Consulting Mediums
靈媒
Consulting mediums is not a Buddhist practice: it is just a traditional and psychological belief.
向靈媒谘詢是一種不被佛教所推薦的傳統活動。
In many countries, people seek the advice and guidance of mediums to overcome their problems in situations which they consider as beyond their comprehension.
在很多地方，人們向靈媒咨詢，或向他們尋求指示，如何克服無法理解的困擾。
The medium”s help is sought in many ways and for various reasons. In time of sickness when medical help is apparently ineffective, some people may become desperate and turn anywhere to seek solace. At such times, mediums are often consulted. Some people also turn to mediums when they are faced with a complex and are unable to find an acceptable solution. Others consult mediums out of greed in order to get rich quickly.
求助于靈媒有很多種方法和很多種理由。當生病時，藥石罔效時，在絕望的情況下，爲了找到另外一種慰藉，他們尋求靈媒的協助。有些人在面對很複雜和無法解決的問題時，也尋求靈媒的協助。有些人爲了快速發達，也找靈媒。
Some people believe that when a medium is in a trance, the spirit of a certain god or deity communicate through the medium and offers advice or guidance to those seeking help. Others believe that the trance-state is the work of the subconscious mind which surfaces and takes over the conscious mind.
有些人相信靈媒有與鬼神、精靈溝通的能力，能給予那些求助者超越一般的協助。而有些人相信靈媒是一種潛意識的作用，對一般意識來講是喧賓奪主。
Consulting mediums is a fairly common practice amongst the public. The Buddhist attitude towards consulting medium is one of neutrality. It is difficult to verify whether what the medium conveys is correct or not. The practice of consulting medium is not a Buddhist practice; it is just a traditional practice.
一般人都相信靈媒，佛教對靈媒的態度是不予承認也不予否認，采取了不偏不倚的態度。向靈媒谘詢是一種不被佛教所推薦的傳統活動。
Consulting mediums is for worldly material gain; the Teaching of the Buddha is for spiritual development. However, if people believe what the medium conveys is true, there is no reason for Buddhists to object to such practices.
求助于靈媒是爲了獲得世間的物質或財富，而佛教的宗旨是爲了心靈的發展。
If a person really understands and practices the Teaching of the Buddha, he can realize the nature of his problems. He can overcome his own problems without consulting any medium.
一個真正了解和修持佛法的人，了解苦與煩惱的性質，他能克服自己的困擾，不需要向靈媒谘詢或尋求靈媒的協助。