Life - A Dream

　　人生•一場夢

　　Dharma talk by Heng Yuen ITI, March 20 1994

　　文•恒緣 講于譯經院 一九九四年叁月二十日

　　We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to study the Medicine Master Buddha Sutra. Through the profound compassion, virtue, and vows of Medicine Master Buddha, we have received the great blessing of this Dharma door. By reciting Medicine Master Buddha”s name, reading the Sutra, or making offerings to him, we are able to avoid various kinds of hardships and disasters.

　　我們很幸運的有這個機會來研究藥師經。經由藥師佛深切的悲心、德行、和願力，我們可從這個法門而得到加被。借著念誦藥師佛名、藥師經，或供養藥師佛，我們也得以避免各種的困厄與災難。

　　Of course, we should only seek the Buddha”s help in times of real difficulties, and not when we can solve the problems ourselves. But, we should definitely not call for help just to test the Dharma door. If we test, then the Buddha knows we lack faith and that would be insulting the Buddha. I remember a friend who is a devout Christian. He told me that he would call for God to help whenever he had difficulties. Even when he couldn”t find a missing screw while doing some carpentry at home, he would call for God”s help.

　　當然，我們是在遇到真正的困難，非自己能解決時，才尋求佛的幫助；但是我們求佛幫助，絕不是只爲了要試這個法門。若只試一試，那麼佛知道我們不具信心，而這也是侮辱了佛。記得我有一個朋友，他是很虔誠的基督徒。他告訴我，只要他有任何困難，他就求助于上帝。就算是在家裏做木工時掉了一個螺絲釘，他也會求上帝的幫助。

　　Calamities such as floods hurricanes, and wars are caused by our collective karma, but the degree to which inpiduals suffer from these events depends on their inpidual karma. Natural calamities, wars, and riots occur because, collectively, we have in the past sowed the seeds for them to happen. That is, we have created bad karma and then, consequently, receive the effects. When such problems are beyond our inpidual control, we could try to seek help from Medicine Master Buddha.

　　所有災難，如水災、飓風、和戰爭，都是由共業所造成的。但是其中每個人所受的痛苦，又因個人的別業而異。不論是天災或戰爭還是暴亂的發生，都是因爲在過去，我們種下了共同的種子；也就是我們造了的惡業，因此就要受果報。所以當這些問題，不是我們個人能控製時，我們可以試著求助于藥師佛。

　　As Buddhists, we have quite a few Dharma doors (that is, expedient means) to help us in times of danger or hardships. For example, we also have Guanyin Bodhisattva, Earth Store Bodhisattva, Amitabha Buddha, and many others. But some Buddhists are content just having these Bodhisattvas around to help them. They just go around doing all kinds of crazy things, breaking precepts, harming others and creating bad karma, and then seeking help from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas when confronted with the effects of the bad karma they have created.

　　做一個佛教徒，在我們有危險和困厄時，有很多方便的法門可以幫助我們。例如我們有觀音菩薩、地藏菩薩、阿彌陀佛等等。但是有些佛教徒，就很滿意這些菩薩在周圍，等著幫助他們。他們呢，卻四處胡作非爲，或是破了戒，或是去傷害其他人，造惡業。然後當要受惡業果報時，又去尋求佛菩薩的幫助。

　　This present human life of ours is very short. We run off in all directions, doing stupid things. At the last moment, just when we are about to die, we might realize that we have done nothing to justify having lived this human life. From the time we are born to the time we die, we are always seeking. Whether or not we have obtained it, is of no significance - we have just wasted our time in this life. we cannot take wealth or fame, or achievements with us.

　　人現有的生命是很短的。我們四處奔波，做些愚癡的事；到最後，要死的時候，才了解到，我們這一生沒做什麼正經的事。從生到死，我們一直在追求。然而，不管有沒有得到，這並不是要緊的；我們只是浪費了這一生的時光。財富、名譽、地位，我們都帶不走，只有業隨身。結果這一生，只剩一場夢。

　　We spend our lives doing many things that give only temporary satisfaction, and which later become meaningless and boring . We look at things, we exchange views, we get momentarily infatuated with things and become contented. Gradually, we get tired of these passing events. Things turn sour and we get remorseful and restless.

　　我們耗盡一生，做了許多的事，也都只得到暫時的滿足。之後，又覺得沒意義、厭倦了。我們看事情、交換看法、暫時的迷戀和滿足。漸漸地，我們又厭倦了這些過去事。事情變得令人厭惡，自己又覺得後悔不安。

　　In their lifetime, what are people chasing after

　　 Nothing but desire. Some pursue the desire for leadership, some for wealth, some for sex, others pursue the desire for fame, recognition, and benefits, and so on. These pursuits appe…

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