生活的基本原则：少欲知足

However, real austerity means undertaking to practice with diligence and great patience as well as overcoming all kinds of difficulties without fear. Otherwise, paupers among all people would be the first to reach enlightenment.

其实，真正的苦行，是要有耐心，有精进心，想方设法克服各种各样的困难，不畏艰险地认真修行，这才是苦行的意义。如果仅仅误以为不吃、不穿、不讲卫生就是苦行，就会解脱，那乞丐岂不是会率先成就了？

The Buddha told us that under the premise of not having to pay too great a price and not being too attached, it is acceptable to maintain a rich and leisurely lifestyle.

佛告诉我们，在不需要付出太大的代价和不太在乎的前提下，也可以过很富裕或很优雅的生活。

The opposite is to greedily pursue a life of extravagance with much effort or improper method.

第二个边，也即第二种极端，是通过付出很多的代价或依靠不正当的手段，不知满足地享受奢侈生活。

Why should this be avoided? Because other than a few exceptions, most people must expend a great deal of time, energy and planning to obtain material wealth, which in the eyes of the Buddha is not worth the effort. His view is that Dharma practitioners should be content with a life of fewer desires.

为什么这是一个边呢？因为，除了极少数人以外，大多数人必须为奢侈的物质享受付出巨大的代价——时间、体力、脑力，所以佛认为不值得，修行人应该少欲知足。

To be content with fewer desires is the principle set by the Buddha that we should adhere to in our daily life, but what it means to accomplished practitioners like Milarepa, to monastics in general and to laypeople varies accordingly.

少欲知足这四个字，是佛给我们制定的一个生活法则和原则。这四个字的内容有很多的层次——-对米拉日巴那样的修行人，对一般的出家人，对普通的在家人，都有不同的解释。