Disclaimer: The translations are not official nor endorsed by 2OR, so please just treat it as a ‘fan-based’ translation. The Buddha-Dharma is profound. No matter how you convey it, it won’t be completely perfect. Because the Buddha-Dharma is an experience, it’s an awakening 【佛法深奥无比,怎么写,都不会是究竟圆满。佛法是一种悟】. Please enjoy, and I hope it serves as a good filler until the official English version comes out.
很多人喜欢问很多“这个事情怎么这样,这是为什么”,师父告诉大家,这个世界就是这样,很多善的事情、好的事情,还有不好的事情,你没有资格、也没有条件去问它“为什么”,因为这就是缘,因为这就是因果。所以,在因果当中活着,在缘分当中生活着,你就必须遵因寻缘,遵照这个因来寻找这个缘分。在这个人间没有道理可以讲,娑婆世界本来就是不完美的五浊恶世,你非要在这个恶浊世界当中找出你自己认为的理由和方法来解决你心中的烦恼,那就犹如喝酒,借酒消愁愁更愁。所以,人要有智慧地活着,要明白社会本身就具有很多的缺陷,在这个社会当中活着,我们人想要寻找到自己心中的完美,怎么可能呢?就像你嫁给了一个人,你说他会完美吗?就像你娶了一个人,你说会不会完美?就像你生了一个孩子,他会让你感觉到这个世界很完美吗?要明白,这个世界的一切都是因缘果报啊。
Many people like to ask, “Why did the situation come to this? What happened?” Master tells you all that the world is like so. When any good thing or bad thing has happened, you have no right nor in any condition to question why it happened. That’s because all of it is karmic affinity, it is karma. That’s why, when we are living within our karmic conditions and affinities, we could only just flow along with it. In the Human Realm, there is no reason to be made. The Saha world is originally an imperfect, defiled and corrupted place. If you must find a reason or way to resolve your mental afflictions in such a place, then it is akin to indulging yourself in wine to relieve your sorrow, but it only gets worse. That’s why we must live wisely. We must understand that society inherently possesses many flaws. If we want to find something perfect in a flawed place, is that possible? It’s like when you married somebody, could you say that they’re perfect? Even if you gave birth to a child, would the child make you feel that this world is perfect? You must understand that everything that happens in this world is just karmic affinities and consequences.
人活在这个世界上很可怜。师父跟你们讲,要懂得众生都有缺陷,实际上就是众生都有习性,有各种各样的坏毛病。本来人一生出来就会有贪心、有恨心、有愚痴心,当你嫁给这个男人的时候,你突然发现他身上有贪心、有恨心、有痴心的时候,你会很难过,你知道每个人都有贪心、恨心,你不开心,这不就是给自己找麻烦吗?举个不恰当的例子,你嫁给了这个男人,你突然发现他有很多贪心、自私,你觉得不可忍受,为什么让我看见他的缺点一样,因为人具有这样的劣根性,所以你必须去接受它,然后才去改变它,你不能接受别人的缺点,你就会伤自己。谁没有缺点啊?没有缺点的人都在天上,就像监狱里进来的哪个没有罪过啊?没有罪过的人会去监狱里吗?投胎投在人间,哪个人没有贪瞋痴啊?没有贪瞋痴的人会跑到人间吗?就算你的瞋没有了,你痴起来也很厉害。
People who live in this world are pitiful. You must understand that all sentient beings possess flaws, or in other words, unwholesome habitual behaviours. Everybody possesses some greed, hatred and delusion in their mind. Before you married your spouse, you might think that they’re perfect. But after marriage, you eventually discover that they’re greedy and selfish, and you find it unbearable. But you have to understand that everybody possesses varying degrees of these shortcomings, that’s why you must learn to accept it and eventually change it. If you can’t accept it, then you will only be hurting yourself. Who doesn’t have any flaws? Those who are flawless resides in heaven. Just like all the people who are in prison have committed a crime. Would a person be jailed if they didn’t commit any crimes? Everybody who’s reborn in the Human Realm has some greed, hatred and delusion with them. If they didn’t, then would they be reborn in the Human Realm? Even if you may not have much hatred, but when you are foolish, it could become severe.
在人间,人人都有贪瞋痴,因为这是人本来就拥有的,因为人类本来就拥有很多劣根性。但是人类同时又拥有佛性,所以要好好地学佛做人,就是要在累世的这种因果上、生活历程上,要把遮住自己本性的那些劣根性去除,你才会看到自己真正的善良的本性。现在我们修行人就是在修掉自己的毛病,用佛法来讲就是劣根性,就是在尽力地改变过去的一切,去走向无上菩提的境界。修行人在人间稍微没有佛性,就会被自己人间的见闻觉知所累。就是说,人会因为听到了什么、看到了什么,而改变自己的思维,这样就会产生执著。因为你看到了、听到了之后,你就会产生一种人类本来具有习性的一种固有的执著,“我认为这是对的,我认为这是错的”,成为修行路上的严重障碍。学佛人要用智慧,使执著的人生得到潜移默化转变,淡化累世顽固的执著,自然而然地改变自以为是的人生观,人生观改变了,才会改变自己的世界观,改变了自己的世界观,你才会拥有平等心。
In the Human Realm, everybody has greed, hatred and delusion because that’s inherent to human nature, and it manifests into different unwholesome habitual behaviours. But at the same time, humans also possess a Buddha-nature. That’s why you must properly practise Buddhism and be an upright person. You must eliminate all the deep-rooted bad habits that you’ve accumulated over countless lifetimes and experiences that have covered up your inherent nature. That way, you can see your true kind-hearted inherent nature. Currently, we cultivators strive to reform ourselves and put our efforts to change everything we accumulated over the past to make our way to the unsurpassed Bodhi spirituality. If any cultivator’s Buddha-nature is weak, then they would be burdened by everything they see, hear and feel in the Human Realm. In other words, people will change themselves and form attachments because of the things they hear and see. That’s because human nature possesses a kind of habitual behaviour that forms attachments. “I think this is right, and that is wrong.” It will become a serious obstacle on the path of cultivation. Buddhists must learn to use their wisdom to influence and reduce the attachments that they’ve formed over time so that they will naturally change their sense of values and outlook on life. When it’s done, then you will possess an equitable mind.
平等心并不等于不分是非善恶。很多人说:“我们都是平等的学佛人啊。”师父问你,同样是平等的学佛人,为什么他做恶事多,你做恶事少?为什么他做善事多,你做善事少呢?这平等吗?平等心讲的是,都是人,可以在地球上,可以在生活的场所上,共同地去拥有学佛的机会。平等说的是这个,而不是说你有业障那也平等,那完全是不平等,否则天上就不会分成上等中品、上等上品的。所以,人对待自己的毛病一定要像对待自己的仇人一样,彻底地去把它改变,“我太恨自己了,我怎么这么不争气,我怎么这么难过,我怎么这样无知,我怎么做出这样不像人的事情来……”要天天这么问自己,要好好地检查自己,想一想自己过去做的那些烂事,要彻底地改变自己。
Possessing an equitable mind doesn’t mean that one doesn’t differentiate the good and bad. Many people say, “We are all learning and practising Buddhism equally.” Master asks you, if all Buddhists are equal, why is one Buddhist doing more unwholesome deeds but you don’t do it much? Why is one other Buddhist doing more wholesome deeds while you’re not doing much? Is that fair? An equitable mind refers to viewing every person as having an equal opportunity to learn Buddhism. Equality refers to that, and not saying that you are still treated equally if you have negative karma. Otherwise, there won’t be different Divine ranks in heaven. That’s why people must treat their shortcomings as if they’re viewing their enemy. They must thoroughly reform it. “I really hate myself; why am I such a disappointment? Why am I so depressed? Why am I so ignorant? Why did I act so indecently?” You must constantly ask yourself and examine yourself. Think about all the bad things you did in the past, and then vow to reform yourself.
缘分,那是一个人对事物的理解过程,所以,懂得缘分的人,他才会懂得这个事物的真谛。随缘不变就是一种胸怀,不管今天这件事情是恶的还是善的,其实它是一种成熟,是对自我内心的一种自信和把握。能够随缘的人能在风云变幻、艰难坎坷的生活当中找寻到前进的方向,所以有些人越是困难的人生越是能够找到方向。顺风顺水的人根本不理解人生的跌宕起伏、人生的苦难,不能经受这种考验的人,是一个不能成功的人。师父希望大家好好想一想,随缘很重要。
Karmic affinity is a comprehension process of a person towards something. Those who understand karmic affinity will understand the truth of that thing. Those who go with the flow according to karmic conditions possess a kind of magnanimity. Regardless of what they encounter, good or bad, it is actually a kind of maturation process towards your mind to test your self-confidence and grasp of the whole situation. Those who could go with the flow are adaptable; they could still make advances in their lives despite the hardships that they experience. That’s why they have a strong sense of direction. People whose lives are smooth-sailing would never understand the ups and downs of life and its hardships. Those who are unable to withstand the tests of hardship are people who will never be successful. Master hopes that you could all ponder the importance of going with the flow and acting according to your karmic conditions.
今天师父跟大家讲了这么多的缘分的事情,就是告诉大家要随缘。随缘就是你对现实当中的事物要产生一种正确的认识,而且是清醒的认识。“我知道这个事情是不可能长久的,所以我随缘,我不去追求它,我很清醒,我今天就是追来了,它也会离开我的”,那你就不追了,这就叫对人生清醒的认识。而且要懂得你必须对人生有一个彻底的了解,叫彻悟。师父可以马上叫你们彻悟,让你们在十分钟内放得下。
Master has expounded many things about karmic affinity in this chapter; the main reason is to tell you all to act accordingly to your karmic conditions. Acting according to your karmic conditions to develop the correct understanding of the things you encounter, and it is an awakened understanding. “I know that this is not long-lasting, I’ll just go with the flow. I won’t pursue it; I am clear-minded. Even if I pursue and possess it, it will eventually disappear.” Then you won’t pursue it anymore, that is the awakened understanding towards life. And also you know that you must have understood life thoroughly, that’s called complete awakenment. Master could make you completely awaken immediately, and make you let go in ten minutes time.
师父只要告诉你们说,你们想一想,你们来到这个人间,走过这段人生,你们最后就是一个死亡,你们现在实际上都是有时限的,想一想一个要死亡的人,以六十岁、七十岁为例,你们还能活多少年?就是在人生的这个煎熬当中度过了几十年,还要再度过几十年,最后你们都是要进棺材的人,再去追啊,再去求啊,再去为钱为名为利啊?想一想不就想通了吗?有什么可以追的?有什么面子啊?小时候我们多少人要面子啊,现在小时候的面子到哪里去了?现在还有很多小朋友死要面子呢,死要面子是不是活受罪啊?
All he has to do is ask you to ponder, “You’re here in the Human Realm, and you’re here in the present stage of your life. At the end of your life is only death. In reality, your time is limited. Think about those who will die very soon, like those people in their 60s or 70s, how many more years could you live? You have been grinding for many decades now, and you still insist on grinding for a few more decades. In the end, you are all people who will be buried. Would you still pursue wealth and fame? When you introspect, won’t your mind become clear? What is there to pursue? What’s the point of keeping face? When we were in our youth, we’ve always wanted to act proudly, now where has that youthful pride gone? Currently, many still insist on grinding to save face. Aren’t they just torturing themselves?”
师父希望你们彻悟人生,懂得聚散离合本是缘。今天我们相聚了,今天我们离散了,都是一种缘分,拥有随缘的心,你才能度过人间的艰难挫折。天空中无论是阴云密布,还是阳光灿烂,不管生活道路上的坎坷和顺畅,心中永远要拥有平静和智慧。所以,一个人要有智慧,才能活在人间,一个人没有智慧,他很难在人间生活。师父告诉大家,人生就是在美中不足和好事多磨当中度过的,所以美中不足是常事,好事多磨也是正常的,没有一件事情是顺顺当当的,没有一件事情是十全十美的,我们在这个人生当中,不要等到梦醒结束的时候,才知道原来人生本是假。
Master hopes that you could all awaken completely about life, and understand that all gatherings and separations are karmic affinities. Only with a mind that goes with the flow could you overcome the hardships and setbacks. Regardless whether the sky is covered by dark clouds or clear and sunny; regardless of whether the journey of life is hard or smooth, one’s mind should always possess both peace and wisdom. That’s why a person must be wise to live well. A person who lacks wisdom would lead a hard life. Life is about living through the imperfect and setbacks. That’s why imperfect things and hardships are common and normal. There’s not a single thing in life that goes smoothly, and there’s not a single thing that’s perfect. When we’re alive, don’t wait until when the dream ends before you realise that everything about life is fake.
“事非经过不知难”,未曾尝过不知味,学佛人如果没有尝过人生的苦难,你就不知道在这个人间活着是多么的艰难。我们在这个人世间吃尽了苦头,甚至惨不忍睹,我们在是非的曲直当中,不知道什么是对、什么是错,造成我们犯下了很多不可饶恕的罪行,所以我们应该清醒了,不能再这么稀里糊涂地活下去。生命是从无明空性的混沌当中产生的,并从宇宙的空性的意识中启动了这个念头,就是人的念头的刚刚开始,所以,一旦人有念头开始了,就会有所求,一有所求就会发出欲望,欲望就会使你意识的生命进入如梦如幻般的无尽的游戏人生之中。
When you don’t go through something, you don’t realise that it’s hard. If you haven’t tasted something, you won’t know how it will taste. If Buddhists have never experienced the hardships of life, then they won’t know how hard is it to live. We have tasted all kinds of suffering, some even too tragic to recall. We are just meandering through all the rights and wrongs, while not knowing what is right and what is wrong and might have committed many unforgivable acts. That’s why we should wake up, and stop continuing to live muddle-headedly for the remainder of our life. Life is born from the chaos of ignorance and empty nature. And from the universal empty-natured consciousness, thoughts began. When a person begins to have thoughts, they will start to have wants, which lead to desires. Desires are what causes your consciousness to enter into a dreamlike state as if playing a game.
师父跟大家讲的这些,大家都要好好地听。人的意念决定了你的一生,一个念头想不通,人的一生就断送了。自杀的人都是一念想不通,跑到了楼顶上,这时候又不想死,但是边上的人都在下面看着,一种冲动感让他只有一个念头:“算了,我已经这样了,丢死人了,死也就死了。”“扑通”一声跳下去,一个念头走人了。所以人活在这个世界上,要守住自己的念头,不要让自己的念头像一匹野马一样漫无目的地乱跑,否则就会伤害到你的心。
When Master talks about these things, you should properly listen. One’s thoughts decide one’s life. If somebody becomes mentally stuck, then their life could end. People who commit suicide are examples of that. They go to the top of the building, and then when they get there, they might not want to die. But then they see the people below spectating, and by impulse, they have a thought, “Fine, I’m already up here. I feel ashamed; I might as well die.” Then they go and jump. Just that one thought has killed them. That’s why while we’re still alive, we must keep a rein on to our thoughts and don’t let it to run amok like a wild horse. Otherwise, it will hurt you.
Thanks