..續本文上一頁 know what is bad, blameworthy and censured by the wise, abandon those things. When you yourself know these things are good, not blameworthy, butpraised by the wise, accept and practise them." Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said. / 「葛拉瑪人！當你自己確切知道：“某些事物是不好的、錯的、被明智者譴責的”，那麼你們就應當舍棄它們。當你自己確切知道：“某些事物是好的、對的、被明智者贊揚的”，那麼你就應當采信並依之修學。』」以上是我所說，而且對于我所說的，你們也當依此原則抉擇之。」
We should always consider carefully before doing or accepting a thing. Ask ourselves: Is this a wholesome thing
When performed, does it bring happiness to ourselves as well as others in both the short run and long run
Is this an action which wise people would do without hesitation
/ 我們在做或接受一件事物之前應該要仔細地考慮清楚。問問我們自己：這是一件有益的事物嗎？做了會帶給自己和別人、現在與將來都快樂嗎？這是明智的人毫不遲疑就會去做的一個行爲嗎？
The Buddha was open-minded about other religions and did not accuse them of willful deceit. There are good teachings in other religions too. He advised us: "If you find truth in any religion, accept that truth." / 佛陀對其他的宗教是心胸開放的而且沒有指控他們是惡意的欺騙。在其他的宗教裏也有很好的教導。佛陀勸勉我們：「如果你在任何的宗教發現了真理，都應該接受那個真理。」我們不能因爲宗教不同而拒絕他們的真理，更何況真理不是只有佛教才有，真理是沒有宗教派別的局限的。
Even his own doctrines were not excluded from critical investigation. He said, "One must not accept my teachings from reverence but first try them as gold is tried by fire." / 即使是佛陀自己宣說的教義也不能被排除于前述十項嚴格的檢核之外。他說："任何人都不能因爲尊敬我而接受我的教導，你們應當像用火檢驗黃金那樣，嚴格的檢驗我的教導。"
Hence, the freedom of thought encouraged in Buddhism is unique in the history of religions. The Buddha gave us this freedom because we need it to gain emancipation from suffering. This goal is not attained as a reward given by a pine grace but as a result of our own realizations of the truth. / 因此，在整個宗教曆史中，唯獨只有佛教是鼓勵全面自由思想的。佛陀鼓勵我們不要盲目輕信而且可以自由質疑，因爲我們需要用它來解脫苦惱。苦惱的解脫不是神佛恩賜就能得到的，而是要我們自己精進思惟修學，最後通達真理才能獲得的。
2. The Practical Approach / 2. 實際的方法Buddhism and science bear great similiarities in areas of ideals and general principles. Both advocated free inquiry and freedom from authoritarian dogma. / 佛教和科學在目標和大原則上是相似的。兩者都主張自由質疑以及沒有權威的教條。
The Buddha discouraged the vain search after speculative issues which do not lead to the release of suffering. He considered questions such as the origin and end of the universe to be a wilderness of opinions. / 佛陀不鼓勵徒勞無益地窮究一些不能解脫苦惱的推測性問題。他認爲宇宙的起源和結束這一類的疑問是徒增迷惑的知見。
As an illustration, he gave the parable of a man who was shot with a poisoned arrow. The first thing to do is to remove the arrow as soon as possible. A person who indulges in speculative thinking and arguing is like the wounded man who refuses to seek a cure to the wound unless all his curiosity has first been satisfied. He _will surely die before that. / 舉例來說，他曾經作一個譬喻：有個人被毒箭射傷了，第一要務應該是要盡快把箭除去，但是他卻不立急尋求醫治，反而要先研究那支箭是用什麼材質做的？那個毒是什麼毒…等等。一個沈迷在推測性思惟與爭論的人就正如這個中了箭的人一樣。他要等他的所有疑問都解決了才要求醫，結果當然，他在送醫之前就一命嗚呼了。
It is also like a man who has worn a blind fold all his life and attempts to understand vision by logic or by repeating in his mind the words `green” and `bright” or having faith in `vision.” The man may ask questions about the nature of light, but to try explaining it to him is useless. Therefore, the Buddha discussed one thing and one thing only; that is, how to take off the blindfold. / 這情形又如一個人，他終其一生戴上眼罩，而想借著邏輯推理、反複誦念“綠色”“光亮”、或增強自己對視覺的信心，來了解視覺到底是怎麼一回事。這個人可能提出很多有關于光的性質等疑問，但是無論你再怎麼向他解釋都是沒有用的。因此，佛陀只討論一件事且只有這一件事——如何脫掉眼罩。
Buddhism has a practical and specific purpose -- the cessation of suffering and all other irrelevant issues are completely cast aside. The Buddha demanded first, a study of life and phenomena in respect of their laws. This approach makes Buddhist philosophy, a scientific or positive philosophy. / 佛教的目標是實際而明確的——苦的止息，而所有其他不相幹的議題都完全擱置一邊。佛陀要求我們首先要探究宇宙人生萬法的真理，這個見解使得佛教哲理成爲一種理性科學或實證哲學。
※Experience the Dhamma / 體證佛法
The fruits of the Dhamma (the teachings) can be experienced here and now. If one is to walk the pat…
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