《靜思晨語。法譬如水》484. 願為眾生拱橋

Vow to Build a Bridge for Sentient Beings

影音版 優酷網  | YouTube 

學佛要很用心，我們的心要用在法行中。

Be mindful when learning Buddhism. We must mindfully practice the Dharma.

---

修攝自心思惟正道法
用心無私念純同精進
大愛舖路通達正道
願力拱橋跨越彼岸

Contemplate the Dharma of the Right Path. Be mindful, unselfish, pure and diligent in paving the Right Path with Great Love with the power of our vows, we will build a bridge to the other shore.

---

所以我們要時時以法來－－「修攝自心思惟正道法，用心無私念純同精進；大愛舖路通達正道，願力拱橋跨越彼岸。」

So, we need to always use the Dharma to condition our minds, "Contemplate the Dharma of the Right Path. Be mindful, unselfish, pure and diligent in paving the Right Path with Great Love with the power of our vows, we will build a bridge to the other shore."

各位，這就是要對大家說，自己要好好攝住我們的心，我們的心要在正思惟中，行在正道法中，我們的時日不要空過。

Everyone, this is telling us that we should control our minds. Let us practice right Thinking and follow the Right Path with our actions. We must not lead empty lives.

一再又一再地對大家提醒，一點的偏差，那差毫釐失千里。所以我們要「時時修攝自心，思維正道法」。我們要時時用心，用心無私，我們的念就能夠很單純；以單純的念，能夠人人同修共進，大家就能夠同精進，培養愛心，這是我們的本分事。

I remind you over and over that a slight deviation can lead us far astray. So, we must always practice self-restraint and think according to the Right Path. We must always be mindful. If we are consciously unselfish, our thoughts can be innocent and pure. Then we can all practice and advance together. To progress diligently and foster love is our fundamental responsibility.

我們在過日子，就是在修行；修行就像在鋪路，你向前的路去用功，時間雖然過去了，我們的路只要用功在鋪，就向前一直開闊，路就愈平坦。所以我們要以愛的心來鋪路，路鋪得愈長，通達的路是愈正；所以我們要以大愛鋪路，必能通達正道。

As we live through each day, we are practicing. Spiritual practice is like paving a road, we work on the road before us. Although time is constantly passing, if we work hard at paving this road, we will continually expand it and smooth it out. So, we must pave the road with love. The longer we do this, the straighter it becomes. So , with Great Love we pave the road of the Right Path.

人人要有願力，有願就有力，不只是自修，我們還要再有這個願力，甘願做拱橋－－把這邊和那邊那樣拱起來，甘願讓人那樣踏過去；從這邊的岸，從我們身上踏過去，讓他到彼岸去。那怕就是作為一個拱橋的精神，我們也應該要加強道心願力。

Everyone must have the power of vows. Where there is a will, there is a way. When we engage in spiritual practice, we need the strength of vows. We must be willing to be a bridge, to connect this side with the other. We must be willing to become the bridge to help others walk across, from this shore to the other. If we want to have the spirit of being a bridge, we must strengthen our resolve to practice.

所以，請大家修行不要怕辛苦；修行有感到辛苦就是真正地有在修自心。

So, I hope everyone does not fear hard work as we practice. The difficult part of spiritual practice is cultivating our minds.

「發願」就是要度人，所以這個願力要有拱橋的精神；我們要有度己度彼的願力，所以人人要時時用這念心。

We vow to help deliver others. With the strength of that vow comes the spirit of being a bridge to deliver ourselves and others. So, everyone must always keep this mindset.

我們在《靜思晨語。法譬如水。修淨防非》也說過了－－我們要常常關心別人，不要不關心。別人的辛苦，我們要有同體大悲；他的辛苦、他的壓力，也就是我們的辛苦，我們應該去輔佐他，減輕他一些負重的壓力。甚至在日常生活中，問寒問暖：「你穿這樣會冷嗎？」「你還沒去吃飯嗎？」那我們時時互相關懷一下，這也是應該我們日常生活的禮節。

As we said yesterday, we should always care about others. We must care for others as they face difficulties. We need to have universal compassion, other's difficulties are our difficulties. We should help relieve some of the pressure of their burden. We should be concerned about their daily living. "Are you cold?" Have you eaten?" We should always care for each other. This should be part of the courtesy of our daily life.

修行要克己，對人要有禮節的關懷！

We practice to overcome ourselves and have the courtesy to care about others.

---

或發撤橋梁
杜絕行路
如是等罪
今悉懺悔

We may have burned bridges or cut off the path. For these and other transgressions, today we repent completely.

---

下面這一段就這麼說－－「或發撤橋梁，杜絕行路。如是等罪。今悉懺悔。」

The next section states, "We may have burned bridges or cut off the path. For these and other transgressions, today we repent completely."

那就是這麼說我們不只是說對人不尊重，甚至我們的身行，讓我們稍不如意，我們就很自私，就是斷人的路不讓人過去。這樣就不對了！

This is about more than just being disrespectful to others. Let us look at our actions. If something does not go our way, we selfishly "cut off the path" and keep others from getting what they want either. This is wrong.

人云：「做好事，要鋪橋造路。」但這種「或發撤橋梁」，就是不但不鋪橋，也不造路，還把人家的橋 路把它毀壞；這種杜絕人行的道路，這樣也是不對！

People used to say, "Build bridges as good deeds". But some people "destroy bridges". Not only do they not build bridges or roads, they actually destroy them. If we cut off people's paths, that is wrong.

交通是很重要的，有什麼緊急，交通就是人應急的道路。你若是把橋弄斷了，望岸興嘆：「我很著急，但是因為橋斷掉了，所以我不能夠過去！」這要怎麼辦呢？所以這種「發撤橋梁」心態不可有，這也是罪業之一！

Roadways are very important. If there is an emergency, we must respond to it using our roads. If a bridge is destroyed, we can only stand on the bank and sigh, "I am so worried! The bridge is broken and we cannot pass. What can be done?" Let us not have this mindset. it is a transgression.

斷人的道路，有形的是橋和路；無形的是斷人的道心。我們要時時要成就他人的道心，不要說：「別人要修行，我們去阻礙他。」像是這樣蓄意斷了他修行的方向、道路，這樣也是不對，這樣的罪業更加重！

Cutting off people's path can mean breaking actual bridges and roads, or it can mean breaking people's will to practice. We must always help others to succeed in their practice. If people want to engage in spiritual practice we must not hinder them. Blocking the path of someone's spiritual practice is not right. This creates even more serious karma.

所以斷人的道心是無形的；斷了人間有形的橋與路，是有形的。所以造無形的斷道心，比斷橋樑的業更加重，所以我們要很用心注意！

Breaking someone's will to practice is intangible, while destroying actual bridges and roads is a tangible act. The karma from breaking someone's will to practice is greater than that of breaking bridges. So, be very attentive and mindful.

---

或放逸自恣 無記散亂
摴蒲圍棋 群會屯聚
飲食酒肉 更相擾餞
無趣談話 論說天下

We may have been indulgent and unrestrained in a state of uncertainty and disruption. We may have played Chu-pu or Go and caused a crowd to gather around, or drank alcohol, ate meat, imposed upon each other to play host, or criticized everything with meaningless speech.

---

再來這段懺文這麼說－－「或放逸自恣，無記散亂，摴蒲圍棋；群會屯聚，飲食酒肉，更相擾餞；無趣談話，論說天下。」

The repentance text continues, "We may have been indulgent and unrestrained in a state of uncertainty and disruption. We may have played Chu-pu or Go and caused a crowd to gather around, or drank alcohol, ate meat, imposed upon each other to play host, or criticized everything with meaningless speech."

這段文字也就是說，我們的心不能修攝，整天的心就是這麼放縱愛玩，或者是惡勞好逸就是很不想活動，很不想去做工作。正經的工作不想要做，但是卻放縱自己如何清閒？如何能夠逃避那種勞作的工作？怕工作，這種空過時日，這叫做「放逸自恣」。

This passage is saying that if we cannot practice self-restraint, we over-indulge and play all day; we abhor labor and love leisure. We do not want to be active or go to work. We do not want to do any proper work but we indulge ourselves in seeking our leisure and avoiding any work that requires labor. Being afraid of work and leading empty lives is being "indulgent and unrestrained".

又再「無記散亂」無記就是紛擾，道理都不清楚。人家怎麼說，我們就跟著人怎麼說。

Next is "a state of indeterminacy and disruption". Indeterminacy is confusion. If we are unclear on the principles, we do whatever others tell us to.

我常常在說：「聞聲起舞，是非不分，這叫做『無記』。」常常再說「善惡無記」，就是這種的人，是非不會分。

So we "follow the piper" and do not discriminate between right and wrong. This is indeterminacy. Some talk about moral indeterminacy. These people cannot distinguish right from wrong.

我們若和善的人一起走，也是很容易能夠從善；若是和惡的人在一起，就是成群結黨， 做了很多不好的事情。這就是我們眾生的心，就是善惡無法分清楚。看你遇到什麼樣的因緣，惡緣來引，你就往惡的方面走；善緣來帶，你也能夠向善，為福行善。

If we spend time with good people, it is very easy to do good. If we are with unwholesome individuals, we may form gangs and do bad things. The minds of sentient beings are like this. This happens when we cannot tell good from evil. Look at your own causes and conditions. When negative conditions appear we may walk towards evil. When positive conditions appear we will move towards goodness and practice good deeds.

所以我們人人都是凡夫，可能在尚未很立定我們的願力之前，就是在這種善惡無記中，所以他也容易散亂。因為他昏暗，心地昏暗，所以容易散亂。

We are all ordinary people so before we are firm in the strength of our vows, we are in a state of moral indeterminacy. Then we are easily disrupted. Because our minds are in darkness, they are easily disrupted.

所以還有這種「摴蒲圍棋」，這是一種的遊戲。「摴蒲」不是中國的遊戲，是外來的一種遊戲；要不然就是圍棋，圍棋是中國傳統的下棋等等…所以這都是在「群會屯聚」的地方，就是成群結黨。有的是喜歡這樣的遊戲，有的是那樣的遊戲，只是依憑著自己的喜好。所以人總是在這種無記散亂中，那樣去取著他的遊戲，這都是糾群結黨。

So we "may have played Chu-pu or Go". These are two kinds of games. We may have played Chu-pu or Go. Go is a traditional Chinese chess game. When they are played, "crowds gather around". People gather and form groups based on liking these games or on their own interests. When people are in a state of indeterminacy, they become attached to games and form crowds and gangs.

或者是有的人就是喜歡吃喝玩樂。這邊說的「吃」，就是很重視吃的方面的享受。整天都在找「哪個地方有好的東西，我就是去吃。」像這樣哪一個國家，有什麼樣的美味，專程搭飛機去，他就是要吃到。

Some people love to eat, drink, play and have fun. Food is important to them. They go wherever there is great food. They fly to another country just to eat the delicacies there.

所以看到這些環境，在《水懺》中，一一舉出了人生迷茫的心態。有的人是遊戲、夢幻，無法再回頭回來；有的人是為了飲食，造了很多的業。看看飲酒食肉，這個業不只是擾亂別人，損害自己的身體，還再殺傷生命。

We can see many of these conditions in the Water Repentance, with each delusional mindset brought up one by one. Some people live as if in a game or a fantasy. They cannot turn back. Some create much karma from drinking and eating drinking alcohol and eating meat does not only create karma by disrupting others; it also cause us to damage out in lives.

以現在的科學已經都知道，因為來飼養牲畜，無論是牛、豬等等…的動物，對空氣、大地也是很大的污染。

With modern clence we already know that when we feed and raise livestock like cows, pigs, etc., it greatly pollutes the air and the earth

有人會說：「你養豬、養牛、養雞、養鴨，那就是要讓人吃的。你若沒有殺牠們，牠們會愈生愈多要怎麼辦？」為什麼會去想到這方面呢？我們人呢，人也是在繁衍，同樣人也是一代傳一代，我們也是很自然的法則的繁衍；所以其他的生物也應該是一樣！為什麼人就要去飼養？去殺生呢？因為你飼養，所以繁殖愈多，所以大地之上，很多的飼料要供應給這些動物去用，也是大地也會受其排泄的污染等等…這和大地空氣都有關係。

Some people says, "We raise pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, for people to eat. If we do not kill them, what happens when they reproduce too much?" Why would we think of it that way? What about people? We are reproducing too, one generation after another. We reproduce according to the laws of nature. The same applies to other living beings. So why go out and raise and kill living beings? If we raise them, they reproduce more. Then we need to produce more feed for these animals to eat. The earth will be polluted by their waste, too. Then there is also air pollution.

我常常對大家說：「光是人類的呼吸，吐出、吸入，我們吸進來的，就是需要新鮮的空氣；我們吐出去的，則是污染的二氧化碳，就已經很多了。何況其他的生靈呢？牛的體積很大，只要牠打個噴嚏，那個量就很大，只要牠那麼一呼出去的量，是人的幾十倍。何況說那個排放出來的氣，真的也是很污染。我們人也是一樣。」

I often say, people already create a lot of pollution just breathing in and out. We breathe in clean air and breathe out carbon dioxide. That is already a lot, and it does not take other animals into account. Cows are very big. When they sneeze, their air intake is very big. The amount they exhale is more than 30 times that of humans. Their gas creates a lot of pollution too. The same goes for people."

但是你一直去繁殖牠，所以這致使大地空氣，為了飲酒時肉，又再增加多少，光是一天的殺生有多少？一天不斷去繁殖牠的量，又有多少？所以只是為了要提供人的食肉，也是間接、直接，無不都是在造業。

But we keep breeding those animals, which affects the earth and air, all so we can drink and eat. We add so much pollution. We kill so many creatures in just one day. We keep breeding them and increasing their numbers by so much just to provide ourselves with food. So indirectly and directly, this is creating karma.

除了常常找人來喝酒吃肉以外，「更相擾餞」－－就是來往，今天你請我，明天你請我；或者是藉口他要離開了，所以要為他餞別等等…又再勞軍動眾，邀很多人來喝、來吃。這種的來來回回，或者是婚禮、喪期等等…都是那樣互相邀請、互相只是在應酬。這些事情無不都是在飲食中，彼此之間來往，沒有一件是真正利益人群的事情。

Besides finding people to drink and eat with, we "impose upon each other to play host". When we socialize, one day you invite me, tomorrow someone else does. Or we find an excuse such as someone leaving so we need to send him off and get everyone to come drink and eat. People invite each other back and forth to weddings, funerals, etc. these are social engagements. They are all about food and drink. In this type of socializing, there is nothing that truly benefits humanity.

又再「無趣談話，論說天下」。說的都是說一些是非，大家在一起，就是彼此所說的都是沒有用的話；所以品頭論足，東家長西家短，說人一些是是非非，這全都是對人有傷害。

Next, we "criticize everything with meaningless speech". Some people always gossip. When they get together, they do not say anything productive. They criticize everyone from head to toe, talk about shortcomings, and gossip about them. All of this is hurtful.

這一段的意思就是－－「我們人要如何才是真正學佛，能夠延續佛種？」但是前面所說過的，不論是鞭打奴婢，無慈悲心，或者是斷人的道路，或者是斷人的道心，或者是自己放逸自恣，或者是這個昏沉散亂，或者是遊戲，喝酒沉迷在這種吃喝玩樂，或者是論他是非等等…等等…，這些對人沒利益，這就是斷佛種子。

This section talks about what it means to truly learn Buddhism and pass on the seeds of Buddhahood. As we said previously, if we have abused servants, lacked compassion, destroyed roads, broke others' will to practice, were indulgent and unrestrained, or were confused and disturbed, or if we played games, drank alcohol, were lost in pursuit of enjoyment, criticized others, gossiped and so on, we did not benefit others. These actions destroy the seeds of Buddhahood.

我們已經是凡夫，其實人人都有佛的本性，人人都有佛種存在；但是我們偏偏這片的心地，一直雜草、煩惱、業力等等…不斷把這顆種子埋沒掉，讓這顆種子，沒有機會成長起來。

We exist as ordinary beings; we all possess Buddha-nature and the seeds of Buddhahood. But in the fields of our hearts, we bury these seeds with weeds of afflictions, karma, ets., so that these seeds have no opportunity to grow.

時日總是有限，這顆種子在這片心地，也要有農夫；人人是自我心地的農夫，我這個心地的農夫是如此懈怠；而且不只是沒好好，照顧這片心地，還任意去破壞這片心地。如同我們眾生，共住在這片大地上，我們眾生這麼多人，竟然不能好好疼惜大地，也是人類來破壞大地！

Time is limited. The seeds in our hearts need farmers. We are the farmer for the fields in our hearts. Some people are very lazy farmers. Not only do they not take care of these fields, they willfully destroy them. We sentient beings live on this Earth together. There are so many of us, yet we do not cherish the Earth. Instead, we destroy it.

所以我會常常以大乾坤，小乾坤來比喻。我們所有的眾生就是在，那個大乾坤裡的細菌之一；所以我們內心的免疫，也是一種的菌。如何使我們能夠身體健康，讓我們吃東西能消化，能夠把東西吃下去之後，分類去適應我們身體所需要；這也是在我們體內有很多好的菌。

I often use the analogy of macrocosms and microcosms as an example. Compared to the macrocosm, we sentient beings are like tiny bacteria. Our immune system is also supported by different types of bacteria. How can we make our bodies healthy so that after we eat, we can digest everything and use it to meet our bodies' needs? This also requires the good bacteria in our bodies.

但是我們這些東西若是較弱，那個病菌產生，我們的免疫就失調。就如大乾坤的空氣失調一樣！

But if these bacteria are weak and germs arise, our immunity is compromised, and we get sick, just like when the weather in the macrocosm becomes imbalanced.

所以我們自己不懂得要好好經營，疼惜我們的心地，就等於自己破壞心地；即使有種子存在，它也沒有機會成長，所以這叫做「斷佛種子」。

So, if we do not know how to care for ourselves, and cherish the fields in our minds, then we are effectively destroying them. Even if a seed exists, it has no opportunity to grow. Thus we destroy the seeds of Buddhahood.

要知道，若是「斷佛種子」其罪大而無外，那個罪過很大。不要以為小的小罪，聽起來好像很小，其實慢慢就擴大到，已經無法收拾。

This is the worst type of transgression. Do not ignore minor transgressions. They may be minor, but they slowly grow until they cannot be contained.

所以各位，我們學佛真的要用心，要修攝自心思惟正道法。我們要用心無私，我們的念要純，我們要同時同精進，以大愛來鋪路通達正道。

Everyone when learning Buddhism. Practice self-restraint; contemplate the Right Path. We must be consciously unselfish and think pure thoughts. At the same time, we must be diligent and pave the road of the Right Path with Great Love.

我們要有這個願力去做人的拱橋，讓人能夠跨越凡夫的此岸，到聖人的彼岸去，這也要看我們自己，也要自度，也要度人。好吧，請大家要多用心！

Use the strength of your vows to be a bridge for others so they can cross from being unenlightened to being a sage. This all depends on us to transform ourselves and help others transform. Everyone please mindfuly.