| 中 台 山 月 刊 194 期 |
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| 本期主題：
眾生歡喜 諸佛歡喜 |
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慈悲改變心念 心念塑造世界
In Practicing Compassion We Change our Hearts In Changing our Hearts We Change the World 文／美國佛心寺英文研經班學員 傳平（Alan Taylor） 慈悲心的長養是我終生的功課。我生長在一個保守而主觀的環境中，讓我總是有充分的理由不喜歡別人，認為他人一無是處。我逐漸成為壓抑而易怒的人，這些情緒顯現在酗酒和反社會的叛逆性行為上。我將許多時間沉溺在酒精和龐克搖滾樂中，卻感到空虛和孤獨。即使面臨婚姻破裂的處境，仍然拒絕面對現實，直到我意識到必須改變自己，否則我的生命將迅速枯萎。 於是我開始學佛。從佛法中體認到：自己所做的每件事如同影子遊戲一般，由自心所主導，也回過頭來影響自己。每當我對他人起煩惱時，就用慈悲觀來化解，並將它運用在日常生活中。當我覺察到心中生起不認同他人的想法時，就試著從對方的觀點來看事情。當我在商店購物時，就在心裡默默祝福我遇見的每個人，都能滅除貪瞋癡三毒，擁有幸福、安詳、遠離苦痛的今生及來生。有時候我面對他人甚至是陌生人，也會提醒自己：對方與我一樣擁有無二無別的佛性。 透過修行讓我明白：心中的憤怒大部分其實是針對自己。當我成為更有禮貌、更體貼、更諒解他人的人時，我也重塑了自心，開始看見周遭事物正向的一面，開始發掘出他人美好的特質，也發掘出自己良善的一面。在幫助他人、奉獻自己當中，我不僅改變了對他人的看法，更改變了整個生命與世界。 正如佛陀所說：「若能抑忿發，如止急行車，是名善御者，餘為執韁人。」祈願一切眾生都能懷抱難行能行之心，慈悲善待彼此，更能去除瞋恚之毒，不再惱害他人。 (Compassion is something I've always struggled with. My environment growing up is very conservative and judgmental. I was constantly finding ways to dislike others. It left me filled with reasons why everyone else was unworthy. It also left me angry and depressed which I exhibited through societal rebellion and intoxication. I spent most of my time at punk rock concerts and drinking which left me empty and alone. I tried not to face the reality of my life even when my marriage broke apart. I finally figured out something had to change or I would be dead very soon. I started to learn Buddhism. Through my studies I have realized that everything I was doing was a shadow play designed by my mind to distract and confuse. I use compassion contemplation when troubled by others, and utilize it in my daily practice. When I see someone doing something that my mind doesn't approve of, I try to catch that thought and do my best to look at things from the other's point of view. As I walk through a store, I'll silently wish for the people I see to eradicate the “Three Poisons”, I wish them peace, happiness, and a life free of suffering and a better rebirth. Sometimes I'll actually look at someone and remind myself that this person, this stranger, and I are the same. Through my practice I've come to understand that most of my anger was really towards myself. By being more polite, more considerate, more understanding it rewires my brain to see the good around me, in others, and, in turn, myself. By helping others and giving of myself, I change the way I see others, and change my whole universe. As the Buddha said, “He who holds back rising anger like a rolling chariot, him I call a real driver; other people are but holding the reins.” I hope all beings will show compassion to others, especially when it's difficult, and rid ourselves of the poison of anger for the sake of all.) |