..续本文上一页ht of stupidity increases the harmful energy in the universe. If we do things using greed, hatred, and stupidity, then the world will be a murky, dark place, and disasters will occur. If we use precepts, concentration, and wisdom to solve our problems, then heaven and earth will be pure and peaceful. That”s why it”s said that wherever evil people prevail, calamities will abound. Wherever good people prevail, good fortune will abound. In general, both disasters and good fortune are made by people.

　　古人说：「善恶两条道，修的修，造的造。」修善者能出离三界，造恶者就堕落三涂。善恶只在一念之间，有智慧就是善念，有愚痴就是恶念。

　　The ancients had a saying that goes, "Good and evil are two different roads; you cultivate the one or commit the other as you walk." People who cultivate goodness can leave the Triple Realm; evildoers can fall into the Three Evil Destinies. Both good and evil lie with a single thought. Wisdom is the occurrence of good thoughts; stupidity is the occurrence of evil thoughts.

　　世间一切都在说法，有的说善法，有的说恶法，有的说旁门左道邪知邪见的法，有的说中道了义正知正见的法。换句话说，说善法，就是教人看得破，放得下，得到自在；说恶法，就教人看不破，放不下，得不到自在。人为什么颠颠倒倒？就因为执着，所以一切放不下。古诗云：

　　古来多少英雄汉，

　　南北山头卧土泥。

　　All things in the world are constantly expounding the Dharma. Some things expound wholesome Dharma, while others expound unwholesome dharma. Some things speak of the deviant knowledge and views of heretics and cultists; other things speak of the proper knowledge and views of the Ultimate Meaning of the Middle Way. In other words, those that speak wholesome Dharma teach people to see through things, to let them go, to become free. Those that speak unwholesome dharma teach people to preserve their illusions and cling tightly to them. They do not allow people to get free. Why are people muddled and disoriented

　　 It”s simply because they”re attached and unable to let go of things. An ancient verse reads,

　　How many of the great heroes from times past

　　Are lying in the mud beneath the mountains.

　　你们想一想，看一看，世间所有的人，谁能逃出生死关？在一生之中，图个好名，死了，名也没有了！贪个大官，死了，官也没有了！一切都成空了。中国有个秦始皇，他修万里长城，为了保护子孙万代做皇帝。不料才传到第二代胡亥时，只做了三年的皇帝，就被丞相赵高所弒，这不是枉费一番心机吗？

　　So think it over carefully, all of you, and take a good look: of all the people in the world, who can avoid entering the gate of death

　　 Our lives are spent in seeking good reputations; but after we die, where does a good name go

　　 We long for a powerful political office; but after we die, that position vanishes. Everything returns to the void. The First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty of China built the Great Wall to protect his descendants, so that they could continue as emperors for many generations. Unluckily for him, the rule passed only into the next generation, when his son Hu Hai lasted a mere three years as emperor before being murdered by Zhaogao, the Prime Minister. Wouldn”t you call this a waste of effort

　　古今中外，发大财、当大官的人，胡涂过一生，争名夺利，造了多少孽障；等到死的时候，两手空空去见阎王。由此观之，我们参禅一定要用功，不可懈怠，不可放逸，错过机会，就后悔莫及了。所谓「一寸时光，一寸命光。」有人说：「等我功成名就时，再放下一切，专心修道。」可是时光不等待人的，到那时就晚了。

　　From ancient to modern times, from East to West, people who strike it rich or who occupy high status, for the most part, run through their lives in confusion, striving for name and gain and creating huge karmic obstacles in the process. But when they die, they go empty-handed to pay a visit to King Yama, Lord of the Underworld. When we look at it from this perspective, it compels us to work hard here in our Chan meditation. We must not be lax, nor can we be careless, or else we will miss our chance, and our regrets will come too late. It”s said, "An instant of time is an instant of life." Someone may suggest, "Wait until I make a name for myself and get some success, and then I can put it all down and concentrate on cultivating the Way." Unfortunately, time does not wait for people; by then it will be too late.

　　参禅也好，念佛也好，只要认真修行，都能出离生死关。到临终时，身无病苦，心不贪恋，如入禅定，含笑往生，这才是对生死大事有把握！

　　Whether you practice Chan meditation or recite the Buddha”s name, what matters is that you get serious about your cultivation: then any method can lead you out through the gate of birth and death. Then, when you approach your end, your body will suffer no sickness, your mind will not be fettered by craving, you”ll be as if in Chan samadhi, and you”ll go off to rebirth with a smile. That”s called taking charge of your own birth and death!

　　一九八○年禅七十二月开示

　　A talk given during a Chan session

　　in December, 1980

《善恶不离一念心 Good and Evil Are Not Beyond a Single Thought》全文阅读结束。