空難

　　Air Disaster

　　廈門度過了悠閑而有意義的四個月，這裏秀美的風景、宜人的氣候，爲我和同伴提供了一個寬松的環境，使我得以完成《釋尊傳》的翻譯工程。今天，我戀戀不舍地告別椰風蕩漾的鼓浪嶼、告別清涼甯靜的五老山，離開廈門回到成都。

　　I have spent a carefree and noteworthy four-month period in Xiamen. Thanks to the pleasant environment this city provides for me and my friend—fine scenery and superb weather, for instance—I was able to finish my translation of The Great Biography of Buddha Shakyamuni. Now it”s time for me, with reluctance, to say goodbye to Gulangyu with its coconut grove breeze and bid farewell to the tranquil setting of Wu Lau Mountain. Today I am on my way back to Chengdu, leaving Xiamen behind.

　　前天，一架從北京飛往大連的航班于大連附近的海域不幸失事，一百多位男女老幼在此次空難中喪生。這一消息驚動了全世界的人，也使我和我周圍的人感到不安。

　　Just two days ago, an airplane flying from Beijing to Dalian crashed in the sea near Dalian. More than 100 people, old and young, male and female, all perished in the disaster. This news shook the world and made me and those around me feel quite uneasy.

　　機場顯得格外冷清，人們都盡可能地取消了出行計劃，仿佛這樣可以避免死神的牽製。飛機上的人也顯得憂心忡忡，仿佛事到如今，才明白自己的命脈攥在死神的手裏。

　　The airport appeared unusually deserted because many passengers had chosen to cancel their impending flights, in an attempt to outsmart the Lord of Death. Those having boarded the airplane seemed beset with anxiety, as if they realized the situation at this point was hopeless and their lives were at the mercy of the Lord of Death.

　　其實，不論在天上還是地下，人的生命都非常脆弱，隨時面臨死亡的威脅。一個活鮮鮮的生命，可能在一刹那間化爲碎片。

　　In reality, human life is extremely fragile and Death hangs over our heads all of the time, whether on the ground or in the air. A bouncing, vibrant being can be shattered into many pieces in a mere instant.

　　佛經雲：“老少賢愚等，各各向前行，向死威力境，各有死在前。或空或在海，或在山谷中，皆不能避死，死無處不侵。”

　　The scripture says:

　　Human beings, young or old, wise or foolish,

　　All are propelled to march forward

　　Into the domain of formidable Death,

　　Each will breathe their last.

　　In the air, at sea, or in the valley

　　Nowhere is there a safe place to hide,

　　As there is nowhere Death does not butt in.

　　如同這次遇難的人一樣，他們來自不同的國家，生活于不同的環境，性別年齡各異，卻因爲相同的業力而同時喪命于太平洋上空。看來，太平洋上也不“太平”啊！

　　The victims of this disaster came from different countries and varied in age and sex; all had been living their own lives until they met the same fate and died at the same instant in the air over the Pacific Ocean. It seems, sadly, that there is no guarantee of anything “pacific” above the Pacific Ocean.

　　當大限來到之時，即使你擁有南贍部洲所有的財富，卻買不通鐵面無私的獄卒；即使你構築了銅牆鐵壁，指令重兵把守，卻逃不脫死神的魔掌。

　　As the great departure approaches, even if you own all of the wealth of Jambudvipa (the southern continent where we live) you can”t bribe the minions of Death. Even if you seal yourself inside an impenetrable chamber guarded by hundreds of thousands of strong men, you can”t escape the claws of Death.

　　我們這些僥幸活在世間的人，看著別人面臨死亡威脅時的種種無奈，是否應該考慮一下，如何爲必將到來的死亡做點什麼？

　　When confronted with Death, most people can do nothing but feel utterly hopeless. Shouldn”t we, who are also living on borrowed time, give serious thought to preparing ourselves for the inexorable last moment

　　壬午年叁月二十七日　

　　2002年5月9日　　

　　27th of March, Year of RenWu

　　May 9, 2002