https://www.facebook.com/Amitartha/photos/a.798908346786406.1073741855.597680823575827/812489018761672/?type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story
五家共有The King and the Businessman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPsYuMu1Th4&index=1&list=PLYfJOvcvKb2SjeXBJt7q3LsiaQVVFLxMF
難得人生,我們要好好把握――把握人事物,也就是時間、空間、人與人之間。時間,就是要把握每一個能讓我們修行的任何一個時間,都是好修行的時間;空間,天地之大,無論在哪一個空間,我們的心同樣地可以觀看外面的境界,來覺悟我們的心行,空間也是好修行;更好修行的,就是在人群道場,人與人之間。在人群道場中,我們能看到世間、事物、人性等等...... 只要我們的心不受污染,天地萬物無不都能說法,能啟悟我們的智慧。
Life is precious, so we need do cherish it by making use of our time to serve and learn from those around us, no matter where we are. We need to seize time to cultivate ourselves. Any moment is a good time for cultivation. No matter where we are in the world, through observing and contemplating what’s happening around us, we can awaken to truths and be inspired to act in line with them. This is how we can cultivate ourselves wherever we are. Actually, the best way to cultivate ourselves is to go amongst people. Through interacting with others, we can learn more about human nature and the principles of many things. As long as our minds can remain open and untainted, everything in the world can teach us life’s principles and awaken our wisdom.
五家共有
The King and the Businessman
有一個國家,國王認真料理國事。這個國家很祥和,但是國王都沒出去看看他的人民到底是怎麼樣的生活。有一天,宰相就向國王建議:「國王,建議您到外面看一看人民生活是什麼方式。」國王答應了。
Once upon a time, there was a king who governed his country very well, so the country was very peaceful. However, he never left his palace to see how his people lived. So, one day, his prime minister suggested to him: “My King, I advise that you go out and see how the people are doing.” The king agreed.
國王看到人民富有,建築的房子都很美,瓦片以金銀裝飾。他就想:「人民那麼富有,是不是有朝一日,其他的國家會來侵略呢?」所以國王覺得他應該要強盛這個國家的武力。他發出告令,有錢人的財產要拿來繳交國庫,來增加武器。
The king saw that his people were well-off and their houses were very beautiful with roof tiles adorned with gold and silver. He thought, “My people are very rich. Would other countries invade my country someday?” So, he decided to strengthen his country’s forces. He thus issued a notice requesting wealthy people to contribute money to help build up the country’s strength.
這個命令一發出去,大家的心很慌恐。其中有一位生意很大、很富有的大理家,他把他的財產都抄寫在財產登記簿上。他先拿出一本賬簿,對國王說:「我自己有的錢都在這裡,請您過目。」
As soon as the notice was put up, people panicked. A wealthy businessman also saw the notice. So, he had his servants prepare a register of his assets. Then, he went to the palace with the book. He said to the king: “My money is recorded in this book. Please have a look.”
國王翻開一看,怒道:「你是那麼有錢的人,竟然敢欺騙我你只有三千萬?」
這位大理家回答:「這些錢是我私人的錢,是讓我自由花用的――平時救濟貧困,或是供養三寶,或是提供給賢士去研究學問、安定他們的生活。其他是五家共有。」
The king read it and was furious. He demanded, “You are very wealthy. How dare you deceive me by saying that “you have only 30 million dollars?” The businessman replied: “All this is my own money. I use it to help the poor, make offerings to temples, make offerings to temples, or provide to scholars, so they can focus on their studies. The rest of my money is shared by five parties.”
國王問:「什麼叫做五家共有?」
大理家就說:「一火、二水、三盜賊、四官和政府、五是子孫。天地無常,什麼時候大水一來,財產破滅掉了....... 火,什麼時候無常的一炬,整個都完全破滅...... 心懷不軌的強盜盜賊,什麼時候會來恐嚇我分財產,我都不知道...... 再來,就像現在,國王你的心一起,希望有錢的人都把財產拿出來...... 再來,有時候不肖子孫吃喝玩樂,把我的財產掏空掉...... 所以這叫做五家。這些財產都不一定都保得住,我不敢當作是我的。」
“Which five parts?” the king asked. The businessman said, “Fires, floods, robbers, the government, and prodigal descendants. Let me explain --- Disasters can strike anytime. When floods occur, they take away everything we have. And when a fire breaks out, it burns down everything. Also, we never know when we might run into a robber or a thief. Next is the government. Take yourself for example, my King. You’ve ordered us to contribute our money to the country. The last one is prodigal descendants who may squander away our fortune. Because of these five parties, I’m not sure if I can keep my fortune forever, so I dare not call it my own.”
國王就說:「這樣我瞭解了。來,你私人的錢帶回去,好好繼續救濟貧困、供養三寶、去培養聖人學士。感恩你為我的國家做這麼多好事。既然這是五家共有,也希望你在經營中,能增加你私有的力量,再為社會做好事。」
Hearing that, the king said, “Now I understand. “Here, take back your money and use it to help the poor, make offerings to temples, and provide to scholars. Thank you for doing do many good deeds for my country. Although our money is shared by the five parties, I hope your wealth can continue to increase, so you can do more work for our society.”
這位大理家也很感恩。國王馬上取消告令。有錢人拿來的錢也還給他們。國王以那位大理家的觀念去教育他的人民,賺的錢要應用在利益人群。
The businessman was very grateful. The king soon had the notice taken down and returned the money that the rich had submitted. He also shared the businessman’s example with his people, encouraging them to use their money to benefit others.”
常常說,人都是「有一缺九」。我們若能「有十捨一」,人生就很好過。這位大理家,他有私有的三千萬,是用來做利益社會的事情。所以,這是一種理財的觀念。人生,若是常常「有一缺九」,那就苦不堪言了。
I often say that when we have one, we want nine more. But if we can give one when we have ten, we’ll lead a very happy life. Take this businessman for example. He set aside part of his money to do good. This is a good way to manage money. In life, if we always want more, we’ll suffer greatly.
像這位大理家,他擁有那麼多財產,他分成公私――百分之幾十是在經營的,百分之幾分他是用於救濟。這些東西他已經覺悟五家共有,什麼時候哪一個「家」要耗損他這些東西,他也沒有掛礙。這叫做「無漏」,無增減。人生有什麼增減的呢?不增不減,所以叫做「無漏」。
See how the businessman divided his money into several parts --- One part was used to run his business, another part to help others, etc. He did do because he realized that his wealth was shared by the five parties. So, when he was asked to submit his money, he was not afflicted. He was free of afflictions as he understood that nothing in life is ours for good, so there’s no need to fuss over gain and loss.
人人若能知道,世間原來就是這樣,本無一物,還要計較什麼呢?不計較的心,就沒煩惱。我們若是有財富,就是用於利益人群;若是沒有,也不必起煩惱,就是這樣過日子。
If everyone can understand this, they won’t compete or compare with others. Then, they won’t give rise to afflictions. If we have money, we use it to benefit others. If we don’t have money, we don’t need to worry about it. This is how we should be.
這就是佛陀對我們所說法,萬法歸一就是空。人生如果能夠認清這個「空」,心就沒有掛礙。無罣礙故,無有恐怖,自然就「遠離顛倒夢想」。人生,就是無法透徹「空」的道理。萬物一統,你如何看,都是眾緣會合。把整體的東西,一樣一樣分析出來,分析到最後有什麼東西?如果你一直分分分,分到最後就是零了。所以化整為零、化零為整,這就是世間法。
The Buddha taught us that everything is empty in nature and comes down to nothing in the end. If we can understand this, we’ll be free of attachments, afflictions and fear. Only then will we be free of delusion and wrong thoughts. Yet, many people don’t understand this principle of “emptiness.” We should know that everything is but a result of the coming together of causes and conditions. If we analyze an object layer by layer to see what is left in the end, we’ll find that such an object doesn’t exist at all. It is merely the composite of many elements. This is how things are in the world.
一張桌子,它原本不叫桌子,原來是木材。木材從那裡來?從土地成長出來,叫做樹木。這些樹是什麼樹?不同種,在土裡,要有種子、還有土、還要有水、還要有陽光,還有很多東西,去會合起來,化成很多形相。所以這些很多形相,一一去剖析、分析,把它拆開,其實回過來還是空。這些道理我們如果都懂,相信人間,就沒有什麼事可爭執。
Take a table for example, it is made of wood. Where does wood come from? From trees. What kind of trees? There are many kinds of trees. For a tree to grow, it requires many elements to come together, such as a seed, soil, water, sunlight, etc. Wood can be made into many things. But when we break these things down carefully, we’ll see that there’s nothing left in the end. If we can understand these principles, we’ll realize that nothing is fighting over in the world.