假相

　　Illusory Appearances

　　世間的所謂圓滿之事，雖然表面看起來美滿無缺，但詳細觀察卻常常是痛苦的因。

　　Many so-called perfect things in the world may seem entirely satisfactory on the surface. But upon careful investigation, they usually turn out to be the causes of suffering.

　　龍猛菩薩曾說：“一切欲妙生禍殃，難信如同木鼈果。”也就是說世間的事情，表面看起來像木鼈果一樣色彩鮮豔欲滴，令人聯想到其果肉也一定如同甘饴。吃後方知是毒藥，但已悔之晚矣。

　　Nagarjuna says: “The Buddha teaches that all the satisfactory matters in this world are just as untrustworthy as the poisonous fruit mubeigou.” In other words, many affairs in the world appear as colorful and enticing as the mubeigou fruit; people conclude that their pulp must likewise be delicious. It is only after eating that they realize the fruit”s poisonous nature. But alas the regret comes too late.

　　世間的事情常常是這樣，最鮮豔的蛇往往是毒蛇，最絢麗的蘑菇常常是毒蕈，最美麗的女人大多是禍水。傾國傾城的海倫導致了特羅伊戰爭；沈魚落雁的陳圓圓，令吳叁桂沖冠一怒爲紅顔。因爲美麗的女人，而引發綿延不斷的爭鬥，導致無數人深受其害。可見，一切表面美好的東西，都不要爲之迷惑，要透過現象看其本質。

　　It”s the same with things in the world. The snake with the brightest skin is usually poisonous. The most gorgeous mushroom tends to be deadly. The fairest woman frequently is a “fountain of disasters.” Helen”s ravishing beauty ignited the Trojan War, and the unparalleled demeanor of Chen Yuanyuan caused General Wu Sangui to fly into a rage for war. For the sake of exquisite beauties, battles were fought and dragged on, causing tremendous misery to all affected. Therefore, we should not be fooled by anything of pleasing appearance alone, be sure to penetrate the superficial and find the truth inside.

　　藏地大德根登群佩也說：“若詳細觀察，世上的一切所爲都是痛苦的事，能息滅其因的唯有佛法。深深地思維，人人都能感受其中的滋味。”因此，了知佛法是對治痛苦的方法十分重要。

　　The great Tibetan sage Gedun Chophel says: “By careful investigation, it is obvious that all worldly undertakings incur nothing but suffering. Only with the Dharma can their root causes be eliminated. By reflecting deeply, everyone will come to appreciate this truth.” Hence, it is essential that we learn how to apply the Buddhadharma to deal with suffering.

　　壬午年叁月初四　　

　　2002年4月16日

　　4th of March, Year of RenWu

　　April 16, 2002