《靜思晨語。法譬如水》493. 志同道合聞正法

Learn Dharma with Fellow Practitioners

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得人身難
聞正法難
得遇善友難
同道願心立志行難
恆持初心難

It is difficult to obtain human form, hear Right Dharma, and meet benevolent friends, and also to find those with the same aspirations and path and be able to maintain that aspiration.

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真的是－－「得人身難；聞正法也難；得遇善友也是難；同道願心立志行難；恆持初心難啊！」

Truly, "It is difficult to obtain human form, hear Right Dharma, and meet benevolent friends, and also to find those with the same aspirations and path and be able to maintain that aspiration."

看看，人生當中想要修行有這麼多的困難，我們不知是否能夠珍惜？

Having overcome so many difficulties, do we really cherish what we possess?

第一、要珍惜我們的身體，感恩幾十年來平平安安；還更感恩的，是可以得聞正法、周圍都是善友、都是志同道合，這麼多人一起發心立願。最重要的是人人的發心，能夠從最初開始所發的那一念心，一直到了現在都不變，這也都要感恩。

First, we should cherish our bodies. I am grateful that these past few decades have passed without any problems. I am more grateful for hearing Right Dharma, and for the good friends who surround me. They all share my mission and my path. So many people have made the same vow and resolve. What is most important is that having given rise to these aspirations, we have all upheld our initial resolve up to now. For this I am also be very grateful.

因為現實當中有這麼多的困難，我們卻都還有福報能夠得到了人身、聞正法、遇善友，還能夠同心、同願、同行，所以我們應該彼此都要感恩。感恩他人，同時彼此也要互相感恩。我們要把握，已經都能夠得到這些種種增上的因緣。

Since we have overcome so many difficulties, we should have mutual gratitude, for ourselves and for others. We must be grateful for one another. We should seize these precious conditions that we have obtained.

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但凡夫之人
若不值善友獎導
則靡惡而不造

Yet if ordinary people do not encounter and value guidance of good friends, there is no evil they will not commit.

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所以佛經上又說－－「但凡夫之人，若不值善友獎導，則靡惡而不造。」

The Sutras indicate, "Yet if ordinary people do not encounter and value guidance of good friends, there is no evil they will not commit."

凡夫雖然得了人身，假使沒有善友來作伴、互相勉勵、規勸，說不定就會無惡不做。

Although we have obtained human forms, if we do meet benevolent friends who accompany us and encourage us, perhaps "there will be no evil we do not commit".

因為無明、妄想常常會從我們的內心生起，內心一旦起了無明妄想，那分的行為就是錯誤。有了錯誤的行為，說不定很多事情都會去做，甚至於無惡不做也說不一定。

These Ignorant delusions often arise in our minds. Once they arise, our conduct becomes erroneous. With mistaken conduct, we may commit many immoral acts; there may be no evil we do not commit.

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凡夫愚迷無自覺悟
須常近善知識
時以正法熏聞
從聞而思由思而修

Ordinary people are confused and cannot achieve enlightenment on their own. They need to be close to spiritual friends and allow the Right Dharma to permeate them. After listening to the Dharma, they contemplate and practice it.

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所以我們要常常承認，我們只是凡夫，一旦被迷了，就無法自我覺悟。所以我們要時時看是否能得到好友？自己無法自覺，就要靠他人來引導我們！

So, we should always recognize that we are ordinary beings. Once lost, ordinary beings have no way to attain self-realization. So, we always need to seek out benevolent friends. Since we cannot become enlightened on our own, we need others to guide us.

但願為我們報路的人，是真的識路的人，這樣跟著他走才不會走錯路。但若識路的人和我們說了，而我們不聽或是沒有用心聽，只看到別人手一舉，自己誤會了，方向沒有把握住，那就會從一開始的失之毫釐，到最後就造成差之千里的距離。

Hopefully, those who are pointing our way truly know the path. Then we can avoid going the wrong way again. But those who are pointing out the path tell us that if we do not mindfully listen to their directions, a slight deviance can lead us far off course.

所以要用心，時時把握住好的因緣，時時以正法薰聞，就是時時要用法來薰習我們。

So, we must be mindful. We should always maintain the conditions for the Right Dharma to permeate our hearts.

什麼是「薰」，知道嗎？若是在香爐邊，香爐中的沉香、檀香若是點燃了，它的煙是香的，那種香氣跑出來，站在那邊站得夠久，香味就會薰習我們的身。

Do you know what permeate is? If we stand next to an incense burner, and the aloeswood and sandalwood incense is burning, the smoke will be very fragrant. If we are standing there for a while, the fragrance naturally permeates our body.

佛陀在世時，有一次和弟子們一起走在路上，看到路上有一條繩子，就對阿難說：「你把那條繩子撿起來。」阿難走過去撿起那根草繩，心裡面想：「佛陀為甚麼要我撿這一條的草繩？」在他撿拾那條繩子的時候，看起來一副很害怕的樣子。

When the Buddha was in the world, He was walking with His disciple and saw a piece of rope. He said to Ananda, "Go pick up that rope." As Ananda picked it up, he pondered why the Buddha had asked him to do so. So, he held the rope very cautiously.

佛陀看到了，就問阿難說：「在你撿這條草繩的時候，你的手為什麼不敢用力的握住它呢？」阿難說：「佛陀啊！這條繩子很臭啊。」

The Buddha asked, "You picked up the rope. Why do you not hold it more tightly?" He answered, "The rope has a foul odor."

佛陀又問：「這根草繩為何會那麼臭呢？」阿難說：「這應該曾經有綁過魚，而魚的腥味很臭。」佛陀說：「那就丟掉吧。」

"Why does it have a foul odor?" Ananda said, "It might have once tied fish. It reeks of fish." The Buddha said, "Alright, you can let go."

佛陀問：「為何這跟繩子綁過魚，但魚已經不在那邊了。為何繩子還是會臭呢？」阿難說：「可能綁魚綁久了，所以魚腥的臭味就滲透到繩子上，所以這個臭味久久也無法散去。」

"Why would this rope which once held fish still smell even though the fish are gone?" "Perhaps after being tied to the fish so long, the stench of the fish has tainted the rope. This smell takes a long time to dissipate."

佛陀點頭說：「是啊，一隻魚的臭味，只是用一條綁著牠，等到魚已經不再被繩子綁住，魚已經不存在了，但繩子依然還是很臭。所以阿難要多用心啊。」

The Buddha nodded "Yes, A rope that once tied fish still smells even with the fish gone. Ananda, you should be more mindful."

在往前走，看到路上有一張紙，佛陀又說：「阿難！把紙撿起來吧！」阿難就趕快趨向前去把紙張撿了起來，而這次阿難的臉上有笑容。

They continued walking and came across a piece of paper. The Buddha said, "Come, Ananda. Go pick up that piece of paper." Ananda quickly went. As Ananda picked it up, he was smiling.

佛陀問說：「你撿到這一張紙，感到很歡喜嗎？」阿難說：「是啊，我很歡喜，因為這張紙很香。」佛陀問說「那是什麼的香味呢？」阿難說：「聞起來很像是沈香、檀香一般的香木所散發出來的香味。」

The Buddha asked, "Ananda, are you happy to pick up this paper?" "Yes Buddha, this paper is very fragrant." "How does it smell?" "It smells like aloeswood or sandalwood."

佛陀就微微一笑對阿難說：「明明只是一張紙，為何你說有香木的香味呢？」阿難說：「這張紙一定是包過沉香、檀香之類的香木，所以它才會這麼香。」佛陀說：「但香木已經不在紙的上面了啊！」阿難說：「可能因為包久了，香味薰染在紙上，雖然香木已經不在，但紙上還可以留有它的香味。」

The Buddha smiled and asked, "It is clearly just a piece of paper, why do you say it smells like fragrant wood?" Ananda answered, "It must have once wrapped aloeswood, so it smells like it." "But the wood is no longer on the paper." Ananda said, "It was wrapped for a long time, so its smell permeated the paper. Although the wood is already gone, the fragrance still lingers on the paper."

佛陀說：「是啊，阿難！人和物一樣，和臭的東西在一起，久了就會薰染上臭的氣息；和香的東西在一起，就會薰染到香的味道。」阿難聽了體會很深刻。

The Buddha said, "Yes, Ananda. These objects are like people. When they are around something foul, its smell permeates them. When they are with something fragrant, they are permeated by its fragrance." Ananda had deep insight upon hearing this.

這段故事和現在這段懺文不謀而合。

This story is analogous to this passage of the repentance text.

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修善有功
修惡得滅
滅惡生善
始知懺悔有功

Practicing kindness brings merits; doing evil brings destruction. Eliminate wrongs to produce benevolence; then you will know the merits of repentance.

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所以說「時以正法薰聞」，「時」就是時時、常常，常常在薰習正法，這樣正法才能夠流入我們的心。

So, allowing the Right Dharma to permeate us means always immersing ourselves in the proper teachings. This allows Dharma to enter our hearts.

「從聞而思」，聽了以後，還要去思考、去反省。

"Listening leads to contemplation." After listening, we will contemplate and reflect.

「由思而修」，徹底的反省之後，就會往善道走去，這也就是修。

Then we put these thoughts into practice. After engaging in reflection and contemplation, we will naturally walk the path of goodness. This is spiritual practice.

能夠覺瞭正法，我們更要體認肩負有身體力行的使命，所以多去體會與瞭解、去身體力行。那種的感悟、那樣的體會，這就是內修。若我們的心已經能夠發揮出這份力量，還要以內外兼行，修善自然就有功，有功當然就是積德。內能修就是功，外能行就是德，所以這就是「由思而修，修善有功」。

We feel that putting the Right Dharma into practice is our mission. So, we work to understand it experientially by putting it into practice. The realizations and understanding we come to are part of our internal practice. Our hearts have already manifested this power. So, we must practice internally and externally. When we practice kindness, we get merits. Naturally merits and virtues will accumulate. Merits are internal and virtues are external. So, after contemplating, we practice. Practicing kindness brings merits.

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如不值遇善友獎發
而開導之
則業識茫茫
無惡不造

If we do not encounter and value benevolent friends who guide us, we remain ignorant of our karmic consciousness and create all kinds of bad karma.

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我們如果看到別人做得對的事情，我們就要去鼓勵他；不會做則要去教導他，當他已經可以自己做了，我們還要去鼓勵他；持續鼓勵他，才能夠啟發他的愛心。

If we see others taking right actions, we should encourage them. If they have not done so, we should teach them, and continue to encourage them until their kindness truly develops.

所以我們若是沒有遇上這類的朋友，沒有這樣的善友來鼓勵我們，可能也是一生也是「業識茫茫，無惡不造」。

So, if we have not met benevolent friends who encourage us, we will remain ignorant of our karmic consciousness and commit many wrongs.

想到在不知多久以前，有一次到大林醫院，剛進去大廳時，看到很多人在大廳裡。看到一位坐在輪椅上的年輕人，這個年輕人全身都是刺青，已經刺到連手掌心裡面都有，全身都是畫龍繡鳳的，畫了很多東西。所以我就覺得好奇就走過去。因為他坐在輪椅上，所以我就彎下腰去，拍拍他的手臂，問他：「年輕人啊！你是怎麼回事？」好像是和人喝酒吵架，然後就受傷而住院，所以只能坐在輪椅上。

Once, I do not remember when, I had just entered the lobby of the Da-Lin Tzu Chi Hospital. Among the many people there, I saw a young man in a wheelchair. I saw that his body was covered with tattoos, even his hands and palms. He was covered with tattoos of dragons, phoenixes, and many other things. I was curious and walked over. Since he was in a wheelchair, I bent over to pat his hand and asked, "Young man, what happened?" It seems he was injured in a drunken fight, so he was hospitalized and was in a wheelchair.

我又拍拍他的手臂，告訴他說：「還這麼年輕要懂得自我反省，但願下次我看到你的時候，你是在慈濟的團體內讓我看到。」當時我看到他靦腆的笑容，向我點點頭。我就說：「那就這樣約定了。」我就離開了。

I patted his hand and said, "You are still so young; you should reflect on yourself. Hopefully the next time I see you, you will be one of our volunteers." He smiled shyly and nodded his head. I said, "Then that's a promise." Then I left.

後來看到在大愛電視「草根菩提」的節目上，看到他在環保站裡面，這位年輕人已經穿著灰色上衣和白長褲，在環保站做得很認真。我們的同仁就去訪問，他就說出當時坐在輪椅上的時候，師父專程走到旁邊的時候，跟他說話：「但願下一次再見到你時，是在慈濟的團體當中。」就這麼一句話，他就深深的體悟了。加上當時身邊那群醫院志工的陪伴，他就說：「這樣我如果還不改過，難道可以說還是人嗎？」

Afterwards, I saw him at our recycling center. on Da-Ai TV's program "Grassroots Bodhi". I found out that this young man had become a regular volunteer with Tzu Chi. He was working diligently at the recycling center. When our staff interviewed him, he said that when he was in a wheelchair and I walked over and told him specifically that I hoped to see him in our organization next time, he had a deep realization from that one sentence. Plus, our hospital volunteers kept him company. He said, "How could I not change?"

所以，為了要回歸成為端莊的人生，出院後，就開始和我們的慈濟人聯絡，慈濟人就開始引導他去環保站，現在做得很好了。

In order to return to living a very dignified life, after he left the hospital, he contacted our volunteers, who guided him to our recycling center. Now he is doing very well.

甚至還說回去之後，過去朋友常常都叫他，要約他去吃、喝、玩樂。問他：「這樣你不會又被拉過去嗎？」他說：「我要把他們度進來。」問他：「要如何度呢？」他說：「自從回去之後，已經戒菸、戒酒、戒毒、戒…等等。和大家在一起的時候，把這些全部都戒掉。」他還立定決心，所以每天都在抄寫靜思語，不然就是去做環保。

Moreover, he said that after he returned, his friends often invited him out. So our staff asked, "What will you do? Will you be tempted by them again?" He answered, "I am going to guide them instead." How? He said, "After I went back, I quit smoking, drinking and drugs." In that positive group environment, he made a resolve to either write Jing Si Aphorisms everyday or go volunteer at the recycling center.

若是有人來找他，他就送給對方《靜思語》。這樣一直寫、也一直送，所以他也說被他影響帶進來的人也不少。

If his friends look for him, he gives them the aphorisms he wrote. So, he said that he has been able to influence many people.

聽到這些事情就覺得很歡喜，那就是有遇上善友，有善友在牽引他。無論有什麼因緣，無論是好的、壞的因緣遇上了，只要是有我們慈濟人的地方，人人發願要做不請之師，對於還在迷途中的人，他願意指引他們正確的道路，還可以陪伴他。所以把他帶入環保站，不只是救了一個年輕人，這個年輕人得救了以後，還可以回頭去拯救一群迷途的人。

I was very joyful hearing this. This is the effect of benevolent friends. Regardless of our causes and conditions, all Tzu Chi volunteers should resolve to be unsummoned teachers for those who are lost. We should willingly guide others on the path. Not only do we guide them, we also keep them company. When the young man was guided to the recycling center, it not only saved him, it also allowed him to guide a group of lost individuals.

所以，說起來，善友很重要，我們要很珍惜這種良師益友。

So, benevolent friends are very important. We must cherish good teachers and friends.

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致使大命將盡
臨窮之際
地獄惡相
皆現在前

As one nears the end of one's life, all the negative manifestations of Hell appear all around.

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下面這一段再說－－「致使大命將盡，臨窮之際，地獄惡相，皆現在前。」

Next the verses read, "As one nears the end of one's life, all the negative manifestations of Hell appear all around."

各位，時日過得很快，若是我們沒有善友即時來引導我們，讓錯誤的事情一天又一天、一年過一年，惡業不斷、不斷地累積下去，一直到了「大命將盡」，這種人無常的自然法則，人生的無常，到了臨命終的那個時後，所以的「地獄惡相，皆現在前」。

Everyone, time passes quickly. If benevolent friends do not appear in time to guide us, we make mistakes, day after day, year after year. Negative karma will continue to accumulate, until "life comes to an end". According to the laws of nature life is impermanent; when death arrives, "the negative manifestations of Hell all appear".

我們若平時心思都是種種的惡念，行為也都是惡的行為，在我們八意識當中所累積的也都是很惡的影象。到了臨終的時候，過去一幕一幕的影響都會一直浮現出來，那時就會感到很恐懼。

If our thinking and conduct are negative, our Eighth Consciousness is full of negative images. At death, these images appear one by one, and cause immense fear.

其實我們也常聽到因果現前，人還沒死，就已經墮入畜生道唉叫；或墮入地獄道，想要解脫，卻怎樣想死也死不了，活活受折磨，這種種的現世業報有很多。這種種惡相、惡報現前，無一不讓人覺得很可怕。

We often hear of the manifestation of retribution. Even before someone dies, we may hear them cry like they were in the Animal Realm. Or perhaps, as if in Hell, they remain in great suffering, wishing to die, but living on in torment. There are many such examples of retribution that are very frightening.

所以各位要用心學佛、端正自己。無論來到人間是苦是樂－－有的人一生下來就受盡苦磨，貧窮的家庭，或是父母不和睦，或是人間種種逆境折磨，但是他的善念還是存在，只要友善有因緣，把他牽引一下，就可以讓他發揮出很大的愛的力量，也可以感化很多人。

So everyone, in learning Buddhism we may experience joy or suffering in this world. From birth, some people live a harsh life, in a poor family, or may not get along with their parents, or may suffer through many hardships. Despite this suffering, their kindness still exists. As long as they have benevolent friends, and causes and conditions to influence them, they can unleash a powerful force of love and can empower many others.

否則，真的是因果分明，我們的心地若不好好經營，什麼好壞種子都在我們的心地、八識的業識當中。到時候，若是這些業識、業相現前，無論什麼樣的種子，都是善惡雜揉，在我們的人間當中發生了作用，有時候得意、有時候失意，很多的事情，很複雜，都能夠在人間當中會遇得到。

Otherwise, karmic cause and effect is inevitable. If we do not cultivate our minds well, we will have all kinds of seeds in the fields of our hearts, stored in our Eighth Consciousness. When the time comes, all karma manifests, whether it is positive or negative. That is why in life, sometimes we get what we want, and sometimes we do not. Many things become very complicated. We can see all of this in the world.

所以我們現在要自我警惕－－人身難得，聞正法難，得遇善友難，同道願心立志行難，而且恆持初心難。

It is rare to obtain human form, hear the Right Dharma, meet benevolent friends and find those with the same aspiration and resolve. Furthermore, maintaining that resolve is difficult.

既然有這麼多的困難，我門現在若已經將這些困難都克服了，這一切都不難了。只要真的發一念心，恆持初心，那是非常的重要，最初發心那念心是最切、最真的。所以我們要恆持剎那，我們要把初發心那最懇切的心化為永恆，永遠要堅持住。

There are so many difficulties. Everyone, we have already overcome so many difficulties. They are no longer difficult as long as we maintain our resolve to practice. Maintaining this initial resolve is very important because it is the truest thought. So, we must continue to sustain that moment, turn that most sincere thought into something that lasts.

我們現在所擁有的是有幸的人生，所以我們要懂得惜福、還要造福。很多的困難我們都已經克服掉了，所以我們要時時多用心。

We are truly very fortunate, so we should cherish our blessings and create more blessings. We have overcome so many difficulties, so we should always be mindful.