How to Save Yourself

　　自我拯救

　　Oneself, indeed, is one”s savior, for what other savior would there be

　　没有别人能拯救你，只有自己才是自己的拯救者。

　　With oneself well controlled the problem of looking for external savior is solved, (Dhammapada 166)

　　只有自我拯救才能解决问题，寻求外在的拯救者，解决不了问题。

　　As the Buddha was about to pass away, His disciples came from everywhere to be near Him. While the other disciples were constantly at His side and in deep sorrow over the expected loss of their Master, a monk named Attadatta went into his cell and practised meditation. The other monks, thinking that he was unconcerned about the welfare of the Buddha, were upset and reported the matter to Him. The monk, however, addressed the Buddha thus, ”Lord as the Blessed One would be passing away soon, I thought the best way to honour the Blessed One would be by attaining Arahantship during the lifetime of the Blessed One itself.” The Buddha was pleased by his attitude and his conduct and said that one”s spiritual welfare should not be abandoned for the sake of others.

　　当佛陀即将入灭时，弟子们从四方八面涌来，他们围绕在佛陀身边，为即将失去伟大的导师而感到悲伤。唯有阿塔达尊者(Attadatta)毅然离开愁云密布的僧众，独自去修精进禅修，僧众对他那种不关怀佛陀的行为表示不满。当佛陀知道这件事后，召见了阿塔达尊者。阿塔达尊者说：「世尊！您即将入灭，我认为回报您最好的方法是在您入灭前，证得阿拉汉果。」佛陀听了很高兴，于是对僧众开示道：

　　「利益他人的事虽然重大，可是不要忘记自己进展。懂得关心自己进展的人，才能专注于一切利益他人的行为。」《法句经》V.166

　　In this story is illustrated one of the most important aspects of Buddhism. A person must constantly be on the alert to seek his own deliverance from Samsara, and his ”salvation” must be brought about by the inpidual himself. He cannot look to any external force or agency to help him to attain Nibbana.

　　这个故事表明了佛教徒一个重要的问题，意味着一个人要不断的警惕自己，使自己从生死轮回中解脱。「解脱」需要的是个人的努力，而不是祈求外在的力量，或某个「代理」的帮助。

　　People who do not understand Buddhism criticize this concept and say that Buddhism is a selfish religion which only talks about the concern for one”s own freedom from pain and sorrow. This is not true at all. The Buddha states clearly that one should work ceaselessly for the spiritual and material welfare of all beings, while at the same time diligently pursuing one”s own goal of attaining Nibbana. Selfless service is highly commended by the Buddha.

　　有些人不了解佛教，认为这种观念是一种自私自利的行为，只为个人脱离苦难、获得自由而努力。他们的批评一点也不对。佛陀清楚的说过：「一个人应该在为众生精神或物质的幸福而工作的同时，精进的追求个人达到涅槃的目的。」无私无我的奉献和服务，就是佛教徒的最高精神境界。

　　Again, people who do not understand Buddhism may ask, ”It may be all right for the fortunate human beings, in full command of their mental powers, to seek Nibbana by their own efforts. But what about those who are mentally and physically or even materially handicapped

　　 How can they be self-reliant

　　 Do they not need the help of some external force, some god or deva to assist them

　　有些人不禁要问：「对身心健全的人来说，他们有善的因缘去驾驭他们的心，从而证悟涅槃，这是好理解的。但是，那些心智残障、生理残障、或物质匮乏的人，怎么办？他们又如何自我拯救？他们难道不需要依据那些外来的力量，『神』或其他的援助吗？」

　　The answer to this is that Buddhists do not believe that the final release must necessarily take place in one life time. The process can take a long time, over the period of many births. One has to apply oneself, to the best of one”s ability, and slowly develop the powers of self reliance. Therefore, even those who are handicapped mentally, spiritually and materially must make an effort, however small, to begin the process of deliverance.

　　这问题的答案是：佛教徒不相信最后的解脱必须在这一世完成。解脱的历程需要很长的时间，经过多生多世的磨练。一个人必须以自己的能力，发挥自己的长处，靠自己的力量自我解脱。因此，那些身、心有障碍或物质匮乏的人，也一样要靠自己的努力，不管他的力量多小，精进、努力就是唯一达到涅槃的过程。

　　Once the wheels are set in motion, the inpidual slowly trains himself to improve his powers of self-reliance. The tiny acorn will one day grow into a mighty oak, but not overnight. Patience is an essential ingredient in this difficult process.

　　当修行的轮子在转动时，一个人慢慢的自我训练，靠自己的力量改善一切。一颗微小的种子，有一天也会茁壮成长，成为一棵大树。但是，这不是一朝一夕就可以完成的。在这种困难的过程中，耐心是必要的因素。

　　For example, we know from experience how many parents do everything in their power to bring up their children a…

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