Cultivate Merits and Practice Goodness

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我們人人都是三寶的弟子，佛說法，我們應該相信佛所說法。

We are all disciples of the Three Treasures, so we should believe in the Dharma that Buddha expounded.

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佛乃真語者實語者
唯眾生愚昧業重
聞正法而不信者
一生業累至死不休

The Buddha is the speaker of the truth. But we sentient beings are foolish with much karma. We hear Right Dharma, but do not believe it, so we constantly accumulate karma until we die.

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「佛乃是真語者、實語者；就是我們眾生愚昧業重，聞正法而不信，所以一生業累至死不休！」

"The Buddha is the speaker of the truth. But we sentient beings are foolish with much karma. We hear Right Dharma, but do not believe it, so we constantly accumulate karma until we die."

這就是我們人，是為什麼不斷一直造業？儘管很多人了解道理，卻是就一直做不到，這就是不是很徹底相信「因緣果報」，若是能夠相信，絕對言到做到。知道道理，我們要說得到；說得到，我們更應該做得到，這樣才是真實信的人。

This is why we humans constantly create karma. Although many people understand the principle, they cannot practice it. This is from not thoroughly believing in karmic retribution. If we can believe it, we can speak and practice it. When we know the truth, we need to speak it. Then we definitely need to practice it. Thus we are people who truly believe.

否則不是真實信入內心去，只是知道一個道理這麼說，但是不是真實的相信，所以他就不能潔身自愛，就不懂得要去付出大愛；這就是至死不休，還是不斷地再造自己的業，還是一直要到死後才停。這實在是很可惜！不知道道理那就沒話說了，知道卻不肯做、做不到，那真的是很可惜！

Otherwise it has not really entered our minds. We just know what the principles state, but we do not actually believe them. We do not know how to keep ourselves pure, do not know to practice Great Love, all the way until we die. We constantly create karma until we die. This is truly a pity. We have nothing to say if we do not know the truth. If we know, but refuse to or cannot practice it, that is truly a pity.

記得不知多久之前，我曾說過一段故事，也就是說－－

I remember some time ago, I told this story.

大陸某一個村莊，那個村子裡，有一個家庭很富有，這個父親生了兩個兒子，父親一直到年老時，就對這兩個兒子說：「我要傳給你們的，不是這麼多的產業，我要傳給你們的，就是倫理道德。你們要相信，相信因果；我們要樂善好施，家財雖然暫時擁有，但是功徳財才是永恆的。」

In some village in mainland China, there was a very wealthy family. The father had two sons. When the father was very old he told them, "What I want to leave to you is not all this property. I want to pass on morals and ethics. You have to believe in cause and effect. We have to give happily. Family wealth is temporary, but a wealth of merits and virtues is eternal."

過了不久父親就過世了，往生之後，這兩個兒子都是很哀痛。

The father passed away not too long afterwards. After he died his sons felt deep sorrow.

那麼大兒子一直內心就會去想到：「父親最後所說的，真的是要守功德財，不是這分家財。」所以從此開始，他常常都是在外頭，到寺院去請教，要去了解「什麼叫做功德財？」開始師父就為他開示，讓他深入佛法去。他研究佛法研究得很歡喜，甚至他也是樂善好施。

The elder son kept thinking over his father's last words about focusing on the wealth of merits and virtues, rather than family wealth. So starting then, he spent a lot of time in the temple, asking questions and trying to understand the wealth of merits and virtues. A monk began elucidating the teachings, helping him to deeply understand Buddha-Dharma. Studying the Dharma made him very happy. He also happily gave and helped others.

但是他的弟弟，覺得說：「父親既然留下這麼多財產，我應該要為父親守護這分產業，這樣我才是孝順。為什麼這個哥哥一天到晚，光是投入佛法中，如此產業都丟給我一個人？」

But his younger brother thought, "Since father left behind so much wealth, I should protect it for him. That is how I can be filial. Why does my brother spend all day only studying the Buddha-Dharma, leaving me to deal with all this property?"

有一天就對他的哥哥說。這位哥哥就說：「我是覺得父親是這樣對我們說：『再多的財產給我們都是有限，到頭來也不是我們所有的。』父親也是這樣告訴我們：『最重要的功德財才是永恆。』我想要守好父母，給我的這個身體，我以這個身體來為他做功德。」

One day he said this to his older brother, who replied, "I feel our father told us that no matter how much property we have, it is limited, not ours in the end. Our father also told us that the wealth of merits and virtues is more important and eternal. I want to cherish this body our parents gave me. I want to create merits and virtues for them with this body."

弟弟就說：「那這做功德，你的身體怎麼做功德呢？」這位哥哥他就說：「我想要走入佛門，我將父母給我的身體獻給三寶，為三寶來弘揚。佛陀的教法能夠庇護眾生，眾生人人能夠走入佛道，能夠得到無限量的功德財！」但是弟弟不以為然，哥哥笑笑的就出去了。

"How will you create merits and virtues?" He said, "I want to become a Buddhist, devote the body our parents gave me to promote the Three Treasures. Buddha's teachings can protect sentient beings" "Everyone can walk on the Buddha's path and attain an unlimited wealth of merits and virtues." The younger brother did not think much of this, so the older brother smiled and left.

從此開始，哥哥就是專心去研究他的佛法，後來出家了。弟弟庸庸碌碌一直在營生，經營他的這片產業，果然過了三十多年後，產業真的是加倍了，但是他年老了，病了、死了。這之間他的家屬，將他的後事辦得很隆重。

From then on, he focused on studying the Buddha-Dharma. Later, he became a monk. The younger brother busily ran his business. After 30-some years, his wealth had grown exponentially. But he eventually grew old, got sick and died. His family held an elaborate funeral.

但是過了之後，又是經過四、五年後，有一頭牛在耕作，要拖得很重、很累。農夫希望能夠把一片的土地耕耘得更多，米糧生產能夠又再增加更多，要很認真去耕作；所以若是有收成時，本來是疊八分滿的車，這位農夫他疊了超過十分的重。這頭牛一直拖，累了牠就不想走了，農夫就打牠。像是這樣日復一日，這頭牛拖磨得很辛苦，渾身都是被那個牛鞭打過，繩子抽過的傷痕累累。

Four or five years later, there was an ox plowing the fields. Its burden was heavy, and it was tired, but the farmer hoped to plow more of the field, in order to produce more rice. He earnestly wanted to farm the land. Normally a cart would be filled about 80 percent. But this farmer would overload it. The ox pulled and pulled, but stopped when it got tired. So, the farmer beat him. This went on for some time. The ox was exhausted, its entire body beaten and covered with lash marks.

有一天，一位很有道行的出家人，就走過這座村莊過，這是他的故鄉。走過之後，剛好這頭牛耕作完，和農夫要回家的時間，看到這位出家人，就這樣四隻腳跪下去，抬起頭來看這位出家人，這頭牛一直流著眼淚。但是這位出家人看到這頭牛，他就用真正很清淨的心，來分析這頭牛－－「是為什麼淚漣漣呢？」忽然間他就想起來了：「你是不是某某人，是我的弟弟？」這頭牛又再哭得更悽慘，把牠的頭叩上這位出家人的腳背，好像似承認了，好像似在頂禮，好像似在懺悔。

One day a seasoned monk passed this village. This was his childhood home. As he passed, the ox had just finished plowing and the farmer was returning home. It saw this monk and knelt on all fours. It lifted its head to look at the monk, and shed tears. When that monk saw this ox, he used a very clear mind to analyze why it continued to shed tears. A sudden realization hit him. "Are you so-and-so? Where you my brother?" The ox cried even harder, bowing its head till is touched the monk's feet. It seemed to acknowledge him, as if prostrating, as if repenting.

因為他的哥哥，當時要出家之前，就對他說：「世間財是短暫的，道德才是永恆的。要信仰三寶，要多布施貧窮的人。」但是他的弟弟就是不肯相信，覺得說哥哥是走火入魔了，既然不要守好家業，要出家去就讓他一個人出家去了，對哥哥一點都不諒解，一點都不相信。

Before his older brother left home he told him, "Worldly wealth is temporary. Merits and virtues are eternal. Believe in and respect the Three Treasures. Give to those who are poor." But the younger brother refused to believe. He thought his brother was going too far. Since he was not protecting the family business, if he wanted to be a monk, then let him go. He was not understanding of his brother at all, and did not have faith in him.

現在哥哥已經出家了，現在是一位有德行的高僧了，自己卻是落得畜生之身，又再為這個家庭的田地還在拖磨，又還被人鞭打得全身都是傷、很無奈。

His brother had left home and was now a respected monk of great virtue. But he himself had taken the form of an animal, who toiled in this family's fields and was beaten and wounded all over. He felt helpless.

所以這位哥哥既然知道，這是自己的弟弟，這對這位農夫說：「我向你買這頭牛，你看看多少錢來賣給我？」這位農夫看到這位出家人，有愛心，他自己也是心存悲憫，這頭牛也已經拖過那麼多了，所以他就說：「送你吧！」就此這位出家人把這頭牛，就牽到他的寺院去。

When the older brother realized that this was his brother, he told the farmer, "I want to buy this ox. How much will you sell him for?" The farmer saw that this monk was very loving and he possessed some compassion for the ox who had already worked so hard. So, he said, "I'll give him to you for free." So, this monk took the ox back to the monastery.

每天這頭牛，一早大家上殿了，牠就來到殿外，去那裡好像在禮佛。在講經時，牠也是一樣來到寺院前面，在那裡靜靜聽法。這頭牛在這間寺院安享天年，能夠禮佛、聞法這樣度過了牠一世的畜生道。

Every day the ox stood outside the hall when everyone else entered. It seemed to be paying respect to the Buddha. When there were Sutra lectures, it also came to quietly listen to Dharma. The ox enjoyed the rest of its life there and paid respect to the Buddha, listened to the Dharma. It spent the rest of its life in this way.

這個故事能夠來了解－－人若是愚昧，聽到正法不肯相信，這一世的業累至死都不停歇，也還要在做牛來拖。所以我們應該要相信因果。

From this story we understand that if people are foolish and refuse to believe when they hear Right Dharma, they will not stop accumulating karma even to the point of death. They may even become oxen and toil. So, we need to believe in cause and effect.

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無善可恃
無德可怙
致使命終
墮諸惡道

Without goodness to depend on, merits to rely on when life ends, we fall into all evil destinies.

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接下來這段懺文這麼說－－「無善可恃，無德可怙，致使命終，墮諸惡道。」

The next passage of the repentance text states, "Without goodness to depend on, merits to rely on when life ends, we fall into all evil destinies."

這是承上文，我們來人間只會造業，只會計較多要再更多，那麼都不知曉因果；都是不知道說－－「我們來時什麼都沒有，空空來、去空空，只有業牽引著。」

This continues the earlier passage. In this world, we only know to create karma, to take issue over things, always wanting more. We do not understand cause and effect. We do not know that we came with nothing, leave with nothing, and are only guided by karma.

我們既然一生過去了，沒有造一點的善，所以又再加上沒有積一點點的徳，沒有恃怙，沒有什麼可依靠，我們平日都沒有積一些糧；所以一旦，人生的業緣盡了，那麼未來的業又牽引過去，所以沒有一點善福的因緣，所以命終之道就要墮入諸惡道。

If a lifetime has passed and we did not create any good or accumulate even a bit of virtue, we have nothing to rely or depend on. If we do not routinely accumulate merit, when the karmic conditions in this life end, we will be led by karma into the future. Without any good or blessed affinities, when this life ends, we will descend into the evil destinies.

惡道很多種，總概括起來有三途－－「畜生、餓鬼、地獄」，所以墮入這些惡道。

There are many evil realms. They can be categorized into the Three Destinies, the Animal, Hungry Ghost and Hell Realms. We can go yo any of them.

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是故今日
皈命三寶
至誠懺悔

Therefore, today we take refuge with the Three Treasures, and repent with deepest sincerity.

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「是故今日，皈命三寶，至誠懺悔。」

"Therefore, today we take refuge with the Three Treasures, and repent with deepest sincerity."

我們既然知道要墮入惡道去，所以我們應該要趕快皈命，以佛陀的教法，要好好讓佛法再加延伸。

We know we can fall into an evil realm. So, let us take refuge at once. Use the Buddha's teachings to extend the reach of the Buddha-Dharma.

所以佛、法、僧－－佛是說法者，法是教導，那僧是傳道。所以三寶是非常重要！能夠續佛慧命，這也就是一種傳燈。

Regarding the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the Buddha speaks the Dharma, the Dharma is the teaching, and the Sangha spreads the Way. So, the Three Treasures are very important. They extend the Buddha's Wisdom-life. It is a way of transmitting the light.

佛陀的智慧燈光，要來照耀天下黑暗的心靈；那眾生的心靈既然黑暗，佛陀就是以這盞燈光，為我們照路，要點亮人人心中自已的一盞燈。所以我們要至誠，以最虔誠的心來皈命。

The light of the Buddha's wisdom can illuminate the darkness in all minds. Since our minds are filled with darkness, the Buddha used this light to show us the way, to light the lamps in all our minds. With deepest sincerity and reverence we take refuge.

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次復懺悔
畜生道中
無所識知罪報

Next we repent the Animal Realm, in which we face the retribution of not knowing and not understanding.

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再下來就說－－「次復懺悔，畜生道中，無所識知罪報。」

Next it says, "Next we repent the Animal Realm, in which we face the retribution of not knowing and not understanding."

一但若墮入畜生道，就無所識知。那就是因為一生不修善，無善、無德可恃，沒有善徳可讓我們作因緣。

When we fall into the Animal Realm, there is no knowledge and no understanding. Because we lived life without cultivating goodness, we lack goodness and virtues to rely on; we lack these positive causes and conditions.

所以善與惡是相反的，就如黑的與白的是相反的，暗與明也是相反；光明出現，黑暗一定是會退掉去。

Positive and negative are opposites, just like black and white. Darkness and light are also opposites. When brightness appears, darkness recedes.

所以我們要有一個光明；要有光。什麼是光？是善、是德。「善德」就是光明，若是惡業、無明就是黑暗，所以黑暗就是惡。

So, we need to be bright, have light. What is light? Goodness and virtue. They are brightness. Negative karma and ignorance are darkness. So, darkness is negative.

所以我們要知道，我們的心要修，行要造福。內心修德，那行為要修善造福，那這樣才是我們未來的資糧，這才是未來的財產。

We must know to cultivate our minds, and create blessings through practice. We inwardly cultivate virtues and create blessings with our actions. This is the fuel for our future. This is our future wealth.

所以說善與惡是相違背，德與罪也是互相乖離，有德行的人自然就沒有罪業，若是會墮入畜生道。就是既無善德護體，必有罪隨身。

So, good and evil are polar opposites. Virtues and transgressions alienate each other. The virtuous do not have karma of transgressions. Those who fall into the Animal Realm were not protected by goodness or virtues. So, negative karma followed them.

萬般帶不去，唯有業隨身，你沒有造到福業，當然是造了惡業跟著我們去，所以致使命終墮諸惡道。我們若是這一生過了之後，將來一定就是墮入惡道，這些我們都應該要知道。

We cannot take anything with us but karma. If we do not create blessed karma, then of course we create bad karma that follows us. Thus, when life ends we fall into an evil realm. When this life is over, we will fall into an evil realm for sure. We should know all this.

所以我們一定要好好，至誠懺悔！

So, let us repent with deepest sincerity.

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懺悔畜生道中
負重牽犁
償他宿債罪報

We repent the Animal Realm, where we shoulder the heavy plow and repay our accumulated debt as retribution.

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那再來又說－－「懺悔畜生道中，負重牽犁，償他宿債罪報。」

Then it is said, "We repent the Animal Realm, where we shoulder the heavy plow and repay our accumulated debt as retribution."

就像是剛才我們說的那個故事，我們應該要多懺悔。

As in the story I just told, we need to repent often.

那兩個兄弟其中的一個，他就是不信因果，後來雖然他賺了很多錢，後來還是要墮入畜生道。墮入畜生道他是墮入牛身，牛就要拖，所以「負重牽犁」。像是所有的牛，全都是來人間來還債。

One of the two brothers did not believe in cause and effect. Although he made a lot of money, he still fell into the animal Realm. In that realm he took the form of an ox. An ox has to pull, so it "shoulders the heavy plow". All oxen come to this world to repay debts.

過去人云：「我這輩子欠你的，我沒有辦法來回報你；下輩子我做牛、做馬來還你！」這也就是從前的人這麼說－－「這輩子受人很多恩情，但是一點都沒有回報，所以下輩子來還給人。」這個叫做「償他宿債罪報」。

In the past people said, "If I cannot repay you what I owe in this lifetime, in the next. I will be an ox or a horse to repay you." So, it is as they have said. If we receive a lot of help in this life, but do not repay any of it, we repay it in the next lifetime. Thus we "repay accumulated debts as retribution".

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懺悔畜生道中
不得自在
為他斫刺屠割罪報

We repent the Animal Realm, where we are not free, and are chopped, stabbed, butchered, and cut up as retribution.

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再來說－－「懺悔畜生道中，不得自在，為他斫刺屠割罪報。」

Then it says, "We repent the Animal Realm, where we are not free, and are chopped, stabbed, butchered, and cut up as retribution."

這也是要懺悔，在畜生道裡中，當然是不得自在。

We also need to repent this. Of course we are not free in the Animal Realm.

看看雖然有狗來了、貓來了，我們雖然很疼他們；不過，牠既然是貓狗的形態，牠能夠自在嗎？也是不得自在啊！無法為所欲為！像是我們人，多彩多姿人間的生活，但是牠的生活就是這樣。儘管大家對牠有愛心，疼惜牠，但是牠還是不得自在。這是舉一個例子而已，何況其他的畜生類呢？其他的動物呢？

Some come back as dogs and cats. Although we spoil them, since they are in the forms of cats or dogs, can they really be free? They are not free. They cannot do whatever they want. Humans lead a vibrant and diverse life. But animals are limited. Although people love and cherish them, they are still not free. This is just one example. What about other livestock? Other animals?

想想看，人用煎、炸、烤、煮等等…方法來料理這些生物呢！無論是地上跑的、天上飛的，或者是水裡游的，看，都是受人類這樣斫、刺、屠、割，這也是過去生的罪報。

Think about it. People fry, bake and cook them, whether they run on land, fly in the air, or swim in the water. They are chopped, stabbed, butchered, and cut up. These are also retributions. We also need to repent for these.

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懺悔畜生道中
無足二足
四足多足罪報

We repent the Animal Realm, where we have no feet, two feet, four feet or multiple feet as retribution.

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我們還要再懺悔－－「懺悔畜生道中，無足、二足、四足、多足罪報。」

"We repent the Animal Realm, where we have no feet, two feet, four feet or multiple feet as retribution."

在這個畜生道裡中，無論是「兩足、四足、多足」，各形各色的生命，都是不得自在。當然這都是過去生中，就是愚癡，不信因果，所以造作了很多的惡業，所以身後各種受報的，生命的形態都不一樣，各種不同的形態，各種不同的生命，都是很多苦難，不得自在啊！

In the Animal Realm, some have no feet, Whether they have two, four or many feet, these beings of all shapes and sizes are not free. This is a result of ignorance in past lives, of not believing in cause and effect. That is why they created so much bad karma. When retributions manifest they take all sorts of different forms. Each different life form has a different type of life. There is so much suffering; they cannot be free.

人類應該要好好自我警惕，那些東西雖然有這麼多的形態，這麼多的名稱，都不離開我們的一念心！這個心靈會造作很多的業力，那很多業力能夠受各種不同形命的生態。

Humans need to be very vigilant. Although these things take many forms, have many names, they are all tied to our thoughts. Our minds can create so much karma. Karma can take many different forms.

所以我們要有心，我們要好好信佛所說－－「佛是真語者、實語者」。我們不要說不相信，我們應該要相信，要不然一輩子的業累，一直積下來，等到最後的時刻，我們還不能休歇！所以未來的這種業報，那就苦不堪了！

So let us be mindful. Believe in what Buddha said. The Buddha was one who spoke the truth. We should believe Him, otherwise we constantly accumulate karma over our lifetimes. We do not stop even in our final moments. Thus our retributions will be unbearably painful.

所以我們要時時多用心。

So, please always be mindful.