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| 2011/08/03 20:50:17瀏覽227｜回應0｜推薦1 | ||
The Four Elements
 或因四大造一切罪 The Four Elements may cause all wrongdoings. The four Elements are earth, water, fire and wind. 我們在每天早晨，心靜下來時，觀察心內的世界、身外的環境，應該都是很明朗。 Each morning when we quiet our minds, our inner world and external environment should be very clear. 觀察大地的那個氣流，我們也應該可以感受到，大地在呼吸；觀察我們的身體，應該也能感覺到，我們也是在呼吸。大地呼吸順調，大地就平安；人的呼吸順調，人的身體也就健康。心境如果可以平靜，就可以內外平安。 We should be able to feel the land breathing. We can also sense our body breathing. When the land breathes gently, it is peaceful and safe. When people are breathing well, their bodies are healthy. If our minds are calm, we are well, internally and externally. 其實無形的就是一個氣，有形的，就離不開四大！所以，四大能夠幫助我們的日常生活，四大也會使我們成就生活中的苦難。 Whatever is intangible is chi (energy). Whatever is tangible is part of the Four Elements. The Four Elements can benefit our daily life and let us handle life's hardships. 什麼叫做「四大」，四大就是「地、水、火、風」。 What are the Four Elements? They are earth, water, fire and wind.  天地萬物由四大合成 Everything in the universe is composed of the Four Elements. If the Four Elements are in balance life can be safe and peaceful. If they are an unbalanced, natural disasters will continuously arise, resulting in great suffering. 四大遍布於天地萬物之間，一切無不都是這四大合成。 Heaven, Earth and all beings are created by the Four Elements. 你觀察「天、地」，太陽就是一個熱氣，就像是火一樣；土地的地就是堅硬，在土地上，凡是堅硬的東西，我們可以觸摸到的，無論是土地或是建築物，或是樹、草、花等等…大地的一切，只要你看得到、摸得到，可以感受到硬的或者是軟的，這種有物質，讓你可以去觸摸的，就叫做地大。 In the sky, the sun is a form of heart, like fire. The earth consists of anything that is of firm matter. It is whatever we can touch, such as the ground, buildings, trees, grass, flowers, etc. Everything on land that has form for us to see and touch, hard or soft, is considered the Earth Element. 水就是溼氣，東西潮濕都是因為有水分在裡面。就像地的堅質不能夠離開水分，就像我們的土地不能沒有水。你們可知道，我們這樣走在土地上面，覺得土地很乾燥，其實地底的下面就是有水在流動？我們以前的人都說：「向地下探水鑿水井。」所以這片土地下面就是水。 Water is moisture. Objects become moist because they contain the water element. The land cannot be without water. Do you know that although we feel the land we walk on is dry, there is actually water flowing beneath? In the past, people dug into the ground to create wells. So there is water under the earth. 尤其是我們在平常時，除了地大、水大、火大、風大，這四大時時都要調和在一起。除了土地要有水以外，還要有陽光；除了陽光以外，還要有氣流、空氣，這樣天地間的萬物才能夠非常的茂盛。 In our life, the Four Elements should be in constant harmony. Besides water, the land needs sunlight. In addition to sunlight, it also needs air for all life to flourish. 我們都知道，有的地方就是缺水，乾旱會使整片大地的生機受損，農作物需要靠大地，大地也要有水分，是否只要有水分就可以了？還是需要陽光、太陽！陽光如果太過炙熱，我們現在都說太熱了，這麼熱的氣候，有時候也會熱死人。所以在水和火之間，就是熱度和水分如果欠缺，大地就會不調和。 We know that some places lack water. Drought causes the land to lose sustenance. All crops are dependent on land, and land needs water and sunlight. Is water alone enough? Of course sunlight is also needed. But if the sun is too strong, the climate will be too hot, and that would be detrimental. Thus, when there is a lack of heat and water, the land is not in balance. 現在的大地，真的，現在這個大自然界，真的已經有毛病了。你看，現在說：「溫室效應。」溫室效應的意思就是氣候反常，該下雨的時候不下雨，該有陽光的時候沒有陽光！在這之中，就會產生大地上一切的毛病，所以現在四大不調，天然的災難也讓我們很擔憂，我們才會經常說天災。真的是天災，天災就是出於人禍。 Already our environment shows symptoms of this problem. You see, the effects of global warming have created irregular climates. It doesn't rain when it should, and there is no sunshine when there should be, thus creating many problems for the Earth. With the imbalance of the Four Elements, we are becoming more concerned. So we often speak of natural disasters. Natural disasters arise from man, the mind of man.  大地是大乾坤 所以大地叫做大乾坤，我們人人的身體叫做小乾坤。這種的大乾坤若能夠平安，我們的小乾坤才能夠健康。 The Earth is known as the big universe and the body is the small universe. Only when the big universe is peaceful can our small universes be sound. The Earth is a macrocosm. The human body is a microcosm. Only when the macrocosm is peaceful and safe will the microcosm be healthy. 我們現在說到我們的生命當中也要依賴四大才能成就，我們的身體也同樣離不開四大——地、水、火、風。 Now we speak of the Four Elements of the body, which also consist of earth, water, fire and wind. 身體上我們觸摸得到的地方，肌肉或是骨頭、指甲、頭髮；或是摸不到的內在的器官，像是脾、肝、胃、腸等等…這修都是屬於「地大」。 Parts of our body that we can touch, our muscles, bones, nails, hair, spleen, liver, stomach, intestines, etc., all belong to the earth element. 我們的身體有血液，或是大小便溺，或是眼淚、唾液等等…這些都是屬於「水大」。 Our blood, urine, excrement, tears, saliva, etc., are all part of the water element. 身體的溫度叫做「火大」。我們能夠呼吸出入順暢，這叫做「風大」！ Our body heat is the fire element, and our breath is the wind element. 我們的身體，地水火風如果不調和，其實人的生命，同樣也就會受到威脅。 When the earth, water, fire and wind elements of the body are not in harmony, our life is threatened. 我們的慈濟中學，在總務組當中，有一位年輕人，彭先生，才廿九歲。只是一場車禍，很快就被宣告腦死。幸虧他的家屬有慈濟精神，因為姊姊是我們護專第二屆的學生，畢業之後，一直在我們的志業體工作，她在技術學院工作。姊夫是在我們的慈濟大學。因為他們都在慈濟的志業體當中工作，覺得這裡是最好的工作環境，所以也將弟弟引進我們的中學。才進來工作一年的時間，那天卻出了車禍，接著就被宣判腦死。 In the administrative department of our middle school, we had a young employee, Mr. Peng, who was 29 when he was in a car accident. He had been pronounced brain-dead. His family was connected to Tzu Chi, because his sister was a student at our nursing school. After graduating, she began working in our College of Technology and her husband worked at Tzu Chi University. Since she felt Tzu Chi provided a good working environment, she referred her brother to our middle school. He had only worked there for a year. The day that he had the accident, he was pronounced brain dead. 因為他的媽媽女兒、女婿、兒子都在花蓮，所以也從屏東把她接來花蓮。媽媽在花蓮整天都聽到女兒、女婿、兒子整天都在說慈濟，所以她也和人一起投入做環保。所以一家人就是有這種慈濟文化的精神。但是兒子發生了這樣的事情，媽媽也會難免心痛。 His mother also lived in Hualien, since her daughter, son-in low, and son were all there. Each day she listened to her children talking about Tzu Chi. She also volunteered by recycling. So this family understood the spirit of Tzu Chi. After the accident, the mother was heartbroken. 正好那一天，我也出去好像是開會，聽到這個消息，女兒趕緊陪著媽媽來見我。我瞭解這件事十分緊急，而且已經宣佈腦死，我就對這位媽媽說：「緣盡了，將近卅歲，因為已經廿九歲了，對社會還沒有做出什麼貢獻，我們現在應該要為他祝福。如果還可以活得下去，你要對他說要為社會付出，然而要這樣也需要有奇蹟。但如果沒有的話，你要對他說，將這個身體捐給別人，讓更多人的生命得以延續。這樣，這個身體來到人間至少還可以延續別人的生命，去救人，發揮他生命的意義。」 That day, I was on my way to a meeting. After hearing this news the daughter and mother came to see me. I understood that it was very serious, and he was determined brain-dead. I told mother that his affinities had ended. He was 29 years old, close to 30, and had yet to make his contribution. We should pray for him. If he survives, we should advise him to give back to the community. This requires a miracle. But if his affinities have ended, we should advise him to donate his body to allow other lives to continue. So he can still benefit or save the lives of others. It would deepen the meaning of his life. 媽媽聽了下去，同意了。經過了女兒，經過女婿的安撫，最重要的也是我們的志工，接著不斷不斷地陪伴，安撫她的悲痛，啟發她的大愛，所以決定捐贈器官。對她說：「有很多種器官都可以用。」這位媽媽她就說：「好啦！都捐出來。」在跟她說：「還有皮膚、骨頭、關節，那些都還可以用。」她回答說：「好啦！都把它捐出去吧！」 The mother accepted and agreed to this. Comforted by her daughter and son-in-low, and the company of our volunteers who consoled her and inspired her selfless love, she agreed to organ donation. They told her that his organs could be used; also his skin, bones, and joints could benefit others. So she donated his entire body. 你看，這位媽媽真的是大捨，全身都捐出來了。在那一天就延續了八個人的生命。不只是救人而已，還是救家庭。 You see, this mother was truly giving. By donating her son's body, she extended the lives of eight people, and helped their families. 那天我們的病人也有通知來了。說到我們這位病人，這位接受肝臟移植的人，也是一位年輕人。家庭當中的孩子都還很幼小，家庭很貧困。為了要謀生養家，所以他自己有Ｃ肝，肝在硬化，他自己都不知道。在外面做粗工，累了才休息一下，就又繼續工作。一直到忽然間大量吐血，才突然發現病情並重，才來我們的醫院。檢查出來，已經肝都硬化了。 That day, our patients received notice and also came to the hospital. The patient who received a liver transplant was also a young man, with young children. He lived in poverty, and in order to support his family, he did manual labor. He had been unaware that he had Hepatitis C, and that it was developing into cirrhosis. He rarely rested and continued working every day until he began to vomit blood. That's when he realized the severity of his condition, and came to our hospital. Test results showed he had cirrhosis. 但是家中孩子還年幼，讀書的還在讀書，年幼的還是很小，所以他仍是撐著在工作。 But his children were still young, some were in school, and the youngest was very small. Therefore, he continued working. 但是沒多久又來住院，住院之後跟他說：「你要多休息。」但是出院之後，他還是同樣在努力工作。這樣進進出出兩年多的時間。太太看到先生這樣，也開始出去外面工作。但是先生這種狀況已經是醫生宣佈如果沒有換肝，已經是末期了。所以這個家庭整天都籠罩在愁雲慘霧當中，期待能夠換肝。 But soon he checked into the hospital again, and was told to get more rest. Yet afterwards he still kept working. This continued for a period of 2 years. Seeing him like this, his wife also started working. However, the doctor announced that he needed a transplant, since he was at the terminal stage. So this family was disheartened while waiting for the transplant. 這個家庭非常貧困，也是我們照顧的對象。但是這個人一定要救，因為救了這個人，就是救了這整個家庭。所以有了彭先生，這位年輕人願意捐肝，所以我們趕緊選擇這位先生，詢問他是否願意接受？他說：「願意接受。」而且非常的歡喜。但是太太說：「很緊張！」那天雙腳都發軟了。心裡很矛盾，不換，看到先生天天都在病痛；但是換了，是不是會成功呢？所以在那天，這個家庭也非常的掙扎。 The family was very poor, and was one of our care recipients. However, we needed to save him in order to save the family. So when Mr. Peng donated his organs, we contacted this young man quickly and asked if he would accept. He was joyous but his wife was so nervous that she was weak in the knees. She had a dilemma: without the transplant her husband would suffer, but the success of the transplant was uncertain. The family was struggling with the decision. 另外一個捐贈者的家庭，也是很掙扎、捨不得。 On the other hand, the family of the donor was also struggling. It was hard to let go. 所以那一天除了感恩醫療團隊之外，還有感恩志工讓他們可以心安。 So that day, besides the medical team, our volunteers also helped ease their minds. 那一天這位先生接受移植的時候，慈濟醫院的李明哲醫師，在裡面開刀，當到了整個肝臟都已經移植過來了，看到太太那麼緊張，想要讓他的太太安心，手術期間還親自出來看太太說：「安心，肝臟很美，已經很順利的都移植過來了。」讓他的太太安心之後，再進去手術室內繼續縫合。 That day, the young man received the transplant. One of our doctors, Dr. Lee Ming-Che, noticed that the wife was very nervous. During the operation, he left the operating room to update the wife on the process. He told her to not worry, because the liver was in good condition and had been successfully transplanted. After she calmed down, he processed to finish the operation. 看，醫療團隊那種真誠的愛，不會選擇他有錢或是貧窮。 You see, the medical team showed such sincere love, despite the patient's financial situation. 說起來，這個家庭本來就是我們所關懷的。在手術前屢次進進出出醫院，也是我們長期陪伴。我們為了救人，不只是救一個人，而是救一個家庭。這個換肝的人，很快就離開了加護病房，聽說康復的情形很好。 Actually, this family had been one of or care recipients. Over the years, we often tended to them in person. We were not just saving one person but an entire family. This young man soon left the ICU, and I heard that he was doing well.  身體健康時 Fully maximize the value of your life while you are healthy. When we have reached the end of life, if we can extend another person's life with great love, we have realized the ultimate meaning of life. 所以生命的意義救是如此，我們中學的這位彭先生，不只是救了八個人，他的骨頭、他的皮膚，現在放在我們的骨骼銀行當中，那些骨頭可以捐給七、八十人。所以百餘人，因為他的身體奉獻而受益。你看生命多有值得有價值的運用。 This is what makes life meaningful. Mr. Peng not only saved eight people, his bones and skin are still preserved in our bone bank. His bones can be donated to 70 or 80 others. Thus, close to 100 people benefit from the gift of his body. This is such a valuable use of life. 所以有的人得了人生，我們的身體都是依靠這四大假合而成，若是順調就是平安，無論是意外、傷亡；或是身體裡面自然的發病。你看，肝臟病了，他也不知道，這樣地拖磨，也一樣是為了生活。好在最後在生命最危急的時候，有人能夠救他。 When coming into this world, our bodies are created by the aggregation of the Four Elements. If they are in harmony, we are healthy. There are accidents, injuries, or natural illnesses, such as liver disease, that cause much suffering. The young man continued to work. However, when his life was threatened, there were people to save him: many individuals with the necessary medical and technical knowledge. 當然這不只是有人捐贈器官，也是要所有人來發揮很多的醫療科技。所以說起來，人與人之間一定要有那種合心、和氣、互愛，這股力量才能使天地、人類、萬物能夠平安。 Thus, it is important to maintain cooperation, harmony and mutual love. Utilize this energy to ensure the harmony of nature and people. 有的人的生命可以發揮非常好的功能；有的人的生命，就在人間做了讓人很擔心的事情。所以說起來，這些都是來自於一個心態。我們看自然界，若是調和了，萬物就能夠很順暢、茂盛；同樣，人的四大如果順適，身體就是健康。 Some people live meaningfully, while some people's actions worry many others. Nevertheless, it is all in our mindset. If we are in harmony, everything will flow smoothly and thrive. If our Four Elements are in harmony, our bodies will be healthy. 所以，各位，學佛要學得看得開，生命只是一個四大調和，無論是那一大失調了，生命的健康就會受損了。 In learning Buddhism, we need to learn to let go. Life is a false aggregation of the Four Elements. If one element is in imbalance, our health is affected. 這種生死無常，都在我們的周圍，所以我們平時要很用心。好吧！各位，要利用身體，健康的時候，真的要為人間多付出。 Such impermanence of life appears all around us. Therefore, we should always be mindful. Everyone, we should use the body well, while it is healthy, to truly contribute to humanity. |
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