珍貴

　　Real Treasure

　　古代的很多皇帝，在富貴榮華圓滿之後，都會想方設法尋找長生不老的靈丹妙藥。結果雖然是竹籃打水一場空，然而後人並不會吸取教訓，仍然執迷不悟地步其後塵。因爲對于世間人而言，壽命實在是太珍貴了！世間的任何財産都不能與之相提並論。

　　Many ancient emperors, after having reached the pinnacle of their power and glory, would search at any cost for an elixir that could endow them with everlasting life. Their efforts, as we all come to know, were as futile as drawing water with a bamboo basket. Even so, later generations still refuse to learn the lesson and obstinately follow suit. Because, for worldly beings, life is just too precious! Not a single possession in the world can be compared to it.

　　然而，作爲修行人，爲了佛法而舍棄生命也應在所不惜。《教王經》雲：“我爲護身舍財産，爲護生命舍身財，爲護正法可舍棄，財産身體與壽命。”

　　However, a spiritual seeker should have no qualms about sacrificing life for the sake of Dharma. The Adamantine Pinnacle Sutra says: “For my body, I will give up my wealth. For my life, I will give up my body. For the Dharma, I will give up all of my wealth, my body, and my life.”

　　釋迦牟尼佛在因地時轉世爲淨梵施主，爲了聽受一個偈子的佛法，不惜舍棄十二年積累的金銀財寶。他說：“我于十二年積累了如此之多的財寶，卻從沒有得到過善說法寶。辛辛苦苦積聚此等石頭有何意義？善說才是真正的財寶，舍棄生命用來交換也值得。”

　　Buddha Shakyamuni was once reborn as a Brahmin patron. For the sake of receiving a one-verse Dharma, he readily gave up all the treasures of gold, silver, and other treasures he had amassed over 12 years. He said: “I have spent 12 years to collect these gems, yet never have I had a chance to hear the sublime Dharma. What is the use of my striving to gather these rocks and minerals

　　 The real treasure is the Dharma teaching, even if it means trading my life for it, it is well worth it!”

　　世尊還曾轉世爲噶寫勒波，在身上挖千孔，點千燈，終于得到那句“積際必盡，高際必墮，聚際必散，生際必死”的教言，至今仍是我們修習無常的經典教證。

　　Lord Buddha has also been born as Kashod Legpo, who gouged his own body to light one thousand candles as offerings. Finally, the following teaching was conferred to him:

　　Whatever is stored up is impermanent and is bound to run out.

　　Whatever rises up is impermanent and is bound to fall down.

　　Whatever comes together is impermanent and is bound to come apart.

　　Whatever is born is impermanent and is bound to die.

　　To this day, this verse still is the quintessential teaching for the study on impermanence.

　　不僅佛教徒，中國著名的孔子也曰：“朝聞道，夕死可矣。”爲了令自他解脫于輪回的精妙佛法，舍棄生命又何足惜！

　　The Chinese sage Confucius also states in the same vein: “One can die without remorse in the evening, provided one has heard the teachings on Truth during the day.” Therefore, for the sake of Dharma that liberates the self and others, what regret is there to sacrifice one”s life!

　　壬午年二月二十八日　

　　2002年4月10日 　

　　28th of February, Year of RenWu

　　April 10, 2002