| 中 台 山 月 刊 194 期 |
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| 本期主题：
众生欢喜 诸佛欢喜 |
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慈悲改变心念 心念塑造世界
In Practicing Compassion We Change our Hearts In Changing our Hearts We Change the World 文／美国佛心寺英文研经班学员 传平（Alan Taylor） 慈悲心的长养是我终生的功课。我生长在一个保守而主观的环境中，让我总是有充分的理由不喜欢别人，认为他人一无是处。我逐渐成为压抑而易怒的人，这些情绪显现在酗酒和反社会的叛逆性行为上。我将许多时间沉溺在酒精和庞克摇滚乐中，却感到空虚和孤独。即使面临婚姻破裂的处境，仍然拒绝面对现实，直到我意识到必须改变自己，否则我的生命将迅速枯萎。 于是我开始学佛。从佛法中体认到：自己所做的每件事如同影子游戏一般，由自心所主导，也回过头来影响自己。每当我对他人起烦恼时，就用慈悲观来化解，并将它运用在日常生活中。当我觉察到心中生起不认同他人的想法时，就试着从对方的观点来看事情。当我在商店购物时，就在心里默默祝福我遇见的每个人，都能灭除贪瞋痴三毒，拥有幸福、安详、远离苦痛的今生及来生。有时候我面对他人甚至是陌生人，也会提醒自己：对方与我一样拥有无二无别的佛性。 透过修行让我明白：心中的愤怒大部分其实是针对自己。当我成为更有礼貌、更体贴、更谅解他人的人时，我也重塑了自心，开始看见周遭事物正向的一面，开始发掘出他人美好的特质，也发掘出自己良善的一面。在帮助他人、奉献自己当中，我不仅改变了对他人的看法，更改变了整个生命与世界。 正如佛陀所说：“若能抑忿发，如止急行车，是名善御者，余为执缰人。”祈愿一切众生都能怀抱难行能行之心，慈悲善待彼此，更能去除瞋恚之毒，不再恼害他人。 (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.) |