..續本文上一頁vice for the welfare and happiness of others.
仁慈和善心是兩大宗教品質。宗教能帶來和平是因爲不傷害和善待一切衆生，同時，也爲信徒締造一個和諧、自由和甯靜的生活。宗教的善心或慈悲心是建立在犧牲、服務、以及爲衆生謀求福利。
Religions differ according to the understanding capacity of their followers and the interpretation which religious authorities give to the religious doctrines and practices. In some religions, codes, while in others they only provide advice on the need and the way to follow these codes. Every religion will offer reasons to explain the existing human problems and inequalities and the way to remedy the situation. By way of explanation, some religions claim that man has to face these problems because he is on trial in this world. When such an explanation is given, another may ask, ”For what purpose
How can a man be judged on the basis of just one life when human beings generally differ in their experiences of physical, intellectual, social, economic and environmental factors and conditions
”
宗教的差別就在于信徒的了解和宗教導師如何解釋教義和修行。在某些宗教裏，宗教導師擁有很大的權力製定一切律法，而某些宗教只爲信徒指引一條道德和正確的道路。所有的宗教都爲人類的不平等和種種問題給予不同的答案和彌補的方法。某些宗教認爲人類面對種種的問題，是因爲他有罪。當這種論調提出時，有人不禁要問：「人類的物質、思想、社會背景、經濟、環境及經曆都有所不同，又怎能在人類短短的一生中來判斷一個人是否有罪呢？」
Every religion has its own concept of what is regarded to be the goal of spiritual life. For some religions, eternal life in heaven or paradise with the Lord is the final goal. For some the ultimate aim in life is the union of universal consciousness, because it is believed that life is a unit of consciousness and it must return to the same original consciousness. Some religions believe that the ending of suffering or repeated birth and death is the final goal. For others, even heavenly bliss or union with Brahma (creator) is secondary to the uncertainty of existence, no matter, whatever form it takes. And there are even some who believe that the present life itself is more than enough to experience the aim of life.
每一個宗教都有一套對自己心靈目標的不同觀念。有些宗教認爲在天堂過永恒的生活是他們的最終目的。有些人認爲生命是意識的一部份，必須回歸到原始的意識。有些宗教相信，斷滅苦和生死輪回是終極目標。有些卻認爲天堂的快樂，和「神」的境界是次要的，因爲，他們認爲不管在什麼情況下生命都是無常。有些人卻相信目前的生活已足夠讓他們體驗人生的目標了。
To attain the desired goal, every religion offers a method. Some religions ask their followers to surrender to God or depend on God for everything. Others call for stringent asceticism as the means of purging oneself of all evil through self mortification. Some others recommend the performance of animal sacrifices and many kinds of rites and rituals as well as the recital of mantras for their purification to gain the final goal. There is yet another which upholds perse methods and devotions, intellectual realization of truth, and concentration of the mind through meditation.
Each religion has a different concept of punishment for evil deeds. According to some religions, man is doomed forever by God for his transgressions in this one life. Some others say that action and reaction(cause and effect)operate due to natural laws and the effect of a deed will only be experienced for a certain period. Some religions maintain that this life is only one of so many, and a person will always have chance to reform himself in stages until he finally evolves to attain the goal of Supreme Bliss.
每個宗教都有他們一套達到目標的方法。有些宗教要信徒歸順于「神」並依賴它。有些通過苦行來清除自己的罪孽。有些以犧牲動物的生命來祭祀，及持咒來淨化自己。有些宗教采取比較廣泛的修行方法，透過禅定來覺悟真理。每一個宗教都有自己一套不同的賞善、罰惡的觀念。有些宗教認爲人類一生下來就在犯罪，必須接受懲罰。有些相信因果是一種自然法，果報會在某些時候現前。有些宗教認爲這一生是無數生之一，一個人有很多機會在不同階段改善自己，最後得到最高的快樂。
Given such a wide variety of approaches, interpretations and goals of different religions adopted by mankind, it is useful for people not to hold dogmatic views about their religion but to be open to and tolerant of other religious views.
每個不同的宗教都有不同宗旨和教義，我們不要執著于自己所信仰的宗教，對其他宗教要有容忍的精神。
The Buddha said: ”One must not accept my teachings from reverence, but first try them as gold is tried by fire.”
佛陀說：「不要因爲崇敬而相信我的教誨，必須像熔煉黃金一樣，通過試驗後才相信我。」
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《第十叁章 自然· 價值觀和宗教信仰 Chapter 13 Nature, Value And Choice Of Religious Beliefs》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…