..续本文上一页，这种观念是拒绝和阻止在家人学佛。在佛教文献中，多处提到人们在正常的家庭生活中，成功的修持佛法而证悟涅槃的例子。有一回，苦行者瓦差哥达(acchagotta)很真诚的问佛陀：「在家的男女信众，真诚的奉行佛陀的教义，是否能成功的达到精神最高的境界。」佛陀明确的回答：「在家的男女信众，只要能真诚的奉行佛陀的教义，一定能成功的达到精神最高的境界。」
It may be agreeable for certain people to live a retired life in a quiet place away from noise and disturbances. But it is certainly more praiseworthy and courageous to practise Buddhism living among fellow beings, helping them and offering service to them. It may perhaps be useful in some cases for a man to live in retirement for a time in order to improve his mind and character, as a preliminary to moral, spiritual and intellectual training, to be strong enough to come out later and help others. But if a man lives all his life in solitude, thinking only of his own happiness and salvation, without caring for his fellowmen, this surely is not in keeping with the Buddha”s Teaching which is based on love compassion and service to others.
我们不反对某些人在宁静偏僻的地方过隐居的生活。但是，更值得称赞和鼓励的是，那些和一般人打成一片，又严谨的修持佛法、帮助社会、服务人群的人。隐居一段日子，增益心灵和个性的修养，当获得道德与心智的发展，和坚定、充实自己之后，再回到社会，服务人群，也不失为有效的方法之一，假如，一个人整个人生都脱离群众而独居，只为自己的安乐和解脱着想，不愿利益他人，这与佛陀的大悲心和服务人群的精神背道而驰。
One might now ask, ”If a man can follow Buddhism while living the life of an ordinary man, why was the Sangha, the Order of Monks, established by the Buddha
” The Order provides opportunity for those who are willing to devote their lives not only to their own spiritual and intellectual development, but also to the service of others. An ordinary layman with a family cannot be expected to devote his whole life to the service of others, whereas a Monk, who has no family responsibilities or any other worldly ties, is in a position to devote his life ”for the good of the many”. (Dr. Walpola Rahula)
我们不禁要问：「既然在家也同样可以修持佛法，为何佛陀要成立僧团，披剃僧众呢？」僧团和出家制度是为那些肯献身、肯牺牲的人而设的。他们不仅为了个人心智修养，同时也为了服务大众。换句话说，出家人没有家庭责任，没有社会拖累，他们可以无私的奉献，甚至奉献生命，为更多的人谋求福祉。
And what is this ”good” that many can benefit from
The monk cannot give material comfort to a layman, but he can provide spiritual guidance to those who are troubled by worldly, family emotional problems and so on. The monk devotes his life to the pursuit of knowledge of the Dhamma as taught by the Buddha. He explains the Teaching in simplified form to the untutored layman. And if the layman is well educated, he is there to discuss the deeper aspects of the teaching so that both can gain intellectually from the discussion.
为什么说，出家能利乐众生呢？僧众虽然不能给予信众物质的满足，可是，他们引导信众在心灵和精神的修行，解决信众精神的困扰。出家人追随和实践佛陀的教义，再把自己所学到的教育群众。如果信众拥有大智慧，也一样可以和出家人研究，切磋佛陀的教义和自己的心得。
In Buddhist countries, monks are largely responsible for the education of the young. As a result of their contribution, Buddhist countries have populations which are literate and well-versed in spiritual values. Monks also comfort those who are bereaved and emotionally upset by explaining how all mankind is subject to similar disturbances.
在佛教国家，僧人负起了教育的责任，在佛教国家佛学的普及，精神及道德价值的提升，都是僧人做出的贡献。
In turn, the layman is expected to look after the material well-being of the monk who does not gain income to provide himself with food, shelter, medicine and clothing. In common Buddhist practice, it is considered meritorious for a layman to contribute to the health of a monk because by so doing he makes it possible for the monk to continue to minister to the spiritual needs of the people and for his mental purity.
另一方面，僧人并无金钱收入，他们的衣着、住处、食物和药品，都有赖在家人为他们提供。在佛教的修行，在家人有义务维护出家人的健康，出家人同样有义务协助指引在家人精神的需要，及教导他们如何净化心灵。
《佛教为广大社群而存在 Buddhism for man in Society》全文阅读结束。