“你也会死，我也会死”

The four general preliminary practices of contemplating the preciousness of human birth, impermanence of phenomena, suffering being the nature of samsara and infallible karma are greatly conducive to cultivating renunciation. But many so-called Buddhists are reluctant to practice the preliminaries, particularly these general preliminaries. Rather, they want to skip all of them and go straight to the practice of the Great Perfection, Mahamudra and other similarly profound teachings. Frankly, there is no need to make exception for Tibetan monks, but this tendency is much more common among lay Buddhists in China. The Great Perfection and Mahamudra are indeed supreme practices. What should be questioned is whether one has the requisite capacity, and if the mind has been properly tuned. One cannot hope to succeed in either of the practices if unable to give positive answers to these two questions.

人身难得、寿命无常、轮回是苦、因果不虚这些外加行，对增上出离心有很大的帮助。但现在很多所谓的佛教徒，却不愿意修加行，特别是人身难得、寿命无常这些外加行，直接就想修大圆满、大手印等法。这样的人，在藏地的出家人里也有，但在汉地的居士里更多。大圆满、大手印当然是很好的法，但我们现在是不是这样的根器呢？自己现在的心相续调整好了没有？如果没有调整好的话，那么大圆满、大手印是不可能修起来的。

What then are the methods we can use to train our minds? They are the four general preliminary practices, and their importance should not be treated lightly. Centuries ago, Venerable Atisha and many eminent practitioners in Tibet attained supreme accomplishments with nothing but contemplation of precious human birth and impermanence throughout their lives. They are our role models and we should do likewise. Those unwilling to practice the preliminaries yet hoping to stride far on first try will never be able to reach the final goal of liberation, just as if they were blocked from reaching the end of a journey by the numerous high mountain passes.

调整的方法又是什么呢？就是修人身难得等修法。对这些修法，我们绝不能等闲视之。阿底峡尊者及以前藏地很多专门修行的高僧大德，他们当中有些人一生只修人身难得和无常，最后还是同样获得了成就。前辈们已经为我们作出了最好的表率，我们就应当追随他们的足迹。那些不愿修加行，第一步就妄想迈得很高的人，他们离解脱的目的地，也就如同被重重关山阻隔一般，永久难以抵达。

The following example should further illustrate this point. Once there was an accomplished master. A disciple went up to him for one more profound instruction before taking leave of the master. The master said，“I do not have any better teaching.” After offering all his possessions to his master, he pleaded again. The master, holding the disciple’s hand, said sincerely，“You will die. I will die，too. Do take some time to reflect on this. My master taught me this and it is what I have practiced. My master did not give me any other teaching, nor have I practiced any other. This is it, the best pith instruction that I know of. Now go and practice it diligently!”

曾经有一位大成就者，当他的一个弟子将要离开的时候，就到上师面前，祈请传一个更殊胜的窍诀。上师说：我并没有什么更殊胜的窍诀。弟子将所有的东西都供养了以后，再一次苦苦祈求，上师就握着弟子的手情真意切地说：“你也将会死的！我也将会死的！这个问题你回去好好思考。我的上师给我讲的也是这个法，我修的也就是这个法，我的上师也没有再给我讲什么，我也没有修过其他什么，这就是窍诀，你回去认真修持吧！”

It is really this simple. You will die, and I will die too. We all know this indisputable truth, yet we seem to keep forgetting it. It is thus advisable for each of us to deeply contemplate this teaching, for nothing will come out of our practice otherwise.

说起来就是这么简单，你也会死，我也会死。这个不争的事实大家都知道，但是平时却似乎遗忘了。我们每一个人都要深入细致地思维一下这个修法，否则，什么结果也修不出来。

未完待续