在生死面前，每个人都是孤独的

Man’s suffering is minuscule compared with that of the animals, not to mention that of the hell beings or the hungry ghosts. Yet given a choice, how many of us would want to repeat this life again? Not too many! Most people feel that this life is too hard, too tiring and has too much pressure. There may not be too much suffering upon suffering in the human world，but it does not mean that there is no suffering in our life. Human suffering often comes from a sense of aimlessness and fear. For example, the ultimate goal of many successful businessmen is really no more than having a comfortable life. But with success comes unparalleled pressure. Failing to cope with the pressure, some even take their own lives.

人的痛苦，不要说与地狱或饿鬼道的众生相比，就是与畜生相比，都是微乎其微的。但是，如果可以选择的话，又有多少人愿意重新再过这一生？并不多。因为大家都觉得活得太累，太辛苦，生活压力太大了。即使在人世间找不到太多苦苦，但这并不表示人生没有痛苦，人们的痛苦往往来自于精神上的空虚和恐慌。譬如，大生意人的最终目标，也就是希望自己有好日子过，但随着事业而来的却是无比的压力，甚至有人会因无力承担而走上绝路。

Those who have not learned or practiced Buddhist teachings may not care too much about it in their youth. But as they grow older, the feeling of emptiness increases with time as well because mentally they do not seem to be able to take refuge in anything. They spend their youth and energy to accumulate wealth in order to live comfortably in old age. But when old age does come, along with sickness and death, their wealth cannot help at all. Some may place their hope in other people. But we must accept the fact that the caring of friends and relatives or the filial piety of children who either offer to keep one company or send kind regards via letters or phone calls cannot dispel one’s deepest fear. In the end, we all must face death alone. One can imagine how terrifying and remorseful it can be at that moment. Most people choose to either forget or ignore this inevitable ending and turn instead to indulge freely in worldly pleasures. But we can never leave behind the thought of imminent ending for long，as it poses a constant threat and is such a weighty reality for us to grapple with.

没有修学佛法的人，年轻时还不太在意，但随着年龄的增长，由于心中没有依处而产生的空虚感便与日俱增。身强力壮时为了防老去拼命挣钱，面对老病和死亡时，一辈子累积的财富却派不上用场。或许有人会寄希望于人，但我们不得不接受一个事实：亲友的关怀、儿女的孝顺，比如陪伴于身边，或以书信或电话的方式给予安慰，都不能抵御心灵上的惶恐。最终只有单枪匹马孤军奋战，但即便使出浑身解数，又怎能战胜实力强大的瘟神、死神呢？此时此刻，心中的恐惧与懊恼就可想而知了。所以，多数人就选择忘记或回避这个现实，转而投入尽情的享乐中，但这种挥之不去的结局却随时在展示着威胁的面孔，让我们始终无法忘怀，因为这个现实太沉重了。

Young people are not above this either. They may look like they can afford to play and have fun all the time. But once they begin to contemplate the purpose of this life and the question of the beginning and the ending of life, they cannot help but realize that the two ends of this life are really a blur. What their minds and eyes can grasp are only the present, fleeting moments. Most of them, unable to face this frightening conclusion directly, just cast these issues aside and ignore them.

年轻人也不例外，虽然他们整日逍遥自在、纵情欢乐，但如果能静下来思维：人是为什么而活？以后会怎样？以前又是如何？在面对这些问题的时候，他们就能深切地意识到，生命的源头和尽头都是很模糊的，思维视线所能触及的，只是眼前短暂的时光。许多人无法直视这个令人惶恐的结论，就只有掩耳盗铃地将这个问题弃置一旁，视而不见。

Material comforts are like anesthetics that can only numb the senses temporarily while the reality of birth, old age, sickness and death never goes away. If we avoid facing these issues now, whether we get another chance to do anything about it in the future would be anybody’s guess. This is by no means an exaggerated threat, but an inevitable outcome.

物质生活就像麻药，只能暂时将我们麻醉，但生老病死却是无论如何都逃不掉的现实。如果现在不能解决这个问题，以后等待我们的会是怎样的处境就很难说了。这不是夸大其词的威胁，而是不可回避的事实。

The discussion presented so far mainly demonstrates the effect on people caused by suffering arising from change.

以上这些都是变苦侵扰人类的结果。