《靜思晨語。法譬如水》32. 善緣一轉惡緣消

Greate Good Affinities, and Bad Conditions Vanish

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我們常常說：「這念心善惡雜揉。」

As we have often said, good and evil are intermixed in our minds.

過去生有善有惡。當然，過去生不知道有幾生幾世的煩惱、善惡因緣一直都不斷牽引、複製，當然來到了這一世，也是有善有惡。

We have done both good and evil in our past lives. For an unknown number of lifetimes good and evil causes & conditions have been replicating and influencing us. So we come to this life and, of course, have both good and evil [seeds].

惡的種子現前時，所面對的環境都是不好的環境；就是在好的環境中，也不會遇到好的人；就是遇到好的人，我們的心也不會起歡喜心。這就是過去生的惡因、惡緣。

When negative seeds manifest, the conditions we face will be unfavorable. Even if we live in a favorable environment, we will not meet good people. Even if we do meet good people, we will not be happy with them. This is due to evil causes & conditions from past lives.

我們既然來到這一世，真是慶幸得遇佛法。更歡喜的就是，能在一個菩薩的團體中，我們能將過去的習氣，自己好好提高警覺。

In this life, we are truly fortunate to encounter Buddha-dharma. Furthermore, happily, we are among a group of Bodhisattvas. We can heighten our awareness of our accumulated habitual tendencies.

就算你看到不是很歡喜的人，不是喜歡的人，他不一定是壞人。人家他和別人就很好，只是對於你的時候，你不是很歡喜。

So when we see someone we dislike, we realize that he may not be a bad person. Perhaps he gets along well with everyone else and we are the only ones who dislike him.

同樣的話，他對別人說的時候，別人可以很契機，別人覺得那個人所說的句句都是好話。都是法，為什麼我們聽了，就不能起歡喜心，不能接受對方呢？如果是這樣，就要趕緊自我警惕，可能在過去生中有惡因，所以結了惡緣，我們這一世有了不好的因緣，現在藉助菩薩的團體，我們要自我警惕，盡量培養好緣，再培養回來。

Other listens to him and find his words very useful. They feel that every word he says is good is Dharma. Why is it that when we hear his words, we cannot be pleased? Why can't we accept him? If we in this situation we must be alert, for we may have planted a bad seed in our past lives that resulted in this bad affinity. Thus we have a bad relationship in this life. Now with the help of this group of Bodhisattvas, we must be self-vigilant so we can strengthen good affinities and improve our bad affinities.

 

人隨業而來
業力雖不可改
但緣可再造
若能自我警惕
多結好緣
諸業或可隨緣了

Karma brings us to this world. Though we cannot change our past karma, we can create new conditions. If we can be self-vigilant and create more good conditions, perhaps we can reshape the manifestation of karma.

就像我們在大林慈濟醫院，有一位老先生，老太太來住院，老先生看起來他也是很關心太太，但是他就是不進去病房裡面，都是在外面徘徊，感覺很矛盾。所以慈濟的委員就過去詢問：「你的什麼人住在這裡？我看你心事重重，你想不想跟我說話？把你的心事說出來。」

There is the story of an elderly man who visited his wife in Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital. He really cared about her, but he refused to enter her hospital room. He paced back and forth outside. It seemed rather contradictory. So, one of our Commissioners asked him, "Grandpa, who is in the hospital? You seem to have a lot on your mind. Would you like to talk about it? Tell me what's on your mind."

這位阿公就說：「小姐，我為什麼看到我太太就不會起歡喜心，不過我也有關心她。說實在的，她生命我也很煩惱。但是為什麼我很想去跟她說話，看到人就是說不出來。就是起不了歡喜心。」

This elderly man replied, "Why can't be happy when I look at my wife? I do care about her and am worried that she's ill. But when I wish to speak to her, I just can't say anything. I just can't be happy.

委員就問他說：「你們夫妻在一起有多少年了？」阿公說：「算一算差不多也有四、五十年有了。」「這四、五十年間，你們的生活是怎麼過的？」阿公說：「我是莊稼人，若是農作閒暇時，我都是在我家前埕的大樹下坐，我們一群人就在哪裡，喝一下酒、抽煙、吃檳榔，就在那裡聊天。有的時候我太太很兇，看到我喝酒就開始來罵我，如果看到我抽煙，一進房子就開始罵我。我從年輕的時候被她罵到老。可是現在想到她生病了，我也是會擔心啊！」

The Commissioner asked him, "Grandpa, how long have you been married?" He answered, "About 40 to 50 years." "How was your life together for those years?" He said, "I'm a farmer. When there's no work to be done in the fields, I am usually under the tree in the courtyard, in front of my house. My friends and I drink, smoke, phew betel nuts and chat. Sometimes, my wife would be very mean. She would scold me, when I drank or smoked. She has been scolding me my whole life. But now that she is ill. I am a worried."

委員就說：「阿公，我們人不要有後悔，你看她病得站不起來，你也是會煩惱啊！我想你也有話要跟她說。」阿公說：「我也不知道為什麼，每次走道她的面前，想要問她：『你會不會餓？會不會口渴？』連這樣我也問不出來。」

The Commissioner then said, "Grandpa we do not want to have regrets. You are very worried when you see her bed-ridden. I believe you have things you want to say to her." He said, "I don't know why. When I'm next to her I want to ask if she is hungry or thirsty, but even those words won't come out.

阿公想了想，就對委員說：「我看妳真的很好，我的兒子如果可以娶到妳，可能我們家會很和諧。」委員說：「阿公你看我真的有這麼好嗎？你可知道，當初在我還沒有加入慈濟的時候，我有多兇嗎？我如果看到男人，就像看到螞蟻，想要把他捏死。」阿公就說：「妳有這麼兇啊！」所以為委員就說：「師父教我們，做人不要比較，你比到好的，到你手上不一定很好。最好我們都不要比較，其實我們自己的最好，我們不要跟自己的人計較。」

As he thought about it, he looked at the Commissioner and said, "I think you are a very nice person. If my son had you for a wife, maybe our family would be more harmonious." There Commissioner said, "Grandpa, I am nice now, but do you know how mean I was before I joined Tze Chi? When I saw men, I saw them as ants that I wanted to squash." He said, "You were that mean?" Our commissioner replied, "Grandpa, Master Cheng-yen taught us not to compete or compare. The grass is always greener on the other side. It's best not to take issue with anything. Actually, what we already have is the best. Do not take issue with other people.

「阿公你不要後悔，我想阿嬤的心和你是一樣，她的心裡也有話要跟你說，你趕緊去和阿嬤說說話。都已經這麼多年了，這麼大的年紀了，現在不說，你真的會後悔。我們師父說：『最折磨人的人就是後悔。』應該就是因為我們來不及，等到你想說的時候已經說不出來了，這是最重的懲罰。」阿公說：「嗯！我也是有這樣想過。上次你們有一位師姊也跟我說不要有後悔，我實在是後悔了，但是不知道如何去消除後悔？」委員就說：「阿公，走！我陪你去。但是你到了阿嬤面前，你一定要勇敢說出來。」

"Grandpa, don't live with regrets. I think Grandma probably feels the same way, and has a lot she wants to say to you. Hurry up and talk to her and you are both quite old. If you don't say something now, you will truly regret it. "Our master says," "Regret is the greatest torture we lose the chance to say what we wish to say that is something we will deeply regret. It will be too late. That is the most punishment. The grandpa said, "Yes, I have thought about this volunteer told me to not have any regrets. I am truly regretful, but I do not know how to get rid of this regret.". The commissioner said, "Grandpa, let's go. When you think of it, just do it. I will accompany you. But when you are standing before Grandma, you need to speak out bravely."

阿公問說：「我要說什麼？」委員說：「你第一句話要先表達，你是很關心阿嬤的，這就表示你愛她。你們幾十年的時間，我相信你沒有對阿嬤說過一次愛。」阿公說：「笑死人了，夫妻也要說這樣的話啊？」委員說：「是啊！這個時候就是要說，說出來之後你會很歡喜，因為你說出愛她的心內話。阿嬤一定也會很快樂，因為她終於等到，等到她心裡面想要的東西。」阿公說：「這麼好用喔？」委員說：「就是這麼好用！阿公，走…」

He asked, "What should I say?" "Your first words should convey that you care about her. Show your love for her. I think you probably have never told Grandma that you love her in all the decades you've been married. He said, "That is embarrassing. Do marred couples say this?" She replied, "Yes, now is the time to say it. You will be happy once you do. After you say what is in your heart, she will be very happy because she will finally have what she's always wanted." He said, "Is it really that effective?" "Yes, it really is Now let's go, Grandpa"

就陪著阿公到了阿嬤床前。志工就先跟阿嬤說：「阿嬤，今天有比較輕鬆嗎？」阿嬤就說：「心煩都煩死了，身體怎麼會輕鬆。」志工就說：「阿嬤，今天就可以讓你很輕鬆了，阿公說有話要告訴妳。可能他對妳說這句話，對妳會很好用，心就不會煩了。」阿嬤說：「會有什麼話？沒話說了。」

She accompanied him to grandma's bedside and talked, to her first "Grandma, are you felling well today?" She answered, "I'm worried to death, how can I feel well?" Our volunteer said, "Grandma, you will be very happy today. Grandpa has something to tell you. Maybe what he is about to say is exactly what you need. You won't be worried anymore." "What does he have to say? Nothing."

志工就說：「阿公來，走近一點。你剛才對我說的那些話，趕緊對阿嬤說一下，說出你對阿嬤的想法，很想說的那句話。」阿公就很勇敢，不過也很粗魯的說：「老婆，我愛妳！」好像不知道壓了多久，突然間衝出來，實在說的很粗魯。志工就說：「阿公，你這樣講實在是很粗魯。來，再一次阿嬤才聽得懂。因為你說得太快了，聲音要放軟一點，阿嬤才聽得懂。」他就輕聲細語的說：「老婆，我實在很愛你耶。不好意思，也謝謝妳這麼多年來照顧我。」阿嬤聽了之後，整個眼睛都睜大了：「你剛才所說的是你自己要說的話嗎？」阿公說：「是啊！是我自己想說的，只是不好意思說而已。」阿嬤就笑了。

Our volunteer then said, "Grandpa, come closer. Tell Grandma what you just told me. Tell her what you think about her, what you really want to say her." He gathered up his courage and barked out, " Wife, I love you." It was as if he has held it in for so long and it suddenly burst out. He said it very gruffly. So our volunteer told him, "Grandpa that was too gruff. Say it again so she can understand you, you said it too quickly. Please say it more gently more slowly, so grandma can understand you." So he said, "Wife, I really love you. I'm sorry and thank you for taking care of me all these years. The grandma's eyes grew wide and she asked, "What you just said, did you think of it yourself?" "Yes, I wanted to say that, I have just been too embarrassed." The grandma smiled.

古早人就是這樣，熟不拘禮，雖然是結婚了，但是太太對先生一切生活舉止行動，她不喜歡就會直接說。儘管他們有很好的緣可以結為夫妻，但夫妻間的生活就是這樣的話題而已。會結為夫妻一定是有很好的緣，如果沒有緣怎麼可能會結為夫妻？這個緣從過去的因，來到現在加上這個緣，撮和在一起，應該要疼惜。看這對阿公和阿嬤，如果不是遇到這個團體，如果不是有這個人來牽針引線，夫妻就像有一條鴻溝隔開了。阿公輕輕一句話，把所有幾十年的怨都抹消掉了。阿公壓理幾十年得愛的種子，就是沒有緣發芽，就是缺乏團體的因緣來撮和。

Couples from older generations are devoted but very reserved. Though they are married, the wife disapproved of all of her husband's activities and expressed this bluntly. In their married life, this was pretty much all they talked about. Of course they had some good affinities, otherwise they would not have marred. They must have shared affinities. They sowed the seeds in the past and then conditions in this life brought them together. They should cherish each other. Look at this old couple. Had they not encountered Tzu Chi, and in particular, this volunteer who patiently encouraged them, there would still be a gulf between them. The grandpa's few words wiped away decades of resentment. He suppressed the seed of love for decades. It did sprout nil this organization provided the right conditions.

所以說起來，人生夫妻之間，不是為什麼看別人都那麼好？為什麼看我們自己的就是好不起來？其實原來自己的太太實在很好。看別人的先生都是那麼的體貼，看我們自己的先生就只是這樣？其實自己的先生也很好，只是在那念心。

So married couples should not think highly of other people's spouses and poorly of their own. Your won wife is actually pretty good. Do not think other peoples husbands are so considerate and wonder why your husband is not. Your husband is pretty good too. It is all in your state of mind.

 

善緣一轉惡緣消
會遇佛法
懂得珍惜與與感恩
就是增上勝心

When we create good affinities, bad conditions disappear. Once we encounter Dharma, if we learn to cherish it and be grateful for it, this is the Advantageous Superior Mind.

諸位，我們過去的因，現在的緣，這分緣如果能會合起來，好緣一轉，不好的緣就消了。我們要常常感恩，感恩在這個團體中，我們能常常聽到，聽到很多人的身教，現身說法。每個人所說的話都是妙法，所以我們這念心，要以感恩心來面對外面的境界，如果能這樣，就是增上勝心。

Everyone, observe your past karmic causes and present conditions. If the right elements come together to create good conditions bad conditions will vanish. Let us always be grateful that within this organization, we can often hear people share their experiences. They teach by example and their every word is wondrous Dharma. Let us face external conditions with gratitude. If we can do this, it is the working of the Advantageous Superior Mind.

我們要很慶幸，我們每天都是在增上緣中，每一個人都在啟發我們很好的心念，這種勝妙的好心，在這個環境中，我們要好好培養。

We should feel very fortunate to live in advantageous conditions every day. Everyone around us inspires us to be good. Let us nurture a wondrous and wholesome mind in this environment.

就像剛才所說的，阿嬤聽到阿公一句好話，心開意解，煩惱就消了。就像阿公聽到別人這樣教他，他知道：「我過去的態度是錯的，我現在要趕快改。」改過來就是懺悔，懺悔即清淨，若是這樣我們的三障就能消滅。

As I said earlier, when the grandma heard her husband's kind words, her heart opened and her resentments dissolved. As for the grandpa, he listened to other people's advice. He knew that his old attitude was wrong and wanted to change. To reform is to repent and to repent is to cleanse. If we can do this, we can eliminate the Three Obstructions.

 

三障是煩惱、業、報
會障礙我們清明的智慧
唯有發露懺悔
才能清淨累藏的垢穢

The Three Obstructions are affection, karma and retribution. They obstruct our pure and clear wisdom. Only by openly repenting can we wash away our accumulated defilements._

「欲滅三障者，當用何等心？」我們現在知道，這三障就是「惑、業、報」，「煩惱叫做惑，惑就是無明，無明叫做煩惱。」

The Three Obstructions start with affiction, or delusion. Delusion is also known as ignorance, and ignorance is synonymous with affliction.

這三障到底要怎樣做才能夠消滅？懺文的前面也說過：「諸佛菩薩教作方便。」大家應該記得，在《靜思晨語。法譬如水》三障滅除清淨現已經說過了，諸佛菩薩來到人間，就是要來教育我們，用了種種方便方法，應我們的根基來教導我們，我們如果聽得進去就得法了。

How can we eliminate delusion, karma and retribution the Three Obstructions? As the Buddha said, " All Buddhas & Bodhisattvas teach skillful means. A few days ago we said, that all Buddhas & Bodhisattvas come to the world and teach us various skillful means that are appropriate for our aptitudes. When we are receptive to Dharma, we can learn it.

因為我們有八萬四千的煩惱，所以開了八萬四千的法門，所以我們的根機，也有八萬四千種的根機。所以佛陀如同大醫王看病下藥，看眾生有什麼心病，應該用什麼法來治療他的心病，去除他的煩惱，這就是諸佛菩薩來人間，所以教作方便。教導我們各種方便，如何預防業不會再從內心產生出來！教導我們如何把惑、煩惱都能打開來。我們什麼時候如何能夠把惑、無明的陰霾打開來呢？這就是要用佛法。

The Buddha introduced 84,000 Dharma methods because we have 84,000 types of affliction. Therefore, we also have 84,000 different levels of aptitude. Therefore the Buddha is the Great Healer King. Based on the mental illnesses of sentient beings. He prescribed specific Dharma to treat those conditions and eliminate their affections. So Buddhas and Bodhisativas came into this world to teach us skillful means. With these methods, we can keep our minds from creating karma and break through our delusions & afflictions. Delusion is another word for ignorance. How can we break through this haze of ignorance? We need to use Dharma.

 

欲滅三障者
當用何等心

What mindset must we use if we wish to eliminate the Three Obstructions?

各位，我們在平時的生活中，絕對不離開佛法，每一項我們所學的，不要過去就沒事了，還是要永遠銘刻在我們的內心：「所以要用什麼樣的心，才能使此障滅除？」

Everyone, everything in our daily living is absolutely related to Dharma. Do not learn each lesson lightly, but forever etch it in your minds. So, what mindset do we need to eliminate these obstructions?

就像剛才所說過了，你不要認為：「師父只是在說別人的故事，和佛法有關係嗎？」就是有關係！沒有緣不會在一起，有緣相聚，如何培養來生來世的因？「因、緣、因緣果報」這都是連環性的，你既然有了因、有了緣，就會結果。

As I just said, do not think that I am just telling stories which are unrelated to Buddhism. Actually, they are closely related. Without affinities, we would not be together. Affinities enable us to meet. Let us learn to sow the seeds for the future. Causes, conditions effects and retributions are all interlinked in a cycle. Once we have causes and conditions, there will be fruitions.

像那對阿公和阿嬤，過去有因，這輩子有緣，結果結為夫妻。但是結為夫妻之後，卻是我看你和別人比起來，別人比你更好。這種不歡喜的心，就是一種心靈的感覺。阿嬤有時候聽到阿公在嫌她，她心理就開始有怨了，這份怨埋在心裡，夫妻間面對面就是直來直去，真的那分愛的種子，埋下心底，沒有緣引發出來。所以那分緣如果沒有引發出來，那個因會變成現在的報，又累積起來。一個人是不歡喜的因，因為他愛比較，一個人是感受到的怨，所以那種不喜而怨，結下來就是一個因。夫妻就把這種恩怨再帶到來生，這個報又構造未來的因。如此因緣果報、因緣果報，實在是沒完沒了。

That old couple sowed seeds for their marriage in the past, and this life provided the conditions for them to become husband and wife. But they each felt that their spouse was not as good as someone else. Such feelings of unhappiness are a state of mind. Hearing her husband's constant complaints, the old woman became resentful. She harbored resentment toward him. They were very direct with each other. The seed of love that they felt was buried deeply. The conditions were not right for it to emerge. If these conditions for growth were never present, negative causes would accumulate. The husband planted the seeds of unpleasantness because he was always comparing. The wife felt resentful and her grudge was becoming a negative cause. They would have carried this conflict with them to their next lives. The present effects would create new causes. Thus the cycle of cause and effect repeats itself endlessly.

總而言之，我們應該要運用這念心，好好消除。人生果報實在很可怕，我們要趕緊從源頭除掉「惑、業、報」。若能如此，大家惜福在佛法的道場中，在菩薩的環境中，我們應該要時時以感恩心來對待。所以請大家時時要多用心啊！

In short, we should try to stop this vicious cycle. Karmic retributions are truly frightening. We should eliminate them at the source by eliminating delusion, karma and retribution. Let us cherish the opportunity to be in this place of spiritual practice among Bodhisattvas. We should constantly be grateful towards each other. So everyone please always be mindful.