s thoughtfulness and kindness. His friend had recognized that Chris needed a good birthday experience to break the bad birthday spell. Chris’ 3-year old boy listened carefully to his dad’s recounting of this Act of Kindness story as young children will do. He quietly soaked it in. I made several photographic images of Chris and his son–hopefully capturing the sunlight pouring through that translucent orange dinosaur crest atop the scooter helmet. Once I develop and print the photos, I’ll send them to Chris. But best of all, the Dharma lesson of our interconnectedness floods through for me in each of these minings for kindnesses. It was my grandfather that modeled for me how I could approach “strangers” in the first place. It was Chris who conveyed this beautiful story to me (and now to you!). It was Chris’ friend who started this Kindness Chain by the simple act of taking Chris to Six Flags. And when I eventually post the photo with Chris’ quote on Instagram, others too, I hope, will be opened up by this Act of Kindness. Meanwhile, Chris’ son absorbed his father’s description of suffering–bad bad birthdays–and the friend’s reopening birthdays for Chris by one Act of Kindness. I am confident that Chris’ son has been reshaped by his dad’s kindness legacy. I have been. Firstly and finally, the First Noble Truth is the truth that Suffering is all around us. I have come to realize in mining for photographs of kindnesses that the chief condition for someone to create an Act of Kindness for another is their acknowledgement of the other’s suffering. How else could we be compelled to be kind if we do not first recognize suffering, the primacy and universality of suffering? Could Kindnesses exist without Sufferings? The best thing about being a Miner for Kindnesses is that the ore is inexhaustible. I clearly see, and feel, that mundane photography helps me explore an understanding of ultimate reality. I believe that any hobby, really any daily activity, can do the same if we only pay attention. As the Buddha laid out in the First Noble Truth, and Grand Master Wei Chueh calls us to in the Four Tenets of Chung Tai, acknowledgment of Suffering is foremost, and from that realization we can choose Respect, Kindness, Harmony, and Truth. For me, photography is a vehicle for exploring the blessings of the Buddha and for Taking Refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
菩提心旅

透過世俗生活 一窺究竟實相

Steve Williamson (Chuan Yuan 傳遠)

我們有可能從世俗日常生活中一窺究竟實相嗎?我相信我們可以,而且如果我們敏於觀察,當我們窺得實相時,,將會重新發現佛法存在於每天中的每一分鐘。一個方法是用佛法教義檢視我們的愛好,所以當我們潛入嗜好中時,同時也就潛入佛法活水中。並且,我們熱愛的世俗嗜好也可成為分享佛法的媒介。我的世俗愛好是攝影,特別是人像攝影。不論我們察覺與否,在人像攝影中,分享代表一切,且讓我們看看它將我們帶往何方。

人類在2020年創造了1.4兆的攝影影像。數位科技促使相片無處不在,但我們真能分辨什麼是真實、什麼是虛妄的嗎?多數人認為照片是我們俗稱真實的幻影。但從佛法角度來看,將虛妄的世界誤認為具體的實相不也是種錯誤?我正一步步地訓練自己,試著真正看清,照片不過是虛妄的幻影。的確,《金剛經》教導我們:

一切有為法  如夢幻泡影

如露亦如電  應作如是觀

因此,當我拍照時,不論我在照片上打多少光,它不過是個影子的幻影。我練習在按下快門的瞬間提醒自己,我的照片主題本身只是個影子。但這是頗具挑戰的任務,因為僅管如此,我仍常落入將日常生活看做某種真實的境界。挑戰性任務就需要練習…和更多的練習。

練習的一個要素是在攝影構圖時帶入佛法。攝影新手通常只尋求「成功」的影像:也就是眾多影像中最好的那個。但隨著技術的提升,攝影師會將想要的最終畫面(果)視覺化,並運用適當的攝影方法(因)來達成。如果我們想要光線充足的影像,我們會開大光圈並且/或者把快門放慢,來加強底片或數位相機感應器的曝光率。如果想要幽暗一點的影像,我們會遮蔽鏡頭的光源。如果要捕捉人的頭部特寫,我們可能會用長鏡頭來拉近目標,讓身體其他部位和背景排除在鏡框外。每個選擇都是在決定要施行哪個因來達到我們尋求的果。仔細檢視,很明顯的沒有果不是由一組特定的因所帶來的。因果關係在攝影中顯而易見,但在日常生活中卻不盡然。我們通常會預設想法,認為生命中種種現象是「本來就這樣」,或隨機發生。練習攝影的過程讓我清楚的認知:沒有因,就不會有相對的果,且使我在生活中深刻體會到佛法因果法則的微妙…但這種感受只會發生在我仔細用心覺察因果的時候!

跟所有其他視覺藝術一樣,視角的觀念在攝影中個重要元素。我涉略越深,越能體會,構圖時有無限的視角可供選擇。對我而言,這是個很重要的體認。舉例來說,我可以把鏡頭由上向下或由下往上來拍主題。看似這呈現了兩個選項,但其實沒有任何其中一項或其他的視角選擇是正確的,因為「正確」的視角意味著不變的實相,而非如露或如電。回歸到日常生活中,我又何必經常執著於自己的觀點呢?我對我的看法、意見有時會很堅持—我確定我是對的!——好似事實是我發明的。想想挺嚇人的!如果我夠敏於觀察的話,攝影可以是視角觀點的絕佳老師。照片呈現的是景象的某個角度,而這景象本身不過是因緣合和的結果罷了!

世俗中的禪修?

另一個攝影中的佛法探索是我急於嘗試在攝影人像前靜坐。因為新冠疫情我還沒嘗試過,所以到目前為止還只是個想法。但每次開拍前簡短靜坐一下不是很棒嗎?這樣能夠讓被拍的主角和身為攝影師的我同時進入拍攝的最佳心理狀態。一旦新冠疫情受控制時,我想讓主角們在每個攝影時段開拍前靜坐五分鐘。現在我只要在腦海中浮現主角們靜坐的畫面,就足以讓我獲得平靜。

長養慈悲心

我的爺爺是位礦工。母親曾跟我說,她小時候當爸爸從礦坑回家時全身從頭到腳都是煤灰,直到洗完兩次澡後,他閃爍的雙眼和明亮的微笑才能展現出來。這個畫面這些年一直跟著我,深深的印在我的腦海裡;它一定是被妥善寄存於我的記憶銀行中!

多年後我才認識慈愛的爺爺,我被告知他是從青年期酗酒問題中康復的人。他在車子被火車撞上而存活下來後轉向信仰。從觀察他的行為中,他教會我一課:人可以友善的對待每個初次相遇的陌生人。如果他帶我去店裡,他總會對店員說幾句好話,就像他們已相識多年,歡笑連連。

我仍在培養他的這項特殊技能,我的方法是如果在街上邂逅的「陌生人」願意回答我的一或二個問題的話,我便提供個人照一張來換取訪談機會。當我揹著看來老式或特別時髦的相機特別有幫助。因被古怪的相機吸引,他們會卸下一些心防。我試過各種訪談問題,但我一而再、再而三使用的是:「列舉有人曾為你做的慈悲舉動,它可大可小,可以是今早才發生的 —— 例如有人替你開門 —— 也可以是改變你一生的深厚恩典。你願意談談任何這樣的善意行動嗎?」

隨著年紀增長,身邊同伴也大多比我年輕。中台四箴行第二條是對下以慈,我發現,比多數街上我接觸的陌生人年長頗有幫助。文化上我們傾向相信長者,所以我利用這個優勢!但我是否能藉由提醒他人慈悲的力量來達到實踐對下以慈呢?我希望可以。

這似乎可行 —— 如果我所觀察到的這些陌生人的舉止改變是個可信的指標。許多人被問到這個問題時,立刻輕鬆下來,他們在思考慈悲時看來是放鬆的。有些人談到較小的善意,但多數人立刻會有個特別深刻的經歷想要跟我分享。例如上週發生的一例。克里斯,一位三十出頭的年輕爸爸,告訴我他的生日總是一團糟。我找上克里斯是因為他正在玩滑板車的三歲兒子。他兒子帶著一頂色彩鮮艷、頂端飾有半透明塑膠恐龍背脊或鬃冠的頭盔,在冬日暖陽下閃閃發光。是那個發光的恐龍頂冠先捉住我的視線,而後我的注意力轉向克里斯,希望他可以成為我下一位人像/訪談的「犧牲者」。 克里斯描述著他如何被糟糕的生日困擾—生日對他來說或許是每年重複著一個糟糕的生日經驗?他揭露過去所受的傷害,甚至痛苦。我可以感受到對他來說,生日代表的是別具意義的艱苦。

克里斯接著說,但是,幾年前有位朋友在他生日時給他一個驚喜,帶他去六旗遊樂園玩,還邀請他最好的朋友。這有兩個讓克里斯開心的原因。他非常享受跟朋友在遊樂園裡的時光,但他更深層的感動是來自朋友的體貼和慈愛。他朋友意識到克里斯需要一個好的生日經驗來破除壞的生日魔咒。如同小孩都會做的事,克里斯的三歲兒子,在父親述說這個善意行動故事時在旁仔細聆聽。他默默地沉浸其間。我幫父子倆拍了幾張照片,希望能捕捉到揮灑在半透明橘色恐龍安全帽上的陽光。一旦我沖洗好照片,會寄去給克里斯。

但最棒的是,佛法相互連接的教理,在我每次開採慈悲時都能彰顯出來。是我祖父首先示範如何跟所謂「陌生人」接觸,是克里斯傳達這個美麗的故事給我(然後現在給您!)。是克里斯的朋友藉由帶他去遊樂園的簡單行動開始了這個善意鏈。當我最後把克里斯的照片及附加引用他的話放在Instagram等社群網頁上時,我希望能藉此開展更多慈悲善行。同時,克里斯的兒子體認父親所描述的糟糕生日之苦,和朋友以一個善行為他重新開展的生日,我相信克里斯的兒子會被爸爸的慈悲經驗重塑,我就曾這樣過。

總而言之,第一聖諦說苦就在我們周圍確是事實。在開採慈悲的攝影過程中,我體會到某人為另一人所做的善行,主要都是來自體認到另一人之苦。如果我們不是先體認到苦,至高無上又普及於世的苦,還有其他什麼可以長養我們慈悲的呢?沒有諸苦,慈悲還可存在嗎?

身為採掘慈悲的礦工,最棒的一件事是這礦是挖不完的。我清楚看到、感覺到,攝影幫助我探索對究竟實相的理解。我相信只要我們用心察覺,任何嗜好和日常活動都有同樣功效。誠如佛陀的第一聖諦,及開山祖師惟覺安公老和尚呼籲我們實踐的中台四箴行,認知苦諦是最首要的,從這個體悟中我們可以選擇做到恭敬、慈悲、和合和真誠。對我來說,攝影是探索佛陀慈悲加被及皈依佛、法、僧三寶的舟航。

ZH
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