..续本文上一页w can we expect to attain transcendental enlightenment
The cultivation of worldly blessings and virtue happens through practicing humaneness. To be humane means to be human, to be a person with an attitude of loyalty and reciprocity. As a human, our first priority is to understand how to give and take, and to be clear about love and enmity ..
怎样才是知取予，明恩怨？知取予，前面说过「与宜多，取宜少」，也就是所谓的「分多润寡」，这是修的欢喜行，能令取、与双方皆大欢喜。但是要想分多润寡，须以「自奉简约」为先决条件；否则，就算贪念可以降服，但自给尚且不足，哪能有余资不足？
What does that mean
To understand how to give and take means, as an earlier line of text says, that "when giving you should be generous; when taking you should take a little less." It also means to "distribute the wealth to help the needy ." This is a joyful practice which makes both the giver and the receiver happy. In order to practice "distributing wealth to help the needy," we must first live frugally ourselves. Otherwise, even if we overcame our greed, we would not have any surplus to give to the needy.
而明恩怨，在方法上要「施惠无念；受施莫忘」。所谓「受人涓滴之恩，当思涌泉以报。」因此报人恩要有长久心。至于施恩呢，则施时要有平等心，施后要有平常心。不但不要把它放在心上，更不可挟恩以要人；否则就算没招致祸端，自己也活得不舒坦。
To be clear about love and enmity, our method should be: "When giving, think nothing of it. When receiving, do not forget the kindness done to you." A saying goes, Having received kindness equal to a drop of water, you should try to repay it with a bubbling spring. Our resolve to reciprocate should be long lasting. When we do others a favor, we should do so impartially and think nothing of it. Not only should we forget about it, but we should never demand that others reciprocate the favor. Otherwise, even if nothing disastrous happens, we will not be able to live in peace.
再进一层说，明恩怨，在原则上是要「以德报德；以直报怨」，并不是做没原则的滥好人或乡愿。以德报德，并非报之以一时的财物和便利，而是互勉互励，双方德业自然日日增上，自然后福无穷，所以说报恩长。以直报怨，是交付公理众意去裁决，而不循私意，委屈辗转地去报复，所以说报怨短。
Being clear about love and enmity at another level simply means, "to repay kindness with kindness, and to repay enmity with justice." It does not mean to be lenient with people no matter what. The repayment of kindness with kindness does not refer to a one-time gift or favor; rather it involves mutual exhortation so that both parties grow in virtue and reap boundless blessings in the future. Therefore the text says, "Kindness should be cherished forever." To repay enmity with justice means to let the public judicial system decide how to handle the matter, instead of dealing with it personally and seeking vengeance in an underhanded fashion. Therefore, the text says, "Let grudges be quickly forgotten."
若说圣贤怎么也报怨呢？圣贤只是不存心报私怨，但是对无法或无缘教化的少数恶人，有时亦须任其得到适当的制裁，以保障群体的福祉，令多数人有免于恐惧的自由，这就是君子的报怨；不报怨并非直心。事实上，造恶业者就算能逃得过有形的法律制裁，也终难逃其无形的业报。
Do sages also seek revenge
Sages have no personal grudges. However, on rare occasions when they are unable to teach and transform evil people, they must see to it that these inpiduals receive their just punishment, so that the society will not be endangered or terrorized. Such is the manner in which superior people respond to enmity. If they did not respond, they would not be acting in justice. In actuality, even if wrongdoers escape visible punishment at the hands of the law, they cannot escape their karmic retribution, which is invisible.
总之，古之君子有「交绝不出恶声」的说法，这是恕道，也是恩怨分明的做法；若是交绝出恶声，或以新怨忘旧恩，则怨隙日深，便是纷乱的开端，就好像下面这个大象报仇的故事。
In general, the great men of old would not slander those with whom they had severed relations. This exemplifies the principle of reciprocity as well as being clear about love and enmity .If people slandered their former friends or forgot about past favors in light of new grievances, enmity would deepen day by day, planting the seeds of turmoil. Consider the following story of the elephant who sought revenge:
从前有个印度人，家里有头老实的大象；大象每天渴了想喝水时，就会自己走到小河去；沿途一定会经过一个裁缝铺，裁缝师总是顺手给大象一点东西吃。有一天，大象又照例把长鼻子伸入窗户要东西吃，裁缝师碰巧没预先准备东西，又正忙得…
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