How to Save Yourself

　　自我拯救

　　Oneself, indeed, is one”s savior, for what other savior would there be

　　沒有別人能拯救你，只有自己才是自己的拯救者。

　　With oneself well controlled the problem of looking for external savior is solved, (Dhammapada 166)

　　只有自我拯救才能解決問題，尋求外在的拯救者，解決不了問題。

　　As the Buddha was about to pass away, His disciples came from everywhere to be near Him. While the other disciples were constantly at His side and in deep sorrow over the expected loss of their Master, a monk named Attadatta went into his cell and practised meditation. The other monks, thinking that he was unconcerned about the welfare of the Buddha, were upset and reported the matter to Him. The monk, however, addressed the Buddha thus, ”Lord as the Blessed One would be passing away soon, I thought the best way to honour the Blessed One would be by attaining Arahantship during the lifetime of the Blessed One itself.” The Buddha was pleased by his attitude and his conduct and said that one”s spiritual welfare should not be abandoned for the sake of others.

　　當佛陀即將入滅時，弟子們從四方八面湧來，他們圍繞在佛陀身邊，爲即將失去偉大的導師而感到悲傷。唯有阿塔達尊者(Attadatta)毅然離開愁雲密布的僧衆，獨自去修精進禅修，僧衆對他那種不關懷佛陀的行爲表示不滿。當佛陀知道這件事後，召見了阿塔達尊者。阿塔達尊者說：「世尊！您即將入滅，我認爲回報您最好的方法是在您入滅前，證得阿拉漢果。」佛陀聽了很高興，于是對僧衆開示道：

　　「利益他人的事雖然重大，可是不要忘記自己進展。懂得關心自己進展的人，才能專注于一切利益他人的行爲。」《法句經》V.166

　　In this story is illustrated one of the most important aspects of Buddhism. A person must constantly be on the alert to seek his own deliverance from Samsara, and his ”salvation” must be brought about by the inpidual himself. He cannot look to any external force or agency to help him to attain Nibbana.

　　這個故事表明了佛教徒一個重要的問題，意味著一個人要不斷的警惕自己，使自己從生死輪回中解脫。「解脫」需要的是個人的努力，而不是祈求外在的力量，或某個「代理」的幫助。

　　People who do not understand Buddhism criticize this concept and say that Buddhism is a selfish religion which only talks about the concern for one”s own freedom from pain and sorrow. This is not true at all. The Buddha states clearly that one should work ceaselessly for the spiritual and material welfare of all beings, while at the same time diligently pursuing one”s own goal of attaining Nibbana. Selfless service is highly commended by the Buddha.

　　有些人不了解佛教，認爲這種觀念是一種自私自利的行爲，只爲個人脫離苦難、獲得自由而努力。他們的批評一點也不對。佛陀清楚的說過：「一個人應該在爲衆生精神或物質的幸福而工作的同時，精進的追求個人達到涅槃的目的。」無私無我的奉獻和服務，就是佛教徒的最高精神境界。

　　Again, people who do not understand Buddhism may ask, ”It may be all right for the fortunate human beings, in full command of their mental powers, to seek Nibbana by their own efforts. But what about those who are mentally and physically or even materially handicapped

　　 How can they be self-reliant

　　 Do they not need the help of some external force, some god or deva to assist them

　　有些人不禁要問：「對身心健全的人來說，他們有善的因緣去駕馭他們的心，從而證悟涅槃，這是好理解的。但是，那些心智殘障、生理殘障、或物質匮乏的人，怎麼辦？他們又如何自我拯救？他們難道不需要依據那些外來的力量，『神』或其他的援助嗎？」

　　The answer to this is that Buddhists do not believe that the final release must necessarily take place in one life time. The process can take a long time, over the period of many births. One has to apply oneself, to the best of one”s ability, and slowly develop the powers of self reliance. Therefore, even those who are handicapped mentally, spiritually and materially must make an effort, however small, to begin the process of deliverance.

　　這問題的答案是：佛教徒不相信最後的解脫必須在這一世完成。解脫的曆程需要很長的時間，經過多生多世的磨練。一個人必須以自己的能力，發揮自己的長處，靠自己的力量自我解脫。因此，那些身、心有障礙或物質匮乏的人，也一樣要靠自己的努力，不管他的力量多小，精進、努力就是唯一達到涅槃的過程。

　　Once the wheels are set in motion, the inpidual slowly trains himself to improve his powers of self-reliance. The tiny acorn will one day grow into a mighty oak, but not overnight. Patience is an essential ingredient in this difficult process.

　　當修行的輪子在轉動時，一個人慢慢的自我訓練，靠自己的力量改善一切。一顆微小的種子，有一天也會茁壯成長，成爲一棵大樹。但是，這不是一朝一夕就可以完成的。在這種困難的過程中，耐心是必要的因素。

　　For example, we know from experience how many parents do everything in their power to bring up their children a…

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