..續本文上一頁w can we expect to attain transcendental enlightenment
The cultivation of worldly blessings and virtue happens through practicing humaneness. To be humane means to be human, to be a person with an attitude of loyalty and reciprocity. As a human, our first priority is to understand how to give and take, and to be clear about love and enmity ..
怎樣才是知取予，明恩怨？知取予，前面說過「與宜多，取宜少」，也就是所謂的「分多潤寡」，這是修的歡喜行，能令取、與雙方皆大歡喜。但是要想分多潤寡，須以「自奉簡約」爲先決條件；否則，就算貪念可以降服，但自給尚且不足，哪能有余資不足？
What does that mean
To understand how to give and take means, as an earlier line of text says, that "when giving you should be generous; when taking you should take a little less." It also means to "distribute the wealth to help the needy ." This is a joyful practice which makes both the giver and the receiver happy. In order to practice "distributing wealth to help the needy," we must first live frugally ourselves. Otherwise, even if we overcame our greed, we would not have any surplus to give to the needy.
而明恩怨，在方法上要「施惠無念；受施莫忘」。所謂「受人涓滴之恩，當思湧泉以報。」因此報人恩要有長久心。至于施恩呢，則施時要有平等心，施後要有平常心。不但不要把它放在心上，更不可挾恩以要人；否則就算沒招致禍端，自己也活得不舒坦。
To be clear about love and enmity, our method should be: "When giving, think nothing of it. When receiving, do not forget the kindness done to you." A saying goes, Having received kindness equal to a drop of water, you should try to repay it with a bubbling spring. Our resolve to reciprocate should be long lasting. When we do others a favor, we should do so impartially and think nothing of it. Not only should we forget about it, but we should never demand that others reciprocate the favor. Otherwise, even if nothing disastrous happens, we will not be able to live in peace.
再進一層說，明恩怨，在原則上是要「以德報德；以直報怨」，並不是做沒原則的濫好人或鄉願。以德報德，並非報之以一時的財物和便利，而是互勉互勵，雙方德業自然日日增上，自然後福無窮，所以說報恩長。以直報怨，是交付公理衆意去裁決，而不循私意，委屈輾轉地去報複，所以說報怨短。
Being clear about love and enmity at another level simply means, "to repay kindness with kindness, and to repay enmity with justice." It does not mean to be lenient with people no matter what. The repayment of kindness with kindness does not refer to a one-time gift or favor; rather it involves mutual exhortation so that both parties grow in virtue and reap boundless blessings in the future. Therefore the text says, "Kindness should be cherished forever." To repay enmity with justice means to let the public judicial system decide how to handle the matter, instead of dealing with it personally and seeking vengeance in an underhanded fashion. Therefore, the text says, "Let grudges be quickly forgotten."
若說聖賢怎麼也報怨呢？聖賢只是不存心報私怨，但是對無法或無緣教化的少數惡人，有時亦須任其得到適當的製裁，以保障群體的福祉，令多數人有免于恐懼的自由，這就是君子的報怨；不報怨並非直心。事實上，造惡業者就算能逃得過有形的法律製裁，也終難逃其無形的業報。
Do sages also seek revenge
Sages have no personal grudges. However, on rare occasions when they are unable to teach and transform evil people, they must see to it that these inpiduals receive their just punishment, so that the society will not be endangered or terrorized. Such is the manner in which superior people respond to enmity. If they did not respond, they would not be acting in justice. In actuality, even if wrongdoers escape visible punishment at the hands of the law, they cannot escape their karmic retribution, which is invisible.
總之，古之君子有「交絕不出惡聲」的說法，這是恕道，也是恩怨分明的做法；若是交絕出惡聲，或以新怨忘舊恩，則怨隙日深，便是紛亂的開端，就好像下面這個大象報仇的故事。
In general, the great men of old would not slander those with whom they had severed relations. This exemplifies the principle of reciprocity as well as being clear about love and enmity .If people slandered their former friends or forgot about past favors in light of new grievances, enmity would deepen day by day, planting the seeds of turmoil. Consider the following story of the elephant who sought revenge:
從前有個印度人，家裏有頭老實的大象；大象每天渴了想喝水時，就會自己走到小河去；沿途一定會經過一個裁縫鋪，裁縫師總是順手給大象一點東西吃。有一天，大象又照例把長鼻子伸入窗戶要東西吃，裁縫師碰巧沒預先准備東西，又正忙得…
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