掌握内心的奥秘，勇敢面对痛苦

There is a story in the sutras about a king who lived a life of luxury. He never had to experience any discomfort; hence, if a pea were placed beneath eighteen layers of silk bed sheets, he would notice it and find it intolerable. Later in life, he not only lost his throne but also became a pauper. His only recourse was to retreat to the mountains where he chopped wood to make a living. Since he had no clothes to wear, he would carry the wood on his bare shoulders. Over time, he no longer felt the suffering and considered this way of life very normal.

佛经中讲过这样一个故事：有一个人在当国王的时候，过着豪华奢靡的生活。因为没有忍受过一点不舒服，所以在铺了十八层各种丝绸床单的下面有一粒豌豆，他都能感觉到，并且不能忍受。后来他不但失去了王位，而且一贫如洗，过着贫苦窘困的生活，只好到山上砍柴维持生计，因为连一件上衣都没有，他只能光着膀子背柴。天长日久下来，他不但丝毫感觉不到痛苦，还觉得很正常。

Although this is just a story, there are many such examples in real life.

虽然这只是个故事，但现实生活中也有类似的例子。

When we come upon suffering, we should face it courageously rather than passively resist it. Once this hurdle is overcome, we can calmly accept a similar kind of suffering the next time and defeat it. In this way, we become the victor. If we persist, we can increase our mental strength and defeat all suffering.

如果遇到一个痛苦时，不是消极地抗拒，而是勇敢地面对。过了这一关，下次遇到类似痛苦的时候，就可以坦然、平静地接受，这样自己就战胜了这个痛苦，自己也就是这次与痛苦较量的胜利者。长此以往，就可以增强自己的心力，战胜所有的痛苦。

Second: Transform Suffering into Positive Conditions for the Practice

（2）对痛苦发起欢喜心，勇敢地面对、接受痛苦，化痛苦为修行的助缘。

If we know the mind, we can face suffering with fortitude and accept it with ease; we can even develop joy in knowing that suffering and happiness are rare opportunities for mind practice. We often hear the saying: Turn grief into strength — transform sadness, sorrow, and pain into a driving force that propels us along the path.

若能掌握内心的奥秘，一旦遇到痛苦，不但能勇敢、坦然地面对痛苦，还会因为懂得痛苦和幸福是难得的修行机会，而生起欢喜心。世间常听到一句话：化悲痛为力量——把伤心、难过、悲痛甚至痛不欲生的情绪，都转化为修行路上前进的动力。

未完待续