第二章 佛陀的言教 Chapter 2 His Message
Chapter 2 His Message
Message for All
佛陀發給全人類的訊息
Buddha–the flower of mankind, is no more in this world, but the sweet fragrance of His peace message remains forever.
佛陀是人類的花朵，雖然他已不在人間。但是，他的信息像甜蜜的花香一樣，散布人間。
Buddhism is one of the oldest religions still being practised in the world today. While the names of many other religions which existed in India have been forgotten today, the teachings of the Buddha, (better known as the Dhamma)are still relevant to the needs of today’s society. This is because the Buddha has always considered himself as human religious teacher whose message was meant to promote the happiness and well-being of other human beings. The Buddha’s primary concern was to help His followers to live a normal life without either going to the extremes of self-denial or totally surrendering to sensual desires.
佛教是古老的宗教，到今天為止仍然受到人類的尊崇。在古老的印度次大陸，在許多宗教已經煙消云散的今天，佛陀的教義──佛法，仍然縈繞在我們耳邊，受到現代社會的認同。這是因為佛陀只把自己當作人類的導師，他為人類傳播了快樂和善良的信息。佛陀的本懷是要所有的追隨者，舍棄「我」的觀念和一切欲望而進入聖界。
The practical nature of the Buddha’s teaching is revealed in the fact that not everyone is expected to attain exactly the same goal in one lifetime, since the mental impurities are deeply rooted. Some people are spiritually more advanced than others and they can proceed to greater heights according to their state of development. But every single human being has the ultimate potential to attain the supreme goal of Buddhahood if he has the determination and will to do so.
實踐佛陀的教誨，不是每個人都能做到的，也不是每個人都能達到相同的成就。物質的誘惑深邃的在我們心中扎根，有些人能擺脫誘惑，得到很好的心靈發展，但是，每一個人都要付出很大的犧牲、決心和耐心才會對佛道有所了解。
Even now does the soft, sweet voice of the Buddha ring in our ears. And sometimes we perhaps feel a little ashamed because we do not understand Him fully. Often we only praise His Teaching and respect Him, but do not try to practise what He preached. The Buddha’s Teaching and message have had their effect on all people for thousands of years whether they believe in religion or not. His message is for all.
即使在今天，佛陀那溫柔、甜美的聲音還縈繞在我們的耳邊。我們或許會感到羞恥，因為我們並沒有真的去了解佛陀的教義。通常我們只是讚嘆于他的教義和敬重他的為人，可是並沒有去實踐佛陀的教誨。數千年來佛陀的教誨對全人類都是有效的，無論他是不是佛教徒，佛陀的信息是發給全人類的。
Though the Buddha, the flower of mankind, is no longer in this world, the sweet fragrance and exquisite aroma of His Teachings have spread far and wide. Its balmy, diffusing fragrance has calmed and soothed millions. Its ambrosial perfume has heartened and cheered every nation which it has penetrated. The reason that His Teachings have captured millions of hearts is because they were spread(not by weapons or political power)but by love and compassion for humanity. Not a drop of blood stains its pure path. Buddhism wins by the warm touch of love, not by the cold claws of fear. Fear of the supernatural and the doctrine of everlasting hell-fire have no place in Buddhism.
雖然佛陀 ──這朵屬于人類的花朵，已經不存在了，但是他那甜蜜的花香仍然在人間到處散播。這花香讓成千上萬的人獲得慰藉，這花香鼓舞了每個受到佛法滋潤的國家。為什麼佛陀的教義能征服千萬人的心，因為他完全以慈悲心作為指導(不是以武力或政治力量)。在弘法的過程中，沒有沾染了一點血腥，佛陀以慈悲心征服人類而不是以強硬或恐怖的手段。超自然的恐懼或地獄的煉火，從來就不會在佛教里出現。
During the last 25 centuries since the appearance of the Buddha, many changes have taken place in this world. Kingdoms have risen and fallen; nations have prospered and perished. However, the world today has forgotten many of these past civilizations. But the name of the Buddha remains alive and fresh in the minds of millions of people today. The Kingdom of Righteousness that He built is still strong and steady. Although many temples, pagodas, images, libraries and other religious symbols erected in His honor were destroyed, His untainted Noble Name and the message He gave remain in the minds of cultured people.
佛陀入滅二十五個世紀以來，世界發生了很多變化，王國不斷的興起和消亡。雖然在這世界已經遺失了許多古老的文明，但是，佛陀仍然活躍在千萬人的心頭。佛陀所建立的真理的王國，至今仍然屹立不倒。雖然很多佛寺、佛塔、圖像、經典和佛教志都已遭到破壞，可是佛陀的言教和他那完美的形象，仍然活在現代文明人的心中。
The Buddha taught man that the greatest of conquests was not the subjugation of others but of the self. He taught in the Dhammapada, ‘Even though a man conquers ten thousand men in battle, he who conquers but himself is the greatest of conquerors’.
佛陀教誨人們，要征服的不是其它的一切，而是自己。佛陀說過： 他在戰場，戰勝了千百萬人，如果他能戰勝自己，便是無敵的戰士。《法句經》
Perhaps the best example of how the gentle message of the Compassionate One could rehabilitate the most savage of men is the case of the Emperor Asoka. About two hundred years after the Buddha, this king waged fierce battles across India and caused great anguish and fear. But when he absorbed the Dhamma, he regretted the evil that he had done. We remember and honor him today because after his conversion to the path of peace, he embarked on another battle: a battle to bring peace to mankind. He proved without doubt that the Buddha was right when He asserted that true greatness springs from love, not hatred, from humility, not pride; from compassion, not cruelty.
阿首咖(Asoka)是實踐佛陀慈悲心的實例。在佛陀入滅後的二百年，阿首咖統治了印度大部分的領土，他發動戰爭，使人民陷于水深火熱之中。當他接受了佛陀的教義後，發現了自己邪惡的行徑，今天我們之所以還記得阿首咖，是因為他痛改前非，為自己統治的國家帶來和平與穩定。他發動了另一場戰爭，一場為人類帶來和平的戰爭。他證實了佛陀的教義是正確的，他不再對人類造成傷害，以愛心對待自己的臣民，不傲慢也不再殘暴。
The Emperor Asoka’s conversion from cruelty to kindness was so complete that he forbade even the killing of animals in his kingdom. He realized that his subjects stole because of want and he set out to reduce want in his kingdom. But above all, he instructed the followers of the Buddha to remember the Master’s teaching never to force their beliefs on others who were loyal to other religious leaders. In other cases we have heard of kings who, upon conversion, diverted their thirst for blood by spreading their new religion by the sword! Only Buddhism can take pride in a king who has never been equaled in such greatness before or ever since.
阿首咖將暴戾化為慈祥，他甚至連小動物都不忍心殺害。他理解到盜竊是因為貧窮，他盡量的改善人民的生活。他弘揚佛法，引導他的臣民都信仰佛教，尊重佛教。有哪一個國王不是以寶劍和人民的鮮血來統治國家呢？只有佛教能轉化暴戾為祥和。
The Buddha’s Teachings were introduced in order that societies could be cultured and civilized and live in peace and harmony. All of life’s most difficult problems can be better understood if we but try to learn and practise His teachings. The Buddha’s approach to the problems and suffering of mankind is straightforward and direct.
佛陀的教義，提升了社會的文明，讓人們生活在和平與協調中。只要學習和實踐佛陀的教義，生活中的種種問題，也將得到全面的理解。佛陀為人類解決困苦的方法是直截了當的。
The Buddha was the greatest conqueror the world has ever seen. He conquered the world with His infallible weapons of love and truth. His Teaching illuminates the Way for mankind to cross from a world of darkness, hatred, and suffering, to a new world of light, love and happiness.
佛陀是這世界最偉大的勝利者。他征服世界的武器是愛和真理。他的教義啟發了人類，使人類從嗔恚、痛苦的黑暗中到達光明、慈愛和幸福的彼岸。