(３９)現在想想“樂土”

　　“樂土在哪裏？由哪裏可以進入樂土？”

　　39) Now consider the “happy state”

　　39) “Where is the happy state to be found

　　 Where do we go to get happiness

　　”

　　有段經文談到天神(devata)壽量竭盡、壽命將盡，也談到他們想到達樂土及想知道哪裏能找到樂土的願望。最後他們得到結論：樂土在人間。天神歡喜地說：“祝你們如願抵達人間樂土！”

　　In the texts, there is a passage which speaks of celestial beings (devatas) dying, passing away, coming to the end of their merit, and coming to the end of their life spans. It also tells of their wishing to attain the happy state, seeking it, and wishing to know where to find it. In the end they come to the conclusion that the happy state is to be found in the realm of human beings. The celestial. beings rejoice saying, “May your wishes be fulfilled! Go to the happy state in the human realm!”

　　“樂土在人間”象征人間比天界更容易察覺無常、苦、無我。人間有覺者，有阿羅漢，佛、法、僧叁寶具足，而充滿感官享受的天界沒有這些。因此天神來到人間樂土，所有天神都同聲歡喜祝福，但這裏的人卻想到天界找尋樂土，這真是件滑稽的事！到底誰對誰錯呢？有些人行善布施，甚至變賣家産，建設寺院作爲投資，只爲了來生能上天堂。請大家想一想，真正的樂土在哪裏？

　　The expression “happy state in the human realm” signifies that in the human realm impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and non-selfhood can more readily be perceived than in the celestial realm. In the human realm there are enlightened beings, there are arahants, and there are the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. In the celestial realm, that jungle of sensuality, there are none of these things. Thus, celestial beings come to the human realm in search of the happy state. It is ridiculous that human beings here should want to go to the celestial realm for happiness. Yet some people seek paradise, happiness in the next existence, in the realm of celestial beings. They invest in it by making merit, giving to charity, selling their houses and goods, and building things in monasteries. Where is the genuinely happy state to be found

　　 Think it over.