《靜思晨語。法譬如水》495. 草露風光不久長

The Splendor of Dew Is Fleeiting

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時間不斷的消逝，我們要把握時間，不要等閑空過。

Time is constantly passing by. We should seize the moment and not waste it idly.

常說一句話：「人生到底有多長呢？草露風光不久長。」看看，露水照到太陽光的時候，看起來雖然很美，但瞬間就消退了，不能夠持續很久。那是是非非、名利、情愛等等…欲望有什麼好計較呢？

I often tell everyone to consider just how long human life really is "The splendor of dew does not last long" See, the dew reflects beautifully in the sun. But it disappears quickly. Life is momentary, so what is there to take issue with?

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人生無常呼吸間
如同草露風光不久長
莫待年華人老去
莫仗少壯有餘年
空過時光後悔遲

Life exists in the space of a breath, it is fleeting and impermanent, like the dew. Do not wait until old age or rely on youth or health, believing you still have time. When time has passed, it is too late for regrets.

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人生，無常就在呼吸間，不要等到時光過去，年老了才後悔空過一生。

Life exists in the space of a breath. We should not wait till time passes and we are old.

「莫仗年少有餘年」－－不要以為自己還很年輕，我還有很多時間可以用。其實並沒有，時日在過是很快的，一個轉眼就從孩童變成耆老了，要把握時間；不只把握時間，還要身體力行去精進修行。

We should not rely on our youth or health, believing that we still have a lot of time. No, time passes very fast. So, we should seize each moment. Not only should we seize each moment, we must diligently put the teachings into practice.

就像阿含經中故事。有一天，佛陀在舍衛國的時候，波斯匿王經過精舍附近，他覺得離精舍不遠，就想：「來，我先過去精舍禮佛。」佛陀在精舍內看到波斯匿王來了，就和波斯匿王互相問安，國王向佛陀禮拜，然後坐在旁邊。

There is a story in the Agama Sutras. One day King Prasenajit passed by the Buddha's Abode in Sravastil. Since it was a short distance, he decided to pay respect to the Buddha. When the Buddha saw the king coming, they greeted each other. The king prostrated to the Buddha and sat down.

佛陀說：「國王今天進來，看起來你似乎很疲倦的樣子，而且怎麼全身都是灰塵？」波斯匿王就說：「很累啊。」佛陀就問：「為什麼累呢？」波斯匿王回答說：「因為城內有一位很富有的人，這位富有的長者他往生了。因為他只有獨身一個人，所以往生後，所以我就要去沒收他的財產，去點收他的財產，全部歸入公庫。」

The Buddha say, "You look very tired today. Why are you covered with dust?" King Prasenajit said he was indeed exhausted. "Why are tire?" The king said, "A very wealthy elder in town passed away. Since he had no family, I had to count and receive his assets on behalf of the national treasury."

佛陀問說：「到底是有多少財產？難道都沒親人了嗎？為何會讓國王點收的這麼辛苦。」

The Buddha asked: "How much were his assets? Did he not have any relatives? Why did the king have to painstakingly count and receive it?"

波斯匿王說：「喔！這個人只是黃金就八萬兩，寶石、珠寶無法計算，慢慢計算花了整天時間。他的田地也有千畝，非常多。但這個人本身，生活很淡泊，他不肯供養父母，他覺得要守護財產不容易，增加人口實在是多負擔的，所以他從年輕的時代對父母刻薄，讓父母不想和他共住，所以將父母棄養在外。從年輕的時候，他的父母就不再去和他共住了。這是他年輕的時候，當然，到後來他的父母也過世了。再來，等到有妻子的後，對妻和子都很刻薄，妻兒也無法忍守他這種刻薄的人生，也是離開，遠離他而去了。對他的奴僕又更加的刻薄，所以到他病了就沒有人願意在他身邊，遠離他去了。他不只是對別人刻薄，對自己也很刻薄，他所穿的衣服也非常的單薄，冬天也沒有中衣棉服，沒有比較厚的衣服，甚至所穿的衣服只是百衲衣而已，補過了又補。他在日常生活當中，就是非常的刻薄自己。但是留下來的這些東西，已經沒有人可以繼承了，所以就要充公於國庫，我就要親自去點收這些東西。」

The king answered, "His gold alone was over 80,000 ounces. The other jewels were too numerous to count. It took me tahe entire day to count it all. He also possessed a lot of land. Yet this person lived very frugally. He was unwilling to support his parents. He felt that it was hard to protect his wealth; having more people to support would be a burden. So, from a young age, he was very harsh to them. He did not want his parents to live with him, so they were abandoned. This was when he was young. Later, they passed away. He also had a wife and kids, but he was very unkind to them. They also couldn't stand him, so they left and moved away. He treated his servants even more harshly. So, when he fell ill, no one was by his side. They had all left. He was not only miserly with others, but also with himself. All his clothes were very flimsy. He didn't have thick clothes for winter. All his clothes were covered with patches. He was very harsh even with himself. But there was no one to inherit all this wealth. So, it was received by the state. I had to go count all the assets."

佛陀聽了以後說：「這是人生顛倒，有財有力，自己不肯受用，對父母不盡孝道，對妻女不盡責任，對奴僕不疼惜，對自己如此的刻薄。這種的人生，雖然有財、有力，等於沒有，現在孤魂獨逝，完全沒有一點為自己開的一條路，所以唯一的一條路，就是地獄、餓鬼道。」

Upon hearing this the Buddha felt that such a life is truly distorted. He had wealth and power, but refused to use them. He would not be filial to his parents, take responsibility for his family, or be kind to his servants or to himself. Though he had wealth, it was as if he had nothing. Now he has died alone. He did not prepare a good path for himself, so the only path left for him is to the Hell or Hungry Ghost Realms."

波斯匿王說：「是啊！這就是佛陀平時對大家的教育，人生苦短，為何要留這麼多財產？有什麼樣的目的呢？一生還不是那樣消逝過去了。到底這個人將來會何去何從？」

King Prasenajit said, "Indeed. The Buddha always teaches us that life is painfully short. What is the use of keeping so much wealth? In the end, one will still perish. Where will this person be in the future?"

佛陀說：「要相信因果啊！他現在怎樣過他的人生，將來他的人生就會怎樣的受報。」波斯匿王聽了之後就很感嘆，所以他就更加的虔誠，覺得要多造福。

The Buddha answered, "Believe in cause and effect. However he lived his life in this world, he will face the same retribution in the future." King Prasenajit sighed and said that he himself should be more sincere and create blessings.

這就是說，人生到底有多久？人生有錢又如何？有勢力又怎樣？有錢也不能長生不老；有勢也不會永遠年輕不老。所以少年的我們要更用心，理智清楚，趁現在力量有了，應該要多付出，這就是人間。

This is to say just how long will we live? If we have wealth, can we live forever? Will we always stay young? When we are young, we should be even more mindful. Those with clear understanding and strength must contribute more.

人間說百年的時光，也只不過是四天王天的兩天，若是忉利天的話才一天而已。所以說起來，少年的時間，只不過是每天清晨所看到草、花、葉子上面的露水，短暫的時刻而已，一個瞬間就消失了。

100 years in our world is only two days in the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings and only one day in Trayastrimsa Heaven. So, in summary the time we are young is like the dew that we can see everyday on grass, flowers and leaves. It is only momentary.

所以我們對時間要多計較，對我們自己該如何付出，就要精明一點。不要有錯誤，把時間用在錯誤的方向；有時候時間用在錯誤的方向，想要自拔回頭，已經是苦海茫茫了。所以我們要多用心。

So, we should always mind our time. We must be more precise in how we contribute, so as not to err or use our time for the wrong things. Sometimes if we are on the wrong path, even if we want to go back and change, we must go through a lot of suffering. So, we must be mindful.

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眾等切莫自恃盛年
財寶勢力
懶惰懈怠
放逸自恣

One should not rely on being young, or wealthy and powerful, thus slacking off and indulging indiscriminately.

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來，看這段文－－「眾等切莫自恃盛年、財寶、勢力，懶惰懈怠，放逸自恣。」

The next passage reads, "One should not rely on being young, or wealthy and powerful, thus slacking off and indulging indiscriminately."

這段文字和我上面說得不謀而合。不要仗恃以為我們還是盛年，我們還少壯還有很多時間，不能這樣想。財寶勢力也不能依靠，若等到我們雖然很有錢的時候，這個時候倘若無常一來，一但病下去，無論多好的醫療是否能對他有幫助呢？醫療也有他的極限，大自然的法則，誰也無法干預、改變。

This passage describes what we just discussed. We should not count on being young and healthy and assume we still possess a lot of time. Neither should we rely on our wealth and power. Although we may be rich, death or illness can still strike at any time. But won't excellent medical treatment be able to help us? There are still limits to medical treatment. No one can escape the laws of nature.

「千金難買，萬金難留。」面對人生這種大自然的法則，我們應該要好好珍惜在健康的時候，要做對的事情，好好把握時間。所以我們怎麼能夠常年懶惰懈怠、放逸自恣、空過時間、浪費生命？放縱自己，而不懂得好好為自己鋪一條路。所以我們要好好利用這個身體！

No amount of wealth can purchase one's life. All life follows the laws of nature, so we should cherish our health. When we are healthy we should do good deeds and seize the time. How can we continue to slack off and indulge indiscriminately, year after year, and not pave a path for our future? We must use our bodies well.

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死苦一至 無問老少
貧富貴賤 皆悉磨滅
奄忽而至 不令人知

The suffering of death reaches both old and young, rich and poor, noble and lowly. They all perish. Death comes suddenly, without any notice.

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下面又說－－「死苦一至，無問老少、貧富、貴賤，皆悉磨滅。奄忽而至，不令人知。」

The next verses read, "The suffering of death reaches both old and young, rich and poor, noble and lowly. They all perish. Death comes suddenly, without any notice."

這段懺文是說，死相現前的時候，在那分病苦，到了奄奄一息這個時候，但氣還沒有盡，真的是很辛苦，自己也是很惶恐。在這種氣還沒斷，但已經有很多惡道的形象現在他面前。無論是地獄的形象，或是餓鬼的形態，或是畜生一一浮現在面前。很多人在未斷氣之前，就有很多惡道形象現前在他的面前，在拉扯他，到底會往哪裡去呢！一旦看到了，都會很惶恐、很害怕。這些所看到的境界現前，就都是非常的惡劣的地方。

This passage of the repentance text indicates that before death manifests one may be ill feebly clinging to life with each breath. Before our last breath, we will truly experience suffering. We will also be very afraid. Before our last breath, many images will already appear in front of us. We will see images of Hell, or of the Hungry Ghost Realm or of the Animal Realm. Some people, before they have stopped breathing, are drawn into these lower realms that appear before them. Where will they go? They are frightened because all the realms they see are truly vile places.

在早期精舍還有在辦理打佛七的時候，當時有一位委員的女兒往生。這個女兒是抱來養的，但父母對她比對親身還要疼愛，這個女兒也很乖。後來嫁到很遠的地方去，這個女兒也常常回來孝順父母。

When we used to hold week-long retreats at the Abode, one commissioner's daughter had just passed away. This daughter was adopted, but she was very well-loved and quite filial. Although she moved far away when she married, she often returned to see her parents.

有一回到了四十多歲的時候，有一天突然生了重病，需要從南部到北部開刀。到送到手術室之前，這位委員對女兒說：「你一定要多念佛，一定要念佛，要很虔誠的念佛。」並且拿了一台小小的念佛錄音機，拜託護士說：「拜託、拜託，這個小小的東西請你一定要拿在她的耳邊給她聽，就算是在麻醉之後，也一樣要讓她可以聽到念佛號的聲音。」於是就把這台小小的念佛機放在她的耳邊，然後慢慢推進去手術室。

When she was in her 40s, she suddenly fell seriously ill. She traveled to northern Taiwan for surgery. As she was wheeled into the operating room, her mother said to her, "Remember to recite the Buddha's name. Recite the Buddha's name with reverence." The mother placed a tape recorder with the chant next to her head and asked the nurse to play it during the operation so she could continue to hear the name of Buddha when she was sedated. So, they wheeled her into the room.

麻醉後，一度她突然很掙扎，在要推進去手術室前，她就一直哀叫。開刀完了之後她說：「我記得要開刀時，我很痛苦，只記得在要推入開刀房之前，媽媽說要一直念佛。但是你知道嗎？雖然心中念佛，但外面的境界很多，都是血淋淋的境界。有很多的雞鴨…很多都一直在啄食我，我很痛苦，很怕，看過去滿滿整片都是雞鴨。」

Before the anesthesia took effect, she appeared to be struggling immensely. As they wheeled her in, she kept moaning. After the surgery, she told her mother that she was in agony. She said, "As I was entering the operating room, you reminded me to recite the Buddha's name. I kept reciting in my heart, but do you know, around me I saw a realm filled with blood? Many chickens and ducks pecked at me. I was suffering and scared. The place was filled with chickens and ducks."

說完後，她就一直哭。接著說：「我嫁過去後，因為我的公婆在鄉下，很愛吃雞鴨，就養了一大堆。每天都要我殺，這就是桌上不能缺少的菜，所以都要我自己殺。這些東西是不是已經來討命？我很怕，也很痛苦。」

As she finished saying this, and told her mother, "After I married, my in-laws who lived in the countryside loved to eat poultry. They raised many chickens and ducks and I had to kill them each day, because they had to eat them with every meal, I had to kill them myself. Are these beings now taking their revenge? I'm afraid and in pain/"

媽媽說：「這是你的業，你過去所造的業，嫁過去這二十多年的時間很辛苦，現在已經是這樣，你就要虔誠念佛。」已經這樣有虔誠的念佛，開刀後有沒有健康？沒有。之後病依然一直拖、一直磨。但每天都依然堅持要念佛；心很虔誠。因為媽媽和阿嬤都虔誠信佛，所以當病苦、病痛來磨的時候，她還依然非常堅持的在念佛。

Her mother told her, "This is your karma; you created it in the past. These past 20 years of marriage have been very difficult for you. Since you are already in this situation, just recite the Buddha's name reverently." Did she recover after the surgery? No, she endured a lot of pain each day. She was very sincere because her mother and grandmother were devout Buddhists. As she was suffering from illness, she maintained her recitation of the Buddha's name.

有一次我到南部，他母親也在醫院那，我就順道過去看了。她拉著我的袖子說：「我過去損害了很多生命，雖然我也很孝順，但是我做了這麼多殺害的事情，這樣這些業報補不了嗎？」

Once when I was in the south, her mother was also there, so I visited the daughter. She held my hand and said, "Master, I've killed many beings in the past. Although I am filial, I've taken so many lives. Can I make up for such karma?"

「孝順父母、公婆都是應該的，有福；但孝順的只是日常生活當中做人的本分，這是有福。但你所殺害的是生命，生命是平等的，無論牠是動物，或他是人命，其實同樣都是生命。這樣多生的業報，不如現在一生把它受完。」

I told her "Being filial to your parents and in-laws is something you should do. It creates blessings. However, though you upheld that part of your moral responsibilities, you've also harmed beings and ended lives. All lives are equal, animal or human. They are all living beings. Many lifetimes of negative karma can all be exhausted in this life."

她說：「這樣我知道了，我甘願了。我既然這一、二十年的時間造這麼多的殺業，無法勝數，每天在餐桌上都是生命在那上面，已經無法去計算。既然我已經做了，所以現在我也甘願受。」這個病已經折磨她很久了，所以後來還是往生了。

She said, "I understand. In that case I will accept it willingly. I've taken countless lives for 10, 20 years, and put those beings on the table to be eaten. Since I have already done it, I willingly accept the retribution." After enduring agony for a long time, she later passed away.

在她往生前，那時我們慈濟有規劃要蓋醫院，所以她手裡就拿著她母親當初給她的嫁妝，把那些金子都拿給師父，說：「我要多做福，對不對呢？這些我不要留給女兒了。過去我對我的女兒已經很用心教育，這些有形的物質不能再留給她，請師公拿去蓋醫院。」

Before her death, we started the plans to construct the hospital. She donated the gold that her mother gave her when she married. She said, "I should create more blessings, right? I don't need to leave anything for my daughter because I educated her mindfully. I don't need to leave anything material for her. Please take this to build the hospital."

這一段故事可以知道「死苦一至，無問老少」。無論年齡多少，只要時間一到，業若盡的時候，無論富貴或是貧賤，你所造的業沒有別人可以替你負擔，自作只能自受。我們的心要常常培養放下，無論這生做的怎樣，都要放下。自受業報的時候要看得開。

Form this story, we understand that "The suffering of death reaches both old and young". Regardless of our age, when the time comes and karma is exhausted, we die. Whether we are poor , rich, noble or lowly, no one else can take on our karma for us. We reap what we sow. We should learn to let go of everything in life. No matter what happens in this life we must be able to see through it and let go.

倘若過去沒結那個緣，這世就不會受那個報。所以，說起來，人生的生命不斷在磨滅當中，時間一直在消逝，壽命也逐漸消短，什麼東西留下來了？就是業；業留下在身上。所以當奄奄一息的時候到了，境界現前，「不令人知」，別人什麼都不知道，我們只有自己在境界現前的時候，自己在精神上受苦、在折磨。

If we had not formed those affinities in the past, we would not receive the effects in this lifetime. So, life continues to diminish with the passing of time. As our life runs down, as our lifetime grows shorter, what is left is karma. Our karma remains with us. So, when we are at the brink of death, the moment of death arrives without an notice. Other people have no way to know. When we reach the edge of death, we truly face much spiritual torment and suffering.

不只是病苦的折磨，那種心靈的痛苦和拖磨不是別人可以知道的。

It is ot just physical suffering. The mental agony is beyond others' understanding.

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夫人命無常
喻如朝露
出息雖存
入息難保

Ordinary beings lives are impermanent like morning dew. Though we exhale, we may not inhale again.

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所以－－「夫人命無常，喻如朝露。出息雖存，入息難保。」

So, "Ordinary beings" lives are impermanent like morning dew. Though we exhale, we may not inhale again."

一口氣出去能否回來不知道。所以說起來，人生就好像朝露一般，有什麼好去計較呢？若等到業相現前，有時候想要表達出來那個境界也很困難，更不要說能脫離了。在氣要斷不斷的時候，真的是很痛苦、拖磨啊！活生生就墮入地獄當中。到時唯有知苦瞭苦甘願受苦，那樣業才能消了。

After we exhale, will we be able to inhale again? We do not know. So, if life is just like morning dew what is there to take issue with? When karma manifests, it may be hard to express oneself. The psychological torture before death is like a living hell. It is painful, but if we endure it willingly we can eliminate karma.

所以說：「草露風光不久常，人生無常呼吸間，莫待時光人老去，莫仗少壯有餘年。」各位，最後用這段文字和大家分享，要好好多用心。

So, the splendor of dew does not last long. Life exists in the space of a breath; do not rely on your youth and wait till old age. Everyone, I shared this passage with you to remind you to always be minduful!