Buddhism for man in Society

　　佛教爲廣大社群而存在

　　This religion can be practised either in society or in seclusion.

　　佛教不僅爲修行者存在，同時也爲廣大社群而存在。

　　There are some who believe that Buddhism is so lofty and sublime a system that it cannot be practised by ordinary men and women in the workday world. These same people think that one has to retire to a monastery or to some quiet place if one desires to be a true Buddhist.

　　有些人認爲佛教是高尚和莊嚴的，並不是一般的人能理解的，因爲想要成爲一名佛教徒，就必須隱居寺院或清淨偏僻的地方。

　　This is a sad misconception that comes from a lack of understanding of the Buddha. People jump to such conclusions after casually reading or hearing something about Buddhism. Some people form their impression of Buddhism after reading articles or books that give only a partial or lopsided view of Buddhism. The authors of such articles and books have only a limited understanding of the Buddha”s Teaching. His Teaching is not meant only for monks in monasteries. The Teaching is also for ordinary men and women living at home with their families. The Noble Eightfold Path is the Buddhist way of life that is intended for all people. This way of life is offered to all mankind without any distinction.

　　這是由于對佛陀的教義缺乏了解，而産生的可悲的錯誤觀念。這是由于閱讀或聆聽了一些有關佛教的教義，而這些教義並非全面的佛教觀點。一些現代的學者或作家，由于對佛陀的教義缺乏全面的認識，因此造成錯誤的印象。佛陀的教義，不僅意味著只有出家人才可修持，任何在家的男女信衆一樣可以修持。八聖道是所有佛弟子的生活方式，這種生活方式適合于全人類。

　　The vast majority of people in the world cannot become monks or retire into caves or forests. However noble and pure Buddhism may be, it would be useless to the masses if they could not follow it in their daily life in the modern world. But if you understand the spirit of Buddhism correctly, you can surely follow and practise it while living the life of an ordinary man.

　　這世間絕大多數的人，都無法出家爲僧，或隱居于山林洞穴中。如果，他們不能在生活中體現八聖道的精神，那麼佛教對他們是毫無作用的。但是，一旦了解佛教的真正精神與價值，你就會在日常生活中實踐佛陀的教義。

　　There may be some who find it easier and more convenient to accept Buddhism by living in a remote place; in other words, by cutting themselves off from the society of others. Yet , other people may find that this kind of retirement dulls and depresses their whole being both physically and mentally, and that it may therefore not be conducive to the development of their spiritual and intellectual life.

　　或許，有些人會發現，在僻靜的地方修持佛法，比較容易或更方便，也就是說，斷絕了一切的人際關系和往來。可是，某些人卻發現，這種修行方式，減少或降低了整個身、心的全面發展，對精神或知識一點幫助也沒有。

　　True renunciation does not mean running away physically from the world. Sariputta, the chief disciple of the Buddha, said that one man might live in a forest devoting himself to ascetic practices, but might be full of impure thoughts and ”defilements”. Another might live in a village or a town, practising no ascetic discipline, but his mind might be pure, and free from ”defilements”. ”Of these two,” said, Sariputta, ”the one who lives a pure life in the village or town is definitely far superior to, and greater than, the one who lives in the forest.” (Majjhima Nikaya)

　　真正的出家，並不意味著身體將遠離社會。佛陀的大弟子沙利子說： 「一個人隱居山林，可是心中充滿了汙染雜念，而另一個人，居住在城裏或村落裏，嚴謹的修持佛法，遠離汙染雜念。這兩個人相比較，居住在城裏，過著清淨生活的人，遠比隱居于山林的人，來得高尚和偉大。」《中部》

　　The common belief that to follow the Buddha”s Teaching one has to retire from a normal family life is a misconception. It is really an unconscious defense against practising it. There are numerous references in Buddhist literature to men and women living ordinary, normal family lives who successfully practised what the Buddha taught and realized Nibbana. Vacchagotta the Wanderer, once asked the Buddha straightforwardly whether there were laymen and women leading the family life who followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states. The Buddha categorically stated that there were many laymen and women leading the family life who had followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states.

　　一般人相信學佛必須脫離正常的家庭生活，這是一種錯誤的觀念…

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