..續本文上一頁心，修學佛的功德、佛的行門。所以我們衆生應該聽受，應該相信，更應該依教奉行。

　　What is affliction

　　 Having an afflicted body and an annoyed mind. In this state, there is no self-mastery. What is worry

　　 Distress and vexation, and being in low spirits. What are sudden misfortunes

　　 Accidents and unfortunate events. These things bind you and oppress you, like the lock of ignorance which locks you up, like the rope of affliction which ties you up. They are also like a huge rock pinning you down and suffocating you, so that you cannot breathe. The Buddha wanted all living beings to part with afflictions and attain peace and happiness; to escape from all oppression and gain liberation, and this is why he taught all living beings to bring forth the great Bodhi mind, and to learn and cultivate the Buddha”s meritorious, virtuous conduct. Therefore, we living beings should listen to, accept, believe in, and practice the Buddha”s teachings.

　　衆生的煩惱心，有無量無邊那麼多，菩薩見我們衆生顛顛倒倒，以直爲曲，以曲爲直；將黑作白，將白作黑；以惡爲善，以善爲惡；無論如何地教化，他的習氣總是不改，障礙重重。若是說出他的毛病，他就很不高興，而設法保護自己的過錯，不肯改過遷善，甚至于發大無明，生出大煩惱。

　　Living beings” afflictions are limitless and boundless. They are just like a mirage. The Bodhisattvas see how deluded living beings are: living beings reverse the straight and the crooked, black and white, good and evil. No matter how one tries to teach them, they just cannot change their habits. They have countless layers of obstacles. If you point out their faults, they”ll get upset and try to justify them; they don”t want to correct them and change for the better. They”ll even display great ignorance and become terribly afflicted.

　　菩薩對這類衆生起慈悲憐愍的心，耳提面命，叁令五申，教衆生不要講是非，不要生煩惱，如果不發脾氣、不妒忌障礙，就能出離苦海。

　　The Bodhisattvas bring forth a kind, compassionate, and sympathetic mind for these living beings. Again and again, they remind living beings not to gossip or become afflicted, and tell them that if they don”t lose their tempers or let jealousy obstruct them, they”ll be able to leave the sea of suffering.

　　人身一切是假的，不要把臭皮囊當作寶貝，處處保護著它，你怕它受苦，總想令它享福；可是呢，它卻處處給你添麻煩。

　　This human body is illusory. Don”t always protect this stinking skin bag as if it were a precious jewel, afraid to let it suffer and wanting it to enjoy blessings. In spite of all this coddling, your body only gives you a lot of trouble.

　　一九八叁年五月叁日開示

　　A talk given on May 3, 1983

《煩惱即菩提 Affliction Is Bodhi》全文閱讀結束。