..續本文上一頁ma, however limited its scope. With the diligent application of this and the gradual increase of good kamma a being can raise itself to higher levels of existence and understanding.

　　因此，一切低等動物也同樣具備開創善業的能力，雖然在範圍受了一定的限製。分辨、選擇和取舍，精進和努力，慢慢的積累善業，所有低等的動物都能提升他們再生的境界和智力。

　　To look at this problem from another angle, we can consider one of the earliest stories that have been told to show how the Buddha-to-be first made the initial decision to strive for Enlightenment. A great many rebirths before the Buddha was born as Siddharta, he was born as an ordinary man.

　　從另一個角度來看這個問題，佛陀在他多生多世的本生故事裏告訴我們，在佛陀證悟前的許多過去生中，他不僅是個普通人，有時還是動物呢。

　　One day while traveling in a boat with his mother, a great storm arose and the boat capsized, throwing the occupants into the angry sea. With no thought for his personal safety, the future Buddha carried his mother on his back and struggled to swim to dry land. But so great was the expanse of water ahead of him that he did not know the best route to safety. When he was in this dilemma, not knowing which way to turn, his bravery was noticed by one of the devas. This deva could not physically come to his aid, but he was able to make the future Buddha know the best route to take. The young man listened to the deva and both he and his mother were saved. There and then he made a firm determination not to rest until he had finally gained Enlightenment.

　　在佛陀的某一個前世，他與母親一同乘船出海，遇到風浪船翻了，所有的人都掉進大海中。他不顧自己的安全，背負起自己的母親，在大海中浮遊，他不知道怎樣才能獲救，哪一個方面才是正確的。就在這時候，他的勇敢和誠意，感動了天神，天神爲他指引了正確的方向，並暗中保護他，他和他的母親因此而獲救。

　　後來，他覺悟到如果用同樣的方法來拯救衆生，那該多好啊！于是，他下定決心，永不停息，一直到獲得最後的證悟爲止。

　　This story illustrates the fact that Buddhists can and do seek the help of devas in their daily life. A deva is a being who by virtue of having acquired great merit (like the king of the devas) is born with the power to help other beings. But this power is limited to material and physical things. In our daily existence, we can seek help of the devas (when misfortune strikes, when we need to be comforted, when we are sick or afraid, and so on).

　　這個故事也說明了一件事，佛教徒可以在日常生活中獲得天神的庇佑。天神因爲積累了很大的功德，他們有能力幫助衆生，不過，這種幫助僅限于物質或生理，而不是精神的發展。我們在日常生活中，如不幸的事發生、受到打擊、生病、害怕和需要安慰時，都可以祈求「神」的庇佑。

　　The fact that we seek the aid of these devas means that we are still tied to the material world. We must accept the fact that by being born we are subject to physical desires and needs. And it is not wrong to satisfy these needs on a limited scale. When the Buddha advocated the Middle Path, He said that we should neither indulge ourselves in luxury nor completely deny ourselves the basic necessities of life.

　　當我們祈求「神」庇佑時，我們仍然與物質世界牢牢的系縛在一起。我們要接受一個事實，有「生」就有生理的欲望，也就受到物質條件的局限。在某些範圍內，滿足這些希望是無可厚非的。佛陀提倡中道的生活，他教導我們不應該沈迷于奢侈的物質生活，也不應該排斥基本生活的需要。

　　However, we should not stop at that. While we accept the conditions of our birth, we must also make every effort, by following the Noble Eightfold Path, to reach a level of development where we realize that attachment to the material world creates only pain and sorrow.

　　但是，我們不應該停留在這一階段。我們應該接受「生」的因緣條件，努力追隨「八聖道」開發我們的精神領域，並了解執著于物質的世界，會産生痛苦和煩惱。

　　As we develop our understanding over countless births, we crave less and less for the pleasures of the senses. It is at the stage that we become truly self-reliant. At this stage, the devas cannot help us anymore, because we are not seeking to satisfy our material needs.

　　當我們經曆無數生死而開發我們的智慧後，我們對感官、物質的欲望越來越少。在這個階段，我們要靠的是自己，就連天神也幫不了我們。因爲，我們不再需要物質的滿足。

　　A Buddhist who really understands the fleeting nature of the world practises detachment from material goods. He is not unduly attached to worldly goods. Therefore he shares these goods freely with those who are more unfortunate than he is: he practises generosity. In this way again a Buddhist contributes to the welfare of others.

　　佛教徒了解世間一切本來無常的事實，不執著于物質，不執著于世間所有。因此，將自己的所有無私的奉獻和布施。這是佛教徒對他人…

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