..續本文上一頁ded that he believed that this healthy disposition was due to the fact that ”these Venerable Ones had certainly realized the great and full significance of the Blessed One”s Teachings” (Majjhima Nikaya).
有兩部經典：《長老偈經》(Theragatha)和《長老尼偈經》(Thergatha)，裏面記錄的都是佛陀的弟子們快樂的言辭，男、女衆弟子們，以佛陀的教義爲修持的方針，在生活中找到和平與幸福。根據經典記載：「有一回，高沙喇國王(kosala)告訴佛陀：他不喜歡其他宗教的弟子，他們看起來憔悴、粗俗、蒼白、孱弱，無法給人一個好的印象，而佛陀的弟子則充滿喜悅、歡愉、振奮的享受著精神生活，並以嚴肅、平和、輕松的心情生活著。過後，他又補充道，他相信佛陀的弟子們這種健全的氣質是由于：佛陀的弟子們，深切的體悟到佛陀那偉大和意義深遠的教義。」
When asked why His disciples, who lived a simple and quiet life with only one meal a day, were so radiant, the Buddha replied: ”They do not repent the past, nor do they brood over the future. They live in the present. Therefore they are radiant. By brooding over the future and repenting the past, fools dry up like green reeds cut down [in the sun] (Samyutta Nikaya).
有人問佛陀：他的弟子們，日中一食，過著簡單、純樸、甯靜的生活，因何會有如此的光輝呢？佛陀回答：「他們不懊悔于過去，不憂慮于未來，他們只生活在現在，因此，他們如此的容光煥發。愚癡的人，懊悔于過去，憂慮于未來，他們如幹枯的蘆葦草一樣，折斷于烈日之下。」《相應部經》
As a religion, Buddhism preaches the unsatisfactory nature of everything in this world. Yet one cannot simply categorize Buddhism as a pessimistic religion, because it also teaches us how to get rid of this unhappiness. According to the Buddha, even the worst sinner, after paying for what he has done, can attain salvation. Buddhism offers every human being the hope of attaining his salvation one day. Other religions, however, take it for granted that some people will be bad forever and have an eternal hell waiting for them. In that respect, such religions are more pessimistic. Buddhists deny such a belief.
佛教是一個宣傳世間諸多不如意的宗教。然而，不能因此而把佛教列入悲觀的宗教。因爲佛教的實質是教導我們如何消除這諸多的不如意。佛法告訴我們，即使是最邪惡的人，在接受果報之後，還是一樣可以獲得解脫。佛教爲人類提供了達到解脫的希望。但是，其它的宗教卻認爲壞人將永遠的壞下去，並且有一個永久的地獄在等候他們。佛教否認這種教義的說法。
Buddhism is neither optimistic nor pessimistic. It does not encourage man to look at the world through his changing feelings of optimism and pessimism. Rather, Buddhism encourages us to be realistic: we must learn to see things as they truly are.
佛教既不悲觀，也不樂觀。佛教不鼓勵一個人在這世間，由于悲觀或樂觀而改變他的思想。相反的，佛教鼓勵我們要活得真真實實，同時必須去學習了解事物的真實面目。
《佛教與悲觀主義 Is Buddhism Pessimistic
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