【慧灯中英文连载】《Are You Ready for Happiness?》(74)痛苦正当修皈依

2.Transform Suffering into Taking Refuge

2.悲痛转化为皈依

Because we have experienced great suffering, we truly understand samsara is filled with suffering; regardless of wealth or status, no one is spared.

由于亲身经历了巨大的痛苦，所以能真切地体会到轮回就是痛苦的聚集地，无论再有钱、再有地位，都无法避免痛苦。

For instance, in a harmonious and loving family where husband and wife, brothers and sisters all get along very well, everyone hopes the family can stay happy together indefinitely. Eventually, however, one member of the family will die; if the family is not prepared mentally, it will incur a great deal of suffering.

比如说，在一个和睦的家庭中，夫妻、兄弟姊妹感情非常好，大家都希望能这样一辈子在一起，相亲相爱、其乐融融。但总有一天，其中的某个人会去世，如果没有心理准备，家人就会感受巨大的痛苦。

This is the same with wealth and reputation; the greater our attachment, the more we suffer. As long as we remain in samsara, we cannot overcome suffering.

金钱、名声等所有的东西都是一样，越是有执着，越会给我们带来痛苦，只要流转轮回，痛苦就无法解决。

We cannot rely on others to help us, not scientists, philosophers, nor our parents, friends, classmates, or colleagues; the only way to relieve suffering is to take refuge in the Three Jewels — with help of the Buddha and the Sangha, practice the Dharma according to the Buddha's teachings to eliminate afflictions and attachment. When attachment is gone, all of our suffering will disappear in that instant.

唯一能解决痛苦的，不是其他的怙主或依处，既不是科学家、哲学家，也不是父母、朋友、同学、同事，而是佛、法、僧三宝——依靠佛陀与僧众，按照佛的指导去修行佛法，才能断除烦恼与执着，放下执着之后，世上所有的痛苦，都能在当下一瞬间彻底断除。

Unfortunately, the conventional thinking is just the opposite. When we encounter suffering, our first reaction is not to subdue the mind and let go of attachment, but to create external circumstances to keep suffering out. This is a common practice of all ordinary people. However, we have failed time and time again in this strategy and have remained until this day ordinary people who have not attained liberation.

可惜的是，很多人的想法恰恰相反，遇到痛苦的时候，第一反应不是设法控制自己的心，放下执着，而是千方百计想创造一个外在的条件，好让自己不痛苦。这是凡夫无始以来的一贯做法，但我们一次又一次地宣告失败，从来也没有成功过，所以至今仍是一介凡夫，没有断除烦恼、获得解脱。

Due to merit accumulated in past lives, we are human beings in this lifetime. We must seize this opportunity as humans to break away from samsara; the first step is to take refuge. As we begin to appreciate deeply the great qualities and the power of the Buddha, Dharma，and Sangha，we will develop faith and eagerly seek refuge in the Three Jewels.

如今依靠过去的福报，让我们有机会得到一个人身。我们一定要利用这个人身脱离轮回，其首要条件，就是皈依三宝。在深深体会到佛法僧的伟大和能力之后，就会虔诚、急切地希望皈依。

It's like when we are sick, we realize deeply how important and necessary doctors and medicine are to us; when we are not sick, this feeling is not as strong. It is the same with taking refuge. When suffering is imminent, there is greater imperative to seek refuge than in normal times. This can help us transform suffering into a cause and condition for taking refuge as well as develop a genuine devotion to the Three Jewels. Thus, not only is suffering not an obstacle, it is a force that advances us along the path.

就像，没痛没病的时候，虽然也知道医生和药物的作用，但感受却不是那么真切与强烈；唯有自己生病的时候，才能深深体会到医生的重要性和必要性。皈依也是一样，因为已经亲身感受到痛苦的逼迫，所以想逃离的意念要比平时修皈依的急迫感强得多，这样就能把悲痛转化为皈依的因缘，并修出发自内心的皈依感。如此一来，悲痛非但不是违缘，反而成为修行道路上前进的动力。

If we follow this reasoning, we can moderate our attachment; with less attachment, suffering will diminish accordingly; with less suffering, our practice will also progress.

若能想通这些道理，就能适当控制自己的执着，执着降低一点，痛苦也将随之而减弱；痛苦减少了，修行也会有所进步，这样就能获得双重的利益。