Chapter 9 Dhamma And Ourselves As Refuge
第九章 佛法与皈依
Why We take Refuge in the Buddha
皈依
Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha not out of fear of Him, but to gain inspiration and right understanding for their self-purification.
佛弟子皈依佛陀，并不是惧畏于佛陀，而是为了获得心灵的发展和正确的理解如何净化自己。
Buddhist do not take refuge in the Buddha with the belief that He is a god or son of god. The Buddha never claimed any pinity. He was the Enlightened One, the most Compassionate, Wise, and Holy One who ever lived in this world. Therefore, people take refuge in the Buddha as a Teacher or Master who has shown the real path of emancipation. They pay homage to Him to show their gratitude and respect, but they do not ask for material favors. Buddhists do not pray to the Buddha thinking that He is a god who will reward them or punish or curse them. They recite verses or some sutras not in the sense of supplication but as a means of recalling His great virtues and good qualities to get more inspiration and guidance for themselves and to develop the confidence to follow His Teachings. There are critics who condemn this attitude of taking refuge in the Buddha. They do not know the true meaning of the concept of taking refuge in and paying homage to a great religious Teacher. They have learned only about praying which is the only thing that some people do in the name of religion. When Buddhists seek refuge it means they accept the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha as the means by which they can eradicate all the causes of their fear and other mental disturbances. Many people, especially those with animistic beliefs, seek protection in certain objects around them which they believe are inhabited by spirits.
佛弟子皈依佛陀，并不是因为佛陀是「神」或是「神的儿子」，佛陀从来不承认他具有「神」性。佛陀是一个已经觉悟的「人」，他是最慈悲的人、最有智慧的人和最值得尊敬的人。所以皈依佛陀如同皈依老师或师傅。佛陀为我们指示了解脱于苦的正道。信徒们礼敬佛陀，是表示对他的尊敬和感激，并非要求佛陀的赐予。佛教徒不问佛陀祈求什么，也不认为佛陀是拥有赏、罚或诅咒人类权力的「神」。佛教徒诵念经文只是赞美佛陀，歌颂他那崇高、尽善的素质，同时把佛陀当作自己的楷模和鼓励，根据佛陀的教诲来发展自己的信心，并没有祈祷的意义存在。有些人责难这种皈依佛陀的态度，因为他们不明白皈依和礼敬伟大导师的真正意义，他们以为这只是一般的宗教祈祷。佛教徒三皈依的真正意义是，皈依佛陀(Buddha)、皈依佛法(Dhamma)和皈依僧团(Sangha)，从而培养真正的信心，断除精神的困扰。很多人误解了，以为这是一种对神灵的崇拜和寻求神灵的依怙。
The Buddha advised against the futility of taking refuge in hills, woods, groves, trees and shrines when people are fear-stricken. No such refuge is safe, no such refuge is Supreme. Not by resorting to such a refuge is one freed from all ill. He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha sees with right knowledge the Four Noble Truths -Sorrow, the cause of Sorrow, the transcending of Sorrow, and the Noble Eightfold Path which leads to the cessation of Sorrow. This indeed is secure refuge. By seeking such refuge one is released from all Sorrow.
(Dhammapada 188-192)
佛陀告诫弟子们，人类生活在恐怖和忧虑中，不要去迷信那些山、岩、木、树等神祇，这种信仰既不殊胜也不安全，更不能消除烦恼。佛弟子必须真正的皈依佛陀、佛法和僧团，了解什么是正知、正见，了解四圣谛──苦、集、灭、道，透过对八圣道的实践，才能断除一切苦痛，这就是真正的皈依。一个人唯有通过真正的皈依，才能离苦得乐。
In the Dhajagga Sutta, itis mentioned that by taking refuge in Sakra, the king of gods or any god, the followers would not be free from all their worldly problems and fears. The reason is, such gods are themselves not free from lust, hatred, illusion and fear, but the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha (i.e. the community who has attained perfection) are free from them. Only those who are free from unsatisfactoriness can show the way to lasting happiness.
在经典中曾经提及皈依忉利天和其他诸天的天神，皈依者并不能解除内心的恐惧与不安。唯有皈依佛、法、僧三宝，才能消除内心的恐惧与不安。这是因为诸天的天神并没有消除贪、嗔、痴、烦恼和一切内心引起的骚动。当一个人从一切烦恼中摆脱出来时，才能获得真正的幸福。
Francis Story, a well known Buddhist scholar, gives his views on seeking refuge in the Buddha.
一位著名的佛教学者 F.史多利，这么看待皈依：
I go for refuge to the Buddha. I seek the presence of the Exalted Teacher by whose compassion I may be guided through the torrents of Samsara, by whose serene countenance I may be uplifted from the mire of worldly thoughts and cravings, seeing th…
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