自己做

　　Do It Yourself

　　自信，在人生裏占據了重要的地位。

　　Self confidence plays an important part in every aspect of man”s life.

　　當明白沒有外力、信仰或宗教儀軌能救度自己後，佛教徒就會自覺非靠自己努力不可，唯有透過自己的努力，才能建立對自己的信心。同時也明白自己的今生和來生，完全由自己負責，每個人都必須去尋求自我的解脫。解脫，好比治療疾病，當一個人生病時，他必須去看醫生，經過醫生診治後，他必須自己吃藥，沒有人可以代替他服藥。沒有人能透過稱贊藥物或醫生的處方，就能把病治好。

　　Knowing that no external sources, no faith or rituals can save him, the Buddhist feels the need to rely on his own efforts. He gains confidence through self-reliance. He realizes that the whole responsibility of his present life as well as his future life depends completely on himself alone. Each must seek salvation for himself. Achieving salvation can be compared to curing a disease: if one is ill, one must go to a doctor. The doctor diagnose the ailment and prescribes medicine. The medicine must be taken by the person himself. He cannot depute someone else to take the medicine for him. No one can be cured by simply admiring the medicine or just praising the doctor for his good prescription.

　　爲了治病，他必須遵照醫生的吩咐，按時和按份量服藥，甚至連日常的飲食也受到醫生的限製。同樣的，佛教徒必須遵守佛陀所製定的戒律。佛陀就如醫生一樣，他的處方──佛法，是爲了控製和降伏一個人的貪、嗔、癡，而後獲得解脫。佛教徒不能單憑歌唱贊美佛陀或供奉佛陀的塑像而獲得解脫。佛教不是靠祈求就能獲得解脫的宗教。佛教徒必須懂得適當的控製自己的欲望，淨化自己，精進努力才能獲得解脫。

　　In order to be cured, he himself must faithfully follow the instructions given by the doctor with regard to the manner and frequency in taking his medicine, his daily diet and other relevant medical restraints. Likewise, a person must follow the precepts, instructions or advice given by the Buddha (who gives prescriptions for liberation)by controlling or subduing one”s greed, hatred and ignorance. No one can find salvation by simply singing praises of the Buddha or by making offerings to Him. Neither can one find salvation by celebrating certain important occasions in honour of the Buddha. Buddhism is not a religion where people can attain salvation by mere prayer or begging to be saved. They must strive hard by controlling their selfish desires and emotions in order to gain salvation.