现在最要紧的是──世上不知有多少小鬼。为什么有这么多小鬼？就因为人堕胎太多了，它还没长成人形就把它杀了。小鬼的报复心更重，所以戒杀、放生也包括不可以堕胎。这些小鬼很不容易摆脱，所谓“阎王好见，小鬼难缠。”所以各位要注意这一点！现在全世界每个国家小鬼比大鬼多，大鬼比老鬼多，这种问题是很严重的！

──宣化上人

Whatismostimportantandurgentnowisthenumberoflittleghostsintheworld.Whyaretheresomanylittleghosts?Thisisbecausetherearetoomanyabortions.Thesefetusesarekilledevenbeforetheirbodieshaveachancetodevelopintohumanshape.Theselittleghostsofabortedfetusesareincrediblyvengeful.Thereforeboththepreceptagainstkillingandthepreceptforliberatingthelivingprohibitabortion.Theselittleghostsarealsoverydifficulttoshakeoff,andthusthesaying:“ItiseasytomeetKingYama,butdifficulttodealwithlittleghosts.”Everyoneshouldpayattentiontothispoint!Now,ineverynation,littleghostsoutnumberoldghosts.Thisisaveryseriousproblem!

──TheVenerableMasterHsuanHua

目录

Contents推荐序──有感而发　◎李家同／文

Preface:OnReflection编辑部序──尊重生命．爱惜自己　◎编辑部／文

Editor\'snote:RespectLife,CherishYourself【宣公上人的悲心】

CompassionoftheVenerableMasterHua

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杀人偿命，欠债还钱

ThosewhoKillwillRepaywithLife;ThosewhoOweMoneywillRepaywithMoney堕胎、婴灵答问录

QuestionsaboutAbortionandInfantSpirits糊涂债

DebtsMadeinConfusion十二因缘

Twelve-foldConditionedArising教育始于胎教

EducationStartsintheWomb没有理性的自由

UnreasonableFreedom近朱者赤，近墨者黑

ThosewhoDrawNeartoVermilionwillTurnRed;ThosewhoAssociatewithInkwillTurnBlack一失人身，万劫不复

OnceYouLoseYourHumanForm,Youwon\'tGainitBackinTenThousandEons诚念地藏菩萨圣号，超度业障

RecitingEarthStoreBodhisattva\'sNameSincerelyCanEradicateKarmicObstacles【弟子的回响】

Disciples\'Reflections

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谈堕胎　◎释恒云／文

OnAbortion孩子们，对不起　◎曾妈妈／文

DearChildren,IamSorry一辈子的痛　◎杨果同／文

ALifetimeofPain让错误不再发生　◎王士明／文

Don\'tLettheMistakeHappenAgain那是一条命！　◎凯西．陈／文

ItisaLife!对自己的生命负责　◎于安／口述

TakingResponsibilityforMyOwnLife母子连心　◎谢果馨／文

TheHeartsofaMotherandherChildareConnected行医的回荡　◎庄雅?o／文

ADoctor\'sRealization

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回向文

VerseofTransference

有感而发

OnReflection

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◎李家同　推荐序

（现任暨南国际大学教授．曾任台湾清华大学校长）

APrefacebyChia-TungLee

ProfessorofNationalChiNanUniversityandEx-PresidentofTaiwanQingHuaUniversity

当我看到这本书的文稿时，心中有一份震憾，特别是其中那篇〈让错误不再发生〉更是让我感触良多，作者王士明提到他一辈子都带着一份扔都扔不掉的愧疚！为什么？他这么写着：

“我没想到我还是个学生，二十岁不到，但我已经荒唐地将一条生命带来人世，又无知地剥夺他生存的权利！”

WhenIreadthemanuscriptofthisbook,Iwasshaken.Oneofthearticlesinthebookentitled“Don’tLettheMistakeHappenAgain”especiallyleftmewithmanyfeelings.Theauthor,ShiMingWang,mentionedthatheiscarryinganunshakablesenseofshameandguiltfortherestofhislife.Why?Hewrotethat,

“Icouldn’tbelievethatasastudentlessthantwentyyearsold,Ididaterriblethingandbroughtalifeintotheworld,thenignorantlydeprivedhimoftherighttolive!”

这让我猛然想起，当今学府又有多少当年的王士明？我自一九七五年任教以来，至今已三十三年，三十多年来目睹我们的校园风气，由简朴到开放，乃至先进。以前，在大学校园男女交往，基本上是含蓄中带着礼法，彼此互相尊重婚前的情操，双方于自我约束中自有一份含蓄的美，不会为来日罩上一层阴影。

Afterreadingthisaccount,Isuddenlythoughtthat,“Inourschoolstoday,howmanystudentsareinsimilarpredicamentsastheyoungMr.Wang?”Ithasbeenthirty-threeyearssinceIstartedteachingin1975.Duringthesethirty-someyears,Ihavewitnessedtheatmosphereonourcampuseschangingfrombeingplainandsimpletobeingpermissive;ourpermissivenessinschoolshassurpassedthatofsomecountries.Inthepast,menandwomenoncollegecampuseswerebasicallyshytowardseachother,andtheyactedwithproprietyintheirrelationships.Duringtheircourtshipbeforemarriage,couplesrespectedeachother’sintegrity.Thisself-restraintonbothsideshadacertainbeauty,anditalsopreventedadarkshadowfromhangingoverthecoupleinthefuture.

就拿婚前性行为来讲，在过去，不论西方社会和东方社会，都是不应该的。可是现在呢，台湾青年学子在暑假偷尝禁果，开学时收拾残局的现象，屡见不鲜。妇产科医生更表示：近年来堕胎不再限于“九月”，现在几乎天天是堕胎日！更令人心寒的是：年轻学子将堕胎当做避孕，态度也是无所谓的；而且堕胎的年龄层越来越下降！

Asfornowadays,let’stakepremaritalsexasanexample.Inthepast,suchanactwasprohibitedinbothEasternandWesternsocieties.However,thesedays,itiscommonforyoungstudentsinTaiwantostealatasteoftheforbiddenfruitduringtheirsummervacation,andthenwhenschoolstartstheytrytocleanupthemesstheyhavemade.Inaddition,gynecologistshaveindicatedthatinrecentyears,abortionisnolongerlimitedtothemonthofSeptember(i.e.,whenschoolstarts);rather,now,abortionistakingplacealmosteveryday!WhatreallychilledmyboneswaswhenIheardthatyoungstudentsareusingabortionasameansofbirthcontrol,withamanner-of-factattitude;andtheageofthosewhoarehavingabortionsisdeclining!

我们也可以发现，虽然台湾人口出生率渐渐下滑，但堕胎风潮却与日俱增，与两性开放的法国相比，台湾的堕胎率竟是法国的六倍！尤其是在工业化与都市化后，社会结构与人际相处，较以往复杂许多！社会价值观的变动、混乱，倡导人向“钱”及名牌、功利主义看齐；而资讯传播的快速，却也不断地诉说放纵情欲的快感。致使原本单纯、血气方刚的青年学子，因没有正确道德观的约束，陷入以肉体换取金钱，或是婚前性行为乃至受孕的窘境。

WealsodiscoveredthatalthoughthebirthrateinTaiwanisdecreasinggradually,thepopularityofabortionisincreasingdaybyday.IncomparisontosexuallyliberatedFrance,thenumberofabortionsinTaiwanexceedsthatofFrancebysixtimes!Afterindustrializationandurbanization,socialstructureandhumanrelationsarealotmorecomplicatedthantheywereinthepast.Oursociety’svaluehasundergonechaoticchanges,andasaresult,peoplenowareledtofocusonwealthandbrandnames,inotherwords,hedonism.Inaddition,giventhespeedofinformationdissemination(suchastheinternet),thereisimmediateaccesstolimitlessinformationtellingonetoindulgeinone’ssexualdesires.Duetolackofrestraintsimposedbyapropersenseofmorality,youngstudents,whoareoriginallyinnocentandfullofvigor,aresinkingtothelevelofsellingtheirbodiesformoneyordealingwiththeembarrassmentofpregnanciesresultingfrompremaritalsex.看到这些，我们不能不忧心──我们的教育到底出了什么问题？我们该怎么救救这些年轻的孩子？我们是不是应该告诉他（她）们什么是可以做，什么是不可以做的基本道德观念。明确了当地让同学们知道是非，而不是“只要我喜欢，有什么不可以”。我们不希望当年的王士明越来越多，我们也不要年轻的学子们一辈子都带着一份扔不掉的愧疚！

Whenweseethesituationsthatthestudentsarein,wecan’thelpbutworry.Whatwentwrongwithoureducation?Whatshouldwedoinordertorescuetheseyoungchildren?Shouldn’twetellthemwhattheycandoandwhattheycan’tdo,basedonbasicprinciplesofmorality?Weneedtoletthestudentsknowclearlyandunequivocallythedifferencebetweenrightandwrong,andnot“AslongasIlikeit,there’snothingIcan’tdo.”Wedon’twanttohavemorestudentsbeliketheyoungMr.Wang,endingupwithanunshakablesenseofshameandguiltfortherestoftheirlives!没有正确的观念，就如同走在漫长的黑夜中，走错了也不知道。一般人对于“堕胎”也是一样，以为还没出生的胎儿，不算个生命，所以可以随便拿掉。其实有孕，就有生命的存在，不然胎儿怎么会日渐长大呢？就像我们这些已出生的人一样，因为我们有生命，所以会动、会活、会成长。因此，胎儿的生命，是和我们一样的。

Withoutproperviews,itwouldbelikewalkinginendlessdarkness;wewon’tevenknowwhenwewanderontothewrongpath.Similarly,mostpeoplehavethewrongviewaboutabortion;theydon’tthinkanunbornfetuscountsasalife,sotheythinkitcanbegottenridofcasually.Actually,alifecomesintobeingatthemomentofconception,orelsehowcanafetusgraduallygrowdaybyday?Similarly,thoseofuswhohavebeenbornareconsideredalivebecausewecanmoveandgrow.Therefore,anunbornfetusisalive,justlikeus.

我本身是个天主教徒，天主教一向尊重生命。今《无辜的小鬼》一书，虽是由佛教的观点切入，但慈悲爱护苍生的精神令人感动。书中宣化上人等对堕胎问题的诠释与解答，让我大开眼界；其中个案亲身的实例，更是让我深深警惕在心。此书的问世，相信会导正很多人对堕胎的观念，进而为社会带来莫大的帮助，也可因此救回很多生命！我更衷心期盼“堕胎”能至此成为历史名词，让更多生命因而存活。

IamaCatholic,andtheCatholicreligionhasalwaystreasuredlife.Althoughthe“InnocentLittleGhosts”iswrittenfromtheBuddhistperspective,itscompassionandlovetowardsalllivingbeingsisverymoving.Inthisbook,theVenerableMasterHsuanHua’sexplanationsandanswerstoquestionsaboutabortiongavemeanewperspective,andthetruestoriesbasedonpersonalexperiencesserveasgreatwarnings.Ibelievethat,thisbookwillguidemanypeopletowardsthecorrectviewofabortion,andbeagreathelptooursocietyandsavemanylives!Isincerelyhopethattheword“abortion”willbecomeatermofthepastandletmorelivescontinuetoliveasaresult.

尊重生命．爱惜自己

RespectLife,CherishYourself

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◎编辑部序

Editor\'sNote

世界上所有的婴儿不论生长在什么样的家庭，都是幸福的，因为他们有机会来到人间学习、历练。但同时也有许多胎儿因为种种的原因，被母亲放弃了，他们连呼吸一口自然空气的机会都没有，他们是已经成形的生命，却失去了生存的权利。

Allbabiesintheworldarefortunate,regardlessofwhatkindoffamilytheyareborninto.Thisisbecausetheyhaveanopportunitytobebornashumanbeingsinordertolearnandgainexperiences.However,duetovariousreasons,manyunbornbabiesareabortedbytheirmothers.Theydon’tevenhaveanopportunitytotakeabreathoffreshair;althoughtheirliveshavetakenform,theylosttheirrightstolive.

当蚊子叮您的时候，您的第一个反应是什么？或许一如多数的世人，“啪”一巴掌打下去。蚊子只是饿了而叮我们一下，我们立起?心反击；那么，那些无辜被流产或堕胎掉的胎儿，所失去的是生命的权利，他们所起的?心与报复心恐怕是超乎我们的想像。

Whenamosquitobitesyou,whatisyourfirstreaction?Manypeopleslapthemosquito,inanattempttokillit.Amosquitoonlybitesusoutofhunger,andweimmediatelyreactwithangerandawishtostrikeback.Howabouttheinnocentfetusesthatareaborted?Whattheylostaretheirrightstolive.Accordingly,theirangerandvengeancesurpassourimagination.

随着社会风气的开放与优生学的强调，堕胎问题日益严重。堕胎真的可以解决社会问题吗？堕胎真的可以让人类更优秀吗？唯有不逾矩，守礼法，明因果，才可以解决社会问题；人类的优秀与否，在于心灵纯朴，在于行为端正，而不在于种族也不在于健康。

Giventhesocietaltrendtowardslaxityandtheemphasisoneugenics,theabortionissueisbecominggraverdaybyday.Canabortionreallysolvesocialproblems?Canabortionleadtoimprovementsofthehumanspecies?Actually,onlybynottransgressingwhatisright,cansocialproblemsbesolved.Asforexcellenceofthehumanspecies,itdependsonthestateofourmindsandouractions,andnotonourraceorphysicalcondition.

以前，走上堕胎这条路必有不得已的苦衷──或许是生活不易，或许是未婚不敢生子。但现在社会风气败坏，连妇科医师都感叹，不少女孩子拿堕胎不当一回事，有人一年拿掉好几次孩子，实在令人担心。和过去不同的是，现在已经很少看到女孩子因堕胎而在诊所里哭得死去活来，而是一副不在乎的样子。普遍社会大众也视堕胎为平常事，见怪不怪。风气的演变，令人忧心，也令人伤心！

Inthepast,peoplechoseabortionasanecessarylastresort;maybetheycouldn’tsupportanotherchildfinancially,ortheywereafraidtohaveachildoutofwedlock.However,nowsocialcustomshavedeterioratedtothepointthatevengynecologistsareshakingtheirheads,becausemanyyoungwomenthinkhavinganabortionisnotabigdeal.Someevenhaveseveralabortionsinasingleyear.Thistrendisreallyworrisome.Anotherdifferencebetweenthepastandthepresentattitudeisthatthesedays,therearefewerandfeweryoungwomenwhowouldcrytheirheartsoutinabortionclinics.Rather,theyactasiftheydon’tevencare.Inaddition,mostpeopleconsiderhavinganabortionasnothingunusual.Suchchangesinsocialnormaresadandheartbreaking!

旅美高僧──宣化上人在世时，已洞察世间堕胎果报之日益昌炽，悲愍世人不知因果而妄为，每每耳提面命，提醒大家堕胎的严重性，诸如：“各位想一想：那个小孩子还没生出，你就叫他（她）死，你说这个因果厉害不厉害？”、“……与其悔之于后，不如防之于前；在未婚前，不要吃避孕药，也不要发生男女的关系……”。

AneminentChinesemonkwhomovedtoAmerica,theVenerableMasterHsuanHuahadclearlyseenhowthenegativeretributionresultingfromabortionisincreasinginitsintensitydaybyday.Outofpityforpeoplewhoengageinuntowardactionsbecausetheydon’tunderstandtheprincipleofcauseandeffect,herepeatedlyinstructedeveryonewiththeupmostsincerity,andalertedustotheseriousnessofabortion.Forexample,theVenerableMastersaid,“Everyonethinkaboutit,ifyoukillachildevenbeforeheorshehasachancetobeborn,wouldyousaytheretributionforsuchconductissevereornot?”Hefurtheradvisedthat,“Itisbettertopreventproblemsfromhappening,ratherthanfeelingregretafterwards.Beforeyougetmarried,don’ttakebirthcontrolpills,anddon’tengageinsexualintercourse....”

堕胎，不仅是一个生命的消失，对女方的身心也是个难以抚平的创伤；在男方来说，更是一份不可推卸的责任，一份终生的愧疚；乃至家庭也失去和乐。许多曾堕胎者，将此事放在心里，不敢说，不能说，也没人可说。为此，上人则指示说：“过而能改，善莫大焉。”“多做功德，多忏悔，多念佛。”亡羊补牢，为小生命做些事，也给自己一个新的人生。

Anabortionnotonlyextinguishesalife,italsoharmsthecouple.Thisisbecauseanabortionnotonlyleavesscarsonthewoman’sbodyandmind,italsocausesthemantoshareundeniableresponsibility,whichmayresultinalifetimeofshameandguilt.Itcanevencausedisharmonyinafamily.Manywhohadanabortionhidethisfact,notdaringtotalkabouttheirexperience,orhavingnoonetotalkto.Tocounterthefeelingofshameorremorse,theVenerableMasterinstructedthat,“Nowholesomedeedisgreaterthancorrectingone\'sownfaults;”and“Domorevirtuousandmeritoriousdeeds,domorerepentanceandreform,andrecitetheBuddha\'snamemoreoften.”Inotherwords,itisnevertoolatetomakeupforone’smistakes,suchasdoingsomethingwholesomeonbehalfofthelifethatwaslost,andtherebygivingoneselfanewstartinlife.

今出版《无辜的小鬼》一书，希望大众正视堕胎这个问题，对此事有所反省与体悟，了解因缘果报，有个正确的观念。千万不要轻忽生命，要尊重灵性，也珍惜自己和那个未出世孩子的缘。更期待全世界都能导正此事，重视道德教育，引导下一代走入正途。父母更应该以身作则，不要只顾赚钱，而让电脑、电视陪着孩子长大；应该以教育子女，做为最要紧的一件事情。

Bypublishingthe“InnocentLittleGhosts,”wehopeeveryonecanviewabortionwiththeproperperspective,reflectandunderstandtheissuessurroundingabortion,andtrulycomprehendtheprincipleofcauseandeffect.Wedefinitelyshouldnottreatothers’liveslightly.Rather,weshouldtreasurelifeandcherishtheaffinitybetweentheunbornchildandus.Wealsohopethattheentireworldwilladdressthisissueproperlyandunderstandtheimportanceofteachingchildrenaboutethicsandmorality,therebyguidingthenextgenerationontothecorrectpath.Finally,parentsshouldsetgoodexamplesfortheirchildrenbytheirownbehavior.Don’tmakeearningmoneyasthepriority,andletcomputersandT.V.sbethechildren’scompanionsastheygrowup.Rather,parentsshouldtreateducatingtheirchildrenastheirmostimportantresponsibility.

杀人偿命，欠债还钱

ThosewhoKillwillRepaywithLife;

ThosewhoOweMoneywillRepaywithMoney.

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◎宣化上人开示

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua

现在人为什么生一些奇怪的病症？就是从杀生来的。

Whydopeoplegetstrangediseasesnowadays?Thesediseasescomefromtheactofkilling.

世界上最大的仇怨，莫过于杀生。所谓“杀人偿命，欠债还钱。”你杀人之父兄，人必杀你的父兄。这样互相残杀，永无止境。就因为杀生太多的缘故，所以果报来得很快，所谓“现世现报。”

Thedeepestanimosityintheworldiscreatedbykilling.Itissaid,“Thosewhokillwillrepaywithlife,thosewhoowemoneywillrepaywithmoney.”Ifyoukillotherpeople\'sfatherorbrother,yourfatherorbrotherwillinturnbekilledbyothers.Inthisway,peoplecruellykilleachotherwithoutend.Itisbecauseoftoomuchkillingthatone\'sretributionripensinashortperiodoftime,andthusthesaying,“Onereceiveshisretributioninthepresentlife.”　

例如堕胎，这比土匪都厉害。你想一想，这个生命还没长成，你就把他杀了！这一些个小鬼在那儿怨天尤人，那股怨气、那股仇恨的心比什么都大，比原子弹、氢气弹都毒，他一定要报仇雪恨，所以现在这个世界上不是老鬼多，而是小鬼多，这一些没长成人的小鬼，到处皆是。有人到有病的时候，才知道为什么有病呢？就因为冤仇太多了。好像生癌病的人，多数都是因为杀生太多了，所以这个仇恨不能解开，就生癌病了……

Let\'stakeabortionforinstance,whichisfiercerthanhighwayrobbery.Thinkaboutit,byhavinganabortion,youareterminatingalifebeforehisorherbodycancompletelytakeshape!Withdeepestenmityandgreatestresentment,theselittleghostsofabortedfetuses“complainabouttheheavensandblameotherpeople.”Theirhatredismorepowerfulandpoisonousthanatomicbombsandhydrogenbombs;theyaredeterminedtoseekrevenge.Giventheprevalenceofabortionnowadays,theselittleghostsofunbornbabiesareeverywhere,outnumberingtheoldghostsintheworld.Somepeopledon’tknowwhytheyaresick.Actually,theyaresickbecausetheyhavecausedtoomuchanimositiesandresentments.Forexample,inmostcases,peoplehavecancerbecausetheyhavetakenmanylives.Beingunabletoappeasetheanimositiesfromlivingbeingstheyhavekilled,theseindividualsendupwithcancer....

堕胎、婴灵答问录

QuestionsaboutAbortionandInfantSpirits

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◎宣化上人开示

AnsweredbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua与其悔之于后，不如防之于前。

Itisbettertopreventproblemsfromhappening,ratherthanfeelingregretafterwards.

问：若有些人由于经济不允许或其他因素不得已要堕胎，后果是不是一样严重？

Question:Ifamarriedcouplehasnochoicebuttogetanabortionduetofinancialdifficultiesorotherreasons,willtheconsequencebeasserious?　上人：既然经济不许可，根本就不应该叫她有胎的，免得会有第二种麻烦的事情。自己经济既然不许可，没有这种能力范围，为什么要等到有了问题才去想办法？要防范未然。别的好办法为什么不想？为什么一定要等到木已成舟，米已成饭，才知道已经成饭呢？每年的预算，应先打算这笔预算。

TheVenerableMaster:Sincethefinancialconditionsarenotpermitting,apregnancyshouldn’thavehappenedinthefirstplace;inthisway,theycanavoidtheresultingtrouble.Giventheirexistingfinancialdifficulties,whydotheywaituntiltheproblemarisesandthentrytofindasolution?Theyshouldhavetakenprecautionsagainsttheproblemfromhappening.Whynotcomeupwithothergoodideas?Asitissaid,“Whywaituntilthewoodhasbeenmadeintocanoe[beforerealizingoneneedsfirewoodtocookameal]?”Whywaituntilwhenit’stoolatetodoanything?Theyshouldhaveincludedthepossibilityofpregnancyintheirannualbudget.问：请问师父，有些未婚妈妈造成社会上很多的问题，还有堕胎……，不晓得师父对这问题，您有何看法或建议？

Question:VenerableMaster,someunmarriedmothersarecausingalotofsocialproblems,andthenthereisabortion....IwonderwhatopinionsorsuggestionstheVenerableMasterhasregardingtheseproblems.上人：这在英文的称呼是”singlemother”──这是人性的失去，所以在未婚就不守规矩了。不守规矩──好像现代一般的年轻人，他们欢喜跳舞、看电影、唱歌，欢喜这些吃、喝、玩、乐，结果就把人性失去了；把人性失去了，连自己都不知道自己是人了。人应该作人事，他们尽作鬼事，偷偷摸摸地就要不守规矩，没有结婚就想试一试，结果就生了小孩子。这在西方国家是不当一回事，然而这在我们中国是觉得很羞耻的。

TheVenerableMaster:Youarereferringtheproblemofsinglemothers.Unfortunately,theseindividualshavelosttheirsenseofhumanity,sotheybreaktherulesbeforetheygetmarried.Nowadays,mostyoungpeopleliketodance,watchmovies,andsing.Theyenjoyeating,drinking,playing,andseekingpleasure.Thesedesiresandactionsleadtoalossoftheirhumanity,tothepointwheretheydon’tevenrealizethattheyarehumanbeings.Humanbeingsshouldactlikehumanbeings,buttheydothingslikeghosts--covertlynotobeyingtherules,wantingtotrythingsbeforetheygetmarried...asaresult,theyhaveababy.ThingslikethesemaynotbebigdealsintheWest,buttheyarethoughtofasgreatshameinChina.所以问题就由这一念的无明而起：男的追女，女的追男……，这都是无明。有了无明，就有了行为；有了行为，就有了名色、六入、触、受……，这些都是无明造成的，由于糊里糊涂的，结果就产生了爱，继而占有欲，又生出其他的问题……直到老死，这是十二因缘法。

Theseproblemsariseduetoasinglethoughtofignorance:Manchasesafterwoman,womanlooksforman....Becauseofignorance,karmicactivityfollows;afterthekarmicactivitywasperformed,nameandform,thesixentrances,contact,andfeelingscomeintobeing…,theseareallgeneratedbyignorance.Asaresultofbeingconfused,emotionallovearises,followedbythedesiretograspandpossess,thenmanyotherproblemsappear...untiloldageanddeatharrive.ThiswholechainofeventsiscalledtheDharmaofTwelve-foldConditionedArising.就因为不懂这十二因缘法，所以就造成相反的作用，问题也就愈搞愈大，甚至于有了小孩，不把他生下来，就在他一、两个月，三、四个月时去堕胎了。

Becausepeopledon’tunderstandthechainofTwelvefoldConditionedArising,theydothingscontrarytothisprinciple.Asaresult,theirtroublesgrowbiggerandbigger,tothepointthattheygetpregnant.Thingsgetevenworsewhen,insteadofgivingbirth,theygetanabortionwhenthefetusisonetofourmonthsold.堕胎的罪是最大的，虽然你看那个鬼小啊，但鬼小神通大，能令你死亡，生种的怪病，弄得你莫名其妙，糊里糊涂地发起神经病……，所以堕胎啊，比杀成人的罪还大。因为，你既然不养他，又为什么要怀下他？为什么要去乱七八糟的？所以，这就是男女不懂做人的道理，因而产生了这些问题。

Theoffenseofabortionisveryserious.Youmaythinkthisisjustalittleghost,butithasgreatspiritualpowersthatcancauseyoutodieorcatchvariousstrangediseases,makeyoufeelbaffledandconfusedtothepointofamentalbreakdown....Theoffenseofabortionisgreaterthantheoffenseofkillinganadult.Ifyoudonotwanttoraiseachild,whycausetheconception?Whybesomessed-up?Unfortunately,becausemanandwomandon’tunderstandtheprinciplesofhowtobeahumanbeing,theseproblemsarise.要解决这些问题，就要教育有关男女的性行为知识。不要在未成熟的年龄就谈情说爱，要不然，很大的问题就会发生。所以要守规矩。

Inordertosolvetheseproblems,weneedtoprovideyoungpeoplewithsexeducation,andteachthemnottoengageinloveaffairsbeforetheyarefullymaturedandgrownup,otherwise,theywillencounterserioustrouble.Weshouldurgethemtofollowtherules.

问：上人这次回国，您能给台湾的信徒们一些开示吗？

Questions:VenerableMaster,sinceyouarebackinTaiwan,couldyougivesomeadvicetoyourdisciplesinTaiwan?

上人：要国家太平、世界和平，要有男女不乱的根基。如果夫不夫、妇不妇、子不子，你说天下能不乱吗？我奉劝大家要守夫妻之道，不要离婚，好好地照顾自己的子女，家庭都和乐了，自然国家就太平了。

TheVenerableMaster:Theproperbehaviorbetweenmanandwomanisthefoundationofpeacewithinanationandpeaceintheworld.Ifahusbandactsunlikeahusband,awifeactsunlikeawife,andchildrenactunlikechildren,howcantheworldavoidbeingindisorder?Isuggestthateveryoneshouldfulfilltheproperrolesofhusbandandwife,donotgetadivorce,andtakegoodcareofyourchildren.Witheveryfamilyhappyandharmonious,thenationwillnaturallybeinpeace.还有，我要劝大家不要再堕胎了！你想想看，一个生命还没出世，就成冤魂，到处是要命的小鬼，你说社会会安宁吗？这些小鬼需要不贪财、有道行的人才能超度。小鬼难缠啊！很难办的，到处是罪业，你说能安宁吗？

Inaddition,Iurgeeveryonetostophavingabortions!Thinkaboutit,iflivingbeingsbecomeresentfulspiritsevenbeforetheyareborn,withthesevengefullittleghostsofabortedfetuseseverywhere,howcanthesocietybepeaceful?TheselittleghostscanonlybecrossedoverbygenuinecultivatorsoftheBodhiWaywhoarenotgreedyforwealth.Theselittleghostsarereallytoughtodealwith!Itisverydifficulttoresolvethesematters;hence,withkarmicoffensespervadingeverywhere,howcantherebepeace?问：如何才能救台湾呢？

Question:HowcanTaiwanbesaved?上人：不堕胎、不杀生。

TheVenerableMaster:Bynothavingabortions,bynotkillinglivingbeings.问：堕胎是杀业，以前没有学佛，不知犯了杀业，如何才能补救呢？

Question:Abortionconstitutesaskarmaofkilling.SinceIdidn’tstudyBuddhismbefore,Iunknowingcommittedthekillingoffense.HowcanImakeupformyoffense?上人：多做功德，多忏悔，多念佛。

TheVenerableMaster:Bydoingmoremeritoriousandvirtuousdeeds,bydoingmorerepentanceandreform,andbyrecitingtheBuddha\'snamemoreoften.问：听说堕胎在佛教里是不对的，但从前不知而犯过，今后将作何补救？

Question:I\'veheardthatabortioniswronginBuddhism,butIcommittedthisoffenseinthepastwithoutknowingthatitwaswrong.WhatcanIdonowtoredresstheharmthatIhavecaused?上人：过而能改，善莫大焉。弥天大罪，一忏便消。

TheVenerableMaster:Nowholesomedeedisgreaterthancorrectingone\'sownfaults.Evenifyouroffensesareenormous,asiftheywerepervadingthesky,ifyousincerelyrepentandreform,theywillbeeradicated.问：请教上人，现在报章杂志上面，时常看到“供养婴灵”，到底婴灵是需要供养呢？还是要超度他往生？

Question:Nowadays,therearemanyadvertisementson“MakingOfferingstoInfantSpirits”innewspapersandmagazines.Canwemakeofferingstoinfantspirits,orshouldtheybecrossedoverinstead?上人：这个不能谈到“供养”，因为他不是佛，不是法，不是僧。你要是供养他，那就落邪见。那么超度还可以，超度不是供养，超度令他离苦得乐。但是这个冤孽若深了，也不容易解开这个结，因为这是夺命的一种债务，就要用夺命来还，所以是很不容易解的。虽然不容易解，你若遇到不贪财的真修行人，还可以有机会超度他们的。

TheVenerableMaster:Theterm“MakingOfferings”cannotbeusedinthiscontext,becauseaninfantspiritisnottheTripleJewel(theBuddha,theDharmaandtheSangha).Ifyouconsidermakingofferingstoinfantspirits,youwillfallintothetrapoferroneousviews.Rather,itshouldbecalled“crossingover.”Crossingoverlivingbeingsisnotthesameasmakingofferingstothem,becausetheactofcrossingoverenablesthemtoleavesufferingandattainbliss.However,theinfantspirits’resentmentissogreatthattheyaredifficulttoappease.Giventhatthedebtowedtothesespiritsinvolvestakinglives,itneedstoberepaidwithlife.However,ifsuchdebtorsencountergenuinecultivatorsoftheBodhiWaywhoarenotgreedyforwealth,theystillhaveachancetocrossovertheinfantspirits.问：有许多人付钱供养婴灵，能解冤吗？

Questions:Manypeoplepaymoneytomakeofferingstoinfantspirits,canthesespirits’resentmentandgrievanceberedressedbydoingso?上人：不能解。

TheVenerableMaster:No.问：现在有很多人借婴灵敛财，有些佛教人士颇不以为然。请问师父您的观点如何？婴灵是否会造成当事者身体不健康，或带来其他方面的困扰？让一些堕胎的当事者因畏惧、害怕，结果花钱为婴灵买牌位。所以，请问师父您对这方面的看法如何？婴灵是否会作怪？又该如何去调伏？才能够让婴灵安心？

Questions:Nowadays,manypeopletakeadvantageofothersbyclaimingtoappeaseinfantspiritsasawaytomakemoney.SomeBuddhistsreallyfrownuponthispractice.VenerableMaster,whatisyouropinion?Willinfantspiritscausetheindividualswhoowethemillhealthorotherproblems?Somepeoplewhohadabortionsarescaredintospendingmoneytobuyplaquesforinfantspirits.VenerableMaster,whatareyourthoughtsonthis?Areinfantspiritsreallyabletocausetrouble?Ifso,howdowesubduethesespirits?Howdowepacifyandcomfortthem?上人：弄个牌位，不如没有位。什么叫没有位呢？根本就是不该去堕胎；不堕胎，就是不杀生；不杀生，就免得多此一举。至于，给婴灵弄个牌位，这叫舍本逐末，掩耳盗铃。能不能超度？是否可以解开这个冤债？这是不一定的。所以，与其悔之于后，不如防之于前；在未婚前，不要吃避孕药，也不要发生男女的关系……，为什么等不了呢？为什么要那么着急呢？为什么要那么馋呢？

TheVenerableMaster:Itwouldbebettertohavenoplaquethantosetupaplaque.WhatdoImeanbythis?Oneshouldnothaveanabortioninthefirstplace;byrefrainingfromabortion,onedoesnotkill;bynotkilling,onedoesn’tevenneedtosetupaplaque.Settingupaplaqueforfetusspiritsiscalled“attendingtothetriflesandneglectingtheessentials,”anditislike“coveringupone\'searstostealabell,”foroneisdeceivingoneself.Canthoseinfantspiritsbecrossedover?Canthedebtsbesettled?Theanswersareuncertain.Therefore,itisbettertopreventproblemsfromhappeningthantofeelregretafterwards.Beforeoneismarried,oneshouldnottakebirthcontrolpillsorhavesexualintercourse.Whycan’tyouwaituntilyougetmarried?Whyareyouinsuchahurry?问：请教法师，因为世界上，现在有很多堕胎的未婚妈妈及强奸、同性恋等种种的怪现象。家长们应该怎么教育子女，才能在这个时代里，青少年本身心理和生理都有一个健全的人格发展。

Question:VenerableMaster,therearemanystrangephenomenaintheworldtoday,suchasmanyunmarriedmothershavingabortions,rape,andhomosexuality.Howshouldparentseducatetheirchildreninthisdayandage,soteenagerscandevelopbothphysicallyandmentallyintowholesomeindividuals?上人：这是对症下药一个最好的问题，可是这个问题很简单，很容易治的。青少年从什么地方来的？这些问题青年也是父母生的。不过，做父母的不会做父母，父而不父，母而不母；虽然生出子女，不以子女为重，以贪欢纵欲为自己的快活，所以只会生而不会教。我们男女效法欧风美雨，恣情纵欲，随便谈恋爱，随便追求异性，作为一个时髦的东西。一般人认为，如果男的没有一个女的朋友，这是一个白痴；女的没结婚之前，若没有一个男朋友，在西方来讲就认为是一个神精病，没人要！所以疯狂的恣情纵欲，那么生出子女，也不顾子女，只顾自己。那么结婚了二天半，三天也不够，就讨厌这个了，所以就离婚了。

TheVenerableMaster:Thisisanexcellentquestionforitdealswiththerightsolutiontooursocialproblems.Theproblemsyoudescribedareverysimple,becausetheyareveryeasytosolve.Wheredidtheseteenagerscomefrom?Thesetroubledyouthshaveparents,don’tthey?However,theirparentsdon’tknowhowtobeproperparents?afatherdoesnotbehavelikeafather,andamotherdoesnotbehavelikeamother.Althoughtheygavebirthtotheirchildren,theirfocusisnotonthechildren;instead,theyaregreedyforpleasureandsatisfactionoftheirsexualdesires.Actingjusttopleasethemselves,theyonlyknowhowtoprocreate,butknownothingabouthowtoeducatetheirchildren.MenandwomeninourcountryareemulatingthetrendsinEuropeandAmerica,byindulginginemotionalloveandsexualdesires,datingcausally,andchasingaftertheoppositesex;theythinktheyarebeingverymodernbydoingso.Mostpeoplethinkthatifamandoesn’thaveagirlfriend,heisanidiot.Similarly,ifawomandoesn’thaveaboyfriendbeforeshegetsmarried,sheisthoughtofasamentalcase,andnobodywouldwanttomarryher!Sincetheseindividualscrazilyindulgeinemotionalloveandsexualdesires,theydon\'tcareabouttheirchildrenafterthechildrenareborn;theyonlycareaboutthemselves.Inthisway,itcantakeassoonastwoandahalfdaysaftertheirweddingforthemtostartdislikingeachother,andtheyendupinadivorce.离婚了，生出子女，不是没有爸爸，就是没有妈妈。美国的法官就给判了，说：“三天跟着爸爸住，四天要跟着妈妈住。”他们两个已经离婚了，这个无论是男孩、女孩，到爸爸那儿住，爸爸就说：“你妈妈，不配做你的妈妈，她不是个好女人，所以我就和她离婚，找另外一个女人。你看看，我现在这个女朋友，心地非常好，而你妈妈是最坏的。”这个小孩子一想：“哦，我妈妈最坏的！”回到妈妈那儿去，就不睬妈妈了──“你这么坏，不够资格做我的妈妈！”就听他父亲一面之词。

Afterthedivorce,theirchildrenareeitherwithoutadadorwithoutamom.Then,ajudgedecidesthatthechildshouldstaythreedayswithdad,andfourdayswithmom.Sincethecouplenolongerlivestogether,theirchild,nomatteragirloraboy,willgoandlivewithdadforawhile.Thedadwillsay:“Yourmomisnotfittobeyourmom.Sheisnotanicewoman,soIdivorcedherandfoundanotherwoman.Mypresentgirlfriendisthebest,whileyourmomistheworst.”Thechildwillthink:“Oh,mymomistheworst!”Whenthechildgoesbacktohisorhermom\'splace,heorsheignoresthemom,saying:“Youaretheworst.Youarenotfittobemymom!”Thechildhasonlyheardthedad’ssideofthestory.这妈妈一看，子女变了！也要想法子了，就对他（她）说：“你爸爸是一个最坏的男人，我受不了他的气，所以才和他离婚。”跟他（她）讲出一大套的理由，把这个小孩子弄得：“啊，爸爸也是坏的，妈妈也是坏的！那怎么办呢？啊，我也要学一个坏孩子好了！”于是就吸毒，也是乱七八糟什么都干了！也不关心国，也不关心家，也不关心自己的身体了；因为这个孩子说自己是个坏种子。爸爸妈妈都是坏，自己也不会是个好东西，所以就放弃节制，无所不为了！

Themomthinks:“Mychildhaschanged!Ibettercomeupwithsomething.”Shetellsthechild:“Yourdadistheworstman.Icouldnotstandhim,that’swhyIdivorcedhim.”Shethenbringsupawholebunchofotherreasonsfordivorcingherex-husband,andcausesthechildtothinkthat,“Oh,no!Mydadistheworstman,andmymomistheworstwoman!WhatshouldIdo?Ah,givenparentslikemine,Ishouldlearntobetheworstchild,too!”Thechildstartstotakedrugsandgetintoallsortsoftrouble.Heorshedoesn’tcareaboutanything,includinghisorhercountry,hisorherfamily,andhisorherbody.Heorshethinks:“Iamabadseed;bothmydadandmomarebad,therefore,Ialsomustbebad.”Withthisattitude,thechildgivesupanysenseofrightandwronganddoeswhateverheorshepleases.那么，男的被女人抛弃了，女人被男人抛弃了。这一抛弃，各走极端！男的也搞同性恋，女的也是恋同性，学这个不人道的行为！那么这个问题大了。所以造成今天的情形，就是因为夫妇不会做夫妇，所以把家庭也都坏了，国也都坏了。假如人人要都能像孟母似的，像岳母似的，能以教子成名，教子成为圣人，那世界上，也就没有这么多问题儿童了。我答覆你的问题，不知道对不对？如果不满意的话，你另请高明。

Sincesomemenhavebeendiscardedbywomen,andsomewomenhavebeenforsakenbymen,theygotoextremes.Theybecomegay,andlearnactionsthatgoagainstourhumanity.Becausehusbandsandwivesdon’tknowhowtobehavelikehusbandsandwives,theyendupcreatinghugeproblemsthatwefacetoday.Whenfamiliesarebroken,soisthenation.IfeveryonecouldbelikethemotherofMengZiorthemotherofYueFei,bothofwhomwereabletoteachtheirsontobecomefamousandsagely,therewouldnotbesomanytroubledchildren.Ihaveansweredyourquestion,andIdon’tknowwhetherIamrightornot.Ifyouarenotsatisfied,pleasefindsomeonewhoisbetterqualified.还有这堕胎啊，那更是不仁道的一件事情！各位想一想，那个小孩子还没生出，你就叫他（她）死，你说这个因果厉害不厉害？现在，我说一句不怕你们各位不相信的话：每一个堕胎的，那虽然是个小孩子，可是那个小鬼，比那个大鬼更厉害！现在这个又是Cancer（癌）病啊，又是爱死症啊！爱死症就是同性恋，恋出来的；这Cancer病啊，也是堕胎形成的。因为堕胎的人多了，杀的小鬼也多了，所以他到处给你洒毒，到处令人不安，啊，你叫我那么早就死了！我也不能对你善罢干休，我也要把你弄死的！所以，就生出这么多的奇难杂症，古古怪怪的这些个病！

Regardingabortion,itisaninhumaneact!Thinkaboutit,ifyoukillachildevenbeforeheorsheisborn,wouldyousaytheretributionofsuchaconductissevereornot?NowIamgoingtotellyousomethingwhetheryoubelieveitornot:althoughitisonlyalittlebabywhohasbeenaborted,thislittleghostisevenfiercerthanabigghost!Nowcancerisfairlycommoninoursociety,andthisillnessisbroughtaboutbyabortions.Sincemorefetusesgetaborted,thenumberoflittleghostsincreases,andtheselittleghostssprinklepoisonseverywhereandcausedisquietamongpeople.Theythink:“Youmademediesoearly,Iwon\'tletyougetawaywithit.Iwillalsokillyou!”Accordingly,wehavealotofstrangeandhardtocurediseases.

糊涂债

DebtsMadeinConfusion

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◎宣化上人．一九八○年六月十六日

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua,June16,1980每个人能在今生做为眷属，必然有前世的因缘…

Forpeopletobecomefamilymembersinthislife,theremustbecausesandaffinitiesfromtheirpastlives.

每个人的面目不同，其因果也不一样，每个人在往昔生生世世所欠下的债也不同。有些人欠债太多了，到这个世界上来，还也还不了，所谓“债台高筑”，也就是业障之台，一天比一天高，一天比一天深，债上加债，纠缠不清。这是什么缘故呢？是因为往昔专门放高利贷，借钱给人，利上加利，贪得无餍，自己以为占了便宜，结果是自己吃了亏，业障一天比一天重，终于拔不出腿来了！

Everyonehasadifferentappearance.Inaddition,theircausesandeffectsvary,andtheirdebtsaccumulatedfrompastlivesarealsodifferent.Somepeopleowesomuchthattheycan’tevenpayofftheirdebtsinthislifetime.Itissaidthattheseindividualsare“buildingahighmountainofdebts.”Thismountainisalsoamountainofkarmicobstacles,whichisgettinghigherdaybyday.Withnewdebtsaddedonolddebts,thedebtorsgetevenmoreentangled.Whyisthat?Itisbecausetheseindividualsspecializedinusuriouspracticesinthepast.Theyweresogreedythattheychargedexcessiveinterestsandthoughttheyweremakingaprofitattheirborrowers’expense.However,theywereactuallyhurtingthemselves,becausetheirkarmicoffensesweregettingheaviereveryday.Eventuallythesekarmicoffensesbecamesoheavythattheycouldn’tpullthemselvesoutoftheresultingretributions.有的欠人做父亲的债，有的欠人做母亲的债，有的欠人做妻子的债，有的欠人做丈夫的债，有的欠人做儿子的债，有的欠人做女儿的债。所谓“父母的饥荒，伦常的账码”，种种的因缘，乃促成你我今生命运的安排。可是一般人不明白一切都是前因后果，定业难逃，所以有时候还不认账，还想扛债不还，明明欠人的债，却不承认。因为这样不讲道理，所以酿成世界上种种麻烦的发生──你有你的麻烦，我有我的麻烦，他有他的麻烦，各人有纠缠不清、善恶夹杂的因果。偶尔遇到佛教，听了佛理，便明白一点。

Somepeoplerepaytheirkarmicdebtsbybecomingtheircreditors’father,mother,husband,wife,sonordaughter.Itissaidthat“parentsendurehungerasawaytorepaytheirdebtstotheirchildren.”Variouskindsofcausesandconditionshaveshapedourdestiniesinthislife.However,mostpeopledonotunderstandthateverythingoccursduetopriorcausesandresultingconsequences.Therefore,insteadofowninguptotheirinescapablekarmicdebts,sometimestheydon’tevenacknowledgetheirdebtstoothers;instead,theytrytorenege.Suchunreasonableactionscausemanytroublesintheworld--youhaveyourtrouble,Ihavemineandtheyhavetheirs.Everyonehasbothwholesomeandunwholesomecausesandconditions,whichareentangledanddifficulttoseparate.Onceinawhile,whenpeopleencounterBuddhism,theywillunderstandthetruthabit.可是今天明白了，明天又糊涂了；后天又想明白，大后天又糊涂了。于是变成智愚平等的局面，智慧和愚痴平均，糊涂时便不想修道，明白时便想修道。可是修道的时候很少，糊涂的时候很多，因此所修的不及所丢的，智慧也一天不如一天；而愚痴却一天比一天增加，在无明驱使之下，便做出很多糊涂事。心里糊涂，进一步身上也糊涂了；心里有贪?痴，身上便犯杀盗淫，这些都是糊涂账，根本算不清！

However,whilebeingclearaboutthetruthtoday,theygetconfusedbytomorrow;beingclearthedayaftertomorrow,butadaylatertheygetallmixed-upagain.Theygobackandforthbetweenclarityandconfusionuntiltheyhaveasmuchwisdomasdelusion.Whenmuddled,theydon’twanttocultivatetheBodhiPath;inmomentsofclarity,theyarewillingtocultivate.Unfortunately,thetimespentcultivatingisalotlessthanthetimespentbeingconfused.Asaresult,whattheygainedfromcultivationisalotlessthanwhattheylostduetoconfusion.Daybyday,theirwisdomdecreasesastheirdelusionincreases.Drivenbytheirignorance,theyendupengaginginallsortsofmixed-upconducts.Withconfusedminds,theirbodiesalsobecomeconfused;harboringgreed,hatredanddelusionintheirminds,theyusetheirbodiestocommitkilling,stealingandsexualmisconducts.Theycreateaninnumerableamountofkarmicdebtswhiletheyareconfused,andthesedebtsarereallyhardtorepay!所以，有时家庭眷属不和，父子不和、母女不和、夫妇不和、兄弟不和、姊妹不和、兄妹不和，种种问题就发生了。发生了，自己还不承认、不认账，反而觉得很受委曲。其实这都是前因后果的定律，以前种下的因，如今结果了，有什么好怨呢？所以“是故知命者，不立岩墙之下”，“不怨天、不尤人，下学而上达。”首先要明白因果，不要再种糊涂因果，要种清净的因果，要是道则进，非道则退。不要再把善恶混淆不清，是非夹杂不明，若能黑白分明，真假了然，便有机会返本还原，回复到本有的性净明体、妙真如性。

Givenallthesedebts,sometimesdisharmonyariseamongone\'sfamilymembers--betweenfatherandson,motheranddaughter,husbandandwife,elderbrotherandyoungerbrother,eldersisterandyoungersister,orabrotherandasister.However,despitethesefamilyproblems,onestillrefusestoacknowledgeone’smistakesandsettleone’sdebts;insteadonefeelsheorshehasbeenwrongedsomehow.Actually,allofthiscanbeexplainedbytheunchangingprincipleofcauseandeffect--duetothecausesoneplantedinthepast,onereapstheconsequencenow.So,whatistheretocomplainabout?Itissaidthat“Ifyouunderstandcauseandeffect,youwouldnotstandnexttoacrumblingwall.”Infact,weshouldnot“complaintotheheavensorblameothers”forourmisfortunes.Instead,weneedtounderstandtheprincipleofcauseandeffect,andplantpureandwholesomecausesinsteadofconfusedones.WhenouractionsaccordwiththeBodhiWay,weshouldproceed;otherwise,weshouldretreat.Donotconfusegoodwithevilanylonger,ormixuptherightwiththewrong.Ifwecandistinguishblackfromwhiteandbeclearonwhat’strueandwhat’sfalse,thenwehaveanopportunitytoreturntoourinherentnature,ourwondrousBuddhanature,whichispureandbright.

十二因缘

TwelvefoldConditionedArising

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◎节自《心经非台颂解》．宣化上人讲述

ExcerptfromTheHeartofPrajnaParamitaSutrawithVerseswithoutAStandandProseCommentarybytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua十二因缘，就是说“我们人怎么样受生，怎么样死的这个道理”。

TwelvefoldConditionedArisingtellsusthat,\"Thewaywediedependsonthewaywelive.\"

《心经》中的“无无明，亦无无明尽，乃至无老死，亦无老死尽”，这是说“十二因缘”的道理；由这十二种的缘作为助缘，帮助人生了死，死了生。这“十二因缘”就是：无明缘行，行缘识，识缘名色，名色缘六入，六入缘触，触缘受，受缘爱，爱缘取，取缘有，有缘生，生缘老死。

ThepassageinTheHeartofPrajnaParamitaSutra,“Noignoranceorendingofignorance,uptoandincludingnooldageanddeathorendingofoldageanddeath”referstotheTwelvefoldConditionedArising.TheTwelvefoldConditionedArisingisthereasonthatpeopleareintheendlesscycleofdeathandrebirth.ThechainoftheTwelvefoldConditionedArisingconsistsof:ignoranceistheconditionforkarmicactivity;karmicactivitytheconditionforconsciousness;consciousnessistheconditionfornameandform;nameandformistheconditionforthesixentrances(i.e.,thesixsense-faculties);thesixentrancesistheconditionforcontact;contactistheconditionforfeeling;feelingistheconditionforemotionalloveorcraving;emotionalloveistheconditionforgrasping;graspingistheconditionforbecoming;becomingistheconditionforbirth;birthistheconditionforoldageanddeath.什么是“无明”？“无明”就是不明白。不明白又是什么呢？就是俗话所说的糊涂。糊涂就是不懂道理，糊糊涂涂的。因为糊糊涂涂的时候不明白，就做出糊涂的行为，就有妄行了。什么叫“妄行”呢？“妄行”就是不应该做的而去做了。有了妄行，就有一种虚妄的认识，“识”就是一种认识。有了虚妄的认识，就有一种糊涂的“名色”。有糊涂的名色，就有一种糊涂的入；人有六根，所以就有“六入”。有糊涂的入，就有一种糊涂的“触”。有糊涂的接触，就想要有一种糊涂的“受”。有了糊涂的享受，就有了糊涂的“爱”。有了糊涂的爱，就有一种糊涂的“取”。有了糊涂的求取，就想有一种糊涂的“有”，有也就是得。有了糊涂的得，就有了“生”。有了来生，就有了“老死”。

Whatis“ignorance”?“Ignorance”isthelackofunderstanding.Ineverydaylanguageitiscalled“beingmixed-up.”Itmeansthatyouhavenotunderstoodthetruth.Becauseyouaresomixedupandyoudon’tunderstand,youengageinconfusedanderroneousactivities.“Erroneousactivities”inthiscontextmeansdoingsomethingthatyoushouldn’tdo.Theerroneousactivityleadstofalserecognition,or“consciousness.”Consciousnessleadstomixed-up“nameandform.”Mixed-upnameandformleadstomixed-upentrances.Sincehumanbeingshavesixsense-faculties,sensedatacomeintoourbodiesandmindsthroughthese“sixentrances.”Frommixed-upentrances,mixed-up“contact”arises.Wherethereismixed-upcontact,onewantsmixed-up“feelingofenjoyment.”Fromsuchmixed-upfeelingcomesmixed-up“emotionallove”orcraving.Frommixed-upcraving,mixed-up“grasping”arises.Oncethereismixed-upgrasping,mixed-up“becoming”results.Frommixed-upbecoming,onethenobtains“birth.”Frombirthcomes“oldageanddeath.这一些个因缘，都是开始于这个“糊涂”。开始是糊涂，所以结果也糊涂；这一生糊糊涂涂的，又有一个来生，来生还是糊涂。十二因缘最初就是个糊涂，所以十二因缘就是个糊涂因缘。糊涂因缘，就是凡夫所不能明白的这种因缘。这十二因缘就是说“我们人怎么样受生、怎么样死的这个道理”。就因为不懂这十二因缘法，所以就造成相反的作用，问题也就愈搞愈大，甚至于有了小孩，不把他生下来，就在他一、两个月，三、四个月时去堕胎了。

Theseconditionedcausesstartwithbeingignorantorconfused.Becausepeopleareconfusedinthebeginning,theyareconfusedintheend.Theypassthroughonemuddledlifetothenext,andthatnextlifeisalsomuddled.TheTwelvefoldConditionedArisingstartswiththementalstateofignorance,andexplainsthecausesofourconfusion.Unfortunately,ordinarypeoplecan’tunderstandthisprinciple,wheninfacttheTwelvefoldConditionedArisingtellsusthat,“Thewaywediedependsonthewaywelive.”Unfortunately,becausepeopledon’tunderstand,theydothingscontrarytothisteaching.Asaresult,theirtroublesgrowbiggerandbiggertothepointthattheybecomepregnant.Thingsgetevenworsewhen,insteadofgivingbirth,theygetanabortionduringthefirstfewmonthsofthefetus’life.人的欲念，食欲或者色欲，是从什么地方生出来的呢？都是从“无明”生出来的，“无明”就是糊涂的一个别名。无明生出来了，就想要去做去。因为无明，就有男女的性行为。这个性行为就是由糊涂而发生，然后才有这种糊涂的行为，这就是“无明缘行”。有糊涂的行为，然后就生出来一种糊涂的认识、糊涂的分别。这种识也就是中阴身，在男女有性行为的时候，这中阴身离得千里万里，都看得到这个地方有一线很小、很小的光明，它和这个父母有眷属因缘的，就看得见这个亮光，就到那儿去投胎，这个识就投胎了；所以说“行缘识”。

Wheredopeople’sdesires,whetherforfoodorsex,comefrom?Theyareallproductsofignorance.Ignoranceisjustanothernameforbeingconfused.Whenthoughtsarise,adesiretoactfollows.Becausethereisignorance,thereissexualactivity.Theconfusedsexualactivitystemsfromthestateofbeingconfused;thisishow“ignoranceistheconditionforactivity.”Whenconfusedactivityexists,confusedconsciousnessarises,whichstartstomakeconfuseddistinctions.Thisconsciousnessisalsoreferredtoas“theintermediateskandhabody”(i.e.,theintermediateexistencebetweendeathandreincarnation.)Whenamanandwomanengagesinsexualintercourse,ifanintermediateskandhabodyhascausesforfamilialtieswiththatcouple,itwouldseekrebirthastheirchild.Theaffinitybetweenthisconsciousnessandthecoupleissostrongthatevenifitwereathousandortenthousandmilesawayandevenifonlythetiniestpointoflightwereemittedbythecoupleduringtheirintercourse,itwouldseethelightandgotothecoupletobecomeafetusinthemother’swomb.Therefore,itissaidthat“activityistheconditionforconsciousness.”“识缘名色”，识投胎了，这就有了“名色”。“名”，就是受、想、行、识四蕴；“色”，就是色蕴。受、想、行、识这四蕴，在母腹里头只有这么个名称，还没有真实的成就。等到出生，名色具足，就有六入了；这就是“名色缘六入”。“六入”，就是六根对外境生出见性、闻性、嗅性、尝性、觉性、知性这六种性，这叫六入。

“Consciousnessistheconditionfornameandform.”Inthiscontextthephrasemeansthatwhenthefetuscomesintobeing,thereis“nameandform.”“Name”referstothefourskandhasoffeeling,cognition,formations,andconsciousness,while“form”referstotheform-skandha.Fourofthefetus’fiveskandha(i.e.,feeling,cognition,formationsandconsciousness)existinthemother’swombinnameonly;theyhaveyetcomeintobeing.Oncethechildisborn,allfiveofhisskandhas(i.e.,hisnameandform)arecomplete,soarethechild’ssixsense-facultiesorentrances(eyes,ears,nose,tongue,bodyandmind).Thisiscalled“nameandformistheconditionforthesixentrances.”Thesesixperceptualfacultiesinteractwiththeircorrespondingsenseobjects(sight,sounds,smells,tastes,objectsoftouch,andobjectsofmind)andgiverisetotheawarenessofseeing,hearing,smelling,tasting,touchandthoughts.由这种六入，这个小孩子就有了一种触觉，所以说“六入缘触”。有了触觉，这个小孩子就有一种领受的感觉，这叫“触缘受”。“受缘爱”，有了领受，就生出一种爱心来。生出爱心，然后就想要求取，求取这种的所爱，所以“爱缘取”。因为求取，所以就想要占有、想要得着，这叫“取缘有”。“有缘生”，因为想要得着，所以就又有了来生。“生缘老死”，有了来生，就又有老死。这就是十二因缘的“流转门”。

Oncethesixentrancesexist,thechildbecomesawareofcontact.Therefore,itissaid,“Thesixentrancesaretheconditionforcontact.”Aftercontactoccurs,thechildstartstohavefeelingsabouthisorhercontact;thisiscalled“contactistheconditionforfeelings.”Oncethereisfeeling,lovearises(e.g.,lovingpleasantsituationsanddetestingunpleasantsituations).Hence,“feelingistheconditionforlove.”Afterlovearises,thechildwishestoseekandgraspwhatheorsheloves.Therefore,“loveistheconditionforgrasping.”Thereupononewantstopossesshisorherobjectofdesires,andthisgraspingleadstobecoming(inthedesire,formorformlessrealms.)Thisiscalled,“graspingistheconditionforbecoming.”Thenextstep,“becomingistheconditionforbirth”meansduetograsping,andattaching,therearefurtherbirths.Finally,“birthistheconditionforoldageanddeath.”Afterbirthcomesoldageanddeath.TheentireprocessistherevolvingcycleoftheTwelvefoldConditionedArising.如果无明没有了呢？这行也没有了。无明灭，则行灭；行灭，则识灭，识也没有了；识灭，名色也灭了；名色灭，六入也灭了；六入灭，触也灭了；触灭，受也灭了；受灭，爱也灭了；爱灭，取也灭了；取灭，有也灭了；有灭，生老死都灭了。这是十二因缘的“还灭门”。所以才说“无无明尽本性空”，本性空了，没有无明了。

Whatiftherewerenoignorance?Therewouldbenoactivity.Inotherwords,whenignoranceisextinguished,activityisextinguished.Whenactivityisextinguished,consciousnessisextinguished.Whenconsciousnessisextinguished,nameandformareextinguished.Whennameandformareextinguished,thesixentrancesareextinguished.Whenthesixentrancesareextinguished,contactisextinguished.Whencontactisextinguished,feelingisextinguished.Whenfeelingisextinguished,loveisextinguished.Whenloveisextinguished,graspingisextinguished.Whengraspingisextinguished,becomingisextinguished.Whenbecomingisextinguished,birth,oldageanddeathareextinguished.ThisishowtoendthecycleoftheTwelvefoldConditionedArising.Therefore,itissaid:“Thereisnoendingofignoranceforitsinherentnatureisempty.”“十二因缘”这一连串的关系若都没有了，就好像万里晴空一样，又好像水清月现。你若能了悟这十二因缘的法，那时候就好像人喝水一样，这水是热的、是冷的，你自己知道。但是如果你自己不去实实在在修行，来参悟、了悟这十二因缘，就光说十二因缘空了、空了、空了，那是没有用的！

Whenalltheseconnectedtwelveconditionedcausesceasetoexist,itislikeaclearskyfortenthousandmiles;itisalsolikeabrightmoonappearingasareflectiononclearwater.IfyoutrulyunderstandtheteachingofTwelvefoldConditionedArising,itwouldbelikedrinkingwater;whenyouarethirstyandtakeadrinkofwater,youknowforyourselfwhetherthewateriswarmorcold.Ifyoudon’tactuallyputintheefforttocultivateandawakentotheprincipleofTwelvefoldConditionedArising,itisuselessevenifyousay,“Oh,thetwelveconditionedcausesareallempty,empty,empty!”

教育始于胎教

EducationStartsintheWomb

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◎宣化上人．一九八八年十月二十五日

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua,Oct.25,1988怀孕的时候，有什么样的行为，就影响胎儿也有这种心理。

Ababywillbeimprintedbywhatevermindsetthemotherhasduringherpregnancy.

各位善知识，今天大家聚会到这一个大堂里边，共同谈一谈教育的问题。教育是人的根本，若把这根本问题忽略了，那就叫舍本逐末，舍近求远。

Allgoodandwisefriends,todaywearetogetherinthisgreathalltodiscusseducation.Educationisthefoundationforeveryone,ifweneglectthisbasicissue,wewillbe“renouncingtheessentialwhilepursuingthetrivia,ignoringwhatisnearandseekingwhatisfaraway.”教育是由有生以来，耳濡目染影响的，形成我们人一生的行为，所谓“近朱者赤，近墨者黑，染于苍则苍，染于黄则黄。”教育的问题，甚至于可以这么说，不单生出后做人受教育；就是没生出以前，在母亲的腹里，已经就接受教育了。当小孩子在母亲腹里的时候，这个母亲如果是有学识的，也会影响这个小孩子很聪明，很有学问的。母亲怀着子女的时候，如果是爱发脾气，出生的小孩子脾气一定很大的。母亲非常刚强，不接受任何人的劝告，这个小孩子生出来也一定非常刚强，不听任何人的劝告，自己有自己的主宰，不是一般人所能左右的。所以胎教非常重要。

Educationstartswhenweareborn;whatweconstantlyseeandhearafterourbirthshapesourbehaviorthroughoutourlives.Itissaidthat“Thosewhodrawneartovermilionwillturnred,thosewhoassociatewithinkwillturnblack;somethingstainedwithgraywillturngray,somethingstainedwithyellowwillbecomeyellow.”Itcanevenbesaidthateducationnotonlyaffectsapersonafterhisbirth,butalsowhenheisstillinthewomb.Forexample,ifamotherwereknowledgeable,thebabyinherwombwillbepositivelyinfluencedtoalsobeverysmartandlearned.Ifamotherlikestolosehertemperwhilepregnant,herbabycertainlywillhaveabigtemper.Ifamotherwereveryobstinateandrefusestotakeadvicefromanyone,herchildwilldefinitelybeverystubbornanddoesthingshisownwaywithoutheedingtheadviceofothers.Therefore,educatingthefetusisveryimportant.女人为国民之母，为国家的根本，所有的女人都应该会教育儿童。在怀孕的时候，就懂得胎教，这时候也不应该争，也不应该贪，也不应该妄求，也不应该那么自私，也不应该那么自利，也不应该打妄语。因为你打妄语，有争、贪、求、自私自利这些行为，就会影响胎儿也有这种心理，所以就不会在社会上做一个良好的国民。因为这个，所以父母于怀孕的期间，就应该特别注意教育。

Womenaremothersofeverycitizen,andthustheyarethefoundationofanation.Giventhisimportantroletheyplayinsociety,allwomenshouldlearnhowtoeducatetheirchildren,andthisresponsibilitystartswhentheybecomepregnant.Duringtheirpregnancy,womenshouldnotfight,begreedy,seek,beselfish,pursuepersonaladvantage,ortelllies.Becauseifamotherengagesinanyofthesebehaviors,herbabywillbeinfluencedaccordinglyanddevelopsimilarmindset.Consequently,thechildwon’tbecomeagoodcitizen.Therefore,parentsshouldstartpayingattentiontoeducatingtheirchildwhentheirbabyisstillinthewomb.在小孩子生出来了，做父母的一定要给子女做个好榜样，不要那么争啊！吵啊！自私自利、贪、求、打妄语啊！如果你有这样的行为，那子女是见到什么，就会学什么。譬如大人会讲话，小孩子也一点一点就会讲话了。他受这种的影响力是很大的。所以做父母的不能说能养子女，不能教子女。你能养子女，那是帮助国家生一个国民了；可是你不能教养子女，这是没有负起对国家、对社会的关心。你没把你生出的子女教育好，令他做一个问题儿童，甚至于危害社会国家，这都是做父母的要负的责任。

Parentsmustsetgoodexamplesfortheirchildren.Theyshouldnotfightorquarrelsomuch,beselfish,seekself-advantage,begreedy,orlie!Thisisimportantbecausechildrenwillobserveandimitatetheirparents’behaviors.Indeed,childrenarehighlysusceptibletotheirenvironment.Forexample,byobservingthewayadultstalk,childrenlearnhowtotalkbitbybit.Therefore,parentsshouldnotsaytheyareonlycapableofbearingtheirchildren,butincapableofeducatingthem.Bybringingachildintothisworld,youareaddinganewcitizentoyournation.However,ifyoudon’teducateyourchildrenwell,youwon’tbefulfillingyourresponsibilitytoyournationandsociety.Inotherwords,youwillbeheldfullyresponsibleifyoufailtoeducateyourchildrenproperlyandtheybecomeproblemyouths,whomayevenharmthenationandsociety.所以做父母的，要以教育子女为当务之急，不要把“去赚钱、去搞名搞利”，做为第一了。应该以教育子女，做为最要紧的一件事情。你若是把子女教育好了，比你为他赚多少钱都有价值；因为他知道怎么样做人，怎么样爱惜身体了。所以子女在家庭，还没有入学的这个阶段，教育的责任是父母的。

Therefore,asparents,youshouldmakeyourchildren’seducationasyourfirstpriority,insteadoffocusingmainlyonearningmoneyandpursuingfame.Youshouldconsidereducatingyourchildrenasyourmostimportanttask.Ifyouareabletoeducateyourchildrenwell,itwillbemorevaluablethanearningalotofmoneyforthem.Thisisbecausethroughpropereducation,yourchildrenwilllearnhowtobehaveasuprightindividuals,andhowtocherishtheirownbodies.Therefore,beforechildrenareoldenoughtoattendschool,theirparentsshouldberesponsiblefortheireducationduringthisperiodoftime.那么等到他一踏入学校，学校做人师表的，应该要以身作则，影响得学生尽量知道怎么样敦品立德，怎么样能孝顺父母，尊敬长上。一开始的时候，要教他孝道。万佛圣城的小学，尽量灌输小学生孝顺父母；在家里要替父母工作，也要顺承父母的意思。所以万佛圣城的小学生回到家里，他的父母都非常满意的。

Assoonaschildrenstartschool,teachersshouldsetgoodexamplesfortheirstudents.Undertheteachers’positiveinfluence,thestudentsshouldlearnhowtodevelopuprightcharactersandvirtues,andhowtoshowfilialreverencetowardtheirparentsandrespecttowardtheirelders.Fromtheverybeginning,teachersshouldteachtheirstudentsfilialreverence.IntheelementaryschoolattheCityofTenThousandBuddhas,studentsareinstilledwiththeconceptoffilialreverence.Theyaretaughttobeobedienttotheirparents,andtohelptheirparentswhentheygohome.Therefore,theirparentsareverypleasedwiththeirbehaviorathome.老师以“得天下英才而教育之”做自己真正的天职义务，就应该负起教育一般人的子女这种的责任，令他不抽烟、不喝酒、不吸毒，不男女不守规矩，应该在这个地方着手。

Forteacherswhohavetaken“obtainingoutstandingpeopleintheworldtoeducate”astheirtruevocationandduty,theyshouldshouldertheresponsibilityforeducatingotherpeople\'schildren.Theyshouldstartwithinstructingthestudentsnottosmoke,nottotakeintoxicantsordrugs,andnottogetinvolvedinimproperrelationshipswithmembersoftheoppositesex.

没有理性的自由

UnreasonableFreedom

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◎宣化上人．一九八八年六月五日开示

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua,June5,1988一千一万个自由发展的孩子，就有一千一万个发展坏了。

Iftherewereonethousandortenthousandchildrenwhogrowupwithoutpropercontrol,thesamenumberofchildrenwouldhavegonebad.

什么是教育呢？小孩子要教他怎么样做人，教他什么是“孝、悌、忠、信、礼、义、廉、耻”，要“择善而从，不善而改；是道则进，非道则退。”这是亚洲的中国文化。西方文化就是迷信自由，误解自由，不负责任的自由，生而不教的自由，老而不养的自由。幼而不教，你说生这个小孩子干什么？教他在世界上做一些个不合法的事情，可以说是造罪。老而不养，人年纪老了，应该老有所终，壮有所用，幼有所长。

Whatiseducation?Itmeansweshouldteachchildrenhowtobeuprighthumanbeings,andinstructthemabouttheeightvirtuesoffilialreverence,fraternity,loyalty,trustworthiness,propriety,righteousness,incorruptibility,andasenseofshame.Theyalsoneedtolearnhowto“choosetofollowwhat’swholesome,andrectifywhat’sunwholesome;toproceedifitaccordswiththeWay,andretreatifitdoesnot.”TheforegoingprinciplesarepartsoftheChinesecultureinAsia.Inthewesternculture,peoplehaveblindfaithinfreedom.Theymisconstruetheirfreedomtomeanthefreedomofbeingirresponsible,thefreedomofhavingchildrenwithouteducatingthemproperly,andthefreedomofneglectingtheirelders.Whatisthepointofhavingchildrenifyouwerenotgoingtoeducatethem?Indeed,youwouldbecommittinganoffenseifyouweretoteachyourchildrenunlawfulbehavior.Asfortheelders,theyshouldbetakencareof.Asitissaid,“theelderlyshouldbetended,thestrongbeemployed,andtheyoungbenurtured.”人到老年，老病缠身，耳朵聋、眼也花，啊！牙齿也不帮忙了，这时候很可怜的。在中国的教育来说是养儿防老。防老也并不是一种自私心，要儿子来保护。只不过他把儿子教育成人了，这个青年人应该照顾这个血气衰退的老人。要不这样子，你说生这么多孩子干什么？结婚又干什么？这不是没意义嘛！所以啊！在这个国家，误解自由，让小孩自由发展。你看一千一万个自由发展的孩子，就有一千一万个发展坏了。好的，或者有一、二个，这些孩子生来有这种仁性，知道做好事。可是不是个个都懂仁性，都知道“择善而从，不善而改；是道则进，非道则退。”所谓小孩子“近朱者赤，近墨者黑。染于苍则苍，染于黄则黄。”那你怎么可以不注意他？

Whenapersongetsold,heisverypitifulwithfailingeyesightandhearing,uselessteeth,andallsortsofillnesses.FromtheperspectiveofeducationinChina,raisingchildrenservesthepurposeofpreparingforone\'soldage.Thisisnotbasedonselfishnessonthepartoftheparents.Rather,itisbecausetheparentshaveraisedtheirchildrentoadulthood,theseyoungmenandwomenshouldtakecareoftheirelderlyparents,whosebloodandenergyhavewaned.Otherwise,whatisthepointofhavingsomanychildren,whatisthepointofgettingmarried?Itwouldbemeaningless!Inthiscountry,sincepeoplehavemisconstruedthemeaningoffreedom,theylettheirchildrengrowupunchecked.Asaconsequence,youcanseethatiftherewereonethousandortenthousandchildrenwhogrowupwithoutpropercontrol,thesamenumberofchildrenwouldhavegonebad.Maybethereareafewofthemwhohaveinherenthumanityandkindness,andtheywillturnoutwholesomeandknowhowtohelpothers.However,noteveryoneunderstandshumanityandknowshowto“choosetofollowwhat’swholesome,andrectifywhat’sunwholesome;toproceedifitaccordswiththeWay,andretreatifitdoesnot.”Indescribingchildren,thereisasayingthat,“Thosewhodrawneartovermilionwillturnred,thosewhoassociateswithinkwillturnblack;somethingstainedwithgraywillturngray,somethingstainedwithyellowwillbecomeyellow.”Therefore,howcanwenotwatchoverandpayattentiontoourchildren?为什么现在西方的小孩子很多是吸毒的？你看看！小学、中学生所接近的就是贩卖毒药的小贩，他劝这些学生说：“你吃这个药就聪明啦。吃这个毒药，你就会快乐啊！”他就吃毒药，他就快乐，真是越搞越愚痴！吃了，一天到晚在那“入定”。你看那吃毒药的人，一站可以站几个钟头，可是这不是他的定力，他被药毒控制得没有思想，这岂不是往死亡路上走？你叫他自由发展，发展到死亡的路上去，啊！这叫误解自由，不负责任的自由，没有理性的自由。

WhydomanychildrenintheWesttakedrugsnowadays?Takealook!Elementaryandsecondaryschoolstudentsaredrawntodrugdealers.Theyurgethesestudentstotakedrugs,promisingthat,“Thesedrugswillmakeyousmartandhappy!”Aftertakingthedrugs,theseyoungstersmayfeelhappy,butactuallytheyaregettingmoreandmoremixed-up!Ifyouseepeoplewhoareondrugs,itmayseemthattheyareinsamadhialldaylong,becausetheycanstandthereanddonothingforhours.However,thisisnotsamadhi;rather,theseindividualshavelostcontroloftheirmindsundertheinfluenceofdrugs.Aren\'ttheywalkingtowardthepathofdeath?Ifyouletchildrengrowupwithunchecked“freedom,”theywouldadvancefreelyontothepathofdeath!Thispermissivenessismisinterpretedfreedom,irresponsiblefreedom,andunreasonablefreedom.再告诉你们各位老年的朋友、中年的朋友、青年的小朋友，你们都要注意这一点。什么呢？现在全世界啊，教育都破产了，没有教育了。这个教育，教你什么呢？现在他们教性行为，这是大错而特错！性行为可以教，你应该教他怎么样子不乱交，不要乱搞关系，你应该教他洁身自爱、守身如玉，等他成长了之后再懂得性知识。不应该啊！五、六岁的小孩子一天到晚都看电视。电视这妖怪把小孩子都引诱坏了，引诱四、五岁小孩子就懂得接吻，也懂得互相搂抱。嗯，你说这是什么世界？这种自由真是可怜！可怜！太可怜了！

Letmeonceagaintellallofyouseniorfriends,middle-agedfriendsandyoungfriends,youshouldpayattentiontothispoint.Whatpoint?Nowadays,educationallovertheworldhasgonebankrupttothepointthatthereisnoeducationatall!Whatdoeseducationteachyoucurrently?Itteachesyousexualconduct,andthisisextremelywrong!Althoughsexeducationiso.k.inofitself,thefocusshouldbeonteachingstudentsnottoengageinimpropersexualrelationships.Thestudentsshouldbetaughthowtocherishthemselves,andguardthepurityoftheirbodies.Onlyuntiltheyaregrownup,cantheseyoungstersreallyunderstandsex.Inaddition,childrenwhoareonlyfiveorsixyearsoldshouldnotbeallowedtowatchTValldaylong.ThisT.V.monsterhasnegativeinfluenceontheseyoungchildren.Forexample,ithasseducedthesechildrenintoknowinghowtokissandhugeachother.Whatkindofworldisthis?Thistypeoffreedomisreallypitiful!为什么说教育破产？你看看，小孩子你不教他做人的根本道理，现在的学校都鼓励什么呢？鼓励你读什么书赚钱最多。做医生赚钱最多就读医学，到月球去赚钱最多就读科学。喔，父母也不顾了，妻子也不管了，什么都不顾了！

WhydoIsayeducationinthisworldhasgonebankrupt?Schoolsdon\'tteachchildrenthefundamentalprinciplesofbeingahuman.Whatdotheyadvocateinstead?Theyencouragestudentstostudywhateversubjectsthatwillhelpthemtoearnthemostmoney.Ifbeingadoctoristhemostprofitable,thenonegoestomedicalschool;ifgoingtothemoonmeanshavingthehighestsalary,thenonestudiesscience.Focusingonmakingmoney,peopleendupneglectingtheirparentsandspouse.Infact,theyignoreeverythingbutmoney!

近朱者赤，近墨者黑

ThosewhoDrawNeartoVermilionwillTurnRed,ThosewhoAssociatewithInkwillTurnBlack.

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◎宣化上人

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua你若太早有男女朋友，就受伤了。

就像小苗，还没成长就把它割下来，那它根本什么用也没有！

Ifyouhaveaboyfriendoragirlfriendwhenyouaretooyoung,youwillendupgettinghurt.

It\'slikecuttingalittlesproutbeforeitisfullygrown;whatistheuse?

同学们！人生最好的时候，就是二十岁以前的时期，即所谓的“黄金时代”。在这时期，本有的佛性还未失去，清净的自性仍然存在。此时，若能跟着好人在一起，就会做个好人；若是跟着坏人在一起，就会做个坏人，很容易受环境的影响。所谓“近朱者赤，近墨者黑”就是这个道理。

Allofyoustudents!Thebestdaysinone\'slifeisthetimebeforeagetwenty,referredtoas“thegoldenage.”Inthisperiod,youhaveyettoloseyourpureinherentnature,yourBuddhanature.Youarealsoeasilyinfluencedbyyourenvironmentduringthistime.Ifyouwerearoundwholesomepeople,youwillbecomewholesome,ifyouweretoassociatewithunwholesomepeople,youwillturnunwholesome.Thisistheprincipleof“Thosewhodrawneartovermilionwillturnred,thosewhoassociatewithinkwillturnblack.”若是遇到良师益友，就能学到真正的学问，端正品行；反之，遇到不守规矩的师友，就会受他们的影响，成为不守规矩的人。小者，成为害群之马；大者，则为社会的败类。切记！你们的自性好像纯洁的白布，染之于苍则苍，染之于黄则黄。你们在这样优越的环境读书，将来一定要做个有利益社会的人，改善社会的风气，要有牺牲小我、完成大我的精神。

Ifyoumeetgoodteachersandhelpfulfriends,youwillattaingenuineknowledgeanddevelopproperbehavior.Incontrast,ifyougettoknowteachersandfriendswhodisobeyrules,youwillbeinfluencedbythemandbecomesomeonewhoalsodisobeysrules.Intheshortrun,youmaybeanuisance;inthelongrun,youmaybecomethedregsofsociety.Besuretorememberyourinherentnatureislikeapieceofpurewhitecloth,whichwill“turngrayifstainedwithgray,turnyellowifstainedwithyellow.”Youarestudyinginanexcellentenvironmentnow,andinthefuture,youshouldbeabletobenefitandimprovethesociety.Allofyoushouldhavethespiritofwillingtosacrificeyourselvesforthegreatergood.最要紧是：女学生不要找男学生，男学生不要找女学生，互相都要守住岗位的。这不是不准你们交男朋友，但女孩子要等到二十岁以后，才交男朋友；男孩子要等到二十五岁以后，才交女朋友；这样子，小孩子才不会受伤。小孩子生理还没成熟就找对象，这都会受伤，都会吃亏的。所以，就算要结婚，也要等到二十、二十五岁以后才找。所以我要男女分校，你们不要偷偷摸摸找男孩子，如果我知道后，一定会革出校门的，这一点你们要注意的，不要找男朋友啊！

Themostimportantthingisthatfemalestudentsshouldnotseekboyfriends,andmalestudentsshouldnotlookforgirlfriends.Eachoneofyouneedstomaintainyourpositiononthis.Itisnotthatyouarenotpermittedtohaveaboyfriendoragirlfriend;rather,girlsshouldwaituntiltheyaretwentyyearsoldandboysshouldwaituntiltheyaretwenty-fiveyearsoldbeforedoingso.Inthisway,youwon\'tgethurt.Ifchildrenseekmembersoftheoppositesexbeforetheyarephysicallymature,theywillendupgettinghurtandsufferlosses.Therefore,evenifyouwanttogetmarried,youshouldwaituntilyouaretwentyortwenty-fiveyearsold.Forthisreason,theboyschoolandthegirlschoolareseparatedattheCityoftheTenThousandBuddhas.Youmustnotsneakilyseekboyfriendsorgirlfriends.IfIfindoutthatyouaredoingso,youwillbeexpelled.Youshouldpayattentiontothis.我不是不让你们交男女朋友，要是早交男女朋友，这都不是好学生，不是好人。你们大家都要做好人、好学生，好人将来才能做好事。你若太早有男女朋友，就受伤了。就像那小苗似的，还没成长，你就把它割下来，那它根本什么用也没有，都变成必稗子了。将来人情欲早开的时候，就一代不如一代。要选优良的种子，就必须要它成熟的，稗子不能做种子。没有到年龄就男女交朋友，这都是不成熟啊！

Iamnotforbiddingyoufromhavingaboyfriendoragirlfriend.Thepointisifyouprematurelylookforaboyfriendoragirlfriend,youwon’tbeagoodstudentorawholesomeperson.Everyoneofyoushouldbeagoodstudentandagoodpersonsoyoucandobeneficialthingsinthefuture.Ifyouhaveaboyfriendoragirlfriendwhenyouaretooyoung,youwillendupgettinghurt.It’slikecuttingalittlesproutbeforeitisfullygrown--itwillbeuselessandendupbeingaweed.Ifweletoursexualdesiresdeveloptooearly,oursuccessivegenerationswillworsen.Toselectanoutstandingseedtocultivate,wehavetowaituntiltheplantmatures;aweedwouldbeuseless.Similarly,ifyoudatetheoppositesexwhenyouaretooyoung,suchactionswouldbepremature!你看这国家的小孩尽看电视，看得七、八岁就懂得男女交朋友，这真是害人太厉害了。这国家将来没有人才了，为什么不出人才呢？因为都糊涂了！

ChildreninthiscountrywatchTVallthetime.TheywatchsomuchT.V.thattheyknowhowtofindaboyfriendoragirlfriendwhentheyareonlysevenoreightyearsold.Thisisextremelyharmful.Inthefuture,ifthistrendcontinues,therewillbenotalentedindividualsinthiscountry.Whyisthat?Everyonewouldbetotallymixed-up.

一失人身，万劫不复

OnceWeLoseourHumanForm,Wewon\'tGainitBackinTenThousandEons

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◎宣化上人

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHua堕胎就是失去人身，现在单是因堕胎而死亡的人，就比活着的人多啦！

Whenfetusesareaborted,theylosetheirhumanbodies.Nowadays,peoplewhodiedbecausetheywereabortedexceedthenumberofpeoplewhoarealive!

问：佛教说“人身难得”，又说“一失人身，万劫不复”，那为何现今世界人口剧增呢？显然出生的人比死亡的人多，佛教做何解释？

Question:AccordingtoBuddhism,“ahumanbodyisdifficulttoattain,”and“onceweloseourhumanform,wewon\'tgainitbackintenthousandeons.”Thenwhyisthecurrentworldpopulationincreasingrapidly?Apparently,peoplebeingbornoutnumberthosehavedied.HowdoesBuddhismexplainthis?上人：现在人口繁殖率虽高，但你怎知死去的众生不比生存的人多？这数目的总数无法准确计算出来，也不能以科学证明，只能以譬喻言之。佛在世时，有一次从地上抓了一把土，说：“得人身者，如掌上土；失人身者，如大地土。”世上生存的人口似乎无量无边，但你怎知失去人身的，不比这数目更超出无数倍呢？

TheVenerableMaster:Althoughthecurrentbirthrateishigh,howdoyouknowthatlivingbeingsthataredeaddoesn’toutnumberpeoplewhoarealive?Thisnumbercan’tbeaccuratelycalculatedorprovenbyscience;itcanonlybeexpressedwithananalogy.WhentheBuddhawasintheworld,onetimehegrabbedahandfulofsandandsaid:“Thosewhohavegainedtheirhumanbodiesareliketheamountofsandinmypalm,whilethosewhohavelosttheirhumanbodiesareliketheamountofsandonearth.”Thenumberofpeoplelivingintheworldseemsmeasurelessandlimitless.However,howdoyouknowthatthenumberofpeoplewhohavelosttheirhumanformisnotcountlesstimesmorethanthat?从前死亡的人没有现在那么多，现在死于风灾、火灾、汽车、飞机失事、战争、核子爆炸的人也无法统计。而且这些死亡的人，失了人身后，很可能不再做人，或者投生去做蚂蚁、蚊子、猛兽－－这个数目又怎么能拿出科学证据呢？

Thenumberofpeoplewhodiedinthepastislessthanthatofthepresent.Nowadays,itishardtoestimatethenumberofpeoplewhodiedduetotornados,fire,caraccidents,planecrashes,wars,andnuclearexplosions.Inaddition,itismostlikelythatoncethesepeoplelosttheirhumanform,theywon’tberebornashuman.Theycouldberebornasants,mosquitoes,orwildbeasts.Howcanweprovethisnumberscientifically?父母生育孩子，怎么忽然就有知觉呢？这些问题都是最根本的问题，但一般人却忽略而不去研究。虽然现在人口暴增，但失人身的众生比从前多，从前没有那么多蚂蚁、蚊虫及其他害虫，你怎知湿生、化生、卵生的众生不是人变的呢？

Afterababyisborn,howcanheorshesuddenlyhaveconsciousnessandfeelings?Thesearefundamentalquestionsthatordinarypeopleignoreandfailtoresearchfortheanswers.Althoughthereisagreatincreaseinhumanpopulationnow,livingbeingsthathavelosttheirhumanformaremorethanbefore.Inthepast,therewerenotsomanyants,mosquitoes,bugsandotherpests.Howdoyouknowthattheselivingbeingsbornfrommoisture,bytransformationorfromeggsarenothumanbeingsintheirpriorlives?人失去人身后，性化灵残，一个人的灵魂，能化成好几种动物，甚至化成八万四千蚊虫。因为智慧分薄了，所以变成冥顽不灵。若想再恢复人身，就要在“化学工厂”里重新化炼，可能需要一段漫长的时间。Afterapersonloseshishumanbody,hisnaturewillchangeandhisspiritwillbedivided.Forexample,thespiritofonehumanbeingcanbetransformedintomanykindsofanimal,eveneighty-fourthousandmosquitoes.Becausehiswisdomisbeingdividedintomanybodies,theresultingbeingsaredullandstubborn.Ifhewantstoregainhishumanbody,hewouldneedtobe“transformedandre-smelted”asifinachemicalfactory,theprocessofwhichprobablywouldtakealongtime.还有一点，人结婚多一次，死后他的灵魂就要被分割多一截。譬如，一个女人曾跟多少男人结婚，死后便有电锯把她的灵魂割成多少段，分给这些男人；男人若跟很多女人结婚，果报也是如此。另一个大问题是堕胎，堕胎就是失去人身，现在单是因堕胎而死亡的人，就比活着的人多啦！

Anotherpointis,everytimeapersongetsmarried,hisspiritswillbedividedintoonemorepieceafterhisdeath.Forinstance,dependingonhowmanytimesawomanmarriesduringherlife,afterdeath,herspiritwillbedividedintoasmanypiecesasifbyanelectricsawandsharedamongherex-husbands.Theretributionisthesameifamanhasmarriedmanytimes.Anotherbigproblemisabortion.Whenfetusesareaborted,theylosetheirhumanbodies.Nowadays,peoplewhodiedbecausetheywereabortedexceedthenumberofpeoplewhoarealive!至于无情的众生，能不能恢复灵性呢？可以的，若遇着适当的人对它说法，如“生公说法，顽石点头。”也可以恢复灵性，但要遇着圣人、罗汉，才有这个机缘。

Regardinginsentientbeings,aretheyabletorecovertheirspirits?Yes,iftheymeetanappropriatepersonwhospeakstheDharmatothem.Suchwasthecase“whenMasterDaoShengspoketheDharma,thestonenoddedinagreement.”However,onlywhentheinsentientbeingsencountersagesorArhats,cantheyhavesuchanopportunity.

诚念地藏菩萨超业障

RecitingEarthStoreBodhisattva\'sNameSincerelyCanEradicateKarmicObstacles

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◎宣化上人．于万佛圣城

ATalkGivenbytheVenerableMasterHsuanHuaattheCityofTenThousandBuddhas有一分功就有一分果，地藏王菩萨知道你诚心念他的名号，他就超度你的业障。

Witheveryounceofeffort,thereisacorrespondingamountofharvest.WhenEarthBodhisattvaknowsthatyouarerecitinghisnamesincerely,hewilleradicateyourkarmicobstacles.

直心是道场，不论出家人在家人，在什么情形之下都应该老老实实的，不可以打妄语，不可以行险侥幸，不可以投机，或者拍马。在什么情形之下都要用真实的心，不用委屈求全的心。真实的心，就是要修行，要不妨碍其他的人，不障碍其他的人。我们人造的业都因为妨碍其他的人，障碍其他的人，伤害其他的人，所以就造成一种业。造了业就要受果报，等受果报的时候，还不知道忏悔，还是尽量去欺骗人，那将来是越造越深，这个业报是不容易了结的。

Itissaid,“Astraightmindisaplaceforawakening.”Inotherwords,wemustbehonestandtruthfulinanysituation,whetheryouareaSanghanoralayperson.Donotlie,donotbeanopportunistandtakegreatrisksforself-benefit,donotcutcorners,anddonotengageinflattery.Wemusthaveatruthfulmindinallcircumstances,insteadofamindthatmakesgreatcomprisesinordertoaccommodateothers.TohaveatruthfulmindmeanstocultivatethePathofBodhi,andtoneverharmorobstructothers.Ifweharmorobstructothers,wecreatecausesfornegativeretribution.Whenourretributionisuponus,ifwedon’trepentandinsteadcontinuetodeceiveothersasmuchaswecan,wewillbecreatingevenmorenegativekarma,whichisdifficulttoeradicate.好像这次（一九八二年）到亚洲去，在槟城遇到一个女孩子姓王，她在往昔中专门欢喜吃熊掌，吃猴头。把猴子的头打破，喝猴子的脑髓；把熊脚给割下来，用锅煎它，吃这个熊掌。这是往昔所造的恶业，所以今生堕落变成女身，变成女身，还不知道改过自新，还是继续造业，甚至于就堕胎杀了两个人──堕了两个小孩子。因为这两个小孩子──这两个小鬼，就把以前生生世世这些个业障鬼都给召来了，于是乎就生了cancer（癌）病。

Thistime(1982)whenIwenttoAsia,ImetayoungwomannamedMissWanginPenang.Inherpastlives,shereallylikedtoeatbearpawsandmonkeybrains.Shecrackedopentheheadsofmonkeystodrinktheirbrainmatters.Shealsocutoffpawsofbears,pan-friedthem,andatethem.Becauseofthesepastkarmicoffenses,sheisbornasawomaninthislife.However,insteadofcorrectinghermistakesandstartinganew,shecontinuedtocreatenegativekarma.Sheevenkilledtwohumanbeingsbyhavingtwoabortions.Thesetwolittleghostsofherabortedfetusessummonedalltheghostsoflivingbeingsthatshehadeverharmedinherpastlives.Therefore,sheendedupwithcancer.在槟城的时候，她生大忏悔心，当时这cancer病就好了。好了，等到两个多礼拜，她又旧情复发，对她这个男朋友又是藕断丝连的，甚至于有一些不合法的行为，于是乎她这个cancer病又发作了。她这种病──这个业障，你若真痛改前非，在万分中有一分的希望可以好；你若不痛改前非，不能改过自新，根本就没有药可救的，也没有佛菩萨可以救得了的。“罪从心起将心忏”，心里若不忏悔，这个业障就又来了，所以她的cancer病又发作了。

DuringmyvisitinPenang,thisyoungwomanbroughtforthagreatresolveforrepentanceandhercancerwentintoremission.Unfortunately,abouttwoweekslatersherevertedbacktoheroldways,renewedherrelationshipwithherboyfriend,andevenengagedinactsnotinaccordwiththeDharma.Shortlyafterthat,hercancercameback.Herillnesswascausedbyherkarmicoffenses.Ifshetrulyrepentedofherpastmistakesandreformed,shehadaoneintenthousandchanceofgettingwell.Otherwise,thereisnomedicinethatcancureher,andeventheBuddhasandBodhisattvascan’tsaveher.Itissaid,“Offensesarisefromthemind;usethemindtorepent.”Ifwedon’trepentandreformwithatruthfulmind,ourkarmicobstacleswouldreturn.InMs.Wang’scase,sinceshedidnottrulyrepentandreform,shehadarelapseofhercancer.发作了，她应该写信来告诉我，很坦白地说清楚了，那么即使她病又发作了，或者当时还可以想办法。可是她欺骗我，瞒着我，就说要来美国；本来我当时吩咐她，等病好了之后，她能有钱买飞机票，可以到美国来出家修道，这是要病好了。可是这个女孩子，她就病又发作了，才要来美国，要来死到万佛城。那么这样子是一种欺骗的手段，这个病更不能好了。因为她的病是不可救药了，医药无效了，于是乎她就上个月二十四号勉强坐飞机到了美国。这种行为完全是一种欺骗，不老实、不忠实、不坦白的一种行为，所以菩萨也没有办法救她。

Sheshouldhavewrittentomewhenshehadtherelapse.Ifshehadtoldmethetruth,perhapstherewassomethingthatcouldbedonethen.Instead,sheliedtomeandtoldmeshewascomingtotheU.S.BeforeIleftMalaysia,Iinstructedherthataftershegotbetterandcouldaffordaplaneticket,shecancometoAmericaandleavethehomelifetocultivate.Inotherwords,shewassupposedtocometoAmericanwhenshewascured.However,thisyoungwomancametoAmericaonlyafterhercancercameback;shecametodieattheCityofTenThousandBuddhas.Itwasonlywhenherillnesswasbeyondmedicalhelpthatshegotonaplanewithgreatdifficulty,andarrivedintheU.S.onthe24thoflastmonth.Withthiskindoftrickery,herillnesswillbeevenmoredifficulttocure.Sinceherbehavioriscompletelydeceptive,dishonestanddisingenuous,eventheBuddhasandtheBodhisattvaswon’tbeabletohelpher.现在这个人在医院里，这个人的生命只有万分中半分的希望。今天晚间大家可以诚心一点来给她回向，希望她病好。虽然她欺骗我，欺骗我们这个道场，也可以说是欺骗大家，但是我们大家都具有慈悲心，既然她这么远来了，希望还可以挽回她生命死亡的危险。如果能好呢，我们尽心了；不能好，我们也算是尽心了。我们拿起木鱼，念地藏菩萨的名号，大家众志成城，诚心为她超度业障。

Sheisinhospitalnow,andshehasa0.5intenthousandchanceofsurvival.Thisevening,let’ssincerelytransfermerittoher,hopingthatshewillrecover.Eventhoughshedeceivedme,deceivedthisplaceforawakening,andinasensedeceivedeveryonehere,weallhavecompassion.Shecamefromsofaraway,hopingthatshecouldbesavedfromthethreatofdeath.Ifshecouldbesaved,wetryourbest;ifshecouldnotbesaved,westilltryourbest.Ourcollectiveeffortispowerful,aswesincerelyhelphertoeradicateherkarmicobstacles.Let’sfollowtherhythmofthewoodenfish,andreciteEarthStoreBodhisattva’snameonherbehalf.本来我们大家念，她这个业障应该消了；可是我们念，她的罪业随消随长，我们给她消的罪障是无穷无尽的，她的业障生出来也是无穷无尽的。我想我们如果想救这个人的话，那么从明天开始，诚心一点，大家帮她打一个地藏七，念地藏菩萨圣号，为她回向，希望她这病好。大家可以愿意参加的就参加，不愿意参加的就不参加，可是这要大家拿出诚心来，拿出真心来，愿意帮助人的人，佛菩萨也一定会帮助你的。……

WhenwereciteEarthStoreBodhisattva’sname,herkarmicobstaclesshouldhavebeenerased.However,asherpastkarmicoffensesarebeingeradicated,hernewkarmicoffensesareaccumulatingasfast.Indeed,wearehelpinghertoeradicateendlesskarmicoffensesthatshewasbornwith.Ithinkifwewanttosavethisperson,weneedtobeginaseven-dayEarthStoreBodhisattvasessiontomorrow.Let’srecitetheBodhisattva’snamesincerelyandtransferthemerittoher,inthehopethatshewillrecover.Whetheryouwanttoparticipateinthesessionisentirelyuptoyou.However,allofusshoulduseourupmostsincerity.Whenwehelpotherswithawillingheart,theBoddhasandBodhisattvasdefinitelywillhelpus,too....

……今天大家共同发心为这个女孩子回向，那么是不是他们要求我们做这件事呢？没有的。虽然她家里所有的亲戚朋友没有人知道，但我们现在为她回向，希望她这个病好。我们佛教做事情，不一定要别人要求才做，我们觉得这个人可怜，就尽尽我们的心；仰仗观音菩萨的大威神力，仰仗地藏王菩萨的大威神力，帮助这个女孩子。她能恢复知觉当然好了，要是她的业障重，不能恢复，我们也尽到我们一点心了。所以就这一点，各位应该努力！

Today,wemakearesolvetogethertotransfermerittothisyoungwoman.Didherrelativesaskustodoso?No,theydidn’t.However,eveniftheydon’tknow,wearestilltransferringmerittoher.AsBuddhists,wedon’tneedtobeaskedbeforewehelpothers.Wefeelsorryforthisyoungwoman,sowetryourbesttohelpher.WearerelyingontheawesomepowerofGuanYinBodhisattvaandEarthStoreBodhisattva.Itwouldbegreatifsheregainsconsciousness;ifshedoesn\'t,it’sbecauseofherheavykarmicoffenses.Eitherway,wetryourbest.Withthisgoalinmind,allofusshouldworkhard!

现在世界一天比一天灾难多，修道的人一天比一天少，犯戒的人一天比一天多。这是什么原因？从什么地方来的？为什么世界一天坏过一天？我们人应该研究这个根本问题。这根本的问题就是因为人不守五戒，第一就是不守淫戒，男女认为淫欲的行为是人生的一种快乐，所以就背觉合尘，认贼做子，以苦为乐，以黑为白，以是为非，颠颠倒倒，胡为乱作。男女青年不但不知保持自己的宝贵精神，而且天天都是去做伤自己精神的事；男人也不知道怎样做男人，女人也不知道怎么样做女人，只知道这么个邪淫。

Nowadays,therearemoreandmorecalamitiesintheworld,whilefewerandfewerpeoplecultivatethePathofBodhi.Inaddition,therearemoreandmoreindividualswhobreaktheprecepts.Whyistheworldgettingworseday-by-day?Weshouldexaminethisfundamentalquestion.Thecauseofthisproblemisthatpeoplearenotupholdingthefiveprecepts,especiallythepreceptagainstsexualmisconduct.Menandwomenmistakenlythinkthatsatisfyingtheirsexualdesiresisatypeofpleasure.Asitissaid,they“turntheirbacksonenlightenmentandcombinewiththedust,”and“mistakethethieffortheirson.”Theytreatsufferingaspleasure,blackaswhite,andtruthasfalsehood.Theyaresomuddledthattheyactrecklesslyandimproperly,asiftheywereup-sidedowninsteadofright-sideup.Inaddition,insteadofknowinghowtoprotecttheirpreciousspiritandvitality,youngmenandwomendothingseverydaythatenduphurtingthemselves.Mandoesn’tknowhowtobehavelikeaproperman,andwomandoesn’tknowhowtobehavelikeaproperwoman;alltheyknowishowtosatisfytheirlust.

现在读书的学生，尤其最有名的大学里头，男女学生住在一起胡为乱作，那么这样就有问题啦，就会有小孩子了。有了小孩子，于是乎就有人发明避孕药；避孕，胡为乱干，违背天地造化的这种生理。避孕，说是这个就比有了小孩，有了问题好得多；其实这是一种造罪业。这个发明避孕药的人害了多少青年，害了多少生命！

Inthesedays,maleandfemalestudents,especiallythoseinmostfamousuniversities,livetogetherandengageinwantonacts.Theseactionsoftenleadtounwantedpregnancies.Topreventunwantedpregnancies,contraceptiveswereinvented.Peoplethinkusingcontraceptivesisbetterthandealingwithproblemsassociatedwithunwantedpregnancies.Actually,usingcontraceptivesisimproperbecauseitgoesagainstthebiologicalfunctionofsexualintercourse,andthusisatypeofkarmicoffense.Inaddition,thosewhoinventedcontraceptivesenduphurtingsomanyyoungmenandwomen,becausetheseyoutharemorelikelytoengageinsexualmisconductwhentheythinktheydon’thavetoworryaboutthepossibilityofpregnancy.

还有男女不守规矩，有这种淫乱的行为，有了小孩子就堕胎。这一堕胎啊，造的罪业更大，犯了杀业了！避孕药是无形中犯杀业，这个堕胎是有形中犯了杀业。犯了杀业，于是乎这个世界上就一天比一天冤气多，一天比一天杀气就盛；这个杀气盛就冤气增，于是乎就生出种种的怪病来了。你们各位研究研究，男女没有这么样疯狂不守规矩时，就没有这么多奇怪的病；因为现在人都不守规矩了，所以这怪病就发生了。怪病发生了，就陷入种种奇奇怪怪不可思议的不治之症了。

Inadditiontousingcontraceptives,menandwomenuseabortiontodealwithunwantedpregnanciesthatresultfromtheirlasciviousacts.Byhavinganabortion,theycreateamoreseriousoffense?anoffenseofkilling.Namely,whileusingcontraceptivesisanindirectformofkilling,havinganabortionisadirectactofkilling.Allthesekillingsincreasetheamountofresentmentandenmityintheworld.Thismountingnegativeenergy,inturn,resultsinstrangediseases.Whenyouinvestigatefurther,youwillfindthatifmenandwomenarenotbreakingthecodeofmoralconductleftandright,therewouldn’tbesomanystrangediseaseswithunusualandinexplicablesymptomsthatareincurable.

现在所谓cancer不容易治，不单单是cancer病，还有其他种种不能治的病，都是因为这种问题生出来的──这是第一不守淫戒，第二犯了杀戒，犯了盗戒，犯了打妄语的戒，犯了饮酒的戒。这五戒是人生最要紧的规律，人人都应该守五戒。在转轮圣王教化世人的时候，人人都守五戒，奉行十善，人人都吃斋。所以那个时候什么灾难也没有，人类都有相当的福报，很多人都有神通，都开五眼了。那现在人一天比一天堕落，就搞得这世界一天不如一天，一天就坏过一天！

Now,inadditiontocancer,therearevariousotherillnessesthatarehardorimpossibletotreat.Alltheseproblemsstemfromfirstbreakingthepreceptagainstsexualmisconduct,thenthepreceptagainstkilling.Theseimproperactsarefollowedbybreakingthepreceptsagainststealing,lyingandtakingofintoxicants,respectively.Thesefivepreceptsarethemostimportantrulesinourlives.Therefore,everyoneshouldupholdthefiveprecepts.WhentheWheel-TurningSagelyKingwasstillintheworldteachingandtransforminglivingbeings,everyoneupheldthefiveprecepts,followedandpracticedtheTenWholesomeDeeds,andatevegetarianfood.Atthattime,therewerenonaturaldisasters,andpeopleenjoyedalotofblessings.ManypeoplehadspiritualpowersandopenedtheirFiveEyes.Incontrast,nowadays,themoralstandardisdeterioratingday-by-day.Thisdeteriorationinhumancharacteriscausingtheworldtodeteriorate,too.

你想知道cancer病人这么多，是什么样的来源？这些都是从杀业造成的！杀生哪，你看看，那个小生命还没有生出来，你就把他杀了，这种怨气该多厉害！所以，这世界一天坏过一天；人呢，也一天坏过一天。这些都是杀业造成！

Doyouwantknowwhytherearesomanypeoplewithcancer?Thissituationiscreatedbythekarmaofkilling.Thinkaboutit,byhavingabortions,youareterminatinglivesevenbeforetheyhaveachancetobeborn.Underthesecircumstances,wouldn’ttheenmityoftheseunbornfetusesbeincrediblygreat?!Insummary,theworldanditspeoplearegettingworseday-by-day.Allthisisduetothekarmaofkilling.

在万佛城的人，因为知道这种因果循环报应，我们要把这种业把它挽回来，令这个世界没有那么多的灾难，令人类的痛苦减少一点，人类的疾病也减少一点。所以藉着王姓女孩生cancer这个机会，我们大家诚心诚意念地藏王菩萨。念地藏菩萨，就能减少众生的罪业，令他们无量劫以来的冤亲债主，都往生到西方极乐世界去；令我们所有的人的冤亲债主，也都往生到西方极乐世界去。

AttheCityofTenThousandBuddhas,everyoneunderstandsthecycleofcauseandeffect.Therefore,let’sreducethenegativekarmaintheworld,sotherewillbefewerdisasters,lesssuffering,andfewerdiseases.Let’stakehelpingMissWangasanopportunitytoreciteEarthStoreBodhisattva’snameearnestlyandsincerely.RecitationofEarthStoreBodhisattva’snamecanreducelivingbeings’negativekarma,andlettheirenemies,relativesandcreditorsfromlimitlesspastlivesberebornintheWesternLandofUltimateBliss.Thisrecitationwillalsoletallofourenemies,relativeandcreditorsberebornintheWesternLandofUltimateBliss.

所以藉着这个机会，我们大家诚心诚意来念地藏菩萨，一方面是帮助其他有病、有痛苦的人，一方面也超度自己过去生生世世的父母祖先、冤亲债主，令他们都离苦得乐，了生脱死。

Let’stakethisopportunitytoreciteEarthBodhisattva’snamewithearnestnessandsincerity.Whilewearehelpingotherswhoaresickorsuffering,wearealsocrossingoverourparents,ancestors,enemies,relatives,andcreditorfromoureverypastlife,andallowthemtoleavesufferingandattainbliss,andendbirthanddeath.

有一分功就有一分果，你在这儿诚心诚意地念地藏王菩萨，地藏王菩萨感动、知道你这么诚心念他的名号，他就超度你的业障，令你修真有份，进道无魔，早消业障，早离痛苦，往生到极乐世界，这是我们打地藏七的一个主因。所以各位要拿出一个真心，拿出一点诚心来，超度我们过去生的父母祖先、冤亲债主，令他们都藉着这个机会离苦得乐，不要把光阴都空过去了！

Witheveryounceofeffort,thereisacorrespondingamountofharvest.WhenyoureciteEarthStoreBodhisattva’snamewithearnestnessandsincerity,EarthStoreBodhisattvaistouched.Knowingthatyouarerecitinghisnamewithsuchsincerity,EarthStoreBodhisattvawilleradicateyourkarmicobstaclesthatarehinderingyourrealizationofBodhi.HealsowillhelpyoucultivatethePathofBodhi,progressonthisPathwithoutdemonicinterference,quicklyeradicatekarmicobstacles,quicklyleavesuffering,andberebornintheLandofUltimateBliss.RealizingallthesebenefitsisoneofthemainreasonsforparticipatingintheEarthStoreBodhisattvasession.So,leteveryonebetrueandsincere,andcrossoverourparents,ancestors,enemies,relatives,andcreditorsfromourpastlives.Letthemusethisopportunitytoleavesufferingandattainbliss.Don’tlettimepassinvain!

【编案】

王姓女孩往昔虽造诸多恶业，但她在槟城的时候，生大惭愧心，在二千余位信众前，竭诚向佛菩萨及宣公上人发露罪愆，求哀忏悔，当时癌病就好了。可是，尔后又旧情复发，接着又以欺骗的手段来到万佛城。这样，她的业越造越深，业报就不容易了结；即使万佛城四众弟子专诚为她举行两次地藏七，并经群医抢救，数星期后，还是与世长辞了。此可谓是现身说法，警惕世人！

【Editor’snote】

AlthoughMissWangcreatedmuchunwholesomekarmainthepast,shebroughtforthagreatrevolveforrepentanceinPenang.InfrontofaDharmaAssemblyconsistedofmorethantwothousandpeople,shesincerelydiscussedherunwholesomedeeds,andaskedforthecompassionateaidoftheBuddhas,BodhisattvasandtheVenerableMasterassheresolvedtorepentandreform.Atthattime,hercancerwentintoremission.However,sherevertedbacktoheroldwayssoonafterherresolve,anduseddeceitfulmeanstocometotheCityofTenThousandBuddhas.Sinceshewascommittingmoreandmorekarmicoffenses,itwasdifficulttoeradicatehernegativeretributions.Accordingly,eventhoughtheFourfoldAssemblyintheCityofTenThousandBuddhasorganizedtwoEarthStoreBodhisattvasessionsonherbehalfandmanydoctorstriedtosaveher,shepassedawayseveralweekslater.WecansaythatMs.Wangwasusingherlife’sstorytospeaktheDharmaandletitbeawarningtoallofus!

谈堕胎

OnAbortion

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◎释恒云

HengYunShi《楞严经》云：“流爱为种，纳想为胎，交遘发生，吸引同业”，一受胎，就有生命！

AccordingtotheShuragamaSutra,\"Loveflowsouttowarditsobject,andso,onthestrengthofsharedkarma,aseedisdrawnintothewombduringintercourse.\"Onceanembryoisformedinthewomb,thereislife!

问：若是孕妇照超音波后，发现肚里的胎儿是畸形儿，如蒙古症之类的，请问可否因此堕胎吗？

Question:Ifafteranultrasoundexamination,apregnantwomanfindsoutthatherfetushasacongenitaldisorder,suchasDown’sSyndrome,isabortionallowedinthissituation?答：堕胎在杀戒里面，是属于杀胎，仍犯杀人罪，所以基本上，如果是自然流产，或是胎死腹中，因为这是胎儿的生命自然结束的，所以不算犯杀戒。可是如果是刻意去堕胎的，这就犯杀戒。

Answer:Intermsofthepreceptagainstkilling,tohaveanabortionistokillafetus.Therefore,itisconsideredkillingahumanbeing.Basically,inthecaseofamiscarriageorafetusbeingstillborn,themotherdoesn’tbreakthepreceptagainstkillingbecausethefetusdiednaturally.However,ifsheintentionallyhasanabortiontoterminateherpregnancy,shewouldhavebrokenthepreceptagainstkilling.问：可是父母抚养这样的孩子，不是一辈子很辛苦吗？

Question:Wouldn’titbeverydifficultfortheparentstoraiseachildwithacongenitaldisorder?答：的确很辛苦，可是这都有一种因缘果报在里面。因为有问题小孩子来投胎，是跟这父母有缘。所谓“夫妻是前缘，善缘、恶缘，无缘不合；儿女原宿债，欠债、还债，无债不来。”孩子来投胎，这跟父母之间，要三缘成胎，父缘、母缘，还有什么？自己的缘。《楞严经》上说：“同业相缠，合离成化。见明色发，明见想成；异见成憎，同想成爱。流爱为种，纳想为胎，交遘发生，吸引同业；故有因缘，生羯罗蓝、遏蒲昙等。”所谓“同业”，是自己所造的业里头，和父母的因缘相同。因为同业，互相生出一种情爱，就如胶似漆缠到一起了，互相摆脱不开，而有了胎生、卵生、化生、湿生。

Answer:Indeed,itwouldbereallytoughfortheparents,buthavingsuchachildisduetosomekindofcausesandeffects.Thedeficientchildisborntothisparticularcouple,becauseheorshehasaffinitywiththeseparents.Itissaidthat“Husbandandwifeareconnectedduetoeitherwholesomeorunwholesomeaffinitiesinthepast;theywouldnotbecomeacouplewithoutprioraffinities.Sonsanddaughtersarebornintothefamilyduetotheirpastdebts?theyareeitherseekingrepaymentorpayingbackwhattheyowe;theywouldnotjointhefamilywithoutpriordebts.”Itrequiresthreekindsofaffinitiesforafetustocomeintobeing:theaffinitywiththefather,theaffinitywiththemother,andhisorherownaffinity.TheShurangamaSutrastates:“Somebeingsarebornduetobeingboundtogetherbysharedkarma;otherbeingsarebornduetounionorelseduetoseparation.Basedondeludedperception,sense-objectsaremistakenlyunderstoodtoappear;andbecauseofdeludedunderstanding,deludedthoughtarises.Hatredistheresponsetoincompatiblepointsofview,whileloveistheresponsetocompatiblepointsofview.Loveflowsouttowarditsobject,andso,onthestrengthofsharedkarma,aseedisdrawnintothewombduringintercourse.Duetothesecausesandconditions,thefetusdevelops,passingthroughthekalalastage,thearbudastage,andthestagesthatfollow.”Sharedkarmameansthatthechild’skarmaandtheparents’karmahavethesamecausesandconditions.Duetothissharedkarma,emotionallylovearisesupbetweentheparentsandthechild,andtheybecomeinseparableasiftheyweregluedtogether.Consequently,beingsarebornfromawomb,fromanegg,bymetamorphosis,orinthepresenceofmoisture.人来做人的时候，是第八识最先来的；死的时候，第八识最后走。识一走，身上就凉了；识没有走，身上还不会凉的。所以说“去后来先做主人”。人死后到投胎这段时间，这第八识的识，就是“中阴身”，又叫“中有身”。中阴身看什么都是一片漆黑，什么都看不见。可是他（她）和哪一个父亲、母亲有缘，有父子、母子的关系，也就是有一种相同的业报，不论距离千里万里，当父亲、母亲在那儿行淫欲，他（她）就会看到那儿有一点点光；他（她）无明一动，这时，就有一股如吸铁石的力量，无论多远，都会把他（她）吸过去，就来投胎了！这叫“流爱为种，纳想为胎，交遘发生，吸引同业。”

Whenapersoncomesintobeing,theeighthconsciousnessisthefirsttoarrive;whenapersondies,theeighthconsciousnessisthelasttoleave.Oncetheconsciousnessisgone,one’sbodybecomescold.Thus,itissaidthat“Whoeverleaveslastbutcomesfirstisthemaster.”Duringtheperiodoftimebetweenwhenonediesandwhenonegetsreborn,theeighthconsciousnessiscalledthe“intermediateskandha-body”orthe“intermediateexistencebody.”Totheintermediateskandha-body,everythingispitch-black,anditisunabletoseeanything.Butifithasaparent-childaffinitywithitspotentialfatherormother(i.e.,havingsharedkarma),evenifitweretensofthousandsofmilesaway,itwouldseealittlepointoflightwhenitspotentialfatherandmotherarehavingintercourse.Assoonasitsignorancearises,nomatterhowfarawayitmaybe,strengthlikeapowerfulmagnetwilldrawitintothewomb!ThisprocessisdescribedbytheShuragamaSturaas“Loveflowsouttowarditsobject,andso,onthestrengthofsharedkarma,aseedisdrawnintothewombduringintercourse.”受胎后的第一个星期叫“羯罗蓝”，意思是“凝滑”，就是凝结成牛奶似的东西。第二个星期叫“遏蒲昙”，就是由凝滑，变成一种胞形了。以后就逐渐行成身形了。

Thekalalastagereferstothefirstweekofembryonicdevelopment.Theword“kalala”means“slipperycoagulation,”aformcoagulatedlikemilk.Thesecondweekofdevelopmentiscalledthearbudastagewhenthecoagulatedformtakesonaglobularshape.Afterthisstage,theembryograduallydevelopsintotheshapeofahumanbody.

“十二因缘”中说“无明缘行”，无明就是男人、女人生出一种爱意来，然后就有房事。“行缘识”，有了两性的行为，然后就有一种识，这就是“纳想为胎”这个识；这时候，就是中阴身投胎了。也就是说，这时就有生命了！所以孩子和父母间都有一种特殊的因缘，即使是蒙古症的子女，也都有一种特别的业缘必须要了。

AccordingtotheTwelvefoldConditionedArising,“Ignoranceistheconditionforkarmicactivity.”Inthiscontext,ignorancereferstotheemotionallovethatarisesbetweenamanandawoman,whichleadstosexualintercourse.“Karmicactivityistheconditionforconsciousness;”aftersexualintercoursebegins,aconsciousnessarrives,whichis“aseed(i.e.,consciousness)isdrawnintothewombduringintercourse.”Atthistime,theintermediateskandha-bodybecomesanembryo.Inotherwords,alifehascomeintobeing!Thereisaspecialkindofprimaryandsecondarycausesthatexistbetweenparentsandtheirchild.Accordingly,specialkarmiccausesmustexistfortheparentstohaveachildwithDown’sSyndrome.

以前没有超音波，受什么胎，都生下来。现在有超音波一照，喔，是蒙古症，就把他拿掉！以为是拿掉日后的烦恼。其实，通常这种缘，不是一个好缘来的，但是你必须要了它，如果父母不了了它，又把他杀了，这就会更增加彼此之间的恶缘。这恶缘，或许来世的时候就更厉害。如《楞严经》所提的“十二类生”中，有一种众生叫做“非无想”，这种众生并不是没有思想，而是思想不正常。譬如枭鸟生出后，就会把妈妈吃了，用妈妈的血肉来养自己。还有科学也发现一种甲虫会吃它妈妈。

Beforetherewasultrasoundtests,peoplegavebirthtothefetustheycarried.Nowwithultrasound,peoplecandiscoverthattheirfetushasDown’sSyndrome,andabortthefetus.Bydoingso,theythinktheyareavoidingtroublesinthefuture.Usuallytheaffinitybetweenthedeficientfetusandtheparentsisunwholesome.However,theparentsneedtoacceptthis.Ifinsteadofgivingbirthtothechild,theparentskillshimorher,thisactionwillincreasetheunwholesomeaffinitybetweentheparentsandthechild.Thisnegativeaffinityprobablywillbeevenworseintheirfuturelives.AccordingtotheShurangamaSutra,amongthetwelvecategoriesoflivingbeings,thereisonecategorycalled“beingsthatlackanddonotlackthoughts.”Itdoesnotmeanthatthoselivingbeingsdon’thaveanythoughts;rather,theyhaveabnormalthoughts.Forexample,afteritsbirth,anowletwoulddevouritsmotherandnourishitselfwithitsmother’sbodyandblood.Sciencehasalsofoundasmallbeetle(Micromaltusdebilis)thateatsitsmother.

为什么它要吃妈妈呢？因为在过去生，它们有很深的怨仇，例如恩将仇报，过去子是母的恩人，可是母或许用种种方法将他弄死，让他死不瞑目，又没有办法诉冤，所以他这一世生为其子，就要把妈妈吃掉。诸如此类，这其中都有一种的因缘果报。可是世间上的人不明白因果，所以以为有问题的胎，就可以堕掉；这可以说是雪上加霜。基本上这一种胎，不应该堕掉的，而是要了了这种业缘。

Whydoesthebirdorthebeetleeatitsmother?Therewasgreatenmitybetweenthemotherandthechildintheirpastlives.Forexample,inthepast,thechildwasthemother’sbenefactor.However,insteadofbeinggratef,ul,themotherthoughtofvariouswaystokillherbenefactor.Themotherfinallysucceeded,andthebenefactordiedwitheverlastingregret,withnomeanstoaddresshisorhergrievance.Therefore,inthislifethebenefactorisrebornasthekiller’schildandeatsheroutofrevenge.Therearealwayssomekindsofcauseandeffectthatunderlieseeminglyunusualphenomenasuchasthisone.However,sincemostpeopledon’tunderstandtheprincipleofcauseandeffect,theythinkitiso.k.toabortadeficientfetus.Unfortunately,bydoingso,theyaremakingthingsworseforthemselves.Basically,oneshouldnotabortthedeficientfetus.Instead,oneshouldhavethebaby,andtherebysettleone’skarmicdebtsandbefreeofnegativeaffinities.

问：女孩子被强迫而有孕，可不可以堕胎？

Question:Ifagirlwererapedandgotpregnant,isabortionallowedinsuchacase?

答：这种情况令人非常同情。但是，如果因此去堕胎，这是杀害一条生命。所以在这种不幸的情况下，还是应该将孩子生下，而不堕胎。虽然，这个女孩子的一生可能要受很多辛苦，但从因果的角度来说，这是比较妥善的方法。

Answer:Thiskindofsituationreallydeservesoursympathy.However,ifthegirlabortsthefetus,shewouldbekillingalife.Therefore,evenintheseunfortunatecircumstances,shestillshouldgivebirthtothechild.Althoughthegirlmayencounteralotofhardshipbydoingso,fromtheperspectiveofcausesandeffects,havingthebabyisabetteralternativethankilling.

堕胎，在目前的社会已是一件泛滥之事，我讲一则真实的故事，以为警惕。有个居士提到他妈妈癌症要往生前一段时间，举动行为变成三个人似的，一下变成小男孩的样子，一下又变成小女孩的样子，一会儿又恢复她原来的样子；变成小女孩时，还会跟他撒娇。原来他妈妈过去堕过两次胎，一个男的，一个女的；现在他（她）们来找“妈妈”了，附在“妈妈”身上。所以世间上大家都只看到“果”的一面，没有看到“因”的那一面。

Incurrentsociety,abortionisquiteexcessive.Letmetellyouatruestoryasawarning.Onelaypersonmentionedthatshortlybeforehismotherdiedofcancer,shebehavedasiftherewerethreepersonsinherbody.Sometimesshebehavedlikealittleboy,sometimeslikealittlegirl,andmomentslater,shewasherselfagain.Whenshebehavedlikealittlegirl,sheevenactedlikeaspoiledchildtogethisattention.Itturnedoutthathismotherhadabortedtwofetusesinthepast,onewasmale,andtheotheronefemale;nowtheyhavecometofindtheirmotherandattachedthemselvesontoherbody.Itisreallyunfortunatethatinthisworld,everyonecanonlyseetheconsequence,butnotitscause.

我们想想看，子女出生以后，都是父母的心肝宝贝，呵护得无微不至。那胎里的孩子，也是自己的子女，怎么忍心把他（她）杀了呢？这样，即使是善缘来的子女，也变成恶缘，变成仇了，变成“小鬼难缠”。

Let’sthinkaboutit,afterchildrenareborn,theirparentstreatthemasprecioustreasuriesandtakecareofthemwiththeupmostattentiontodetail.However,thefetusinone’swombisalsoone’sownchild,howcanonebeartokillhimorher?Ifyourabortachild,evenifthechildoriginallyhaspositiveaffinitieswithyou,suchaffinitieswouldbecomenegativelikethatofanenemy.Theabortedfetusturnsinto“alittleghostwhoisdifficulttohandle.”

在《楞严经》中提到，“若用钱物，或役其力，偿足自停。如其中间杀彼身命，或食其肉；如是乃至经微尘劫，相食相诛，犹如转轮，互为高下，无有休息。除奢摩他，及佛出世，不可停寝。”这是说众生之间，若是钱财方面的负债，无论是以人身或畜生身，或这一世或来世，或是用钱物，或用劳力，互相扯平，偿还够了，彼此之间的业就了了。这默默中虽然没有人一定主宰，但是因为是业力的关系，彼此都不想吃亏，所以绝对不可你占我便宜，我占你便宜的，一定要公平才会自然停止的。

TheShurangamaSutrapointedoutthat,“Oneshouldrealizethatdebtsshouldbesettled,whetherwithmoney,goods,orlabor,sothatindebtednesscannaturallycometoanend.Butif,intheprocessofrepayment,beingstakeeachother’slivesoreateachother’sflesh,thentheymaywellcontinuethroughaninfinitenumberofeons,eatingeachotherandkillingeachother,asiftheywereturningceaselesslyonawheel,nowontop,nowbeneath.Thewheelmayneverstopunlesstheyundertakethepracticeofsamatha,orunlessaBuddhaappearsintheworld.”Thispassagemeansthatifthedebtsbetweenlivingbeingswerefinancialinnature,thenwhetherthesebeingsarebornashumansoranimals,theywouldbeabletosettletheirdebtswithmoney,goodsorlabor;andtheycansettletheirdebtseitherinthislifeorinfuturelives.Oncethedebtsarerepaid,thekarmabetweenthedebtorsandthecreditorswouldceasetoexist.Althoughthereisnoonecontrollingthewholeprocess,thepowerofkarmaissuchthatnooneiswillingtoacceptaloss.Therefore,itisabsolutelynecessarythatnoonetriestotakeadvantageofothers;onlyafterfairrepaymentswouldtheindebtednessnaturallycomestoanend.

可是如果是命债呢？在彼此结怨的中间，或者把对方杀了，或者吃对方的肉。那你吃我的肉，我就杀你的身；我吃你的肉，你又杀我的身；就像轮子转来转去，没有停止的时候。除非得到楞严大定，或者有佛出世，给解除这种罪业的相；然后双方互相都知道了，不再造业，这才能停止。不然，这种血海深仇，是很难平息的。难怪宣公上人说：“我要劝大家不要再堕胎了，你想想看，一个生命还没出世，就成冤魂，到处是要命的小鬼，你说社会会安宁吗？这些小鬼需要不贪财、有道行的人才能超度。小鬼难缠啊！很难办的，到处是罪业，你说能安宁吗？”

However,whatifthedebtinvolvestakingofalife?Duringtheprocessofmutualresentment,ifonelivingbeingkillsanotheroreatsanother’sflesh,thenacycleofeatingandbeingeaten,killingandbeingkilledwillgoonandonliketheturningofawheel.Forexample,youeatmyfleshnow,Iwillkillyoulater;Ieatyourfleshnow,youwillkillmelater.Thisviciouscycleisendless,unlessoneattainstheShurangamaSamadhioraBuddhacomesintotheworldandreleasesonefromthesekarmicoffenses.Onlythenwouldboththedebtorandthecreditorunderstandtheneedtostopcreatingfurthernegativekarma,andendthiscycleofceaselessmutual-indebtedness.Otherwise,itisverydifficulttoappeaseanimositythatisasgreatasthesea.ItisnotsurprisingthattheVenerableMastersaid:“Iurgeeveryonenottohaveabortionsanymore.Thinkaboutit,iflivingbeingsbecomeresentfulspiritsevenbeforetheyareborn,withthesevengefullittleghostsofabortedfetuseseverywhere,howcanthesocietybepeaceful?TheselittleghostscanonlybecrossedoverbygenuinecultivatorsoftheBodhiPathwhoarenotgreedyforwealth.Theselittleghostsarereallytoughtohandle!Itisverydifficulttoresolvethesematters,andthus,withkarmicoffensespervadingeverywhere,howcantherebepeace?”

问：我的亲友是妇科医生，若孕妇有经济上的困难或孩子过多等，可以为她堕胎吗？

Question:MyrelativeisanOB/GYN.Ifapregnantwomanhasfinancialdifficultiesoralreadyhastoomanychildren,isitokayforthedoctortoperformtherequestedabortion?

答：约三十年前，我还没有出家时，在报上看到一篇文章，这是一位护士写的。她提到在她上班的医院，年轻的护士不敢去值晚班。为什么？因为在二楼的堕胎手术室，晚上常常传来婴儿的哭声，所以她们都吓得不敢值晚班。可是，她因为家庭的关系愿意上晚班，因为这样可以照顾家庭，对她比较方便；还有她的胆子比较大，所以她就去当夜班的护士。怎么样呢？医院二楼的手术室，在晚上没有人时，的确常常有孩子的哭声传来。她也见怪不怪，继续值她的晚班。

Answer:Aboutthirtyyearsago,whenIwasstillalayperson,Ireadanewspaperarticlewrittenbyanurse.Shesaidthatatthehospitalwheresheworked,youngnurseswereafraidtotakethenightshift.Whywasthat?Intheevenings,criesofbabiescouldbeheardcomingfromtheabortioncliniconthesecondfloor,andthesecriesreallyscaredthenurses.However,theauthorsignedupforthenightshift,becauseherfamilysituationmadeitmoreconvenientforhertoworkatnight;besides,shewasbraverthanothers.Whatwasherexperience?Althoughshedidhearcriescomingfromtheabortioncliniclateatnightwhennoonewasaround,sheignoredthecriesandwentaboutherwork.

有一天，当她要下班时，也就是清晨，来了一个快要临产的孕妇，看起来很忧心的样子。等到她来值晚班时，知道那妇女已经生下孩子了，可是难产死掉了，父亲也没来，孩子就放在育婴室里面。她不知道什么因缘，就不自觉特别去照顾那个孩子；可能是怜悯孩子没有妈妈吧！照顾了一段时间以后，有一天，当她来上晚班时，值日班的护士告诉她，今天那个爸爸来把孩子带走了。孩子带走了以后呢，当天晚上，因为值晚班，有时会不自觉打瞌睡，朦胧间这位护士就看到那难产死了的妈妈来了，对她说：“谢谢你帮我照顾孩子这么多天，我真的非常感谢你，我也会帮助你照顾其他的孩子。”从那天晚上起，她去值班的时候，二楼的堕胎手术室，都没有婴儿的哭声再传来了！

Oneearlymorning,whenhershiftwasabouttoend,awomaninlaborarrivedatthehospital.Shelookedveryworried.Whenthenursereturnedlaterthatdayforhershift,shefoundoutthatthewomanhaddiedduringchildbirth.Unfortunately,thebaby’sfatherdidn’tcometothehospital,sothebabywasleftaloneinthenursery.Thenursedidn’tknowwhybutfoundherselftakingextracareofthebaby;perhapsshefeltsorryforthemotherlesschild.Afterthebabyhadbeenunderhercareforawhile,thenursearrivedatworkoneeveningandwastoldthatthebaby’sfatherhadpickedupthebabyduringtheday.Thatevening,thenursedozedoffwhileshewasatwork;sometimesitwasdifficulttostayawakeduringthequiethoursofthenight.Whiledriftinginandoutofsleep,shesawthemotherwhohaddiedduringchildbirth.Themothersaidtoher,“Thankyoufortakingcareofmybabyforsomanydays.I’mverygrateful.I’llhelpyoutotakecareoftheotherchildrenhere.”Fromthateveningon,thenurseneveragainheardbabies’criescomingfromthesecondfloorabortionclinic.

你说，没出世的胎儿没有灵性吗？他（她）只是一块肉吗？割下来的肉是死肉；我们人身上也都有肉，是什么使我们身上的肉活动，变成我们生命的一部份呢？那把肚里的骨肉割下来，随着这块肉成长为人的灵性该怎么办？他（她）会不会成为灵界的流浪儿，他（她）要去找谁讨这笔债？

Fromtruestorieslikethisone,howcanweclaimthatunbornfetusesarenotalive?Aretheyjustpiecesofflesh?Wetooaremadeofflesh;whatmakesusaliveandthefetusesnotalive?Ifwecutafetusfromthemother’sbody,wherewouldheorshego?Willheorshewanderaroundinthespiritworld,foreverhomeless?Whowillheorsheholdresponsiblefortakinghisorherlife?

有一个女子，因为年轻不懂事，读书时曾到过一家医院堕胎；当时胎是堕了，身心的创伤却难以平复。几年后，就在这家医院前面，她去堕胎时所经过的十字路口，发生了车祸。所以，堕胎这件事，对母亲与胎儿无论是身、是心都是伤害！

Therewasanotherstoryaboutayounggirlwhohadanabortioninahospitalwhenshewasstillastudent.Althoughthebabyleftherbodyquickly,thephysicalandemotionalscarsremained.Afewyearslater,shewasinvolvedinacaraccidentattheintersectionnearthehospitalwhereshehadtheabortion.Anabortionharmsboththemotherandthechildphysicallyandemotionally.

有一天，有个居士带着她妇产科医生的先生到道场来。为什么？这位医生患癌症，希望藉着佛菩萨的力量来帮助他。他告诉我，他很注重健康的，每天运动以保持健康，不知道为什么还会患癌症。其实，社会上堕胎的风气炽盛，身为妇产科医生更不能不慎！医生的职责是“济世活人”；帮人堕胎，正与“活人”相违。种什么因，结什么果。“业”，是我们天天造的；“因”，是你偶尔做这么一次，这因种了，将来结这果。如春天播种子，这种子种下去，等秋天才可收成。

Awomanoncebroughtherhusband,anOB/GYN,tothetemple.HehadbeendiagnosedwithcancerandhopedthattheBuddhasandBodhisattvascouldhelphim.Hetoldmethathetookgoodcareofhisbodyandexercisedeverydaytomaintainhishealth.Thereforehehadnoideawhyhestillgotcancer.Actually,withabortionsbeingsoprevalentnowadays,OB/GYNsespeciallyneedtobecareful.Adoctor’sdutyistosavelives,andperformingabortionsiscontrarytothisduty.Whatevercausesweplant,wereapthecorrespondingeffects.Karmaresultsfromourdailyactions,whilewecreateacauseonlyonceinawhile.Letmegiveyouanexampletoillustratetheseconcepts.Ifweplantseedsinthespring,weneedtowaituntilautumnfortheharvests.

由种上到结果，这叫“种因结果”。这个“业”，就是从春天到秋天这段时间，中间经过所发生的事；也就是你常常做什么，这就叫“业”。拿前面的例子来说，年轻的女子去堕一次胎，这就是“因”；妇产科医生常常帮人堕胎，这就是“业”。这个业，你随时做，有可能随时就受报的，做善就是善业，做恶就是恶业。

Theseedsandtheirresultingfruitsarethe“causesandeffects.”“Karma”isalltheeventsthatoccurredbetweenspringandautumnorthethingsthatwedofrequently.GoingbacktotheOB/GYNwithcancer,awomancreatesacausewhenshehasanabortion,whiletheOB/GYNcreateskarmawhenheperformsabortionsfrequently.Apersonwhocreateskarmaconstantlymayfaceitsretributionconstantly.Wholesomeactionscreatewholesomekarma,whileunwholesomeactionscreateunwholesomekarma.

《梵网经菩萨戒》云：“若佛子，若自杀，教人杀，方便杀，赞叹杀，见作随喜，乃至咒杀。杀因、杀缘、杀法、杀业。乃至一切有命者，不得故杀。”所谓“自杀”，就是自己动手结束对方的生命；也包括自己结束自己的生命。“教人杀”，自己虽然不杀，但教人杀，如当面劝人行杀，或派人到别处行杀，这样和自己杀死，罪是一样的。

TheBrahmaNetSutra’sBodhisattvapreceptsstatesthat“AdiscipleoftheBuddhamustnotkillbyhimself,tellotherstokill,killwithexpedientmeans,praisekilling,orcondonekilling.Hemustnotuseanymethodswhatsoever,notevenmantras,tokill.Hemustnotcreateanycausesforkilling,effectsofkilling,methodsofkilling,andkarmaofkilling.Aslongasthebeinghasalife,hemustnotenditslifeintentionally.”“Tokillbyoneself”meansnotonlytotakeother’slife,butalsototakeone’sownlife.“Tellingotherstokill”includesadvisingotherstokillorsendingsomeonetokillonyourbehalf.Whethertheactofkillingisdonebyyourownhandsorbyothers’handsbecauseyoutoldthemtodoso,theoffenseisthesame.

谈谈“教人杀”的实例，在八○年代，有一位经理级的先生，远从东南亚来到万佛圣城向上人求救，因为他身患癌症。上人让他在圣城的万佛宝殿中，在十方诸佛菩萨及四众前发露忏悔，以挽救他的罪业。他提到他因口所犯的恶业，惨无人道地吃众生肉，如吃猴脑、鹅掌等。接着，上人问他：“你杀过人吗？”他说：“绝对没有！除非我喝醉开车，不知道撞死人。”上人又问：“那你太太呢？”“唉呀，我想起来了，我曾叫我太太堕胎！”所以，这些生命都来和他讨债了！因此，有人问你，堕胎好不好？应该劝她不要堕胎。不要说：“若有困难，就把孩子拿掉吧。”这是教他杀。

Speakingoftellingotherstokill,letmetellyouatruestory.Duringthe1980s,amanagercameallthewayfromSoutheastAsiatovisittheVenerableMasteratCTTB.ThismanhadcancerandhopedtheVenerableMastercouldsavehim.InCTTB’sBuddhaHall,theVenerableMasterhelpedthismanbylettinghimrepentinfrontoftheBuddhasandBodhisattvasoftheTenDirectionsandtheFourfoldAssembly.Themantalkedabouttheevilkarmahehadcreatedwithhismouth,becausehecruellyatelivingbeings’fleshsuchasmonkeybrainsandgoosefeet.TheVenerableMasterthenaskedhimifhehadeverkilledaperson.Hereplied,“Never.TheonlywayImighthavedonesowouldbeifIweredrivingwhatdrunkandkilledsomeoneunknowingly.”TheVenerableMasterfurtherasked,“Howaboutyourwife?”Insurprise,themanageranswered,“Oh,Iremembernow.Ioncetalkedmywifeintogettinganabortion!”Alltheliveshehadtakenwerecomingtohimanddemandingpayments.Therefore,ifsomeoneasksyouwhethersheshouldgetanabortion,youshouldadviseheragainstit.Don’tsaythingssuchas,“Ifyouareinadifficultsituation,justgetridofthefetus.”Ifyoutellsomeonetogetanabortion,itisconsideredastellingotherstokill.

你持戒，有持戒的功德；破戒，有破戒的罪业。可是在因果上来说，不管有没有受戒，因果都是存在的；杀胎的这种过失，因果上默默中都要互相论对的。曾见过在超度牌位中，有同一个妈妈超度十几个未出生的胎儿，看得令人触目惊心，这身上有多少条生命呀！人的无知，造成无知的未来；无知的未来，让人更无知，就像滚雪球似的。

Upholdingthepreceptscreatesmeritandvirtue;breakingthepreceptscreatesnegativekarma.However,causesandeffectsexistregardlessofwhetheronehasreceivedtheprecepts.Bykillingafetus,onewillbeartheconsequences.Ioncesawrebirthplaquesmadebyamotherwhotriedtocrossovermorethantenfetusesthatshehadaborted.Itwasfrighteningtorealizehowmanylivesshewasindebtedto!Ourcurrentignorancecreatesafuturefullofignorance,andafuturefullofignorancecausesustobeevenmoreignorant,thuscreatingasnowballeffect.

问：请问法师对九月是堕胎月有什么看法？

Question:DharmaMaster,whatisyourviewon“Septemberasthemonthofabortion”?

答：这是十几年前，一位广播员问我的问题。当时我不明白为什么九月是堕胎月？广播员回答说：“因为学生放暑假，所以很多两性的事情发生。有孕了，学生九月要回到学校上课，就去打胎。”那么，十几年前风气就这样，现在更不用说了。这件事说起来，其实大家都有责任──

Answer:Thisisaquestionthataradioannounceraskedmeabouttenyearsago.WhenIsaidthatIdidn’tunderstandwhySeptemberisthemonthforabortions,theradioannouncertoldme:“Sinceduringsummervacations,manystudentshavesexandgetpregnant.Sowhenit’stimeforthemtogobacktoschoolinSeptember,theygetanabortion.”Ifthingswerethisbadtenyearsago,wecanimaginehowthingsarenow.Actually,allofussharesomeresponsibilityinthismatterforthefollowingreasons:

（一）从饮食来说：人应该吃人乳，但现在的孩子大多是饮牛乳长大的；牛是兽，兽有兽性，用兽的奶来养大孩子。断乳以后，又是大鱼大肉、甜点、油炸食品。用这样的饮食来养孩子，孩子或许看似快高长大，生理成长得快，但没有真正健康的基础，同时欲念也重，心理的成熟度够不上生理的成长。

First,ourchildren’sdiet.Humanbeingsshouldbefedwithhumanmilk;however,mostchildrennowadaysgrowupdrinkingcow\'smilk.Cowisananimal,andyetwefeedourchildrenmilkproducedbyaanimal.Whenchildrenareoldenoughtoeatsolidfood,theyarefedwithalotoffish,meat,sweetsandfriedfoods.Childrenonsuchadietseemtogrowtallerandfaster.However,eveniftheirbodiesweregrowingrapidly,thisgrowthisnotrootedingenuinelygoodhealth.Inaddition,duetotheirdiet,thesechildrentendtohavestrongdesires,andtheiremotionalmaturitycannotkeepupwiththeirphysicalmaturity.

（二）媒体的泛滥：在我们享用科技的方便时，风气所及，年轻的一代更是在媒体的泛滥下失去保护，诱惑太大，很难洁身自爱，也不懂洁身自爱。

Second,overwhelminginfluenceofthemedia.Whileweareenjoyingtheconveniencesbroughtbymoderntechnology,theyoungergenerationsarebeinginundatedbythemediawithoutanyprotection.Theseyoungstersareextremelyattractedbywhattheysee;undersuchinfluencesitishardforthemtokeeptheirbodiespureandcherishthemselves,andtheyalsodon’tknowhowtodoso.

（三）从教育方面来说：教育是要教人“明理”，不是“名利”。但现在的教育反行其道，年轻的一代受不到道德教育的滋润，就像没有根一样，随波逐流，失去做人的基础。

Third,ourchildren’seducation.Educationshouldteachpeoplehowtounderstandthetruth,insteadofhowtopursueprofitsandfame.Unfortunately,educationnowadaysiscontrarytotheWay.Withoutthenourishmentprovidedbyaneducationbasedonethicsandmorality,theyoungergenerationsdon’thaveastrongfoundationinhowtobeuprightindividuals.Instead,theyarelikerootlessplants,beingcarriedadriftbythetides.

所以增欲的饮食、导欲的媒体、错向的教育……，学生自然很容易恣情纵欲，为所欲为，堕胎月就出来了！若能改善教育、饮食，省悟科技带来的负面作用，提升道德观念等等，想必日后根本没有“堕胎月”这个名词！

Therefore,undertheinfluenceofthesefactors:adietthatincreasesdesires,mediathatteachdesires,andeducationthatfocusesonthewrongvalues,studentsnaturallytendtowardindulginginsexualdesireswithoutanyrestraint.Bydoingwhatevertheyplease,themonthofabortioncomesintobeing.Ifwecanimproveourchildren’sdietandeducation,realizethenegativeside-effectsofmoderntechnology,andstrengthenoursenseofethicsandmorality,Ithinkwedefinitelywon’thavethephrase“themonthforabortion”inthefuture!

结语：

有一次，我参加一个会议，主题是：“佛教对社会的参与影响”。个人觉得：用佛法来改造人心，这就是最大的影响！拿我出家人的身份来说，我不觉得一定要去外面做一些事情，这样才能帮助社会；而是，把正确的观念带给大家，影响得人人都有正确的观念。就像现在我们谈到堕胎的问题，这是社会上已存在的一个严重事实，如果人人有正确的观念，那就会帮助很多的生命。所以，带给大家正确的知见，这就是行持佛法的一部份！

Conclusion:

OnceIattendedaconferenceon“TheRoleofBuddhismanditsImpactonSociety.”IbelievethatBuddhism’sgreatestimpactishowittransformsourminds.AsamemberoftheSangha,IhavefoundthatIdon’tneedtogoaroundanddothingsforothersinordertobenefitthesociety.Rather,Icansharetheproperviewswithothers,andhelpeveryonetoattainsuchviews.Forexample,theissueofabortionwehavebeendiscussingisoneoftheseriousproblemsinsocietytoday.Ifeveryonecanunderstandtheproperviewofnokilling,manyliveswillbesaved.HelpingpeopletounderstandthistrueprincipleisonewayofupholdingtheBuddhadharma.

孩子们，对不起

Dearchildren,Iamsorry

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◎曾妈妈

Mrs.Zeng有了孕，就不可以嫌麻烦，一定要负起责任，把孩子生下来，抚育他（她）长大。

Whenonebecomespregnant,regardlessoftheamountoftrouble,onemustactresponsiblybygivingbirthtothebabyandraisinghimorher.

孩子！今天妈妈提笔写这封信，但是我不仅不知道你们的名字，甚至连你们的性别都不知道，只能称你们“老二、老五”；说来这都是爸妈的错……

Dearchildren:Momiswritingtoyoutoday,butIdon’tevenknowyournameorgender.Icanonlyaddressyouas“thesecondchildandthefifthchild.”Allofthisisyourmomanddad\'sfault.四十一年前，我和你们的爸爸才结婚第三年，就有了第二胎──就是老二你，心里很不以为然。那时还没有学习佛法，不懂真理，因无明烦恼，就一失足成千古恨，造了重大的罪业，就去堕胎了。手术结束后，昏迷中，我梦到自己躺在床上过世了，还见到你们的祖母说：“早知道这样，就不要堕胎了！”所以那时我是从鬼门关回来的！这个梦境，至今历历犹新。

Forty-oneyearsago,Iwaspregnantwithyou,thesecondchild,onlyafterbeingmarriedtoyourdadforthreeyears.Iwasn\'ttooconcernedaboutthispregnancy.Atthattime,IhaveyettostudytheBuddhadharmaanddidn’tunderstandthetruth,andthusoutofignoranceIcommittedaheavykarmicoffensebyhavinganabortion.Thismistakehascausedmeeverlastingsorrow.Iwasunconsciousnessaftertheoperation,andIdreamedthatIdiedonthehospitalbed.Ialsoheardyourgrandmothersaid:“Ifyouhadknownthisearlier,youshouldnothavegottenanabortion!”WhenIwokeup,IrealizedthatIjustcamebackfromdeath’sdoor.Thisdreamisstillvividinmymind.三年后，我又有了第五胎──也就是老五你。当时还是没有学习佛法，不懂得有了孕，就不可以嫌麻烦，一定要负起责任，把孩子生下来，抚育他（她）长大；因为这是自己造的业，自己要承担。然而，在那时候，不明理的我，对你的出现生大烦恼，因为你两位姐姐、一位哥哥都还小，而且这回是避孕失败，才又有孕的。所以，又去堕胎了，再次造了罪业！

Threeyearslater,Iwaspregnantthefifthtimeswithyou,thefifthchild.Atthattime,IstillhadnotstudiedtheBuddhadharma,andIdidn’tunderstandthatwhenonebecomespregnant,regardlessoftheamountoftrouble,onemustactresponsiblybygivingbirthtothebabyandraisinghimorher.Icreatedthiskarmamyself,andIshouldhaveacceptedtheresponsibilityformyactions.However,beingconfused,Iwasgreatlyafflictedbyyourupcomingbirth.Yourtwoeldersistersandoneelderbrotherwerestillyoung,andIgotpregnantbecauseofineffectivebirthcontrol.Therefore,Ihadanotherabortion,andcreatedanotherkarmicoffense!后来，我很幸运，有机会遇到善知识──宣公上人，学习佛法，亲近正法道场，才知道要天天修行，忏悔、念佛……做功课，除了回向给你们外，也为你们做了种种功德，例如：立超度牌位、为你们受幽冥戒等，希望你们早日离苦得乐，生到极乐世界。

Lateron,IwasveryfortunatetoencounteraGoodandWiseTeacher,theVenerableMasterHua,andstartedtostudytheBuddhadharma.Ialsodrewnearthemonasteriesthathefounded,inwhichtheproperDharmaflourished.OnlythendidIunderstandthatIshouldcultivateeveryday,repentandreform,recitetheBuddha\'sname,anddedicatetheresultingmeritstoyou.Inaddition,Ididvariouswholesomeactsonyourbehalf,suchassettinguprebirthplaquesandreceivingthePreceptsfortheDeceasedonyourbehalf.Ihopebothofyouwillquicklyleavesufferingandattainbliss,andberebornintheLandofUltimateBliss.现在我已经六十多岁了，一年前发现得了乳癌，我知道这是杀胎的因果报应成熟了，必须安然受报。可能是学佛的关系，承佛菩萨加被吧，虽罹患癌症，但无痛楚，乃至做切割手术，亦无痛苦。一年多来，可以过一般的生活，如正常人无异。所以，我真得很感激佛菩萨！

NowIamalreadyoversixtyyearsold.Lastyear,Iwasdiagnosedwithbreastcancer.Iknewthatthecancerwastheripeningofmyretributionfromkillingtwofetuses,andImustacceptitpeacefully.MaybebecauseofmystudyoftheBuddhadharmaandthecompassionateaidfromtheBuddhasandBodhisattvas,althoughIhadcancer,Ididn’tfeelmuchpain;eventheoperationtoremovethecancerouscellswasnotpainful.Foroverayearnow,Ihavebeenlivinganormallife.Therefore,IamverygratefultotheBuddhasandBodhisattvas!但是，你们的阿姨，就没我这么幸运了。让我说说她的故事吧！她先生在外任职，自己是个职业妇女，生活忙碌，没有时间看顾孩子。当第二胎临盆时，先生不在，生下来是个男孩子，没学佛的她，没和夫婿商量，也不多加考虑，就很愚痴，也很大胆地告诉医生，不想要这个婴儿；这个医生也很大胆地将婴儿弄死。她造了这么大的杀人的罪业，当她五十五岁的时候，因果报应来了，得了乳癌。虽经手术、化疗……种种的治疗，两年后还是不愈过世了。其实，你们的阿姨是个很好的人，一般人都很讶异她得了癌症。唉，因果报应真不是开玩笑的！

However,yourauntwasnotasluckyasIam.Letmetellyouherstory.Bothsheandherhusbandhadcareers,andintheirbusylivestheydidn’thavetimetotakecareofchildren.Herhusbandwasnotpresentwhenshewasdeliveringtheirsecondchild,aboy.ShedidnotstudytheBuddhadharma,andthuswithoutconsultingherhusbandorthinkingmoreaboutit,shetoldthedoctorwithnohesitationthatshedidn’twantthebaby.Thedoctoralsokilledthebabywithnohesitation.Outofdelusion,shecommittedaseriouskillingoffense.Whenshewasfifty-fiveyearsold,herretributioncame--shegotcancer.Althoughshewentthroughvarioustreatments,suchassurgeryandchemotherapy,shestilldiedintwoyears.Actually,yourauntwasaveryniceperson,andmanypeopleweresurprisedthatshehadcancer.Theprincipleofcauseandeffectisnotsomethingweshouldtreatlightly!

还有一个亲戚，她也是个职业妇女，性情温顺，但没学佛。她曾经堕过不知几次胎，后来患了癌症，一块块凸出来的硬瘤，布满全身，苦不堪言，病情严重，医生束手无策。后来还是过世了，那年才四十五岁。

Wehadanotherrelative,whoalsohadcareer.Shewasverygentleandgood-natured,butshedidn’tstudytheBuddhadharma.Ihavenoideahowmanyabortionsshehad.Lateron,shegotcancer,andthereweretumorsalloverherbody.Shewasverysickandintremendousamountofpain,butherdoctorscoulddonothingtohelpher.Shediedwhenshewasonlyforty-fiveyearsold.

说到这儿，想想你们，要是你们在的话，一个已经四十一岁，一个是三十八岁了。照常人，也都该成家立业了。说来夫妻相处，应该互相尊重，要节欲，就不会有子女多的麻烦。佛化家庭最好，明白因果，有智慧，有择法眼，就不会造罪业。而且，还要吃素，因为吃素身心较清净，欲念轻；反之，荤食，欲念重，节欲不易。万一，真有孩子的时候，千万不可堕胎，不可推卸责任；不要像我一样造罪业，虽然那时我真的是不懂。

Talkingaboutthisrelative’sageremindsmeofyou.Ifyouwereinthisworld,oneofyouwouldbeforty-oneyearsoldandtheotherthirty-eightyearsold.Usuallybythisage,youwouldhaveacareerandyourownfamily.Speakingofbeingmarried,husbandandwifeshouldrespecteachotherandcontroltheirsexualdesires;thisway,theywon\'tgetintothetroubleofhavingtoomanychildren.ABuddhistsfamilywouldbethebest,sincetheyunderstandcauseandeffect,andwithwisdomandtheabilitytodistinguishthetruefromthefalse,theywon\'tcommitkarmicoffenses.Inaddition,oneshouldbeavegetarian,becauseavegetariandietwillmakeone\'sbodyandmindpurer,andone\'sdesireslighter.Incontrast,ifoneeatsmeat,onewillhavestrongerdesires,whichmakesitmoredifficulttocontrolone’ssexualdesires.Ifonegetspregnant,neverevershirkone’sresponsibility.Don\'tcreateoffenseslikeIdid;Iwastrulyignorantthen.

对不起！孩子们，请原谅我的无知，夺去你们做人的机会！我发愿生生世世出家修道，无家累的烦恼，就不会造这些罪业。我也要将修行的功德回向给你们，并请阿弥陀佛照顾你们。也希望“堕胎”这两个字，消失在世间，普天下的生灵离苦得乐！

Iamsorry,mychildren!Pleaseforgivemeformyignorancewhichtookawayyouropportunitytobebornashumanbeings.IvowthatIwillleavethehome-lifeandcultivatetheBodhiWayineverylife.IwouldnothavecreatedthesekarmicoffensesifIwerenotafflictedbytheburdenofhavingafamily.Ialsowouldliketodedicatethemeritandvirtueofmycultivationtobothofyou,andrespectfullyaskAmitabhaBuddhatotakecareofyou.Finally,Iwishthattheword“abortion”willdisappearfromthisworld,andalllivingbeingscanleavesufferingandattainbliss!

一辈子的痛

AlifetimeofPain

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◎杨果同

Guo-TongYang当初我没有堕胎，今天会有另一个生命可以活在世上。所以现在我无法当一个骄傲的母亲，心中永远有一个充满惭愧的痛！

IfIdidn\'thaveanabortion,therewouldbeonemorelifeintheworldtoday.Accordingly,thereisnowayformetobeaproudmother,withthepainofshameandregretforeverinmyheart!

在一九八八年十月，我做了一件终生后悔的事──堕胎。那时高中刚毕业，知道自己怀孕后，心中只怕让母亲丢脸，也没让家人知道，就找了要好的同学商量。我的同学马上告诉我，她知道哪里可以堕胎，于是我们就去了那间私人医院，短短三十分钟就结束了一切（包含一条生命）。

InOctoberof1988,IdidsomethingthatIregrettedfortherestofmylife?Ihadanabortion.Atthetime,Ijustgraduatedfromhighschool,andwhenIrealizedthatIwaspregnant,theonlythingonmymindwasnottodisgracemymother.Therefore,withouttellingmyfamilyaboutmypregnancy,Iconsultedoneofmyfriends.Sheimmediatelytoldmethatsheknewwheretogetanabortion,sowewenttoaprivatehospital.Theentireprocedurewasoverinmerely30minutes(andthisincludedendingalife).事情结束后，白天的我，看不出有任何改变；但每到夜晚，我都是哭着和那条生命说对不起，哭到睡着。心中一直觉得很难过，很对不起那个孩子，经历了半年，心情才慢慢平静下来。最终和那位男友也分手了，因为每当看到他，我就想起我是一个残忍的人，我剥夺了一个小孩的生存权。

Aftertheabortion,althoughnoonecouldnoticeanychangeinmeduringthedaytime,IcriedmyselftosleepeverynightwhileapologizingtothelifethatIterminated.IfeltreallybadthatIletthebabydown,andittookmehalfayeartoregainmypeaceofmind.Lateron,Ibrokeupwithmyboyfriend,becauseeverytimeIsawhim,Iwasremindedofmycrueltyofdeprivingachild’srighttolive.事情过去三年后，我几乎要忘了这件事。有一天晚上，我和二专的同学下课后骑车回家，在十字路口时发生车祸，我摔到马路中间，结果并无大碍。但是当我站起来走到马路边后，我吓了一大跳，路口那间医院正是我去堕胎的医院，当时我心中惊呼：“真是太巧合了！”

Threeyearslater,Ialmostforgotaboutthisseriesofevents.Oneevening,Iwasonmywayhome,ridingabicyclewithmycollegeclassmates.Unfortunately,atanintersection,Iwasinanaccidentinvolvingacar.AlthoughIfelldowninthemiddleoftheroad,Iwasnotbadlyhurt.AfterIstoodupandwalkedtotheroadside,IwasstartledwhenIrecognizedthehospitalneartheintersection?itwaswhereIhadmyabortion!Iwasastoundedbythisincrediblecoincidence.又过了半年，我认识了新的男朋友，他带领我接触佛教，并鼓励我学佛。学佛后的我，才知道原来我所犯下的，是最重的罪，但已经无法挽回了！只能诵经回向或参加法会、立超度牌位来忏悔自己的过错。现在我已结婚生子，看到自己的孩子健康长大，心中常会想，如果当初我没有堕胎，今天也会有另一个生命可以生活在这个世上！所以我根本无法当一个骄傲的母亲，心中永远有一个充满惭愧的痛！

Sixmonthslater,Imetaboyfriend.HeintroducedmetoBuddhismandencouragedmetostudytheBuddhadharma.ItwasafterIstudiedtheBuddhardharmathatIrealizedIcommittedthemostseriousoffenseofkilling.However,itwastoolatetoundowhatIdid.TheonlythingsIcoulddoweretorepentofmymistakes,recitesutrasandtransfertheresultingmerittotheabortedchild,participateinDharmaAssemblies,andsetuprebirthplaguesfortheabortedchild.NowIammarriedandhavechildren.WhenIwatchmychildrengrowinguphealthy,IoftenthinkthatifIdidn’thaveanabortion,therewouldbeonemorelifeinthisworld.Accordingly,thereisnowayformetobeaproudmother,withthepainofshameandregretforeverinmyheart!二○○七年四月下旬，我作了一个梦，梦中我看到法师在帮一位居士剃头，宣公上人从旁边经过。我看到上人好高兴，就赶紧跟上去，我一直紧追在上人的后面。后来上人进入一个礼堂，有二位法师守在门口，在我前面有一位居士想进去，结果被阻挡；我也不怕，只想赶紧跟进去，结果她们并没有阻止我。

IhadadreaminthelatterhalfofApril,2007.Inthedream,IsawaDharmaMastershavingtheheadofalayperson(i.e.,apartoftheceremonywhenonebecomesamonastic),andtheVenerableMasterHuawaspassingby.IwasveryhappytoseetheVenerableMaster,soIhurriedafterhim.TheVenerableMasterenteredahall,wheretwoDharmaMastersstoodguardatitsentrance.Alaypersoninfrontofmetriedtoenter,buthiswaywasblocked.However,Iwasn’tafraid;theonlythingIwantedtodoistofollowtheVenerableMaster.Tomysurprise,noonestoppedmewhenItriedtoenter.当我进入礼堂后，礼堂内非常肃穆庄严，但我没有看到上人的身影。当时我心中非常着急与惊慌，只有一个念头就是：失去了这次机会，我似乎就要死了。接着，就低头伏跪在地上痛哭。这时，突然听到空中传来一句：“求哀忏悔！”我立刻从梦中惊醒过来。醒来后，对于梦中惊恐的感觉，还是十分真实，而且眼泪一直不由自主地流下来，心脏跳得很厉害，当时是早上七点。

Afterenteringthehall,Ifoundtheinteriorverysolemnandadorned,butIdidn’tseetheVenerableMaster.Iwasreallyworriedandalarmed.TheonlythoughtIhadwas:“IfImissthisopportunity,Iwoulddie.”SoIkneltonthefloorandwept.Suddenly,Iheardavoiceintheairsaying:“Seekcompassion,repentandreform!”Uponhearingthis,Iwasstartledawake.Thefeelingofpanicandfearwasstillveryvivid,myheartwasracingandIcouldn’tstopcrying.Itwasseveno’clockinthemorning.

我脑中一直反覆思考：什么是“求哀忏悔”？要如何做到“求哀忏悔”呢？我想这是上人解救我的一个方法，我要好好把握，不可以再错过。后来我打电话询问法师该如何“求哀忏悔”？法师慈悲教导我礼拜《佛说佛名经》，当时万佛圣城也正在举行万佛忏。

Ikeptontryingtofigureoutthemeaningof“Seekcompassion,repentandreform,”andhowtodoso.IfeltthiswasthewaythattheVenerableMastercouldsaveme,soIshouldtreasurethisopportunity.Lateron,IcalledaDharmaMasterandaskedherhowdoI“seekcompassion,repentandreform.”TheDharmaMastercompassionatelyinstructedmetobowtotheSutraoftheBuddhaSpeakingtheNamesoftheBuddhas.ItwasamazingthatwhenImadethecall,CTTBwasholdingtheTenThousandBuddhas’RepentanceCeremony,wherethisSutrawasbeingrecited.

我学佛后，除了忏悔自己所造堕胎的业，常想为什么我没有早一点学佛？如果这样，我就不会犯下这种罪了。上人说过台湾的杀业太重，太多人堕胎，我竟也是其中一人！我愿意把自己的经历说出来，警惕大众千万不要轻易造下堕胎、杀生的罪！未婚生子的难堪，跟杀生的罪比起来，根本微不足道。天下没有什么事是不能解决的，千万不要选择堕胎，生命消失后就再也不能挽回了！堕胎是想忘也忘不掉，而且是一辈子都无法弥补的过错！

AfterIstudiedtheBuddhadharma,inadditiontorepentingofthenegativekarmaIcreatedbyhavinganabortion,IkeptwonderingwhyIhadnotstudiedtheBuddhardharmaearlier.IfIhaddoneso,Iwouldnothavecommittedthisseriousoffense.TheVenerableMasterhadmentionedthatthekarmaresultingfromkillingwasveryheavyinTaiwanfortoomanypeoplewerehavingabortions.Unfortunately,Iwasoneofthem!Iamsharingmyexperienceinordertocautioneveryonenottohastilycommitakillingoffensebyhavinganabortion.Comparedtotheretributionresultingfromakillingoffense,theembarrassmentofgivingbirthtoachildoutofwedlockisreallyminor.Thereisnothingthatcan’tbesolvedinthisworld,andthusnevereverchooseabortionasasolution;oncealifeisterminated,wecanneverbringitback!Ican’tforgetmyabortionevenifItry,andit’sawrongthatIcanneverredressfortherestofmylife.

让错误不再发生

Don\'tLettheMistakeHappenAgain!

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◎王士明

Shi-MingWang别以为堕胎只是女方的错，男方一样要负起责任，一样会有果报的。

Don\'tthinkabortionisamistakethatonlyawomancanmake.Amanisalsoresponsibleandwillexperiencetheretributionaswell.

大约在一九八七年起，台湾政府对于校园实施了一连串的开放政策；以往对于学生管理相当的严格，禁止留长发，禁止男女在校园中交往，也不准去舞厅跳舞。开放之后，常常看到校园里成双成对的情侣，一到假日就和同学结伴去舞厅跳舞，通宵达旦。就在舞厅里，我认识了事件中的女主角，交往了一段时间之后，她怀孕了，而她最直接的决定是──堕胎。当时只觉得这样似乎不好，也曾反对过，但最后仍敌不过女朋友的坚持，陪伴着她去医院。短短的半小时，一条生命就这样消失了。过程中，我心如刀割痛苦万分，心里对这条生命有着万分的愧疚。这是发生在一九八九年四月的事，我没想到我还是个学生，二十岁不到，但我已荒唐地将一条生命带来人世，又无知地剥夺他生存的权利！

Fromaround1987,theTaiwanesegovernmentstartedimplementingaseriesofmorepermissivepoliciesoncampus.Beforethat,theregulationsgoverningthestudentswerequitestrict.Forexamples,therewererulesprohibitingstudentsfromgrowingtheirhairlong,forbiddingmaleandfemalestudentsfromhavingrelationshipsoncampus,andpreventingstudentsfromgoingtodancehalls.Afterthemorepermissivepoliciescameintoeffect,couplescouldfrequentlybeseenoncampus,andduringschoolholidays,studentswouldgodancingwiththeirfriendsallnightlong.ItwasinadancehallthatImetthemainfemaleleadinthisstory.Afterdatingforawhile,shegotpregnantandshedecidedrightawaytohaveanabortion.Somehow,Ifeltgettinganabortionwasn’tright,andIevenvoicedmyopposition.However,atmygirlfriend’sinsistence,Ifinallygaveupandaccompaniedhertoahospital.Inmerelyhalfanhour,alifewasterminated.WhileIwaswaitingformygirlfriend,IfeltasifaknifewerepiercingmyheartandIwasinsuchagony.Ifeltterriblyashamedandguiltyaboutthelostlife.AllthishappenedinAprilof1989;Icouldn’tbelievethatasastudentlessthantwentyyearsold,Ididaterriblethingandbroughtalifeintotheworld,thenignorantlydeprivedhimoftherighttolive!约在结束后第六天晚上，我梦到一个小男孩手上拿着一把刀，恶狠狠地瞪着我；突然间，他用手上的刀挥向我的脖子，在我的脖子上留下了一道很深的伤口。梦中的我手捂着脖子痛醒，我心里明白这应该是那位被拿掉的孩子来报仇吧！从此以后，我常在凌晨四点胃痛痛醒，脾气越来越暴躁，身体越来越糟，甚至常常想动手打我的女朋友。当时，我不明白我的身体和心性怎么会这样；直到皈依宣公上人后，听到上人的开示，才知道“堕胎”的可怕。我尽力忏悔，拜佛、诵经咒，修诸功德，只希望那位“孩子”能原谅我。

ItwasaboutthesixthnightaftertheabortionthatIdreamedaboutalittleboy.Hestaredatmefiercely,withaknifeinhishand.Suddenly,hethrusttheknifeatmyneck,leavingaverydeepcut.Inthedream,Icoveredmyneckwithmyhand,andIwokeupfromthepain.Iknewinmyheartthatitwastheabortedchildwhocameforrevenge!Fromthenon,Ioftenwokeupfromstomach-achesaroundfouro\'clockinthemorning,andmyhealthstartedtodecline.IalsogotmoreandmoreirritabletothepointthatIfrequentlywantedtohitmygirlfriend.Atthattime,Ididn’tunderstandwhymybodyandmindbecamelikethat.ItwasnotuntilItookrefugewiththeVenerableMasterHuathatIrealizedhowterribleabortionwas.Itriedmybesttorepentandreform,bowtotheBuddhas,reciteSutrasandMantras,andcultivatevariousmeritsandvirtues.Ionlyhopethat“thechild”wouldforgiveme.十年之后果报终于发生了，医生在我梦中留下伤口的位置发现了癌症，一颗四公分大的恶性肿瘤，在手术之后虽然看似痊愈了，但我仍努力地修行回向，希望能弥补自己曾经犯下的大错。

Myretributioncametenyears?Iwasdiagnosedwithcancer.Thedoctorsfoundamalignanttumoraboutfourcentimetersinmyneck,theplacewherethechildwoundedmeinmydream.AlthoughIseemedtobecuredaftertheoperation,Icontinuetocultivatediligentlyandtransfertheresultingmeritstothechild,inthehopethatIcanmakeupformybigmistake.当时年少无知，如果学校社会能给我们多一些约束，若是没开放舞禁，若是在我们年轻时有多一些道德教育；若是我和女朋友之间能守好礼教，不管男女，只要有一方坚持守身，错误就不会发生了。

Atthetimeoftheabortion,wewereyoungandignorant.Wewouldnothavemadesuchamistakeifthesocietyandschoolsheldustostricterstandards,theprohibitionondancingwasnotlifted,wehadmoreeducationonmorality,ormygirlfriendandIactedwithpropriety.Infact,inacouple,itdoesn’tmatterwhetherit’sthemanorthewomanwhoactswithpropriety.Onlyoneofthemneedstoinsistonmaintainingpurityandamistakewouldbeprevented.我将自己的经验说出来，希望能提醒大家守好婚前的道德，不要犯下邪淫与杀生的罪业；更希望藉此勉励年轻人，练习克制自己的欲望。在读书时多放些心思在课业上，把师长的告诫放在心中。有时，我们觉得那是老生常谈而不以为意，总觉自己可以处理得很好；其实，一旦铸成大错，就难以挽回了。不要像我，一辈子都带着这份愧疚，扔都扔不掉！

Bysharingmyexperience,Iwishtoremindeveryonetofollowthemoralstandardsonpremaritalrelationship,anddon’tcommitthekarmicoffensesofsexualmisconductandkilling.Moreimportantly,Iwishtoencourageyoungpeopletolearnhowtocontroltheirdesires,concentrateontheirstudies,andbemindfuloftheadmonitionsfromtheirteachersandelders.Sometimeswethinkthoseadmonitionsareoldwives’talesandignorethem,feelingthatwecanmanageeverythingjustfine.Actually,onceabigmistakehasbeenmade,itisverydifficulttocorrect.Don’tbecomesomeonelikeme,whocarriesanunshakeablesenseofshameandguiltfortherestofhislife.我们的人生还有很多路要走，欲望冲动时，要先冷静。别以为堕胎只是女方一个人的错，男方一样要负起责任，一样会有果报的。希望──真心的希望，大家一起共同努力，给年轻人更多的教育与帮助，也希望年轻人赶快从迷梦中醒悟，让错误不再发生！

Westillhavealongwaytogoonourlife’sjourney.Therefore,weshouldstaycalmwhensuddenurgesarise.Don\'tthinkabortionisamistakethatonlyawomancanmake.Amanisalsoresponsibleandwillexperiencetheretributionaswell.Isincerelywishthatallofuswillworktogethertoprovidemoreeducationandassistancetoyoungpeople.Ialsowishthatyoungpeoplewillquicklywakeupfromtheirconfuseddreams,andnotletthemistakehappenagain!

那是一条命！

ItisaLife!

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◎凯西．陈

CathieChen那是一条命，不能随心所欲，不能当玩笑，不能随意带来，又随意夺走的一条命！

Itisalife;alifethatcan\'tbetreatedlightlyoraswewish,alifethatcan\'tbebroughtintobeingorbeterminatedasweplease!

几年前，学姐迷上算命，到处打听“很准”的算命师，到处算命乐此不疲，路途再远、排队再久也要去“问一下”。那几年，我对生活和工作，甚至是对自己都不满意，也希望能有高人指点，给条新的路，让我能好地发挥所长；学姐则是一心一意想要嫁个有钱的好老公。因此，只要她听到哪里有什么人很厉害，就会请假要我陪她去。

Severalyearsago,afriendaheadofmeinschoolwascrazyaboutgettingherfortunetold.Shelookedforfortunetellerswhowere“veryaccurate,”andenjoyedlisteningtopredictionsaboutherlifesomuchthatshenevergottired,regardlessofhowfarshehadtogoorhowlongshehadtowaitinline.Atthattime,Iwasnotsatisfiedwithmylife,myjobandevenwithmyself.SoIhopedtomeeta“superiorperson”whocoulddirectmeontoanewpath,whereIcanfullydevelopandusemyskills.Myfriendwaswishingwholeheartedlytomarryawealthyman,soassoonassheheardaboutsomeonewhosepredictionswereaccurate,shewouldtakeabreakfromworkandaskedmetogowithher.最后一次跟她去算命，是去一个只要有你的名字和生肖，就可以把你过去的一切，如数家珍说给你听的“怪怪的阿姨”。听说有一个同学去找她，因为不信她的话，她就把同学家附近的样子形容给她听，吓得她点头如捣蒜。我觉得很有意思，所以学姐一提，我也很乐意陪着去。其实这些算命师，不知道为什么，都不太回答我的问题，我问什么，他们都说“你没问题”，然后就不理我；说真的很浪费钱和时间。相反的，每次学姐都问到我打瞌睡，而轮到我却都是三两句就结束。

ThelasttimeIwentwithmyfriendforfortunetelling,wevisitedafortune-tellerwholookedreallystrange.Aslongasyougaveheryournameandzodiacsign,shewasabletotellyouaboutyourpastingreatdetail.Iheardthatoneofmyschoolmatesvisitedthisfortuneteller.Whenmyschoolmatedidn’tbelieveher,shedescribedthesurroundingsoftheschoolmate\'shome,andscaredtheschoolmateintonoddingnonstopatwhatevershesaid.Ithoughtthisstorywasquiteinteresting,thereforewhenmyfriendmentionedherwishtovisitthisfortuneteller,Iwasveryhappytogowithher.Actually,Istilldon’tknowwhynoneofthefortunetellerswevisitedreallyansweredmyquestions.NomatterwhatIasked,theyallreplied,“Youdon’thaveanyproblems,”thenignoredme.Tobehonest,thesevisitswerereallyawasteoftimeandmoney.Incontrast,everytimewewenttoafortuneteller,myfriendkeptonaskingquestionsuntilIfellasleep.However,whenitwasmyturn,thefortunetellingconsistedofonlytwoorthreesentences.这次和往常一样，我被“你很好，没问题”就打发掉。跟着学姐就开始问东问西：现在的男友好吗？会不会花？会不会赚钱？赚钱会不会给她用？几时会娶她……哇啦哇啦，听得我好想睡。突然……那个算命阿姨叫她不要再问男朋友的事，她有事想问学姐，她说：“跟在你后面那三个是什么？”我的天哪，睡意全没了，她问那是什么啊！！！

Inthislastvisit,justlikeothervisitstofortunetellers,Iwasdismissedby“Youarefine,youdon’thaveanyproblems.”Thenmyfriendstartedtoaskallsortsofquestionsaboutherboyfriend,suchaswhetherherboyfriendisgood,whetherheisfaithful,whetherhecanearnalotofmoney,whetherhewillletherusethemoney,whenwillhemarryher...blah,blah,blah.Ifeltsosleepyjustlisteningtoherquestions.Suddenly,thefortunetellertoldmyfriendtostopbecauseshehadsomethingtoaskmyfriend.Shesaid,“Whoarethosethreefollowingyou?”GoodHeavens,whatkindofquestionwasthat?!Inaninstant,mysleepinesswasallgone.我在桌下撞学姐的脚，她示意要我安静；气氛突然很紧张，算命阿姨站起来拿了张黄色的纸，不知道在写什么。学姐哭了起来，她问是男孩还是女孩？他们想干嘛？会害她吗？我突然听懂了，啊，是婴灵！学姐拿过……三次！！！后来那个阿姨还说了什么我全忘了，只记得学姐一直哭。那个阿姨要我们去烧金纸，然后到楼上拜观世音菩萨。

Ibumpedmyfriend’slegunderthetable,butshesignaledmetobequiet.Theatmosphereintheroomwassuddenlyverytense.Thefortunetellerstooduptofetchapieceofyellowpaper,andwrotesomethingonitthatIcouldn’tread.Myfriendstartedtocry,andaskedwhethertheywereboysorgirls,whatdidtheywant,andwhethertheywouldhurther?Isuddenlyunderstood--the“they”beingreferredtowereinfantspirits!Thiswouldmeanmyfriendhadanabortion...threetimes!!!Itotallyforgotwhatthefortune-tellersaidafterthat.Ijustrememberedthatmyfriendkeptoncrying,andthefortunetellerinstructingustoburnpapermoney(as“offerings”totheinfantspirits)andtobowtoGuanShrYinBodhisattva.后来，我再也没跟着学姐去算命，但我知道她偶尔还是会偷偷去。我知道她做了好多次超度，她也要我帮忙去问如何“供养婴灵”的事。我想到她曾跟我说过“住外面会害怕，偶而会看到很像小孩的‘东西’躲在桌下，跟她玩抓迷藏。”我记得我跟她说，可能是房子的问题，要她试着念佛……原来……事情另有隐情。

Afterthisexperience,Ineverwentwithmyfriendforfortunetellingagain,butshecontinuedtogooccasionally.Iknewthatshesponsoredwaystocrossovertheinfantspiritsmanytimes,andshealsoaskedmetohelpherbyfindingouthowto“makeofferings”toinfantspirits.Itoccurredtomethatshehadtoldme:“WhenIlivedoff-campusIwasscared.SometimesIcouldsee‘something’resemblingachildundermydeskandplayedhide-and-seekwithme.”Irememberedtellingherthatthereprobablywassomethingwrongwithherapartment,andtoldhertorecitetheBuddha’sname.Asitturnedout,shehadsecretsthatIdidn’tknow.这几天，法师问我，能不能画画插图，道场要出一本和“堕胎”有关的书。当我读法师传来的文章时，整个人紧绷，脑冲血的感觉一直不能退；我必须坦诚，我一定劝过有类似问题的朋友：“如果真的不行，就拿掉也比较好。”“你也不是故意的，不会有问题。”

Afewdaysago,aDharmaMasteraskedmewhetherIcoulddrawsomeillustrationsforabookaboutabortionthatDRBAplanstopublish.WhenIwasreadingthemanuscriptthattheDharmaMastersentme,Ifelttensealloverandmybloodwasrushingtomyhead.Icouldn’tshakethisfeelingforalongtime.Ihavetobehonest.IwashavingsuchareactionbecauseIhavegivensomepregnantfriendsadvicesuchas“Ifthereisnootherway,youarebetteroffwithanabortion,”and“Youdidn’tdothisonpurpose,soeverythingwillbeallright.”我读了宣公上人的开示和法师们对“堕胎”的说法，我真的害怕了！是一条命，那是一条命！因为一时的欢乐或气氛带来的一个生命，却因为不在预期中，或想省麻烦或其他的原因，就被带来又夺去。我想大哭，我说错话了！我怎么可以是非不分地劝说朋友，让她们放心，而一再又再地犯这个滔天大罪？读完法师传给我的内容，我努力冷静想要快点画点东西出来，因为法师们在等。我边画边抖，真的好怕！如果我早点学佛，如果我有心认真跟随上人学佛，我不会变成堕胎的帮凶；我的朋友、学姐也能早点知错、认错，诚心求忏悔。我知道她们虽然不曾说过，但其实非常地后悔，经常都挂着自己做过的事，到处打听哪有高人能帮忙超度；这个懊悔将跟着一辈子，永生不忘。

AfterIreadtheVenerableMasterHua\'sDharmatalksandwhatotherDharmaMasterssaidaboutabortion,Iwasreallyfrightened.Irealizedthatafetusisalife,itreallyisalife!Alifethatwasbroughtintothisworldduetomomentarypleasure,andthentheverysamelifewasextinguishedbecausethepregnancywasunplanned,orhavingachildwouldcauseproblems,orforsomeotherreasons.Iwantedtoweep,becauseIhadsaidthewrongthingstomyfriends!HowcouldIhaveadvisedmyfriendswithoutdistinguishingbetweenrightandwrong,andtoldthemnottoworrysotheycouldcommitsuchterribleoffensesagainandagain?Afterfinishingreadingthemanuscriptofthisbook,Itriedveryhardtocomposemyself.Iwishedtocomeupwithsomedrawingsquickly,becausetheDharmaMastersarewaitingforthem.IwastremblingasIdrew,becausewhatIdidreallyscaredme.IfIhadlearnedtheBuddhadharmaearlier,ifIhadsincerelyanddiligentlystudiedtheBuddhadharmawiththeVenerableMaster,Iwouldnothavebecomeanaccomplicetoanabortion.Inaddition,myfriendaheadofmeinschoolandmyotherfriendswouldhaverealizedandadmittedtotheirmistakesearlier,andrepentandreformwithsincerity.Althoughnoneofmyfriendshavesaidso,Iknowtheyreallyregrethavingtheirabortions.Whattheydidseemedtobealwaysontheirminds,fortheykeeponsearchingfor“superiorpeople”whocanhelpthemtocrossoverthespiritsoftheirabortedchildren.Anunforgettablesenseofremorsefollowsthemfortherestoftheirlives.学姐去年结婚了，也生小孩了，但因为工作的关系，我没去看过她，也没见过小婴孩。她跟我说小孩很难带，晚上哭不停，一定要抱着睡，不能躺。她不得不辞去工作在家带小孩，整个人精疲力尽，白天几乎都不能休息，晚上也不能睡，快没力气了。我不知道小孩难带，半夜乱哭，和她之前做过的事有没有关系。但我很希望这本书，我能亲手交给她，我要和她一起求忏悔，好好地重新审视自己面对生命的态度。虽然是母腹里的一块肉，但那是一条命，不能随心所欲，不能当玩笑，不能随意带来，又随意夺走的一条命！

Myfriendaheadofmeinschoolgotmarriedlastyear,andshehadababy.Ihaven\'tvisitedherandmetherbabyduetomyworkschedule.Overthephone,shetoldmeitwasreallydifficulttotakecareofherbaby,becausehekeptoncryingintheeveningsandhehadtobeheldinordertofallasleepandstayasleep.Shehadnochoicebuttoresignfromherjobsoshecouldtakecareofherbaby.Sinceshebarelyhadtimetorestduringthedayandcouldn’tsleepatnightduetothebaby,shewassoexhaustedthatshewasatthevergeofcollapse.Idon\'tknowwhetherthesedifficultieswithherbaby,whocriesthroughthenight,haveanythingtodowithherpast.However,IhopeIcangiveherthisbookinperson,sosheandIcanrepenttogetherandre-examineourattitudetowardalife.Althoughafetusmaybejustapieceoffleshinamother’swomb,itisalife;alifethatcan’tbetreatedlightlyoraswewish,alifethatcan’tbebroughtintobeingorbeterminatedasweplease!

对自己的生命负责！

TakingResponsibilityforMyOwn,Life!

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◎于安口述

YuAn我不能说我勇敢，但是这样的选择，心里自有一份踏实，也有一份心安。

Ican\'tclaimthatIwasbrave;Ithoughtitwasarealisticchoice(tohavethebaby),andIfeltasenseofpeaceonceImadethechoice.

十年前，我做错了一件事──在一个糊涂的因缘下，我怀孕了。但是，我，未婚。当时的情况告诉我，如果我把孩子生下来的话，只能当一个未婚妈妈。

Tenyearsago,Ididsomethingwrong.Beingconfused,Igotpregnantwithoutbeingmarried.IknewthenifIgavebirthtothebaby,Icouldonlybeasinglemother.由于人身是很难得的，很不容易有做人的机会，断送一条人命，让对方失去做人的机会，是一件很残忍的事。因此，我坚持在任何情况下，不管承受多大的艰辛困苦，一定要将孩子生下来，不可堕胎！因为，我要对自己的生命负责！

Intheendlesscycleofdeathandrebirth,ahumanbodyisverydifficulttoobtain.Therefore,IthoughtifIweretoterminatealife,Iwouldbedeprivingsomeoneofanopportunitytobebornasahumanbeing.Thiswouldbeaverycruelact.Accordingly,Iinsistedonhavingthebaby,nomatterhowmuchdifficultyandhardshipImighthavetoundergo.Iwouldnothaveanabortionunderanycircumstances.Afterall,Imustberesponsibleformyownlife!我，未婚有孕；这带给亲人一阵风暴。当时家人分成两派，一派是：为了我的前途着想，孩子生下来后，送给人！一派是：是自己的孩子，当然可以留下来自己养育。

Beingsingleandpregnant,Icausedanupheavalinmyfamily.Myfamilywasoftwominds;onefaction,concernedaboutmyfuture,thoughtIshouldgiveupthebabyforadoption,whiletheotherfactionthoughtthebabywasoneofusnow,andthus,weshouldkeepthebabyandraisehimorher.孩子生下后，是个女娃娃，我知道互为母女，这是一份特别的缘份，所以我亲自养育，并帮助孩子学习佛法，导引她有个正确的人生观，改变命运，乃至成就法身慧命。我自己当然也重新再来过，遵守五戒──不杀生、不偷盗、不邪淫、不妄语、不饮酒，以戒律做为人生的导航，就不会再走错方向了。

Igavebirthtoababygirl,andbeingmotheranddaughter,Iknewthattherewasaspecialaffinitybetweenthetwoofus.Therefore,Iraisedandeducatedhermyself.IhelpedmydaughtertostudytheBuddhadharmaandguidedhertodevelopaproperviewoflife,sothatshecouldshapeherowndestinyandevenbeabletorealizeher“Dharmabodyandwisdomlife.”Ialsostartedanewmyselfbyobservingthefiveprecepts?nokilling,nostealing,nosexualmisconduct,nolying,andnotakingofintoxicants.Bylettingthepreceptsbemyguidethroughlife,Inolongerwillheadtowardthewrongdirections.如今，孩子将近十岁了。虽然身为一个单亲妈妈，身兼父职，这一路走来，碰到很多障碍，很辛苦的。但是，我做应该做的事，不管能力如何，能做多少就做多少，不容易的也要做。总而言之，尽力而为就是了。现在，看到孩子健康活泼地活着，再怎么辛苦都值得！

Nowmydaughterisalmosttenyearsold.Asasinglemother,Ialsohadtofulfilltheroleofafather.AlthoughithasbeenahardjourneyasIencounteredmanyobstaclesontheway,IwasdoingwhatIwassupposedtodo.Regardlessofmycapability,IdidwhatIcould.Evenifsomethingwasdifficulttohandle,Istillhandledit.Inshort,Itriedmybest.Now,watchingmydaughtergrowinguphealthyandhappy,everythingwasworthit,nomatterhowhard!另一方面，我也很庆幸的，或许是佛菩萨的帮忙吧，我也碰到善缘，鼓舞我继续前进；也深信秉着佛陀的教诲，一定可以克服种种困境，所以我对未来还是很有信心的。

Inaddition,Iamveryfortunate(probablywithhelpfromtheBuddhasandBodhisattvas)thatIhavemetpeoplewhoIhavewholesomeaffinitieswith,andtheyhaveencouragedmetokeepmovingforward.IalsodeeplybelievethatbyupholdingtheBuddha’steachings,Idefinitelycanovercomevariousdifficulties,andthusIremainconfidentaboutthefuture.当初，我没有用另外一个错误（堕胎），去掩饰前一个错误（未婚怀孕）；相反的，面对自己的错误，担负起责任。我不能说我勇敢，但是这样的选择，心里自有一份踏实，也有一份心安。

Morethantenyearsago,Ididn’tuseanothermistake(havinganabortion)tocoverupmypreviousmistake(gettingpregnantwithoutbeingmarried).Onthecontrary,Ifacedmyownmistake,andacceptedresponsibilityformyactions.Ican’tclaimthatIwasbrave;Ithoughtitwasarealisticchoice,andIfeltasenseofpeaceonceImadethechoice.再者，以前父母所担心的：未婚，带着一个孩子，这一生大概就没什么前途了。所以要我把孩子生下来后，送给人。我的体会是：勇敢地面对自己的错误，心性平和地担负起责任，这就是成长，这就是前途！因为这里面会滋生出一股坚毅不拔的力量，陪你走在人生道上。

Inaddition,becauseIwasasinglemother,myparentswereworriedthatIprobablywouldn’thavetoomuchofafuture.Therefore,theywantedmetogiveupthebabyforadoption.Howevermyexperiencehasbeenthatbybravelyfacingone’smistakesandcalmlyacceptingone’sresponsibilityisgrowthandmaturity.Becausebydoingso,youwilldevelopasenseofunwaveringdeterminationthatcanserveyouwellfortherestofyourlife.当然，我更要奉劝各位未婚的朋友，要洁身自爱，不要犯了和我十年前同样的错误。不管怎样，未婚却有两性关系，总是不对的，总是种来日苦果的因。所以，不要糊涂，要克己复礼；有礼法，有规矩尺度，才会有健康的人生！

Finally,Iwouldliketooffermyadvicetoanyonewhoissingle--pleasemaintainyourpurityandintegrity,anddon’tmakethesamemistakeasIdidtenyearsago.Engaginginpremaritalsexisimproperunderanycircumstances,forsuchanactionisthecauseoffuturesuffering.Therefore,don’tbeconfused;rather,controlyourdesires,actwithproprietyanddecorum,andfollowtherules.Thatistheonlywaythatyoucanleadawholesomelife!

母子连心

TheHeartsofaMotherandherChildareConnected

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◎谢果馨

Guo-XinXie不是生出来才连心，一受胎就母子连心，妈妈心里想什么，孩子完全知道。

Theconnectionbetweentheheartsofamotherandherchildbeginsevenbeforethechildisborn.;itstartswhenthechildisstillinthewomb.Thechildknowsexactlywhathisorhermotheristhinking.我是个佛学班儿童的老师。记得有一次和几个家长谈不杀生的时候，我同他们讲堕胎是杀生，因为这就像是杀掉一个活生生的人；可是其中一些较年轻的妈妈并不以为然。这时候有一位家长就把她三岁女儿的故事说给我们听。叶妈妈说，她本来就只打算要生两个孩子，所以生完老二之后就避孕了。结果很意外的几年之后又受孕，她觉得三个孩子太多，又难带；所以征得先生同意之后，决定要把已经几个星期大的胎儿拿掉。

IteachBuddhismtochildren.IrememberonceItalkedtoseveralparentsabouttheprincipleofnokilling.Itoldthemthathavinganabortionisaformofkilling,becauseitistakingthelifeofalivinghumanbeing.However,anumberofyoungermothersinthegroupdisagreed.Then,amotherrespondedbytellingusthestoryofherthreeyearolddaughter.Mrs.Yetoldusthatshealwaysplannedtohaveonlytwochildren,sowhenhersecondchildwasborn,shestartedtousecontraceptives.Tohersurprise,afteranumberofyears,shegotpregnantagain.Shefeltthatitwouldbedifficulttoraisethreechildren,soaftergettingherhusband’sconsent,shedecidedtoabortthefetusthatwasseveralweeksold.当天晚上她就梦见一个很可爱的小女孩来跟她说：“妈妈！请你不要把我拿掉，我会很乖的。”连续三天，每天晚上小女孩都来跟她讲同样的话，她知道这是小女儿来求她，不要把她杀掉，叶妈妈于心不忍，就十月怀胎地把她生下来。

Thatevening,shedreamedaboutacutelittlegirlwhotoldher,“Mom,pleasedon’tgetridofme.Iwillbeverygood.”Forthreeconsecutivenights,Mrs.Yehadthesamedream.Sherealizedthatherdaughterwaspleadingwithhernottohaveanabortion.Afterthesedreams,Mrs.Yedidn’thavethehearttogothroughwithanabortion,soshedidn’tterminateherpregnancyandgavebirthtoababygirl.我见到这个小女孩时，她已经三岁了，很乖巧，很可爱，最喜欢帮妈妈洗厕所。叶妈妈的故事肯定了堕胎就是杀生的道理，杀的不是别人，正是自己的孩子。俗语说“母子连心”，不是生出来才连心，一受胎就母子连心，妈妈心里想什么，孩子完全知道。所以才有所谓的胎教。你可以想像小Baby有多可怜，当他（她）知道妈妈决定要把他（她）拿掉时，心中恐怖和无助，到最后被杀时，则转为哀愤与仇恨。唉，于心何忍！于心何忍！三思！三思！

WhenImetthislittlegirl,shewasalreadythreeyearsold.Sheisveryobedient,cleverandcute,andshereallylikestocleanthebathroomforhermother.Mrs.Ye’sstoryconfirmsthatabortionisaformofkilling;infact,byhavinganabortionwewouldbekillingnotjustanyone,butourownchild.Thereisasayingthat“theheartsofamotherandherchildareconnected.”Thisconnectionbeginsevenbeforethechildisborn;itstartswhenthechildisstillinthewomb.Thechildknowsexactlywhathisorhermotheristhinking.Thisconnectionisalsocapturedbythesaying,“educationstartsinthewomb.”Wecanimaginehowpitifulitwouldbeforalittlebabywhoknowsthathisorhermotherisplanningtoterminatehisorherlife.Thisbaby’sfearandhelplessnessturnsintohatredandresentmentwhenheorsheiskilled.Howcananyonebearthis?Pleasethinkcarefullybeforeyouact!

行医的回荡

ADoctor\'sRealization

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◎庄雅?o．临床心理师

Ya-JenChuang,ClinicalPsychologist听了这些躁郁症者的故事，心里回荡着上人对戒律的强调……

AfterlisteningtothestoriesofmypatientswithBipolarDisorders,IrealizedwhytheVenerableMasteremphasizedtheimportanceofupholdingtheprecepts......

接触宣公上人的书籍大约是在四年前，那时台湾正经历SARS危机。SARS其实就像上人在开示录中所提的──可怕的传染性肺病。我在医院工作，当时只要出了医院就是被讨厌的人。随时都可能因为发烧而被隔离，那儿也不适合去。阿姨送来上人的开示录，我开始认识上人。上人说，持诵〈大悲咒〉和〈楞严咒〉的人，可以在这瘟疫劫里幸免于难。我开始学习〈楞严咒〉。

IbecameacquaintedwiththeVenerableMaster’steachingsaboutfouryearsago,aroundthetimewhenTaiwanhadtheSARScrisis.Actually,SARSislikethedangerousandcontagiousrespiratorydiseasethattheVenerableMastermentionedinhisDharmatalks.Asahealthworker,IwasmetwithfearonceIleftthehospitalwhereIworked.SinceIcouldbequarantinedforeventheslightestfever,itwashardformetogoanywhere.ItwasthenmyauntsentmepublicationsoftheVenerableMaster’sDharmatalks,andIbegantostudyhisteachings.TheVenerableMastersaidthatpeoplewhorecitetheGreatCompassionMantraandtheShurangamaMantrawouldbeuntouchedbyanepidemic.ThiswaswhenIstartedtolearntheShurangamaMantra.阅读上人的开示录，惊讶于居然有人可以这般地说真话，提倡道德，一点也不从众媚俗。这在台湾谎言日增的社会里，已经愈来愈少见了。对上人的敬佩油然而生。上人的教诲，帮助我走过职场生涯的迷惘困惑；影响我从不接触经典到想要探索经藏；教导我从佛法的角度看心理疾病；修正我忽略戒律的观念，而主动想要学习和持守戒律。

WhilereadingtheVenerableMaster’slectures,Iwasamazedbythewayhespokethetruthandpromotedmorality,withoutfollowingtraditionalcustomsjusttopleasepeople.LivingintheTaiwanesesocietywheretruthisbecomingrarerwhileliesareincreasingdaily,myrespectfortheVenerableMasterarosenaturally.Histeachingsguidedmethroughdifficultiesandconfusingsituationsinmycareer,transformedmefromsomeonewhonevertouchedaSutratosomeonewhowishestoexploretheSutratreasury,andhelpedmetounderstandmentalillnessesfromaBuddhistperspective.Healsoshowedmetheerrorofoverlookingtheprecepts,andinspiredmetolearnandupholdthepreceptsinstead.记得从学校毕业后，怀着憧憬和梦想进入职场，与所崇敬的资深临床心理专业前辈一起工作。有一天，当发现自己的单纯和对人的尊敬竟然成为被利用的弱点，感到相当地认知失调。不禁怀疑，是不是要在这个领域有所发展，除了专业之外，还要学会一些损人利己的手段呢？可是真要这么做，我又不敢。幸而，上人强调对道德规范的严格遵守，指出末法众生斗争性强，损人利己行为普遍存在的现象。令我重新肯定价值信念，分辨所处环境中的是非对错，也让自己不要被这些乱七八糟的事情困扰着。

WhenIgraduatedfromschool,Ienteredmyprofessionwithidealisticexpectations.IworkedalongsideexperiencedandseniorclinicalpsychologistswhomIrespected.Oneday,however,whenIrealizedthatmycolleaguesweretreatingmyinnocenceandrespectforothersasweaknessestoexploit,Iexperiencedahighdegreeofcognitivedissonance.Ibegantowonderwhetherinordertosucceedinmyprofession,inadditiontodevelopingaspecialty,Ineededtolearnhowtoexploitothers’weaknessestobenefitmyself.However,IknewIcouldneverdosomethinglikethat.Fortunately,theVenerableMasteremphasizedtheimportanceoffollowingrulesofethicsandmorality.HealsopointedoutthatlivingbeingsintheDharma-endingagearehighlycontentious,andthusbehaviorsthatbenefitthemselvesattheexpenseofothersarecommon.Histeachingsreaffirmedmyoriginalbelievesandallowedmetoclearlydistinguishbetweenrightandwrongatwork,soIwasnolongerbotheredbythefightingorthegossip.虽然生长在台湾，古文是台湾学生必学的课程，但是我都看不懂，考试也都用猜的。纵使接触上人之前已经学佛，打坐和念佛是会参加的，但从来没想过要读经典。因为经典都是古文，我想这辈子是不可能看得懂的。然而，阅读上人用简单的文字对经典所做的浅释，我才知道经典的世界是如此地丰富，不亚于现世的知识范畴；而且，经典所言就在生活里。我对经典起了研读的兴趣，想要进入经藏的世界游走探索一番。

HavinggrownupinTaiwan,asastudent,IwasrequiredtostudyancientChinesetexts(i.e.,writteninclassicalChinese).However,Ineverunderstoodthemverywell;Ievenguessedonmyexamsforthoseclasses.BeforeencounteringtheVenerableMaster’steachings,IwasalreadystudyingtheBuddhadharma.IparticipatedinDharmaAssembliesformeditationandrecitationoftheBuddha’sname,butIneverthoughtaboutstudyingtheSutras.SincetheSutrasarewritteninclassicalChinese,IthoughtIwouldneverunderstandtheminthislifetime.Fortunately,theVenerableMasterusedsimpleandeasilyunderstandablelanguagewhenheexplainedtheSutras,soIcouldexperiencetherichnessoftheSutraswhichsurpassesourworldlyknowledge.IalsorealizedthattheSutrasaretalkingabouthowwethinkandactinourdailylives,andthisunderstandingpromptedmyinteresttoinvestigatetheSutrasandmywishtoexploretheSutratreasury.在专业工作中我看到，有些心理疾病即使长期治疗也不会好，即便给予完善的心理和环境治疗，用上最新的药也一样。面对这样的病人，不免也感到挫折和无力感。上人提到，精神疾病者多半业障重，有冤亲债主跟着，让这些人受报。人呢，也需要有福德善根才能遇到善法。基于这些观点，当我在跟病人讨论生活安排时，会比较强调和鼓励他们从事能做功德的活动，像是志工；而比较不鼓励吃喝玩乐的活动安排。

Asaclinicalpsychologist,Ihaveencounteredsomecasesofmentalillnessesthatnoamountoftreatmentcouldcure,evenafterusingtheentirerangeofpsychotherapyandmilieutherapy,andthenewestmedications.WhenImetwiththesepatients,Icouldnothelpthem,andsoIfeltfrustratedandpowerless.TheVenerableMastersaidthatpeoplewithmentaldisordersoftenhavecommittedseriouskarmicoffenses.Therefore,livingbeings,whotheyhaveharmedorareotherwiseindebtedto,arefollowingthemaround,seekingrevengeandrepayment.Inaddition,peopleneedtohavemerits,virtues,andgoodrootsinordertoencounterwholesomeDharma.Basedontheseprinciples,whenIdiscusswithmypatientsabouttheirdailyactivities,Iputmoreemphasisonandencouragethemtodogooddeeds,suchasvolunteerwork,thatwillhelpthemtogainmeritsandvirtues.Ialsodiscouragethemfromwastingtimeinsearchofpleasure.又者，上人提到，同性恋是不对的。然而，在精神医学领域，同性恋已不再被视为疾病；并且我也有着同性恋族群的病人和朋友。记得曾在实法师的开示中听到：上人面对同性恋者时，是慈悲而有智慧地从节制欲望的观点帮助他们。我也学着用以做为治疗这族群病人和与这族群朋友互动的指导原则。事实上，知识不完全是对的，很庆幸能够学习佛法和上人的教诲，用以检视每天所运用的知识。

TheVenerableMasteralsomentionedthathomosexualityiswrong.However,inthefieldofpsychiatry,homosexualityisnolongerconsideredasadisorder.Ialsohavesomefriendsandpatientswhoaregay.IrememberinoneofDharmaMasterHengSure\'slectureshesaidthatwhentheVenerableMastermetpeoplewhoaregay,hewiselyandcompassionatelyhelpedthemfromtheperspectiveofreducingdesires.Ifollowthisteachingasaguidelineintreatingpatientsandinteractingwithfriendswhoaregay.Inactuality,notallknowledgeiscorrect.Therefore,IamveryfortunatetostudytheBuddhadharmaandtheVenerableMaster\'steachings,andusethemtoexamineandreflectontheworldlyknowledgethatIuseeveryday.过去我不懂戒律的精神，对于持守戒律的行为感到质疑。心里询问着：遵守戒律，这样子依样画葫芦的行为，就真的能够对修行有所提升吗？然而，看到上人如此强调严持戒律，也从病人的故事中，警觉到上人这个坚持的重要。

BeforeIdidn’tunderstandthereasonsforupholdingtheprecepts,andsoIhaddoubtsaboutthispractice.Iwondered,ifIupholdthepreceptsjustbecauseothersaredoingso,howcouldithelpmeinmycultivation.However,afterlearningtheVenerableMaster’semphasisonupholdingthepreceptsandlisteningtomypatients’stories,Iunderstoodtheimportanceofupholdingtheprecepts.有一个四十多岁的第一型躁郁症病人告诉我，他在年轻的时候，因为对女友的怀疑，未经求证，就把女友杀了。后来他接受司法的审判，入狱服刑。出狱后他又开始新的人生，努力工作，也建立了美好的家庭，有二个相当疼爱的小孩。但是，正当他可以享受多年来努力的成果时，他生病了。而这第一型躁郁症，属于严重型精神病，好起来的机会不高。他太太正诉请离婚，并带走二个小孩。他感到相当的痛苦。

Letmesharesomeofmypatients’storieswithyou.Ihadapatientaround40yearsold,whowassufferingfromBipolarIDisorder.Hetoldmethatwhenhewasyoung,hesuspectedthathisgirlfriendwasbeingunfaithfuland,withoutanyproof,killedher.Hewassentencedtoprison,andafterservinghistime,hebeganhislifeanew.Heworkedhard,startedhisownfamily,andraisedtwochildrenwhomhelovedverymuch.Butjustwhenhewasabletoenjoythefruitofhislabor,hefellill.HewasdiagnosedwithBipolarIDisorder.Thisdisorderisaformofseverepsychosis,withaveryslimchanceofrecovery.Hiswifefiledfordivorceandtooktheirchildrenaway.Thepatientwassufferingtremendouslyasaresult.另外是第二型躁郁症的女性患者，当问她们有没有堕胎经验时，十位有七位曾经堕胎。这个病在轻躁发作时，会觉得很快乐、很愉悦，不断地想要追求各种欲望、满足并忽略痛苦的后果，像是疯狂购物而致负债、一夜情等；忧郁发作的时候，又会情绪低落、无助无望，甚至觉得活着没有价值和意义，甚或自杀。

AnotherexampledealswithfemalepatientswithBipolarIIDisorder.WhenIaskedthemwhethertheyhadabortionsinthepast,itturnedoutthatsevenoutoftenhad.ThistypeofBipolarDisorderconsistsoftwophases:theHypomanicEpisodeandtheMajorDepressiveEpisode.DuringtheHypomanicEpisode,patientsexperienceeuphoria,continuouslyseektofulfilltheirvariousdesires,andignorepotentiallyharmfulresultsoftheiractions.Forexample,theymaygoonshoppingspreesandendupindebt,orgetinvolvedinone-nightstands.DuringtheMajorDepressiveEpisode,patientsfeelsodepressed,helpless,andhopelessthattheyconsiderlifeisworthlessormeaningless.Thesefeelingsmayevenleadtosuicide.令我印象深刻的故事之一是：有一位美丽的少妇，她有疼爱她的先生和二个可爱的小孩。当她和先生结婚后，辛苦努力了几年，终于家庭经济达到相当的水准，房子、车子、孩子都具足了。但她却第二型躁郁症发病，几次住院以来，治疗效果并不好。虽然她知道该如何好好地过生活，但是受症状的干扰，总是做不到。当问到她有无堕胎经验时，她才说：在跟先生结婚前，他们曾经怀了一个小孩，但是碍于当时没有婚姻关系，也顾及双方家长的面子，他们没有将小孩生下，而是选择堕胎。

Thestorythatmadethegreatestimpressiononmeisaboutabeautifulyoungwomanwhohasalovinghusbandandtwoadorablechildren.Afterworkinghardformanyyears,thepatientandherhusbandfinallyachievedafairlyhighstandardofliving,completewithahouse,cars,andchildren.Unfortunately,shewasdiagnosedwithBipolarIIDisorder.Shewashospitalizedseveraltimes,butthetreatmentswerenotveryeffective.Althoughsheknowshowtoliveanormallife,shecouldnotdosobecauseofherillness.WhenIgottothequestionofwhethershehadanabortion,shetoldmethatbeforeshemarriedherhusband,shewaspregnantwiththeirchild.However,sincetheywerenotmarriedandwereafraidofthenegativeeffectofthepremaritalpregnancyontheirparents’reputation,theychoseabortionovergivingbirthtothechild.另一位是约莫三十多岁的忧郁症患者，她也有幸福的家庭，先生是电脑工程师，很照顾她和二个小孩。女儿才是小学生而已，但是相当贴心。每次她住院，女儿总是会透过爸爸代为传达对她的关心和想念。她出院回家，女儿也会陪伴她、鼓励她，表现乖巧的行为让她高兴。但是她的忧郁症一再复发，还有重覆的自我伤害行为，每当她情绪低落或者感到痛苦的时候，她就撞墙或者割伤自己，用身体的疼痛释放心理的痛苦，严重的时候几乎每天都这么做。问起来，她也曾经堕过胎，虽然我不知道她的病源是否来自堕胎，但是她的病情的确令人感慨。

Anotherexampleisaboutapatientwhoisaround30yearsold,andshesufferedfromrecurrentMajorDepressiveDisorder.Shealsohasanicefamily.Herhusbandisacomputerengineerwhotakesgoodcareofherandtheirtwochildren.Herdaughterisonlyanelementaryschoolstudent,butsheisveryconsiderate.Everytimethepatientishospitalized,herdaughtersendswordsthroughherhusband,tellingherhowmuchsheislovedandmissed.Aftershereturnshome,herdaughterkeepshercompany,encouragesher,andpleasesherbybehavingverywell.However,whensymptomsofherdepressionrecur,sherepeatedlyhurtsherself.Whenevershefeelsreallydepressedoranguished,shethrowsherselfagainstawallorcutsherself.Shetriestoreleaseherpsychologicalpainbyherphysicalpain.Duringtheperiodsofmood-irregularexacerbation,shebehaveslikethisalmosteveryday.Whenasked,shetoldmethatshehadanabortion.AlthoughIdon’tknowwhetherherailmentstemmedfromherabortion,herconditionisreallysad.听了这些故事，心里回荡着上人对戒律的强调。想着人如果能够持守戒律，这些杀生的事就不会发生，当然也不用经历受果报的痛苦。于是乎做了决定──学习和持守戒律，而今年有幸能够在万佛圣城受在家菩萨戒。

Afterlisteningtothesestories,IrealizedwhytheVenerableMasteremphasizedtheimportanceofupholdingtheprecepts.Ifpeoplecouldupholdtheprecepts,thosekillingswouldnothavetakenplace,andtheywouldnothavetoendurethesufferingoftheirretribution.Therefore,Iresolvedtolearnandupholdtheprecepts.ThisyearIamfortunateenoughtoreceivetheLayBodhisattvaPreceptsattheCityofTenThousandBuddhas.虽然我没有见过上人，然而，上人的教诲却不断地指引着我生命的正确方向。我相信上人所说的一切，也学着点点滴滴去实践上人的教导。

AlthoughIhavenevermettheVenerableMaster,histeachingscontinuouslyguidemetowardthecorrectpathinlife.IbelieveinalloftheVenerableMaster’sinstructions,andbitbybitItrytoputhisteachingsintopractice.

回向文

VerseofTransference

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愿以此出书功德，回向天下的堕胎儿

离苦得乐，往生极乐世界

人人知因达果，不要杀生、不要邪淫

国泰民安，世界和平

Maythemeritandvirtueaccruedfrompublishingthisbook

Helpallabortedfetusesintheworldtoleavesufferingandattainbliss,and

berebornintheLandofUltimateBliss.

Mayeveryoneunderstandstheprincipleofcauseandeffect,

donotkill,anddonotengageinsexualmisconducts.

Maytherebeworldpeace,and

Maythenationbeprosperousandthepeopleliveinpeaceandhappiness.