一个人就算再努力、再有智慧，假如福报不够也很难有好的结果
任何苦乐都不会无因无缘
Happiness or suffering comes from causes and conditions
佛陀所揭示的因果，不是用来吓唬人的，而是用来提醒人的。这个真理，不管你是否相信，它都在那里，不增不减。
The law of causality, as revealed by the Buddha, is not a scare tactic. Rather, it serves to remind us of a truth that will always prevail and hold, whether we believe it or not.
有个牧民，一直生活在偏远的牧区。一个偶然的机会，他来到一座现代化的大都市。
Once a nomad, who lived in a remote pastoral region, had a chance to visit a modern city.
牧民发现这里的人都在使用电灯，心想：
He noticed that electric bulbs were used everywhere in the city and thought to himself,
“这个发光的东西真好，我应该买一个回去，这样就不用天天晚上点油灯了！”
“This thing that gives off light is indeed wonderful. I should get myself one to save the trouble of lighting oil lamps every night.”
于是他买了一个灯泡回到家乡，满怀希望地在帐篷里挂起来，
So he bought a light bulb, brought it home, and hung it up in his yurt with great expectations.
可是摆弄了半天，灯泡也不亮。
However, no light ever came from the bulb despite his many maneuvers.
见到灯泡放光，这个牧民就想当然地认为：只要买一个灯泡，就能照明了。
Seeing bulbs give off light in the city, this herdsman naively thought that a light bulb would be all that is required to get light,
可他不明白一些隐蔽的因缘：
unaware of other hidden causes and conditions.
灯泡只是照明的一个近缘，要照明还需要电、电线等其他远因。
For illumination, the bulb serves only as a proximate contributing factor. Other distant causes, such as a source of electricity and conductive wires, are also indispensable.
实际上，每个人的苦乐，都有近缘和远因。
Similarly, our happiness and suffering are manifested from proximate and distant factors.
我们的肉眼只能看到眼前的近缘，看不到隐藏在背后的远因。
Our corporeal eyes can only see immediate supporting factors and not the hidden causes from times gone by.
就像一个人发财了，我们看到的是他通过努力，抓住机遇发了财，却无法看到他前世积累的福德。
For instance, when a person gets rich, we merely think he earned it through working hard and seizing the right opportunities. We do not know of the merit he has accumulated in his past lives.
或许有人认为：“发财哪里需要什么福德？仅靠努力就行了。”
Some may say, “Why is merit a necessary factor for people to get rich? They need only to work hard, period.”
那么请问，为什么随处可以看到：许多人终生勤勤恳恳，早出晚归，把所有心血都用在赚钱上，结果却饱尝艰辛，所得的一切除了糊口之外所剩无几呢？
Let me ask: Why is it common to see a person work diligently all his life, devoting all his effort and time to making money—all while enduring severe hardships—only to earn just enough to cover basic necessities but nothing else?
我们每个人身边，肯定也有不少这样的人——
Surely there are such people right around us.
他们千方百计积累，用尽了一切手段追索财富，就像“从石头里榨出血，从鸟儿体内吸出骨髓”一样奋斗，但生活仍然不尽人意。
They will try any and all ways to pursue money, with an effort akin to “squeezing blood from a stone or sucking the marrow from a bird.” But, despite their struggles, life is still less than satisfactory to them.
可能有人会说：“是不是他们的能力、智慧不够，才落得如此结果？”
Perhaps some may argue, “Isn’t it because they are not smart or capable enough that they end up where they are now?”
实际上并非如此。
The truth is anything but that.
一个人就算再努力，或者再有智慧、再有能力，假如福报不够，也很难会有称心如意的结果。
Without sufficient merit, no amount of striving, cleverness or ability will bring people satisfactory outcomes from their endeavors.
即使偶尔得到少许财物，也无法拥有很长时间，过不了多久就会损耗殆尽。
Even if people occasionally manage to garner some wealth and possessions, such things are bound to dissipate after a while, never lasting for a long time.
与之相反，有些人根本不需要付出太多，
In contrast, certain individuals can easily obtain the things they want without having to exert much effort.
许多东西就可以到手，没钱不需要寻求，有财不容易耗尽，无论到哪里，财富都会自然现前，
Wherever they go, money appears to them spontaneously; they do not need to look hard for it, nor will their wealth be exhausted quickly.
这就是他们往昔福德的果报。
These are all the effects of their merits from times gone by.
现在，许多人不懂因果，
However, many people nowadays are unclear about this karmic principle.
赚不到钱，达不到自己目标就怨天尤人，或是抱怨父母，或是抱怨领导，或是抱怨政策，或是抱怨老天爷……
When they fail to make money or reach their goals, they blame fate or the gods, complaining about their parents, supervisors, government policies, and whatnot.
网络上就有一句话叫：“恨爹不成刚。”
There is a popular saying on the Internet, “Too bad I was born to the wrong dad!”
有些人痛恨自己的爹为什么不是李嘉诚，为什么不是李刚？
Some people feel resentful toward their dads’ humble status and say, “Why can’t my father be Li Ka-Shing?”* “Why is my father not Li Gang?”†
其实，按照因果规律，你今生有什么样的爹，是你往昔业力造成的，
But really, according to the principle of causality, it is your own karmic force that determines what kind of father you are born to.
所以，没必要一味抱怨外境，
Therefore, it makes no sense to complain about external factors.
而应尽快从当下行善积福做起。
Rather, endeavor to do good by accumulating merit, right from this moment.
如今，不少人为了眼前的蝇头小利，肆无忌惮地造业而不自知。
Nowadays, many people brazenly commit evil for instant petty gains while not being concerned about karmic consequences.
如此不怕因果的行为，实在令人不寒而栗。
Such behavior—belittling the principle of cause and effect—is truly chilling.
《法句经》中说过：就像播下苦种子定会结出苦果一样，造恶业必定会得恶果。
The Dhammapada states, “As surely as a bitter seed bears bitter fruit, so will an evil deed bring a painful result.”
所以，我们没必要为了追求过分的财富，令此身成为恶趣的坠石。
Therefore, it does not pay to hanker after excessive wealth, lest we drag ourselves down from our human lives to the lower realms.
因果正见对当今来讲，确实十分重要。
Having the correct view of cause and effect is vital in these modern times.
倘若人人都自觉地按因果行事，
If people were to consciously abide by its principle,
公务员不会贪污、受贿，商人也不会制造假冒伪劣产品……
there would be no corruption or bribery cases in the civil service, nor would counterfeit or shoddy goods be sold in the market.
人人都深信因果的话，这个世界就会变成人间的净土。
That is, if everyone develops a deep faith in causality, a pure land will spontaneously manifest in this world.
* Reportedly the richest person in Asia
† In China, a young man killed a college student while driving under the influence. Instead of showing any remorse, this young man said, “My daddy is Li Gang.” His father, Li Gang, was a prominent figure in the government, so the young man was not afraid of the wrong he had committed. “My daddy is Li Gang” thus became a catchphrase on the Internet in China; people say it when they want to avoid responsibility, but not without a tinge of irony.
索达吉堪布《做，才是得到》
Khenpo Sodargye《Achieve by Doing》
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