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.Zhang Sanfengs Words - The Five Tribulations of Life
张三丰言——人之五劫

In <The Complete Works of Zhang Sanfeng>, it is written:
"Alas, how sorrowful! Every human being faces five tribulations. What are the five tribulations? Birth, aging, illness, death, and suffering."

This passage reminds us that no one can escape these inevitable trials of life. Below is their explanation and the corresponding Taoist approach:

Birth: Every person who comes into this world is born with a karmic debt from the underworld, known as the "debt of birth." Therefore, one must repay this debt through lifes journey. In Taoism, it is believed that every day carries its own fortune and misfortune, so we must respect natural laws and live optimistically.

Aging: Those who age but retain a youthful spirit and appearance are akin to immortals. Taoism seeks longevity and extended life, and to achieve this, one should practice martial arts, Tai Chi, and scripture recitation to maintain health.

Illness: Everyone experiences illness, whether of the mind or the body. Throughout history, sage physicians like Sun Simiao devoted themselves to healing others through medical practice. Thus, mental ailments must be healed through the heart, and physical illnesses must be treated in hospitals with optimism and active care.

Death: Death is inevitable, but what is truly terrifying is leaving nothing meaningful behind. Therefore, we must cultivate virtue and practice Taoist rituals, not only to enlighten ourselves but also to guide others toward transcendence.

Suffering: Hardships outnumber joys in life. Taoism offers various methods to help people avoid suffering, yet ultimately, it is through a shift in mindset that one finds joy amidst adversity.

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张三丰先生全集》中云：“呜乎悲哉！凡人之有五劫也。五劫维何？生、老、病、死、苦也。”这也说明我们每个人都逃脱不了的劫难。解释与方法具体如下：

生：我们每个人来的这个世界上，也是在冥界借了阴债的，因此我们每个人也要还受生债。而且道教认为每天都有吉凶，因此我们要尊重自然规律，乐观生活。

老：人老了却面相、心态不老的就是神仙，道教以长世久生为目标。因此我们也应该通过武术、太极、诵经等等方法来让人保持健康。

病：每个人都会有，有心病有实际的病，中国很多医圣如孙思邈真人等，也是通过各种实践悬壶济世，去改变自己和他人的。故我们也要心病要用心去医，实际的病要去医院，要乐观积极治疗。

死：人终有一死，死不可怕，可怕的是没有留下自己的意义，因此我们应该努力修行，用斋醮科仪去渡人渡己才是。

苦：人生苦事总比乐事多，道教也通过各种方式帮人逃避苦难，但还是需要我们转化心机，苦中作乐为宜