《靜思晨語。法譬如水》505. 因熟緣聚

Causes Mature and Conditions Converge

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天牢地網非他人造
天降地湧先作後受
時空年代由不得人
自業共業因熟緣聚

The universe's justice is not the doing of others. We face the consequences of all our actions. When and where we are born is beyond our control. For individual and collective karma, causes mature and conditions converge.

「天牢地網非他人造，天降地湧先作後受，時空年代由不得人，自業共業因熟緣聚。」

The universe's justice is not the doing of others. We face the consequences of all our actions. When and where we are born is beyond our control. For individual and collective karma, causes mature and conditions converge.

我們要知道，一切都是我們自己所造的，我們在《靜思晨語。法譬如水。心輪轉福禍》說過地獄的形態，牛頭羅剎。地獄的牛頭羅剎真的非常凶惡，不論是他的頭、他的角、他的尾巴，無都不是刑具凌遲人的器具。

We have to know that we create everything. We have talked about the appearance of Hell and the ox-headed Raksas. The ox-headed Raksas in Hell are truly ferocious. Their heads, their horns, and their tails are all torture devices, tools to brutalize people.

為什麼地獄一開始，就說牛頭羅剎這種形相呢？看看人間哪一個人不吃牛肉，現在吃牛肉的人很多。牛對人間非常付出，到老來就把牠賣出去被殺，人就吃牠的肉啃牠的骨，實在是人所迼的業？

Why does the description of Hell begin with the ox-headed Raksas' appearance? Who in this world does not eat beef? Right now many people eat beef. Cattle contribute a lot to this world. When they become old, they are sold and killed. People eat their flesh and gnaw on their bones. Thus people create karma.

什麼業造了多少，什麼樣的地獄就有多大，所以這都是因緣果報。你既然是自造的業，或是共同的業，因若熟、緣就聚，到了地獄時是非常無奈。所以無論是天牢地網，不是別人造的，是我們自己去造作的；所以自己造的，就牽引這股業力，由不得你自己。

However much karma they create is however big Hell will be. This is all karmic cause and effect. If you created that karma or if we created it collectively, when causes ripen, conditions will converge. We will be helpless when we arrive in Hell. So the justice meted out by the universe was not created by others. We created it ourselves. The karmic forces we create take us there; it is beyond our control.

看到「大愛全紀錄」，小春芝多麼可愛的孩子！住在那種地方，雖然我們也有蓋房子給他們住，但是她也很念舊，每個星期天都會回去她的舊家。

On the TV program "Da Ai Journal", we saw an adorable girl named Chun-zhi who lived in an impoverished area. Although we built a house for her family, she still missed her old home.

看看她這麼認真，一張椅子拿來放著，再一張椅子再放下去，兩個椅子相疊作她的桌子。看她拿筆在寫字，你看，無論是你問她：「怎麼铅筆這麼短，好寫嗎？」她會回答你：「好寫。」又問她：「用柴刀削铅筆？」她還是會說：「好削。」就算是生在那種環境中，她依然那麼純真。

Every Sunday she returned to her old house. Look at how diligent she was. To study, she would put two chairs next to each other. These two chairs put together became her desk. When we saw her write, we asked, "The pencil is so short. Is it easy to write with?" "Yes." "Is it easy to use that big knife to sharpen your pencil?" "Yes." She was so innocent because she grew up in that environment.

我們現在這個時代是什麼時代？有的人看了會說：「這是什麼時代，怎麼還有這樣的孩子？這樣的環境？」不過，雖然同是這個時代，時空年代由不得人，她就是在那裡，爸爸在做工、媽媽不在家；看，還是自己要很獨立。看看她手凍得那樣腫腫的，問她：「你的手怎麼腫了？」「凍傷了。」在問她：「會痛嗎？」「痛啊！」若是你又問她：「要怎麼辦？」她會說：「有時浸熱水。」再問：「浸熱水會好嗎？」她還是很純真的回答：「有時候不會，有時候會。」最後你若問：「痛不痛啊？」她也是會說：「痛啊！」 雖然是痛，臉上還是透出那分天真的笑容。

What kind of time do we live in now? Some people watch this and wonder, "When is this? How are there still children living like that?" Although we exist at the same time, where and how we are born are beyond our control. She lived in that place. Her father worked, her mother was not home, so she had to be very independent. Look at her, her hands were swollen from the cold. We asked, "Why are your hands swollen?" "From frostbite." "Does that hurt?" "Yes." "What do you do?" "Sometimes I soak them in hot water." "Does hot water make it better?" "Sometimes no, sometimes yes." "Does it hurt?" "Yes!" Although she was hurting, she still had an innocent smile on her face.

在那種環境中，由不得她是這樣的生活。看看現在的時代，什麼人會相信？但是明明記錄在我們面前，這時空年代由不得自己。唯有她要命中有貴人，她這群的貴人是來自台灣；這群菩薩到了貴州，去改造她的命運。

In that environment, her living conditions were beyond her control. Who would believe that people live like this in our modern time? But it was clearly recorded and presented to us. When and where we are born is beyond our control. But she had benefactors in her life. Her benefactors came from Taiwan. These Bodhisattvas arrived in Guizhou to change her fate.

是不是真的能改造她命運？應該也要說她的命中有福緣，那就是那些人本來是共業，生在那個貧困的地方。但是這些人，他們也是命中有福緣，所以才能這麼遠的地方。我們一念不忍心起，到了那裡，這戶我們可以幫他遷，所以我們就幫他們，蓋了一座慈濟村。所以若無緣，說不定山上受苦的人還很多，我們沒有發現到的，就是因不熟緣不聚。所以若因熟了，有了這分因緣，因緣成熟自然他的命中貴人就出現了！

Can they truly change her fate? We should really say she has blessed affinities. The people there shared collective karma and were born into the same impoverished place. But they also had blessed affinities, so although they were so far away, we could not bear to let them suffer. When we arrived, we could help this family move. So we helped them build a Tzu Chi Village. Without these affinities, many might still be suffering in the mountains. We might not have found them if their causes had not ripened and conditions had not converged. When causes matured and conditions converged, their benefactors naturally appeared.

所以我們一直去看她，甚至我們蓋房子給她住，讓他較靠近學校，讓她有機會讀書等…但是這個孩子她很有感恩心，記得去看她的時候還很小，回去就趕快會煮開水，趕快會去泡茶，趕快來奉茶；懂得克已、懂得復禮，很有禮節，像這樣真的是很難得。

So, we kept visiting her. We even built a house for her to live in so she was closer to school and had the opportunity to study, and so on. This girl has a heart of gratitude. I remember she was young when we first visited. When she arrived home she promptly heated water to make tea and bring it to us. She knew to practice self-discipline and courtesy. She was very polite.

一般人覺得可能嗎？明明是在人間，時空年代由不得人。所以自業、共業，因熟、緣聚，這都是我們無論你是造福、造惡，善惡在人間本來就是參半。

Most people wonder if that lifestyle is even possible. In this world, time and space are clearly beyond our control. For individual and collective karma, causes mature and conditions converge. We create all of this, whether we create blessings or evil. Good and evil are inherently mixed in this world.

若是無業不會來人間，就是有業，是什麼業呢？福業，惡業。有的是福業較多，所以來人間，他就是看起來很好命。但是他也有業，什麼業？情的業，人人都有家屬情愛，哪一個無情無受不受苦磨呢！所以人間就是苦樂參半。有的人苦的業較多，因為惡業較重，所以帶著這個業來人間，所受的從出生一直一直到老年都是很折磨，都得不到貴人，一生在人間受苦磨。所以我們應該要很想信因果。

Without karma, we would not come to this world. We have karma. What kind of karma? Blessed karma and negative karma. Some have more blessed karma. They look like they have a good life in this world. But they also have karma. What karma? The karma of feelings. Everyone has feelings and love toward family. Who doesn't suffer from those feelings? So, this world is equal parts pain and joy. Some people have more pain because they have more negative karma. As they bring this karma into the world, starting from birth and lasting until old age, they suffer much torment. They cannot find people to help them. They suffer throughout their lives. So, we must believe in cause and effect.

在蓮池大師的《放生文》中，舉出這樣的例子－－

In Master Lian-Chi's Essay on Liberating Life, he raised this example.

那就是在清道光年代，江西德興縣有一戶人家，這個人，那個地方大家邀約，相約七月時地藏菩薩的聖誕，要去朝九華山。

In the Qing Dynasty, there was a family in Jiangxi, in Dexing County. People there arranged to make a pilgrimage to Mt. Jiuhua in July to celebrate. Earth Treasury Bodhisattva's birthday.

這戶人家的這位先生，他覺得九華山人家說風景很好，就說：「好啊！去看風景也好。」他不是用很虔誠的心去朝山，是抱著那分「跟人去看風景」這種心態，和朝山團到九華山去。

The head of this household heard that the scenery on the mountain was beautiful. "Good, it will be nice to enjoy the view." He did not make the pilgrimage devoutly. His mindset was that of a tourist enjoying the scenery, while he traveled with these pilgrims.

在九華山，大家在禮拜，他就去參觀。看到地藏殿裡面有很多地獄圖，其中有牛在耕田受盡苦勞。我們人不知因果，不曾體會牛為人的付出，還要吃牠的肉，這種業很重，那種勸善圖就在九華山的周圍。尤其是在殿內，地獄的形態，人間造什麼惡，將來墮什麼地獄種種…

When others paid their respects at Mt. Jiuhua, he went sightseeing. He saw many pictures of Hell in the temple. He saw oxen plowing the field, doing hard labor. Humans do not know cause and effect. We do not appreciate the oxen's contributions. On top of that, we eat their flesh. This is very serious karma. These edifying pictures were all over the mountain especially in the temple. They showed what Hell looked like, where people would go based on what evil they have done.

他看一看，站在牛犁田那幅圖前面，讀著那篇文，他放聲大笑，他就說：「牛本來來人間就是要這麼勞作，老了本來就要被殺！牛肉很好吃，你要我不吃牛肉怎麼可能？牛本來肉就是要給人吃！」在那裡好像洋洋得意－－「人吃牛」，他很得意，在那裡輕蔑大笑。忽然間在笑聲中倒下去了！

He stood in front of the picture of the ox plowing the field and read the text. Then he laughed out loud. He said, "Oxen were born to labor in this world. Then they get old. Beef is tasty; how can you expect me not to eat beef? The flesh of oxen is meant to be consumed." He stood there very pleased with himself. "People should eat beef." He laughed loudly and scornfully. Then suddenly, he collapsed while laughing.

因為大家都去朝山，朝山的人就知道，這應該是冒犯到護法神了，所以大家虔誠跪拜祈求，一直替這位已經昏倒在那裡，一直口吐白沬－－像牛在耕田，一邊耕一直熱，口水一直流，和這情形一樣－－，所以大家趕快祈求地藏菩薩，後來這個人慢慢醒過來。

Since the others came here on a pilgrimage, they knew that he had probably offended the Dharma-protecting spirits. So everyone reverently knelt and prayed on behalf of this man who fainted. He kept foaming at the mouth. He looked like an ox plowing the field on a hot day, drooling out the side of its mouth. He looked just like that. Everyone prayed to Earth Treasury Bodhisattva. Then this man slowly regained consciousness.

雖然醒過來了，但是精神好像紊亂了，那種形態就好像牛的形態－－人彎下腰去，頭伸長長的，頭一直在牴在撞牆，或是像牛在犁田向前一直犁去，頭一直搖；出去外面也是，對著樹對著…等等，都是用他的頭，像牛在發狂，以角在牴很多東西。

Although he was awake, he seemed mentally disturbed. He took on an ox's appearance. He was bowed at the waist and his neck extended. He used his head to butt the wall, or moved like a cow plowing the field. He kept plowing ahead and shaking his head. He went outside and carried on. He butted trees and such with his head. He was like an ox gone wild, using its horns to butt everything.

大家一看，趕快把他抓起來，把他綑綁住，趕快把他送下山。到了中途時，他們在天寶村那個地方，這個族都有一個家族館，所以借了家族館讓他休息。那個時候這個族館的館師回來了，看到他這樣，趕快把他的手腳都放開，但是門就鎖起來，怕他跑出來。隔天一早把門打開時，看到裡面很多東西，無論是牆壁椅桌床或是書散落一地，整個十分凌亂，好像真的被牛牴過或是被牛耕過，非常亂。

When people saw this they seized him, tied him up and took him down the mountain. At the halfway point, they stopped at Tianbao village. This clan had a family hall. So, they asked to let him rest there. When the hall-keeper came back and saw him, he untied his hands and feet, but locked the door so he could not escape. The next morning when they opened the door, they saw many things, like the walls, chairs, desk, and bed broken and books scattered all over the floor. Everything was a mess, like it had been butted or plowed by an ox. It was very chaotic.

後來趕快看到這個人的形態，和牛的形相完全一樣，趕快又把他綁住，又把他抬著，抬回去他們村莊。回到他家裡之後，他們村子和家屬等等…了解他在地藏殿中發出那種狂妄的惡言，去冒犯了護法神，所以就趕快在村莊裡和他家裡趕快設齋；大家都素食，整個村子裡的人大家都素食。

Then they saw that the man looked exactly like an ox. So they tied him up and carried him back to their village. After he arrived home, his fellow villagers and family realized that since he spoke wildly arrogant, harsh words in the Earth Treasury Temple, he had probably offended the Dharma-protectors. So, people in the village and in his family quickly hosted vegetarian feasts. The entire village became vegetarian.

因為從前的村莊，大家都像親戚一樣，為了這個人，大家趕快虔誠設齋素食，請出家人來誦經來說法，來立壇來受戒等等…這樣幾十天的時間，所以這個人慢慢清醒過來了，恢復了正常。

Back then, everyone in the village felt like they were part of one family. So, on his behalf, everyone reverently offered vegetarian feasts. They invited monks to chant Sutras, speak Dharma, set up an altar, teach precepts, and so on. After many days passed, the man slowly regained clarity of mind and returned to normal.

恢復正常以後，他非常累。他說：「我好累，我好像每天都是牛，我一直在耕田，我一直很辛苦，做牛真得很辛苦。」所以從此開始，他發願每年絕對要用拜的，每年的七月，拜上去九華山，去朝拜地藏菩薩。

After he recovered, he was very tired. He said, "I'm so tired. I was like an ox every day. I kept plowing the fields. I worked very hard. It is tiring to be an ox." Starting then, he vowed that every July he would go on a pilgrimage to Mt. Jiuhua to pay his respects to Earth Treasury Bodhisattva.

這雖然距離我們的時間很長，應該是在清朝的時代。但是我們現在就能從文史知道，在那時候，江西這個地方有這樣的事發生。

Although this happened a long time ago, probably during the Qing Dynasty, from our historical records we know that at that time, in Jiang-xi province, this really happened.

你們想可怕嗎？這等於是活生生的說法，所以我們應該要相信因果。所以不要以為沒有地獄，不要以為沒有畜生道的苦難，所以我們應該人人要很警惕。

Think about it, isn't this scary? This is a living example of Dharma. So, we should believe in cause and effect. Do not assume there is no Hell, or that those in the Animal Realm do not suffer. We should all be very vigilant.

於是罪人
痛徹骨髓 苦切肝心
如是經無數歲
求生不得 求死不得

Wrongdoers experience pain that penetrates the marrow, that rends the liver and heart. Such pain lasts for countless years as they can neither live peacefully nor die to escape the misery.

如是等報
今日皆悉稽顙
慚愧懺悔

For all these retributions, today we deeply prostrate, and repent in remorse.

所以接下來這段懺文這麼說－－「於是罪人，痛徹骨髓，苦切肝心。如是經無數歲，求生不得，求死不得。如是等報，今日皆悉稽顙，慚愧懺悔。」

The next passage in the repentance text states, "Wrongdoers experience pain that penetrates the marrow, that rends the liver and heart. Such pain lasts for countless years as they can neither live peacefully nor die to escape the misery. For all these retributions, today we deeply prostrate, and repent in remorse."

那些罪人在地獄中的罪人，真的是受苦無量，以這樣來形容「痛徹骨髓，苦切肝心」，不曉得我們能不能體會到？

The wrongdoers in Hell truly experience endless suffering. We describe it as, "pain that penetrates the marrow, rends the liver and heart". I do not know if we can comprehend that.

真的是很苦「如是經無數劫」，不是一下子而已！「痛徹骨髓，苦切肝心」，這是要經過無數歲，無法算數的歲月，求生不得，求死不得。

It is truly painful. It lasts for countless Kalpas, not just for an instant. "Pain that penetrates the marrow, that rends the liver and heart." Through countless years, an incalculable amount of time, they can neither live peacefully nor die to escape the misery,

像如此種種的報應，這種因果報應。我們今天開始應該都要很虔誠的懺悔。「稽顙」就是很虔誠頭面頂禮；所以應該要很虔誠，我們在頂禮稽顙那時候，我們要慚愧－－到底我們做了什麼？有沒有做過什麼？自己要多反省－－「我們到底做了多少好事？當然這是應該做的。我們到底在人與人之間結下了不好的緣，做了多少的惡？」反省之後要懺悔－－「慚愧啊！我怎麼做了這種，不如典範的人生！」我們要慚愧，過去，過去生中我們是不是累積了，這麼多的業報，無論有沒有，我總是要洗滌我的心。

With these kinds of retributions, with this karmic cause and effect, starting today we should be very reverent. "Deeply prostrate" means reverently touching our heads to the floor. So, let us be very reverent. As we pay our respects and prostrate, we must have a sense of remorse. What did we do? We must often reflect on what we have done. How many good deeds have we done? Of course, these are things we should do. How often have we created bad affinities with others? What a shame. Why have we not led an exemplary life? We must have a sense of remorse. Did we accumulate much karmic retribution in our past lives? Whether or not we did, let us cleanse our minds.

「法譬如水」，懺文就如水，這個法是來教我們為什麼要懺？什麼錯了我們要趕快改？錯誤犯了之後，我們要趕快懺悔！這就是在警惕我們，所以我們必定時時起，慚愧懺悔的心，這樣我們才能讓我們的罪業，慢慢消除。已做的甘願受，未來的我們要警惕不要做！所以清水一直加，濁水一直流，到頭來也會清。所以我們的心要不斷洗滌，改惡從善。

Dharma is as water. The repentance text is like water. Dharma teaches us why we need to repent, what mistakes we need to correct. After we make mistakes, we need to repent. This is alerting us. So, we must always remember to be remorseful and repentant. That is how we can eventually eliminate our negative karma. Since something is done, willingly accept it. Be vigilant and do not make mistakes in the future. So, keep adding clear water and let the turbid water flow away. Eventually everything will be clear. Constantly cleanse your minds, turn from evil and do good.

所以天牢地網非他人造，天降地湧，天降下的鐵丸或是地冒出來的尖刀，無論四面八方的火牆。我們會到那裡，都是先作後受；起先你這麼做，後面你就要這樣受。在人間同一個時空年代，境界不同由不得人。

The universe's justice was not created by others. We naturally face retribution. Iron balls fall from the sky, sharp knives emerge from the ground. There are walls of fire in all directions. We will go there because of our actions. We will reap what we sow. In the Human Realm, though we may be in the same place and time, our conditions may differ beyond our control.

「自業、共業，因熟、緣聚」，所以大家要用心學習！看看，出生在那麼無奈的地方，這都是共業。共業都是自造業開始，累積起來很多人，形成了這個共業的地方。

Karmic causes ripen and conditions converge. So everyone, think about this carefully. Look at how some are born into helpless conditions. This is all collective karma, which begins with the karma we individually create. When many people are together, collective karma accumulates.

所以在人間，就有很多可讓我們去思考，去了解，大家要多用心哪！

So in this world, there are many things for us to think about, and understand. So everyone, please always be mindful.