- 期刊
佛教的養生功法－達摩「易筋經」
The Calisthenics of Buddhism: Yi-Gin-Ching of Budhidharma
摘要
「易筋經」是佛教傳統的養生功法。「易」就是改變、變換、改良；「筋」指 的是人體的肌腱、筋膜、韌帶、神經；「經」的涵意則是方法、經驗或學問。 「易筋經」即是能使筋絡發生良性改變的方法。易筋經的文字敘述含有不少動的 意味，而其中「逢動必旋，逢作必繞」也是讓身體筋骨舒展的基本原則。但這種 旋繞並非毫無章法，而是須依照人體筋絡經脈的走向作旋繞，才可像擰毛巾般地 擠壓到位於各分肉之間的筋絡。此外，旋繞還要配合呼吸的調節，才合乎導引的 要求。「易筋經」的動作是仿效古人從事各種勞動姿勢而來的。本功法以形體屈 伸、俯仰、扭轉為特點，可達伸筋拔骨的效用，故此功法不僅能使筋骨強壯，更 重要的是它能宣通臟腑氣血。若持之以恆，必可精神飽滿。「易筋經」也是發放 外氣的基礎功法之一，換言之，「易筋經」是一門功夫，而不是武術。功夫是修 行，是參禪。練功夫的真正目的，是為徹底改變一個人的品行素質，而練習「易 筋經」正是一種修行，可藉由運動與調息，達到身心和諧。 達摩祖師慈愛世人，東來將佛法、禪法、健身法、拳法等至寶傳給中土人士 修練。修練者可獲致健身、心清、日樂、人和。達摩並訓示世人：「悟得本性， 本性即是心，除此心之外，無佛可得」。眾生不知「自心是佛」而向外馳求，終 日茫茫；也不知念佛禮佛時佛在何處？但能明瞭自心，且知心外更無別佛，自心 是佛，則是真修心者也。至於達摩的健身法與拳法，則明示於易筋與洗髓二經。 達摩雖已圓寂一千多年，其仁心及精神仍深深地影響著世人。 「易筋經」使用非藥物的運動與調息，共有十二勢。它結合行、住、坐、臥，使動靜相配合，作用在人體上，以達到健身、怯病之功效，也有助於修行者心性之鍛鍊與提昇。修習「易筋經」的最終目的在於使身心共修，期能早日證悟本心。
並列摘要
Yi-Gin-Ching (”Muscle/Tendon Change Classics”) is one kind of healthy-promotion calisthenics in Buddhism. The ”Yi” means ”change”, ”improvement” or ”amelioration”; the ”Gin” means ”ligament”, ”tendon” or ”nerve” inside the human body; and the ”Ching” means a classic book containing many methods, experiences and knowledge. Thus, the meaning of ”Yi-Gin-Ching” as a whole is the good methods or training that can improve the health of the subject by changing his fascia, ligament or tendon. The descriptions in Yi-Gin-Ching contain many details of body motions in which the torsion and angular motion is in accordance with the principle of normal physiology during exercise and body extension. The torsion and angular motion is not without order; rather, it must comply with the directions of meridians so that the meridians can be stimulated during the practice. In addition, the torsion and angular motion of Yi-Gin-Ching calisthenics must be in harmony with breathing pattern, similar to the guidance principle of Daoism and traditional Chinese Medicine. Basically, the actions of Yi-Gin-Ching were derived from the labor positions in the daily life of ancient people. There were many characteristics of Yi-Gin-Ching actions, such as withdrawal and reaching-out, bending and extension, pitching and torsion. The effects of these actions are to increase mettle and strengthen the body ability by modulating the blood flow and Chi. It is more important to strengthen the Chi inside the body than to strengthen body. The Chi inside the body is the basics of the Chi outside the body in Kungfu practice. In other words, Yi-Gin-Ching training is one kind of Kungfu, rather than a martial art. Kungfu is not only an ascesis, but also a practicing of Zen in Buddhism. The goal of Kungfu is to change human being from inside to outside, and from behavior to mind. In short, Yi-Gin-Ching training is a kind of ascesis that can lead one into the harmonic state of body and mind by way of exercises and breathing control. Buddhidharma came to China from India about one thousand years ago to give five important edifications to ancient Chinese people, including Dharma, Zen, Health-promotion calisthenics, and martial arts. From that time till now, the yogis can improve their health, purge their minds, attain happiness, and obtain friendly relation with others by following the teachings of Budhidharma. The great allocution of Budhidharma are: ”To realize your own self”, ”The ”self” is the mind”; and ”Besides the ”self', there is no Buddha at all”. The ordinary people do not realize that their own mind is the true Buddha; therefore, they search here and there and go nowhere. They pray to and salute the Buddha, but don't know where is the Buddha. If one can know that the Buddha is in one's own mind, then one is the true practitioner of Buddhism. Although Budhidharma was already in nirvana for more than one thousand years, his great kindness and spirits still influence many people in the world. The health-promotion methods and martial arts were depicted in the books of Yi-Gin-Ching and Shi-Soei-Ching (”Marrow/Brain Purging Classics”). The twelve acts of Yi-Gin-Ching are composed of many positions that combine walking, accommodation, sitting and lying down. The effects of twelve acts are to improve the health and prevent the illness by using the methods of exercise and breathing control without medicine. In addition, Yi-Gin-Ching training is good for mental promotion for the yogis. The final goal of Yi-Gin-Ching training is to realize one's own mind through the ascesis of body and mind.