Life - A Dream

　　人生•一场梦

　　Dharma talk by Heng Yuen ITI, March 20 1994

　　文•恒缘 讲于译经院 一九九四年三月二十日

　　We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to study the Medicine Master Buddha Sutra. Through the profound compassion, virtue, and vows of Medicine Master Buddha, we have received the great blessing of this Dharma door. By reciting Medicine Master Buddha”s name, reading the Sutra, or making offerings to him, we are able to avoid various kinds of hardships and disasters.

　　我们很幸运的有这个机会来研究药师经。经由药师佛深切的悲心、德行、和愿力，我们可从这个法门而得到加被。借着念诵药师佛名、药师经，或供养药师佛，我们也得以避免各种的困厄与灾难。

　　Of course, we should only seek the Buddha”s help in times of real difficulties, and not when we can solve the problems ourselves. But, we should definitely not call for help just to test the Dharma door. If we test, then the Buddha knows we lack faith and that would be insulting the Buddha. I remember a friend who is a devout Christian. He told me that he would call for God to help whenever he had difficulties. Even when he couldn”t find a missing screw while doing some carpentry at home, he would call for God”s help.

　　当然，我们是在遇到真正的困难，非自己能解决时，才寻求佛的帮助；但是我们求佛帮助，绝不是只为了要试这个法门。若只试一试，那么佛知道我们不具信心，而这也是侮辱了佛。记得我有一个朋友，他是很虔诚的基督徒。他告诉我，只要他有任何困难，他就求助于上帝。就算是在家里做木工时掉了一个螺丝钉，他也会求上帝的帮助。

　　Calamities such as floods hurricanes, and wars are caused by our collective karma, but the degree to which inpiduals suffer from these events depends on their inpidual karma. Natural calamities, wars, and riots occur because, collectively, we have in the past sowed the seeds for them to happen. That is, we have created bad karma and then, consequently, receive the effects. When such problems are beyond our inpidual control, we could try to seek help from Medicine Master Buddha.

　　所有灾难，如水灾、飓风、和战争，都是由共业所造成的。但是其中每个人所受的痛苦，又因个人的别业而异。不论是天灾或战争还是暴乱的发生，都是因为在过去，我们种下了共同的种子；也就是我们造了的恶业，因此就要受果报。所以当这些问题，不是我们个人能控制时，我们可以试着求助于药师佛。

　　As Buddhists, we have quite a few Dharma doors (that is, expedient means) to help us in times of danger or hardships. For example, we also have Guanyin Bodhisattva, Earth Store Bodhisattva, Amitabha Buddha, and many others. But some Buddhists are content just having these Bodhisattvas around to help them. They just go around doing all kinds of crazy things, breaking precepts, harming others and creating bad karma, and then seeking help from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas when confronted with the effects of the bad karma they have created.

　　做一个佛教徒，在我们有危险和困厄时，有很多方便的法门可以帮助我们。例如我们有观音菩萨、地藏菩萨、阿弥陀佛等等。但是有些佛教徒，就很满意这些菩萨在周围，等着帮助他们。他们呢，却四处胡作非为，或是破了戒，或是去伤害其他人，造恶业。然后当要受恶业果报时，又去寻求佛菩萨的帮助。

　　This present human life of ours is very short. We run off in all directions, doing stupid things. At the last moment, just when we are about to die, we might realize that we have done nothing to justify having lived this human life. From the time we are born to the time we die, we are always seeking. Whether or not we have obtained it, is of no significance - we have just wasted our time in this life. we cannot take wealth or fame, or achievements with us.

　　人现有的生命是很短的。我们四处奔波，做些愚痴的事；到最后，要死的时候，才了解到，我们这一生没做什么正经的事。从生到死，我们一直在追求。然而，不管有没有得到，这并不是要紧的；我们只是浪费了这一生的时光。财富、名誉、地位，我们都带不走，只有业随身。结果这一生，只剩一场梦。

　　We spend our lives doing many things that give only temporary satisfaction, and which later become meaningless and boring . We look at things, we exchange views, we get momentarily infatuated with things and become contented. Gradually, we get tired of these passing events. Things turn sour and we get remorseful and restless.

　　我们耗尽一生，做了许多的事，也都只得到暂时的满足。之后，又觉得没意义、厌倦了。我们看事情、交换看法、暂时的迷恋和满足。渐渐地，我们又厌倦了这些过去事。事情变得令人厌恶，自己又觉得后悔不安。

　　In their lifetime, what are people chasing after

　　 Nothing but desire. Some pursue the desire for leadership, some for wealth, some for sex, others pursue the desire for fame, recognition, and benefits, and so on. These pursuits appe…

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