..續本文上一頁r another. Others in turn will ask these questions of us. So it is convenient to have lucid, concise responses handy when we need them. Even better when they are backed up by quotations from the Buddha himself. Best of all when the approach is down-to-earth, leaving aside the mysticism and mythology with which we so often pleasantly distract ourselves. Keeping the investigation — in both this book and our own lives — practical, factual, and straight-forward eliminates the misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and misinformation which generally plague religion. Confronting these truths simply and in daily life will reveal their profundity and liberate us from suffering and the ignorance that causes it.
This little book has been reprinted a few times since Ariyananda Bhikkhu (Rod Bucknell) first translated it. This edition, however, has been revised, first by myself and later with help from Rod. We have corrected minor errors and printing irregularities, and have tried to improve readability, but have not made any major changes. Many of our visitors at Suan Mokkh have helped with suggestions and proof-reading during the preparation of this edition. Unfortunately, their names are too numerous to mention. Lastly, Phra Dusadee Meta.kuro, Chao Assava, and their friends in The Dhamma Study & Practice Group have overseen business and publication duties. Their kindness and dedication in publishing many valuable Dhamma books, with more on the way, deserves acknowledgement, appreciation, and support.
May the efforts of the many Dhamma comrades which have gone into this book benefit not only their own wisdom and coolness, but that of friends the world over. May this book be read carefully and repeatedly so that the profound truths presented within it will take root in our hearts. May we all study and live in harmony with these truths, thereby quenching all traces of misunderstanding, selfishness, and dukkha.
Santikaro Bhikkhu Suan Mokkhabalārāma Rains Retreat, 1988
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志同道合的學佛朋友們：
今天演講的主題是給學習者的法義原則。
在此我想先向大家說明，今天的演講只談佛法重要的基本原則，所以主要是針對學生，也可以說是針對知識份子而說的。我將采用問答方式來討論這些法義原則，也就是先提出一個問題問你們，再提供答案，如果你先聽過問題，就會發現比較容易了解並記住答案。我認爲對學生或知識分子說法，這是最恰當的方式。在佛世時，知識分子除了問及佛法的基本觀點和重要原則，不會再問其他事情，因爲他們不想要冗長迂回的解釋，以便能節省時間。
因此，今天我會這麼做：先提出問題當成主題，然後從基本法義原則的觀點回答這個問題。用這種方式會幫助你掌握論題的要點，並且能建立良好的基礎。擁有這些基礎知識，將來會蘊育出美好的果實，方便各位日後自行閱讀或聽其他人演講。再者，我演講的另一個目的是，以後如果有其他國家或宗教人士問你問題時，這些問答內容能幫助你回答，而且不會引發對教義的誤解。
好好記住這些主題或主要內容，如果你能把它背下來，那是最好不過了！而且，我相信這樣對你們會有很大的益處。現在我們依次來討論這些主題。
Fellow Dhamma-followers:
Today”s talk is entitled, “Dhamma Principles for Students”.
I WISH TO MAKE it clear to you that today”s talk will deal only with fundamentals and basic principles, and so is especially intended for students, that is to say, for intelligent people. I shall discuss these broad principles of Dhamma (Natural Truth) using the question- and-answer format, first putting a question to you, and then supplying the answer. Having heard the question first, you will find the answer easier to understand and remember. This, I feel, is the most appropriate method of presentation for you who are students or intelligent people. It is said that at the time of the Buddha, intelligent people never asked about anything but basic points and fundamental principles. They never wanted long-winded explanations. This has the virtue of saving time, among other things.
So that is how I shall do it today: pose a question as our topic, and then answer it in terms of basic principles. In this way you will get the essentials of a large number of topics, facts that will serve you as a good general foundation. Having this foundation knowledge will bear good fruit in the future; it will be of assistance to you in studying and in understanding other speakers.
One more point. The form of my talk is designed to prepare you students for those occasions when you will be asked questions by people from other countries and other religions. It will enable you to answer their questions, and answer them correctly, without giving rise to any misunderstanding concerning the Teaching.
Bear well in mind those points which constitute the essence or real kernel of the subject. If you manage to remember that much, it will be a very good thing, and, I believe, a very great benefit to you all. Now I shall discuss the topics in turn.
《一問一智慧 Buddha-Dhamma For Students: answers to questions a non-Buddhist is likely to ask about the fundamentals of Buddhis》全文閱讀結束。