做任何事都应不堕两边

However, we often bring much suffering upon ourselves for inessential things in life. For example, we kill so many lives and cause great suffering to other beings to get meat, milk and eggs, the three major sources of modern illnesses that are basically inessential food for our survival. We did not know any better before, just following a wrong mode of living and hence resulting in great pain for many sentient beings. This is just one example. Other aspects of our lives can also be reexamined this way.

但我们往往会为了一些没有必要的生活，而给自己带来很多的痛苦。譬如说，现代文明病的三大根源—肉、牛奶、鸡蛋，都是根本没有必要的食品，但为这没有必要的食品，我们却不知杀了多少生命，给众生带来了多么大的痛苦！我们以前都不知道，都在依照一种不正确的模式生活，以至于给很多众生带来了很大的痛苦！这只是一个比喻，其他方面我们也可以依此类推。

The Buddha particularly wanted to avoid taking a dualistic stance toward any issues. To lead a poverty-stricken life is an extreme. Most people cannot maintain a contemplative life under such harsh condition except for someone like Milarepa. On the other hand, a life of indulgence may cause all kinds of physical problems. For instance, many doctors suggest that over-consumption of meat could be the cause for heart disease. Therefore, the proper way of living set by the Buddha is one of simplicity and modesty.

佛在任何一个问题上，都特别讲究不要堕两边，不要走极端。如果生活太穷，就走极端了，只有像米拉日巴尊者那样的人，才能在那样恶劣的环境下修行，绝大多数人不行；但是，如果生活太腐败，吃多了、睡多了、电视电脑看多了，就会导致各种各样的病。很多医学博士也讲过，因为美国人吃肉吃多了，所以百分之五十的美国人得了心脏病。因而，佛给我们制定的生活模式，就是尽量地简单一点儿。

Another rule is that one must not live by the ten evil actions such as killing, stealing, cheating and so forth. 

另一个关键性的原则，是不能以杀盗淫妄等十不善作为生存方法。

On the premise of not violating this rule, it is all right to live a rich life, but only very few with extremely good karma do not have to work hard for it. In general, the richer the life is, the higher the toll it would take on one’s well-being. So the Buddha’s suggestion of a simple way of living is actually a better choice for all.

在不违背这个原则的前提下，如果生活过得好也没有什么问题。但只有极少数福报很大的人，才能一生当中既不太费力，生活也能过得很好。一般而言，生活过得越好，付出就会越大；所以，佛要求我们尽量地选择比较简单的生存方式。