你我生死并不自在

Use the Twelve Nidanas to introspect and practice diligently

六、依十二缘起，反观自省，精进修行

Now let us see if we miss any part of the Twelve Nidanas. None is missed. That means we are ready for the next cycle of samsara，and we will definitely return. But where we will be reborn depends on the magnitude of our virtuous and evil karma. If more evil than good have been done, we will come back to the lower realms; vice versa, with more virtuous than evil deeds, the celestial or human realm will be our next destination, but they do not last long. After a short period of bliss and good fortune, we eventually will fall again to the lower realms. In the long run, it does not seem so meaningful to be reborn repeatedly either as humans or celestial beings. As the danger of falling to the lower realms is always there, we cannot be completely safe until we succeed in transcending the cycle of death and rebirth. This is not like the doctrine of the Last Judgment or the end of the world as some other faiths believe, nor a scare tactic. It is simply the reality of samsara.

现在我们看看自己，十二缘起支中哪一支没有呢？一支也不少。既然都有，那么下一世继续轮回的准备就已经做得非常充分了，所以我们一定会回来的。回来的时候会回到什么地方，那可就说不定了，得看善恶业的轻重。若是善轻恶重，则回到恶趣；若是善重恶轻，则回到天趣、人趣，但是，在短暂的利乐过去以后，终究还是会堕落的。从长远的角度来看，再怎么反反复复做人或天人，也没有多大意义，在没有完成了脱生死的任务之前，我们始终是不太安全的，随时随地都有可能堕入恶趣。这并不是某些外道所讲的世界末日或审判之类，也不是吓唬人的话，而是轮回中的实际情况。

Basically we do not know much about what happens before and after life. Through the Twelve Nidanas, we can understand how we came to and leave this world, which affords us a better idea about the two ends of life. Although we have no clue as to what we were in the previous life, we know there were ignorance and karmic force; nor do we know where we will be in the next life, but there will be birth, old age and death. This much we know for sure.

基本上，我们对于生命两头的认知是比较模糊的；但是现在透过十二缘起支，我们知道了自己是怎么来的，怎么走的，对于生命的两头有了比较清楚的概念。我们虽然不知道前世自己是人还是其他的什么，但前世一定是有无明的、是有业力的；也不知道后世自己要往哪里去，然而后世一定会有生，会有老和死，这是肯定的。