【慧灯中英文连载】《Are You Ready for Happiness?》(82)究竟的方法是证悟空性

Methods of Ultimate Truth

胜义谛的方法

Realistically, only when realization of emptiness is attained can suffering be overcome with the methods of ultimate truth. Those who have gained this realization can appreciate deeply that life is just like a dream. In a dream we may experience the death of our parents or loved ones and feel devastated. If we can suddenly wake up from the dream, no treatment or sympathy is necessary as suffering disappears instantly. If we do not know we are living in a dream, or know in theory but not from direct experience, then suffering is harder to resolve. However, before realizing emptiness, we can still practice somewhat by using the reasoning given in the Middle Way to ascertain the external phenomena which cause us suffering or the mind which experiences suffering is emptiness. More importantly, we should know suffering and happiness are basically just a feeling, a manifestation of the mind; they are not caused simply by external factors such as an enemy or natural disaster. Suffering does not exist in the world outside —the mountains, rivers, sun, moon, or stars; it exists within our mind. Without feeling, there can be no suffering. Everything is illusory, merely a manifestation of the mind.

只有在证悟空性以后，才能真正以胜义谛的方法对治痛苦。证悟空性的人，能深深体会到，现实生活就像一场梦。在梦中梦到父母或亲人死亡，悲恸欲绝、生不如死之际，若能突然从梦中醒来，则不需要任何对治与安慰，痛苦一下子就消失无踪。如果不知道自己生活在梦中，或理论上知道，却没有亲身的感受，痛苦就不是那么容易化解；但在尚未证悟空性的时候，也可以适当地训练、观修：通过中观的推理方式，把给自己制造痛苦的外境，或者感受痛苦的内心断定为空性。更重要的是要知道，痛苦和幸福本身，只是内心的一种感受，是精神的一种表现，并不仅仅是敌人、灾难等外境造成的。外界的山河大地、日月星辰等物质都没有痛苦，痛苦存在于我们的内心当中。如果没有感受，痛苦也没有立足之地，因而也就不可能成立。一切都如梦如幻，都只是心的一种现象而已。

The wise look inward to find happiness and the source of suffering. They know the seed of happiness and suffering is in the mind, external things lend only temporary support. Because they have the right view, they can eventually eradicate suffering, and attain absolute happiness and freedom-liberation. In contrast, ordinary people look outward for the source of their problems. Because their direction is wrong, they can never eradicate suffering and fail every lifetime to achieve liberation. This is the difference between an ordinary person and a sage.

有智慧的人，是向内追求幸福，寻找痛苦的根源。他们知道：外界物质只是临时的助缘，而幸福和痛苦的种子缘起，在自己内心当中。因为方向正确，所以最终彻底断除痛苦，得到绝对的幸福与自由——解脱。而凡夫却一味向外寻找根源，因为寻找的方向错误，所以永远也无法了断痛苦，于是生生世世都是以失败告终。这就是凡夫和圣者的差别。