..續本文上一頁dhas in the ten directions and three periods of time.” If we always keep this contemplation in mind, we will never be disrespectful, rude, or mean to any living being.
所謂衆生，不單是我們凡夫肉眼所能看見的，有很多是看不見的，譬如鬼、神、仙、魔等，也是衆生的一部分。既然是衆生之一，就應該要平等恭敬，尊重他們，不應看不起任何的衆生。
There are many living beings, such as ghosts, spirits, immortals, and demons, which we cannot see with our physical eyes. We should also respect these invisible beings and not look down on them. All living beings should be regarded with equal compassion.
今天大家進佛殿時，看見一條蛇，它也是衆生之一。但因示現蛇身，衆人便望而生畏，見之而不認識，甚至被嚇呆了。但這蛇是來親近叁寶，聽經聞法的，否則它怎麼會老老實實躺在門檻上，一點也不動彈呢？
The snake that appeared as we entered the Buddha Hall today is also a living being. Since it appeared in the body of a snake, everyone was apprehensive and failed to recognize it. Some were even scared out of their wits. However, this snake came to draw near the Triple Jewel, and to hear the Dharma and the Sutras. Why else would it be so docile, lying motionless by the door
雖然乍眼看去是一條小蛇，其實它懂得千變萬化，會隱形，會現小、變大，又能騰雲駕霧，在空中自在飛行，只是我們不能知道它的本領而已。這蛇將來修行成功，也能得道的。佛經上講「天龍八部」，它就是其中一部「摩喉羅伽」，就是大蟒蛇。
Although it appears to be a relatively small snake, it is able to transform in countless ways; it can disappear, shrink, expand, mount the clouds and ride the mists, and fly freely through space. We just aren”t aware of its powers. This snake can also cultivate and attain the Way. It belongs to the eightfold pision of gods, dragons, and other Dharma-protecting spirits mentioned in the Buddhist Sutras, in particular the pision of mahoragas (great pythons).
觀察這條蛇的來由，可能它在周朝時爲一小國的大臣，可是心懷詭計，謀篡國位，以浸過鸩酒的匕首，藏于袖內，刺殺國王。但此舉不但沒有奪得王位，反而搞得天怒民怨。大臣臨終時生大瞋恨心，死後即墮蛇身，轉爲巨蟒。
A contemplation on the background of this snake might reveal that it had been a high official in a small kingdom during the Zhou Dynasty. With a treacherous heart, this official plotted to usurp the throne. Hiding a poison-tipped dagger in his sleeve, he went to assassinate the king. However, not only did he fail to seize the throne, he also provoked the anger of the heavens and was blamed by the people. At the time of his death, he felt great wrath and consequently fell and became a snake, a giant python.
世間上有兩種力量：一爲「陰」，一爲「陽」；亦可說一爲「善」，一爲「惡」。從善者盡修福慧，能成仙、成聖、成菩薩、成佛。惡者的力量亦大，但專做黑暗見不得光的勾當，互相仇報殺害，所以釀成一股巨大無比的怨氣。
Two kinds of forces operate in the world: yin and yang, or good and evil. Good beings who constantly cultivate blessings and wisdom can become immortals, sages, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. Evil beings are also very powerful, yet they engage exclusively in devious intrigues, killing and hurting each other in vengeance, generating a great deal of hatred.
世上都是毒蛇、毒龍布滿，這些毒蛇、毒龍，不是一般肉眼所能看見，然而他們確實彌漫國土。這些毒蛇，就是由人心裏的「貪瞋癡」積累成形，而到處爲患。世上天災人禍、飛屍邪鬼、妖精魔魇、瘟疫流行，種種不治之奇症，都是這類毒蛇在作怪。這些惡龍疫鬼，專放毒氣，惑亂民心；或是魑魅魍魉，奪人精氣，使人驚怖顛狂。所以現在時下流行的種種心理病，譬如精神分裂、顛狂恐懼，生理上種種頑疾，都不外乎是這些妖魔鬼魅在興風作浪，荼毒生靈。
Open your eyes and look around. You”ll find the world is filled with poisonous snakes and dragons. Although they aren”t visible to our ordinary eyes, they actually fill up the land. These poisonous snakes are the greed, anger, and stupidity in people”s minds, which have accumulated and taken shape, and cause illness everywhere. These poisonous snakes cause all the natural and man-made calamities, zombies, demons, ghosts, goblins, epidemics, and strange and incurable diseases in the world. Evil dragons and pestilential demons emit poisonous vapors which confuse people”s minds. There are also nightmare ghosts and wang liang ghosts, who steal people”s essence and energy, frighten-ing them and causing them to go insane. Nowadays, ghosts, goblins, and demons cause mischief and cause people to develop schizophrenia, insanity, phobias, and other mental illnesses and incurable diseases.
現代心理學、醫學界均不深明個中道理，不能對症下藥，所以治愈率不甚理想。當然，唯有佛法才是最究竟之靈藥，消難息災之奇方！
Modern psycholog…
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