Chung Tai Shan Magazine #236
每個人都希望追求富貴、美滿的人生。俗話說：「福祿壽三星高照。」這是世間人所追求的富貴。但這種富貴，即便今天得到了，過一段時間又會失去，有如花開花謝，並不真實；就算事業做得再好、壽命活得再長，最後都要化為一抔塵土。甚而有些富貴人家，身體生病、家庭不和，雖然擁有很多錢財，卻像活在人間地獄。又或者有些人假公濟私，拿了不該拿的錢，看起來雖然大富大貴，一旦東窗事發，立刻鋃鐺入獄；就算僥倖躲過，拿了不義之財，心裡患得患失，走到哪裡都抬不起頭來，晚上還會作惡夢，最後也逃不了因緣果報；這樣的錢，就算得到再多也沒有用。
All of us aspire to achieve some degree of wealth and eminence, and to live rich and fulfilling lives. The old adage goes, “May the three stars of blessings, prosperity, and longevity forever shine.” These “three stars” typify the wealth and eminence that ordinary people strive for. However, even if we were to gain them today, we would surely lose them sooner or later. They are like the blooming and withering of flowers—unreal and insubstantial. No matter how successful we are or how long we live, everyone ends up as mound of dirt.
There are some wealthy people who suffer from illnesses or have troubled families. Although they possess a big fortune, their lives are still filled with suffering, like a living hell. There are also people who take advantage of official business to embezzle money that does not belong to them. They may appear to have wealth and status, but as soon as the truth surfaces, they will be handcuffed and sent to jail. Even if they avoid imprisonment against the odds, knowing that they stole money, their minds will be troubled with thoughts of gain and loss. No matter where they go, they cannot hold their heads up high and have nightmares when they sleep. Eventually they will reap the karmic consequences of their actions. Under these conditions, what use is money like this, however much they have?
從這個角度來看，一般人所追求的財富、名氣、房屋、事業，在無常的定則當中，都是很渺小、卑微的。不論這輩子擁有多少，最後什麼也帶不走。究竟什麼才是真正的富貴？
From this perspective, the wealth, fame, property, and success that ordinary people chase are meager and trivial in the face of impermanence. No matter how much we possess, we can take nothing with us at the end of life. So ultimately, what is the true “wealth and eminence”?
身心調適 道可得矣
Tune your body and mind to realize the Way.
真正的富貴也離不開世間。人活在世間，就像一部車子，想要車子開得遠，又能載很多東西，而且能稱心如意，想到哪裡就到哪裡，必須具備三個條件：一、要有完整的車身；二、要有足夠的燃料；三、電源要充足。如果車身完好，卻沒有燃料；或是燃料充足，電瓶卻沒電，都沒有用。所以，平常就要好好保養這部車子，有了毛病，要馬上修復。
True wealth and eminence are not apart from this world. Living in this world is analogous to driving a car. If we want the car to travel far, haul lots of goods, drive the way it should, and take us where we wish, it must meet three requirements: (1) the car body should be in good condition; (2) it should have sufficient fuel; and (3) also a good battery. A car in good condition, but with no gas or a dead battery, will not get us anywhere. Therefore, we must perform regular maintenance on our car and fix problems as soon as they arise.
首先是車身，車身代表我們的身體。要有好的身體，先要戒除不良的習慣，如抽煙、喝酒、賭博等；這些不良的習氣如果不戒除，身心就無法安定。修行也是如此，佛法說：「身安則道隆。」要想成道，必須先安定身心。不需要過分愛護這個身體，但也不能故意作賤它，因為如果沒有這個身體，道業也無法成就。
First, the car body represents our physical body. If we want to have a healthy body, we must begin by giving up bad habits such as smoking, drinking, gambling, etc. Without quitting these bad habits, our body and mind cannot settle down. The same applies to spiritual cultivation. Buddhism tells us, “When the body is at peace, our cultivation of the Way can prosper.” If we want to realize the Way, the body and mind must first be at peace. There is no need to pamper the body, but do not mistreat yourself either. Because without the physical body, we will not be able to realize the Way.
進一步，還要了解心理會影響生理。心中若起了煩惱，就像水溝的水變污濁、發臭；要把煩惱化掉，水溝的水才會清淨。日常生活上要以慈悲心、智慧心來待人處世抱持這種觀念，心中沒有煩惱，身體自然會健康。
Furthermore, we must understand that our mental state can affect our physical well-being. When there are afflictions in the mind, it is like stagnant water becoming dirty and foul. We have to transform these afflictions before the mind-water can be pure. Be mindful of this teaching to live your life and treat others with a mind of compassion and wisdom. When the mind is free of afflictions, our bodies will naturally be healthy.
其次是車子的燃料，燃料就是我們的福德因緣。佛法講三世因果：過去、現在、未來。今生的富貴，是過去種善因所得的善果；要想未來事事如意，就要靠現在努力修善積福，命運不是絕對的，是可以改變的，一切都要從當下這念心去努力。禪宗祖師云：「靜則一念不生，動則萬善圓彰。」靜的時候，要達到一念不生；動的時候，心無善念不起、口無善言不說、身無善事不行。本著這個原則廣修福德，很快就能轉變命運，車子的燃料就很充足。
Next, the car must have fuel. Fuel represents our merits, blessings, and affinity with others. Buddhism teaches that causality encompasses three periods: past, present, and future. If we enjoy wealth and eminence in this life, it is because of wholesome effects arising from wholesome causes we planted in the past. In the future, if we want things to continue going as we wish, then we must work hard at cultivating wholesome dharmas and accumulating merits now. Fate is not fixed; everything can be changed by working diligently on this very mind in the here and now.
The Chan patriarchs said, “When in stillness, rest all thoughts; when in action, perfect all actions.” When at rest, we give rise to no thoughts; when in action, the mind raises all manner of wholesome thoughts, the mouth speaks all manner of kind words, and the body performs all manner of beneficial actions. By extensively cultivating wholesome dharmas and accumulating merits according to this principle, we can change our fate and have enough “fuel” for our life journey.
除了車身及燃料，車子還要有電。如果車身好、燃料充足，卻沒有電，車子也發動不了。電，就是我們的心；如果能明白自己的心靈世界，這念心安定下來、心能作主，電力就很充沛。一般人不了解這個道理，天天追求外在的名利財色，只有物質生活、沒有精神生活，心念不斷攀緣外在的境界，始終是心猿意馬，在相對的境界中患得患失，從來沒有停過。心中空虛、煩惱時，就去尋找刺激，刺激一過，又是空虛、煩惱；一旦受到衝擊，就感到失意、悲哀。就像車子天天在動，不斷磨損、消耗，如果沒有適時地保養，車子的電路就會出病。
In addition to fuel, a car also needs electricity. A vehicle cannot start without a battery, even if it is in good condition with a full tank of gas. The battery represents our mind. If we can understand our inner, spiritual world and the mind settles down and masters itself, then our mind-battery will be fully charged.
Without comprehending this principle, we habitually chase after external things like fame, profit, wealth, and sex, day in and day out. Perceiving only material existence without experiencing spiritual life, our minds are constantly driven by the sense objects. Like a monkey or unbridled horse, it suffers from the relative states of gain and loss, and does so endlessly. When the mind feels vacant or afflicted, we look for some excitement to distract us. After the stimulation wears off, however, we invariably feel empty and troubled once again. If adverse situations come up, we easily become dejected or despondent. It is like a car that runs daily under constant wear and tear. Without proper maintenance, its electrical system will inevitably have problems.
澄心息染 性定為貴
Clear the mind of defilements, intrinsic stillness is true prosperity.
古人說：「心安茅屋穩，性定菜根香。」心能安定下來，即使住的是茅屋，也勝過七寶宮殿；即使吃的是粗茶淡飯，一樣津津有味。相反地，假使心中有煩惱，即使天天吃山珍海味，也味同嚼蠟。了解這個道理，就知道心能作主，才是最重要的。
The virtuous ancients said, “With the mind at peace, we find safety in a thatched hut. With the mind in serenity, we find rich flavor in simple food.” When the mind is at peace, living in a simple hut is better than living in a seven-jeweled palace; drinking inferior tea and eating plain rice is the same as a feast. On the contrary, if the mind has afflictions, even the rarest delicacies will taste like wax. If we understand this teaching, we will know the most important thing is that the mind can be its own master.
保持心的寧靜、心能作主，就是充電。一方面要修習禪定，一方面要化除煩惱。修禪定，就是把相對的心變成絕對的心、把染污的心變成清淨的心、把煩惱的心變成菩提心；要經常檢討反省，有了煩惱，就要馬上化掉。如儒家所說：「苟日新，日日新，又日新。」使這念心像鏡子一樣光明，不染一點塵垢；心量如虛空般廣大，冤親平等。依照這個方法去努力，這個心的電力就會時時刻刻都很充足。
Maintaining a peaceful mind and a mind that is in control—this is how we recharge our battery. On one hand, we must cultivate samadhi; on the other, we must eradicate afflictions. Cultivating samadhi means to transform the dualistic mind into the absolute mind; the defiled mind into the pure mind; and the afflicted mind into the bodhi mind. To do so, we must constantly perform self-reflection and transform our afflictions as soon as they arise. Confucianism teaches, “Renew yourself today; renew yourself every day; renew yourself time and time again.” In this way, we cultivate the mind so it is like a mirror: bright, clear, without a single speck of dust. Then, this very mind will be as vast and encompassing as empty space, realizing even the equal nature of friends and foes. By cultivating with this method, this very mind, our battery, will always be full of power.
一般人平常上班時偶爾會感到身心疲倦，這時把眼睛閉上，靜坐幾分鐘，一睜開眼睛，馬上又精神百倍，這就是充電。幾分鐘的養神，就有很大的效果。明白這個道理，每天早晚都應該打坐、誦經、懺悔業障，這就是修心、修定──早上作這些功課，一整天都很平靜；晚上作這些功課，睡覺就不會作惡夢。
Occasionally, we all feel tired and drained at work. When this happens, close your eyes and meditate for a few minutes. As soon as you open them, you will feel reinvigorated—this is to recharge your mind-battery. Resting your mind this way for even a few minutes can make a big difference. By understanding this, we will know the importance of practicing meditation, reciting sutras, and repenting our karmic obstacles every morning and night—all these are ways to care for the mind and cultivate samadhi. By spending some time on spiritual practices like these in the morning, we will feel at peace the entire day. By doing the same at night, we will sleep soundly, without nightmares.
不論是出家、在家，能夠依照這個方法去用功，這部車子一定很健全，可以開得很遠、很自在、很如意，人生一定是步步光明。這部車子保養得很好，有燃料、有電源，就是一部如意車；坐在這部車上，就可以從黑暗到達光明、從貧窮到達富貴、從凡夫到達聖人的境界、從生死證得無上菩提，這就是真正的大富大貴！
Both monastics and lay practitioners can practice according to this method. With diligent practice, our car will run smoothly and travel far. We will have intrinsic freedom and contentment—every step we take will be on a bright path. A well-maintained car with enough gas and a good battery is a wish-fulfilling car that can take us wherever we want to go. Riding in this car, we can travel from darkness to light, from poverty to wealth, from the realm of sentient beings to the state of sages, and from the ocean of samsara to the shore of unsurpassed bodhi. This is the true wealth and eminence in life.