..续本文上一页dhas in the ten directions and three periods of time.” If we always keep this contemplation in mind, we will never be disrespectful, rude, or mean to any living being.
所谓众生，不单是我们凡夫肉眼所能看见的，有很多是看不见的，譬如鬼、神、仙、魔等，也是众生的一部分。既然是众生之一，就应该要平等恭敬，尊重他们，不应看不起任何的众生。
There are many living beings, such as ghosts, spirits, immortals, and demons, which we cannot see with our physical eyes. We should also respect these invisible beings and not look down on them. All living beings should be regarded with equal compassion.
今天大家进佛殿时，看见一条蛇，它也是众生之一。但因示现蛇身，众人便望而生畏，见之而不认识，甚至被吓呆了。但这蛇是来亲近三宝，听经闻法的，否则它怎么会老老实实躺在门槛上，一点也不动弹呢？
The snake that appeared as we entered the Buddha Hall today is also a living being. Since it appeared in the body of a snake, everyone was apprehensive and failed to recognize it. Some were even scared out of their wits. However, this snake came to draw near the Triple Jewel, and to hear the Dharma and the Sutras. Why else would it be so docile, lying motionless by the door
虽然乍眼看去是一条小蛇，其实它懂得千变万化，会隐形，会现小、变大，又能腾云驾雾，在空中自在飞行，只是我们不能知道它的本领而已。这蛇将来修行成功，也能得道的。佛经上讲「天龙八部」，它就是其中一部「摩喉罗伽」，就是大蟒蛇。
Although it appears to be a relatively small snake, it is able to transform in countless ways; it can disappear, shrink, expand, mount the clouds and ride the mists, and fly freely through space. We just aren”t aware of its powers. This snake can also cultivate and attain the Way. It belongs to the eightfold pision of gods, dragons, and other Dharma-protecting spirits mentioned in the Buddhist Sutras, in particular the pision of mahoragas (great pythons).
观察这条蛇的来由，可能它在周朝时为一小国的大臣，可是心怀诡计，谋篡国位，以浸过鸩酒的匕首，藏于袖内，刺杀国王。但此举不但没有夺得王位，反而搞得天怒民怨。大臣临终时生大瞋恨心，死后即堕蛇身，转为巨蟒。
A contemplation on the background of this snake might reveal that it had been a high official in a small kingdom during the Zhou Dynasty. With a treacherous heart, this official plotted to usurp the throne. Hiding a poison-tipped dagger in his sleeve, he went to assassinate the king. However, not only did he fail to seize the throne, he also provoked the anger of the heavens and was blamed by the people. At the time of his death, he felt great wrath and consequently fell and became a snake, a giant python.
世间上有两种力量：一为「阴」，一为「阳」；亦可说一为「善」，一为「恶」。从善者尽修福慧，能成仙、成圣、成菩萨、成佛。恶者的力量亦大，但专做黑暗见不得光的勾当，互相仇报杀害，所以酿成一股巨大无比的怨气。
Two kinds of forces operate in the world: yin and yang, or good and evil. Good beings who constantly cultivate blessings and wisdom can become immortals, sages, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. Evil beings are also very powerful, yet they engage exclusively in devious intrigues, killing and hurting each other in vengeance, generating a great deal of hatred.
世上都是毒蛇、毒龙布满，这些毒蛇、毒龙，不是一般肉眼所能看见，然而他们确实弥漫国土。这些毒蛇，就是由人心里的「贪瞋痴」积累成形，而到处为患。世上天灾人祸、飞尸邪鬼、妖精魔魇、瘟疫流行，种种不治之奇症，都是这类毒蛇在作怪。这些恶龙疫鬼，专放毒气，惑乱民心；或是魑魅魍魉，夺人精气，使人惊怖颠狂。所以现在时下流行的种种心理病，譬如精神分裂、颠狂恐惧，生理上种种顽疾，都不外乎是这些妖魔鬼魅在兴风作浪，荼毒生灵。
Open your eyes and look around. You”ll find the world is filled with poisonous snakes and dragons. Although they aren”t visible to our ordinary eyes, they actually fill up the land. These poisonous snakes are the greed, anger, and stupidity in people”s minds, which have accumulated and taken shape, and cause illness everywhere. These poisonous snakes cause all the natural and man-made calamities, zombies, demons, ghosts, goblins, epidemics, and strange and incurable diseases in the world. Evil dragons and pestilential demons emit poisonous vapors which confuse people”s minds. There are also nightmare ghosts and wang liang ghosts, who steal people”s essence and energy, frighten-ing them and causing them to go insane. Nowadays, ghosts, goblins, and demons cause mischief and cause people to develop schizophrenia, insanity, phobias, and other mental illnesses and incurable diseases.
现代心理学、医学界均不深明个中道理，不能对症下药，所以治愈率不甚理想。当然，唯有佛法才是最究竟之灵药，消难息灾之奇方！
Modern psycholog…
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