上網

　　Internet Surfing

　　隨著科學日新月異的不斷進步，世人的生活發生了翻天覆地的變化。手機、電腦等現代化設備已不再顯得遙不可及，甚至在邊遠的藏地也有了網吧。各種現代手段使時空的距離不複存在，即使遠隔天涯也有了咫尺之感，古今之人也可在網上神交，真可謂“秀才不出門，便知天下事”。很多人通過網絡，增長了智慧，也使自己的人格變得高尚起來。

　　The rapid and continuous advances in scientific fields have brought dramatic changes in human life. Products of modern technology such as cell phones and computers are no longer out of reach to common people: Even in remote Tibetan areas there are Internet bars. The constraints of time and space seem to disappear with new tools—no matter how far away we are from one another, we can feel like we”re right next to each another; in cyberspace we connect with people of ancient and modern times. It is exactly like “without even leaving the house, a scholar knows what is happening in the world.” Many people have become more knowledgeable by using the Internet or even have become better people.

　　一些大德們也紛紛建立了自己的網站、論壇，通過現代工具之方便，將無數飽受煩惱折磨的有情引入了解脫正道。

　　Many distinguished Dharma teachers have also set up their own websites and discussion forums one after the other. By using convenient modern tools, they lead many tormented souls onto the path to liberation.

　　然而，其負面的影響也是不容忽視的。因爲網上所提供的信息魚龍混雜，很多青少年整日沈迷于此，並且因爲不能善加辨別而增上叁毒煩惱，增加社會不安定因素。一些出家人也不問聞思修，而對色情、暴力網站情有獨鍾。科學的果實正在遭到濫用與浪費，十分令人堪憂。

　　Nonetheless, there are also negative influences of the Internet that cannot be ignored. The information available on line is a mixture of good and bad. Many teenagers, lacking prudent judgment, indulge in surfing the web all day long and pile up the three poisonous emotions, adding destabilizing factors to society. Even some ordained Buddhists favor forbidden sites of violence and sex while neglecting their study, reflection, and meditation on the Dharma. It is really worrisome that the fruits of scientific discoveries are being misused and wasted.

　　有智慧的人能利用善巧方便自利利他，沒有智慧的人卻只能利用各種方便造作惡業。正如《寶積經》所雲：“佛告迦葉，具慧之士依方便得解脫，乏智之人依方便得束縛。”這段佛經也同樣適用于對網絡信息的取舍問題。

　　A wise person will use skillful means to benefit self and others. A foolish person, on the other hand, will employ handy ways to create non-virtues. This is described exactly in the Jewel Heap Sutra (Ratnakuṭa Sutra): “The Buddha told Kasyapa: The wise use skillful means to attain liberation; the unwise use clever ways to bring about shackles.” This passage applies perfectly to the issue of adopting or ignoring information posted on the web.

　　但願人們能謹記這句教言。

　　May people remember well this particular teaching!

　　壬午年正月初五　　

　　2002年2月17日

　　5th of January, Year of RenWu

　　February 17, 2002