《靜思晨語。法譬如水》501. 一切禍福唯心造

Disasters and Blessings Are Created by the Mind

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學佛就是學在這念心，「天堂地獄唯心造，三世諸佛也是唯心成」，所以都是一念心。

Learning Buddhism is learning about our minds. Heaven and Hell are created by the mind. The Buddhas of the Three Periods are also created by the mind. Everything comes back to our minds.

地獄很苦，若是以人生的方式來比較，人間千萬般的苦難，都無法和地獄比較，可見地獄極苦啊！所以極苦之形容，稱為地獄，那就是無法形容的苦難，所以叫做「地獄」。

Hell is very painful. The millions of types of suffering we experience cannot be compared to the pain in Hell; clearly it is filled with extreme suffering. We describe extreme suffering by calling it Hell. That pain is truly indescribable, so we call it Hell.

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極苦形容稱為地獄
人間疾苦可比擬地獄
臥病床人呻吟無奈
多因心念惹禍福自造

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人間極苦可比擬地獄，在《地藏菩薩本願經》中形容的地獄，其中有一段提到的「鐵床地獄：一人亦滿，多人亦滿。」可見在地獄中受苦，那怕是同時有很多人在裡面，但大家都苦到只能顧著自己的苦難，顧不到旁邊有沒有其他的人。在鐵床上最痛苦的是「我」，所以在地獄當中，覺得我的痛苦，好像佈滿了鐵床之上。

We describe extreme suffering as Hell. The illness and pain of this world can be compared to Hell; bedridden patients moan helplessly. We create the many thoughts that cause disasters and blessings. The illness and pain of this world can be compared to Hell. The Earth Treasury Sutra describes an Iron Bed Hell, where "one being's suffering fills the entire realm". Clearly, even if many people are suffering in Hell they just focus on their own pain, without regard for others right next to them. In this Hell they feel like their suffering is worse than anyone else's. So, their suffering fills up the entire Hell Realm and the entire iron bed.

鐵床是怎麼樣呢？在《地藏經》當中所比喻的，就是整個床都是用鐵作的，而整張鐵床都是用火燒紅，人被綁在燒紅的鐵床上受燒灼。這樣想想，苦不苦呢？

What does the iron bed look like? The Earth Treasury Sutra explains that the entire bed is made from iron. It burns red-hot with fire. When people are on that red-hot iron bed, are they not in pain?

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獄中有床遍滿萬里
一人受罪
自見其身遍臥滿床
千萬人受罪
亦各自見身滿床上
眾業所感獲報如是
《地藏經》

The bed in Hell spans millions of meters When one suffers punishment, he sees himself covering the entire bed. When millions suffer, they all see their own body spread across the bed. The retribution of various karma is as such. "The Earth Treasury Sutra"

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有時候看到在家人愛吃活的東西，或是活生生把牠丟下去滾燙的水中燒煮，或活跳跳的就丟到油鍋去煎炸，無論是用煎的，或是用煮的，像這種痛苦不知能否比喻在地獄中所受的痛苦呢？

Sometimes I see lay people who love to eat living creatures. They throw live animals into boiling water or fry them in a pan of bubbling oil, or stir fry and cook them. I am not sure if this pain is comparable to suffering in Hell.

不過把這些活生生的東西，下去煮、煎，那些活的生物在掙扎，到底人是否可以感受到他們的痛苦嗎？可能也是無法感受。

But when people cook and stir fry living beings, do they feel those creatures' struggles? They have no way to feel it

若是他自己生病時，那時在床上所感受到的的那種病苦，就痛苦到都沒有想到旁邊的人又會是如何的痛苦？只會想到那種苦在自己的身體內，自己所遭受到的苦難。就像在病痛中打滾的人，才真的知道那種痛苦，所以他才會哀叫、呻吟。那種痛苦有什麼人能夠救他呢？

When they are sick, when they suffer as they lie in bed, they never think about how others feel. They just feel the pain in their own bodies. When sick people roll around their bed in pain, then they might have some idea of how that type of suffering feels. So, they wail and moan. Who can save them?

無奈啊！沒有別人可以救度的，也不能替代。就算是醫院中的醫生和護士，提供了種種的醫療措施，但可以幫助的範圍不大，更何況是在旁邊的眷屬也不可能作得到。這種苦難，就像在地獄中的鐵床地獄，也是同樣的感受。

Sadly, doctors and nurses can only provide limited help. Their family cannot help them either This suffering is like being in the Hell of the Iron Bed.

這是為什麼會這樣呢？要知道無因不成果，因從心起，「一念無明生三細，境界為緣長六粗」，自己所招惹的外界的境界，對於內心造就的種種誘引，心跟著轉，所以就去招來了很多苦難。所以「多因心念惹極苦的磨難」，福禍自造。

Why does this happen? Without causes there would be no effects. Causes arise from the mind. An ignorant thought causes the Three Subtleties. External states lead to the Six Coarse Marks. Thus, internal temptations arise from external surroundings, which leads to much difficulty and suffering. Our minds provoke extreme suffering; we create our own disasters and blessings.

所以說起來，我們學佛，最重要是要學一念心，好好把心照顧好！

So, the most important part of learning Buddhism is dealing with our minds. Let us take good care of our minds.

世間的苦難實在是偏多！看看美國達拉斯分會曾經接觸過一個個案。一位柬普寨的阿嬤，在一九八Ｏ年的時候移民到美國。

Suffering is everywhere in this world. Our office in Dallas came in contact with an old woman from Cambodia, who went to the United States in 1980.

當時，柬普寨非常的混亂，赤棉－－也就是柬普寨的共產黨，時時和政府軍起衝突。這位阿嬤在結婚後，她的九個孩子和先生先後都投入赤棉，就是共產黨的軍隊當中，常常在和政府軍對立。

Back in Cambodia there had been lot of unrest. The Khmer Rouge and the army were often at odds. After she married, her nine children and her husband all joined the Khmer Rouge. They often clashed with the army.

記得我們曾經去救濟過柬普寨，我們去幫助他們，除了提供了很多的物質，發放大米，還幫助他們日常需要的用油，希望他們能引水灌溉，還又給他們稻種，希望他們可以自立更生。但是真的看到他們稻榖可以豐收的時後，赤棉就出來搶，已收割稻榖的全部搶走，將要可以收割的，明明就已經可以準備收割了，他們就放火燒掉。

I remember that we would provide aid to Cambodia. Aside from providing Cambodia with material aid, including bags of rice and fuel, we hoped they could set up an irrigation system. We also gave them seeds so they could sustain themselves. When they were ready to reap their bountiful harvest, the Khmer Rouge suddenly appeared They snatched the harvested grain and set fire to the fields which were still waiting to be harvested.

記得當初我們在救濟的時候，那段時間我們的見證，政府和反叛軍在對立之時，那時候真的是民不聊生。

We witnessed this when we tried to provide relief aid in Cambodia When the government clashed with the rebels, the people suffered greatly.

這位阿嬤的先生和他的孩子都投入在赤棉軍隊中，受到政府軍圍剿，一家十口人，先後就往生了八位。這位阿嬤那個時候才五、六十歲。國際紅十字會在找到她的時候，看她這樣可憐，就幫助她以及當時她僅剩那一位受到輕傷的小兒子，就趕快辦了移民送到美國去，把他們安置在柬普寨的難民營。

This old woman, her husband, and her children all joined the ranks of the Khmer Rouge. They were raided by the government and the husband and eight children were killed. The woman was just 50 or 60 years old at the time. People at the Red Cross took pity on her, so they helped her and her remaining, injured son immigrate to America and settled them with other Cambodian refugees.

難民營是一個大家共住的地方，大家都安置在哪裡。但是當那些同樣來自於柬普寨的鄉親，知道她們的出生是赤棉軍，就以為－－「你們是我的仇人、你們赤棉就像是土匪一樣。無論是搶劫、對立，造成民不聊生等等…都是因為你們的家屬所加入的赤棉所造成的。」所以仇人在人群當中，就把阿嬤僅剩下的最後一個孩子也活活打死。

Some of those people knew that she was part of the Khmer Rouge. They all felt she was the enemy. "You Khmer Rouge were like bandits. You robbed or fought us. We couldn't live in peace because of you. Your family created a lot of suffering for our people." So, they beat her son to death.

這樣一來，阿嬤就算已經到了美國，住在難民營中，但這種狀況是不是也像是住在地獄中呢？最親最愛的丈夫和孩子，前前後後在柬普寨那種社會，都犧牲了。

Think about it. In this lifetime, aren't the places she lived Hell on Earth for her? In that society, her beloved husband and children were sacrificed one after another.

好不容易，唯一一位帶來美國的兒子，最後一個孩子，又被大家活活打死。這種人生該如何說呢？最後阿嬤選擇離開難民營，然後自己去作工，在受盡種種人生的折磨之後，最後終於讓她可以活下來。

Finally she brought her only hope, her son, to the United States. But after they were settled in the refugee camp, a mob actually beat him to death. This was her life. But this old woman was also very strong. After she left the refugee camp she got a job. She faced a lot of hardship, but survived.

然後被慈濟人訪視的時候發現她這個個案，我們達拉斯的慈濟人發揮那分的愛、很慈悲，不去分別她的種族、她的出生以及她的過去的種種經歷，照樣去救濟他。雖然想要救濟她，但因為語言不通－－阿嬤不會說英文。還好後來在慈濟人的志工當中，發現有一位通柬普寨家鄉話的人，於是就趕快請來和阿嬤溝通。

Then our Tzu Chi volunteers encountered her. Our volunteers in Dallas showed love for her, regardless of her ethnicity, her origins, her past. But there was a language barrier, because she spoke no English. Eventually we found someone among our volunteers who could speak her language. So we asked this person to talk with her.

阿嬤一直都是很孤單，家鄉的人也都把她當作是仇人、敵人一般，所以就很孤單。到了這個時候聽到熟悉的家鄉的語言，又是用那麼的疼惜和愛護的語調，所以從此打開她的心防，願意去接受慈濟人的照顧。現在她看到慈濟人就像看到她的孩子一樣歡喜。

She was always lonely. Her countrymen all treated her like an enemy, so she was very lonely. When she heard her dialect and felt how the volunteers cherished and cared for her, she began to open her heart and accept their help. When she saw them, she was as happy as if they were her children.

想看看，這種的人生真的是很悲慘，活生生的人間地獄，無論是感情、親情拆散，那種拆心肝、割肚腸的心靈地獄，都很苦難。「如人飲水，冷暖自知」，所以說起來，這些種種一切的經歷，無一不都是由心念所惹起的極苦的磨難。

Think about it. Hers was a very tragic life; she lived in Hell on Earth, was torn apart from her family. Think about the heart- and gut-wrenching pain of this emotional Hell. Only the person experiencing it can really know. So, in a sense it is our mind that brings extreme and deepest suffering.

要如何才能脫離這種磨難，也是心？福和禍無一不都是由心念造成的。這個個案，在經過這麼久之後，才被慈濟發現；在慈濟人發現了她之後，才能讓她現在這個時候就像在安享天年－－因為有一大群如同她的子孫一般給予她的愛。

But the way to escape this spiritual torment is also with the mind. After a long time undergoing these misfortunes, her affinities led Tzu Chi volunteers to find her. After that, she seemed to enjoy her old age because she was surrounded by volunteers who loved her like a grandmother.

所以說起來，同樣一個人、不同的環境，我們就能瞭解－－心。就那個大空間、在柬普寨，也是因為人心，所以造成在那個大空間當中，人民民不聊生。不要然，同樣在那個大空間，也可以是人間糧倉，只是要人人安居樂業、也可以豐收。

She was the same person, but in different circumstances. We understand the difference is the mind. In the country of Cambodia, human minds made it what it was. The citizens did not live in peace. Otherwise, that place could be the "rice warehouse of the world". If they had lived peacefully and worked happily, there would be abundant harvests.

但是，雖然慈濟提供稻種子、油、馬達抽水，他們有水，有稻穀，只要人努力就可以成熟稻穀、豐衣足食。眼看就要收穫了，但因為赤棉的造反、搶劫，又使人人都沒有希望了。看那個大空間，天然資源什麼都有，只是人心去造作地獄，才會造就人生的苦難，這也是人心。

We just gave them seeds, a motor to pump water, and fuel. Once they have water, seeds, and land, if they work hard, they can harvest bountiful amounts of rice. See, the rebellion and robberies took away people's hopes. Look at that land; there are many natural resources. But human minds created a hell. The suffering of human life is created by the human mind.

所以說起來，為何人會出生在哪裡？就算天地資源豐富，應該可以是個天堂；但由於人心不平衡，所以造就了地獄，所以這也是叫做「業力牽引」。

So, why are people born there? It is rich in natural resources, but people's minds are imbalanced. That is the pull of karmic forces.

所以聽起來，若以人間一切苦來相來比較地獄眾苦，我們是否能自我反省覺悟？覺悟我們人都是－－「自造惡心，自得惡果」。在人間的惡果如何苦，還無法體會地獄眾苦的千萬分之一，所以這聽起來已經很恐怖了。

So when we compare worldly suffering to Hell, can we come to a realization? Can we realize that when we sow evil seeds, we reap evil fruits? Not matter how painful our retributions are, we cannot comprehend the suffering in Hell. It is only one millionth of Hell's suffering. This sounds truly frightening.

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云何聞此 安然不畏
不驚不恐 令此精神
復嬰斯苦 實為可痛
是故至誠 求哀懺悔

We hear this and remain peaceful and unafraid. We are not frightened or scared. With this spirit, we will suffer repeatedly, which is truly painful. Thus we repent with deepest sincerity.

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但還是很多人聽了又聽，就算知道了，但心裡面還是不怕，還是繼續作惡下去。

But listening is just listening. We cannot feel it, so we are still not scared.

所以，接下來這段懺文說－－「云何聞此，安然不畏，不驚不恐？令此精神，復嬰斯苦，實為可痛！是故至誠，求哀懺悔。」

So then next passage in the repentance text says, "We hear this and remain peaceful and unafraid. We are not frightened or scared. With this spirit, we will suffer repeatedly, which is truly painful. Thus we repent with deepest sincerity."

為何佛陀對我們說了這麼都地獄苦相，為何聽了之後我們都還不怕？不知悔改，安然不畏！聽了那些苦難之後，我們應該就要能夠體會、用心去體會。

Why is it that although the Buddha told us about all the suffering in Hell, we are still unafraid? "We remain peaceful and unafraid." After we hear about these kinds of suffering, we should strive to feel it in our hearts.

在現代的世間上看得到的，人如何在行虐其他動物？是如何凌遲、吞食他們？你想，這樣在人間的人是否和地獄當中的夜叉相差不多？

In this world we can see how people torture other animals. They chop them up and consume them. If you think about it, Yaksa in the Human Realm and Hell are very similar.

既然我們的心有這種，自己愚癡而沒有感覺，現在聽聞佛法，應該要有感覺。若還是沒感覺，那就是最可悲、罪可嘆的凡夫，造作了多少業。

Although we were not aware that these thoughts are in our minds, now that we listen to the Dharma, we need to have this awareness. If we remain unaware, we are the most tragic, lamentable ordinary beings who create so much karma.

現在聽到世界多少的災難，多少人受苦受難？誰能用心去體會到，就在現在同一個世間、世界當中，這些人的苦難是否能讓我們人人都提高警覺嗎？

Now, we hear about many disasters in the world. So many people face pain and suffering that anyone can truly understand. In this world, this planet we share, does the suffering of these people make us more alert?

這也是在我們凡夫當中，還是能夠看到好像修羅，在整個社會之間都在彼此鬥爭，互相毀謗、互相侮辱。這種人間不知道要到什麼時候，人人才會有反省覺悟的時候？

We ordinary people can see how we are like Asuras. Entire societies are struggling with, fighting, slandering and humiliating each other. How long will it be before people self-reflect and come to a realization?

也因為不知不覺，所以人人才會在「安然不畏、不驚不恐」的環境中，還是繼續造業。所以「令此精神，復嬰斯苦」。

Everyone remains in a state of being "peaceful and unafraid, not frightened or scared". So people continue to create karma in this environment. Therefore we need to know, "with this spirit, we repeatedly suffer anew".

我們每一個人都以為自己才是最苦的人，現在人不甘願受苦，不耐勞、不耐苦，稍微給他一點責任，他就說：「壓力太重了！」所以讀書也壓力重，父母疼愛也說壓力重，等等…最後就變成了憂鬱症。這種憂鬱症就是在精神上的「復嬰斯苦」。就是在精神、自己心理上，總是不斷地以為：「我是最苦的！」

We each think that we suffer the most. People nowadays are unwilling to experience pain. They cannot deal with hard work and suffering. If we give them a little responsibility, they say there is too much pressure. Studying causes them pressure, parental love also creates pressure, and so on. This can turn into depression. This depression is like the spirit "suffering repeatedly". Our spirit, what is in our minds, always feels that we suffer the most.

「復嬰」就是心靈一直在重複經歷，心結打不開；心打不開，只是一點點的事情，放在心理，就會不斷的複製，覺得我才是最苦的。自己在內不斷的重複經歷過去的事情，重複製造心靈上的苦，活生生就自己入了心靈的地獄，這叫是心獄－－心靈的地獄。

"To suffer repeatedly" means we are repeatedly unable to open our minds. Then a tiny issue will grow and multiply. So we think we suffer the most. This is "to suffer repeatedly". We continuously multiply our spiritual suffering. While still living, we enter a spiritual Hell. This is a mental Hell, a spiritual Hell.

自己不會自己反省、提高警覺，自己過去所造的因，造就了現在所受到的的苦果；所以應該要甘願接受，去懺悔、化解。如果不能夠這樣，那這人間自然就是苦難偏多了！

We do not self-reflect or raise our awareness of what we have done in the past. We must willingly accept the retributions we now face. Some people refuse to willingly accept them, so they suffer more.

看看慈濟人在心得分享，有的人生了孩子，而這個孩子有精神上的疾病、或是肢體殘障等等…，有時候會聽到：「想要同歸於盡。我被他很折磨。」但是經過慈濟開導後，瞭解了之後，就會反過來說：「我很甘願受啊！我很感恩，感恩孩子來消我的業…」或是「感恩我先生來消我自己的業等等…」。從一開始的不甘願，到後來的很甘願，所以反過來感恩了。

When we listen to Tzu Chi volunteers share, some have experience with young children who are mentally troubled or physically challenged. Sometimes we hear people say, "I want us to die together. He tortures me so much." But after guidance from Tzu Chi volunteers, they understand and instead say, "I willingly accept this. I'm grateful. My child is here to help eliminate my karma." "I willingly accept that my husband is also eliminating my karma." They went from being unwilling to willingly accepting So, now they look back and are grateful.

那些苦難、折磨都完全消除了，現在起一念心－－「甘願接受」。過去如此因緣、現在如是果報，甘願受，所以就會打開心門，脫離心靈的地獄，才不會「復嬰斯苦」繼續複製那些苦難，精神也不會受折磨。若不這樣自求解脫，不斷地複製苦難、精神折磨，如此「實為可痛」，在這人世間就會很苦痛了，就有人間地獄的苦痛。

They completely eliminated suffering and hardship. Now they are filled with willing acceptance. With such causes and conditions, there are now such retributions. If we willingly accept them, we open our minds and escape a spiritual Hell. Do not "suffer anew". Do not multiply that suffering Otherwise we will endure spiritual torture. That will "truly be painful". If we suffer greatly in the Human Realm, we experience Hell on Earth.

「是故至誠，求哀懺悔。」大家要提高警覺，要用最虔誠的心，要戒慎虔誠懺悔，才能夠自救。天堂地獄都是心造，三世諸佛也都是由心生。

"Thus we repent with deepest sincerity." Let us all be more vigilant. With a heart of utmost reverence, we must be careful and not make the same mistakes. Repent sincerely right away. That is how we truly save ourselves. Heaven and Hell are created by our minds. The Buddhas of the Three Periods are also created by the mind.

所以我們大家要知道－－「人間疾苦可比擬地獄」，所以「臥病床人多呻吟無奈，都因心念惹禍福自造」。

So, we should all really understand this. We describe extreme suffering as Hell. The illness and pain of this world can be compared to Hell, as bedridden patients moan helplessly. We create the many thoughts which cause disasters and blessings.

各位，我們人人都要很用心，要不然疾苦磨難，也是因為心所惹起這麼多的疾苦磨難！所以人人都要多用心。

Everyone, we must all be very mindful. Otherwise we will suffer extreme pain and hardship because of our minds. Please always be mindful.