平安就是福，若能平平安安過日子，我們要時時很感恩。得生人中難，佛法這樣告訴我們：「人身難得，佛道難聞，能生在人福中更難。」
Peace is a blessing. If we can lead a peaceful life, we should be grateful at every moment. Being born human is precious. The Buddha-Dharma tells us that human life is precious, and that hearing the Dharma is also precious. Being born to a blessed life is even rarer.
如何能得福？當然，福也是人造的，平時要好禮樂道，福在其中。
How do we receive these blessings? We actually create them ourselves. We must take joy in the path and be courteous. That is where blessings are.
「自種福田，自得福緣。」這些話都很簡單，人的幸與不幸，在物質中很難去分別。有的人物資很豐富，但是他整天都很苦，這樣的人生好過嗎？所以我們要常常調整自己的心，平常要好禮樂道。我們有這麼好的生活，如何將禮節照顧好？富而好禮，待人接物能夠對人有禮數，對人人平易近人，這種好禮，富有才能符合他的身份。
Those who plant their fields of blessings will reap the blessed karma. These words are very simple. Whether people are fortunate or unfortunate is difficult to tell just from their material status. Some people are wealthy, but they suffer all day long. Is that really a good life? We need to adjust our own minds, take joy in the path and be courteous every day. Since we lead such a good life, we should take care to conduct ourselves properly, since we are wealthy, we should treat all people with courtesy and be friendly with everyone. Only when we are courteous do we behave in a way that is fitting to our wealth.
但如果雖然富有，但是卻還是一天到晚說自己很命苦、很可憐，這樣就不符合他人生的富，這就是富中之貧。無論生活如何的好，還是不滿足，所以我們要培養好禮——富而好禮。
If someone is wealthy but complains about their hard life all day, it is quite pitiable. With all the wealth he has, he is still poor among the rich. No matter how good life is, he is never content. We need to train ourselves to be courteous, then we are wealthy and courteous.
自造福田 自得福緣
Be courteous and take joy in the path. That is where blessings are. We plant our own field of blessings, and reap the blessed karma ourselves.
假使貧呢？要樂道。我們要瞭解道理，道理是這樣，所以因緣果報我們知道了，生活可以過就好了，平安就好了，學一些做人的道理，瞭解一些因果更好。所以這叫做好禮樂道。
If we are poor, we need to take joy in the path. We need to understand the principles. We know about the karmic laws of cause and effect. Being able to live our life simply and peacefully is good enough. It is even better if we can learn about karma and understand the principles of being human. So, take joy in the path and be courteous.
若能這樣就是福在其中，無論是什麼人都能有福。
If we can do this, we will find blessings
福不是在物質，不是在名，不是在利，是在我們的內心。內心就是一片的心地，我們要好好在這片心地要自種福田、多造福。
Blessings are not in material things, nor in fame or wealth. They are in our minds. Our minds are like a vast field. Which we need to earnestly cultivate. We plant our own field of blessings, and crate more blessings.
想要造福要在哪裡造？在人群中造。人群，我們能多與人結一些好緣，所以我們自造福田、自得福緣。大家在這短短幾句話，這全是道理，大家真的要很用心。記得得生人道中難，生在福人當中也難。既然生在福人當中，就要好禮樂道，就福在其中。
Where do we create them? We create them among people. We can create more good affinities with others. When we plant these blessings, we reap the blessed karma. Everyone, these two short sentences are filled with truth. We all need to be more mindful. Remember that obtaining a human life is rare, and obtaining a blessed life is even rarer. If we are born blessed, we need to take joy in the path and be respectful. That is where blessings are.
自種福田，自得福緣，這麼簡單的道理要入心。
We plant our own field of blessings, and reap karmic rewards. Let this simple principle enter your heart.
衣不蔽形 食不充口
貧窮困苦 人理殆盡
If they are born human, they live as slaves. Their food and clothing are insufficient. In the miseries of poverty, they lose morality.
在懺文中再來看這一段文字－－「若生人中，為他奴婢，衣不蔽形，食不充口，貧窮困苦，人理殆盡。」
Let us read the next passage of the Water Repentance, "If they are born human, they live as slaves. Their food and clothing are insufficient. In the miseries of poverty, they lose morality."
這段文字也不算深，淺淺的容易懂。意思就是說，在我們過去在《靜思晨語。法譬如水。見苦知福轉善念》當中所說過的，我們若是已經造下了劫、盜、偷等等的業，罪報已經造成，可能就會生在畜生道中。
This passage is not very profound, the meaning is quite clear. We have said before that if you rob someone retribution may come as rebirth in the Animal Realm.
畜生道要去償還，過去既然曾經有搶人、劫奪人、佔了別人便宜，或是負債等等…這一輩子要做牛做馬還別人。我們前面已經說過了，這種惡業也算是下品業，還不是很惡的道，就是做畜生拖磨還給人；也不是到地獄、餓鬼的程度。
And as an animal, you must repay your past deeds of robbing, kidnapping, or taking advantage of people. Whatever the debt is, you may repay it as a horse or a cow. We have said before that this is low-level karma; it is not an extremely evil path. Being an animal laboring to repay others is still not as bad as the Hell or Hungry Ghost Realms.
說不定在我們前面所說過的一些五逆、殺人、破壞合和僧，或是破壞人倫道理這種十惡五逆，已經生墮地獄、餓鬼，才又轉生為畜生。
Perhaps, as we mentioned previously, those who committed the five offenses of killing, breaking the harmony of the Sangha or disrupting morality, or any of the other Ten Evils of Five Offenses, were born in Hell or as a hungry ghost, before later being reborn as an animal.
畜生道與人類比較接近，所以稱為下品業，雖然牠要拖、要犁、要還。但是有的畜生也很受人疼惜，就像善來進去裡面，德暘就告訴我：「牠要來向師父告假，要再帶牠去回診。」他是誰你們知道嗎？一隻貓已經快廿年，在牠們的世界已經差不多百歲了。大家都很疼牠，知道牠有病，我們就把牠帶到台北就醫，還要再去回診。你們想，牠是不是在畜生當中也是有福的呢？
The Animal Realm is close to the Human Realm, so it is low-level karma to be reborn there. Although they must plow and toil to repay debts, some animals are still cherished by humans. It is like when San-Lai (the cat) came inside, De-Yang told me, "Shan-Lai came to say she is taking the day off. Someone was taking her to the doctor. Do you all know about Shan-Lai? This cat was almost 20 years old, which in cat years is almost 100. we all really cared for her. When we knew she was ill, we took her to Taipei to be treated. Later she needed to go back for a check-up. Think about it, wasn't she a very blessed animal?
但是無論是怎麼樣的福，就算牠的生命算在人間界也已經百歲了，命也不長，尤其是生為畜生，即使有苦有說不出。能得到這麼好命的，也沒有幾隻。
But no matter how blessed she was, in human years she was 20 years old, which in cat years is 100. Life is short, especially for animals. And if they suffer, they cannot express it. Very few animals have good lives.
你們看有些流浪狗，在外面被主人拋棄，全身都是皮膚病，又飢又餓，到處都被人趕。你看，畜生道有這麼多，而且又被人拋棄，而且病痛纏身，這有很多。
Some dogs live on the street, abandoned by their owners, with mange all over them, starving and driven off wherever they go. Animals suffer much disrespect. They are abandoned by people, and racked by pain and disease.
你想，六道中是不是很苦呢？在畜生道之後，是不是業報就盡了呢？還沒有，有的人餘報未盡，除了要還債，拖來還以外，肉還要讓人吃、骨要被人啃，這樣是不是還完了呢？餘報又來生人中，「來生人中為他奴婢」，這樣也是在受報。做牛、做馬拖還不夠，來生人中還要為人奴與婢。
There is much suffering in all Six Realms. Will living as an animal extinguish this karma? Not yet. Some people's retribution is still not finished. In addition to repaying debts through labor, as animals, they are also eaten by people. Their flesh and bones are eaten. Does this repay their debts? No. "If they are born human, they live as slaves". This is also retribution. Their labor as a horse or cow was not enough, so though reborn human, they are born as slaves.
看看現在很多人生在貧窮的國家，現在的世界比較接近，所以有的要離鄉背井，到期他的國家去當外傭、外勞，這也是為了生活離鄉背井，要為人勞動做工，者也是「為他奴婢」。又「衣不蔽行」，身上沒有衣服可穿，或是穿得很破，或是從垃圾堆揀的衣服拿來穿，這樣的國家在現在很有很多。
These days many people are born in countries with extreme poverty. The world today is closely connected. Some people leave their country to seek work elsewhere as laborers or domestic help. In order to make a living, they leave home and work for others. This is also "living as a slave". "Their clothing is insufficient". Their clothes do not cover their bodies, or are tattered and torn. Maybe they picked them out of the garbage. There are many places like this in the world.
尤其是最近，氣候已經造成了每天、每天都有在世界不同的國家報導出災情。無家可歸！還有什麼其他的物資，很多人人連衣服都沒有、連吃的東西也都沒有，現在所依靠的是世界人道團體。但是有的，國際間去救濟，他怕得不到，所以暴動用搶的，這種惡性循環，他暴動、他用搶的，變成很多慈善單位不敢接近，這就是惡性循環，就是不知道道理。
Especially where the recent climate changes have caused many types of disasters to occur every day. People lose their homes and everything they own. Many people do not even have clothes or food. They depend on humanitarian groups. But some, fearing that help will not reach them or that it will be insufficient, turn to rebellion or robbery. This creates a vicious cycle. Because of the violence and instability, many charities do not dare to enter some countries. Is is a vicious cycle, and people do not understand the principles.
所以有的國際救濟團體，就把物資交給政府，政府就囤積起來，災民、貧窮的人根本就得不到，所以我們要直接到達，雙手去付出。但是如此治安不平靜，人心如此剛強、不按照軌道，我要如何能夠安心呢？所以為了很多受難的國家，在受災、受難中，想不出一個好的方法，該如何才能去降伏他的心？安住他的心？好付出救災物資？實在是無計可施！每天若想到這樣，心裡很矛盾，不知道該怎麼樣？所以才說「貧窮困苦，人理殆盡」。
Thus, some international relief organizations give their material aid to the government. But the government hoards the supplies, and victims of disaster and poverty cannot get help. So we need to go there directly and give aid with our own two hands. But if the country is not stable, people's hearts become hardened and they do not follow the path. So, how can I be at ease? Many countries suffer disasters and poverty, to calm their minds, to comfort them, or to give material relief. It sometimes seems there really is no way. Every day when I think of this, my heart feels very conflicted. I do not know what to do. Thus, the text says, "In the miseries of poverty, they lose morality".
「人理殆盡」就是說，都已經到了貧窮苦難的時候，卻依然不按照軌道，所以變成了危機重重！這就是我剛才所說的——雖然苦難那麼多，到底要如何去幫助？因為他做人的道理都已經喪失掉了，不知道用什麼樣的軌道——「道」就是「理」，用什麼樣的軌道、什麼樣的道理先去安撫他們？無計可施！
"They lose morality" means some who are already suffering from poverty still do not follow the rules, and this becomes extremely dangerous for everyone. This is what I was just talking about. Although there are many people suffering, how can we help them if they have completely lost basic human ethics? Which path or principles can we apply to pacify their minds? There seems to be no way.
所以這一類的人，在佛經當中如此解釋，識經過畜生道，受盡了苦難，餘報未盡；雖然他的業還沒有盡，但是他畜生的業已經盡了，他能來人間；但是人間苦難的業還沒有盡，他來到人間還要受這種報，他生在最貧困的國家，他鎖住的地方是多災多難，充滿了重重的苦難，等於是人間的地獄。
This kind of people, as explained in the Sutra, have lived in the Animal Realm and suffered there, but their karma is still not exhausted. The karma of being born an animal is finished, so they are now human, but their karma of suffering is still there, so now they still suffer as humans. They are born in the poorest countries, and in places where there are frequent disasters. Their suffering is quite severe. It could be called a "living hell".
苦難的地方有很多，譬如在衣索匹亞，記得在很多、很多年以前，我們去救災，同時也要探討他們的社會生活形態，到了半途，大家肚子都餓了，想要找個地方吃飯。半途有一家在賣吃的東西，到了裡面，那裡有什麼好吃的東西呢？煎的餅，蒼蠅黑壓壓的，即使肚子餓看了也都飽了，這就是他們的生態。即使販賣食物就是這樣，人看了，有辦法吃嗎？所以忍著肚子餓，再向前繼續走。
There are many such places. I remember Tzu Chi went to Ethiopia many years ago to provide relief. We also wanted to learn about their culture and lifestyle. One volunteer said, "Everyone was very hungry and wanted to find a place to eat. There was a place on the road selling food, so we went in. what did they have to eat there? Some roasted bread covered in files. Although they were hungry, they did not eat. This was the state of life there. Although there was food sold, once our volunteers saw it, they could not eat it. They just endured being hungry, and continued on their journey until.
到了村落，那個村落裡面有人再辦喜事，什麼樣的喜事呢？嫁娶結婚！新郎十二歲，新娘十一歲。覺得不可思議！為什麼孩子還這麼小就結婚呢？他說他們那裡的風俗就是那樣。現在再想起來，因為那裡的人生命很短，壽命很短，平均壽命差不多卅多歲，難怪他們那麼早婚！
They reached the village. People at the village were preparing a celebration. What were they celebrating? A marriage. The groom was 12 years old, the bride was 11. we felt this was incomprehensible. Why were these children married so young? They said that this was their custom. Now, looking back, since their life expectancy was so low, averaging around 30 years or so, it mace sense that they married young.
所以也有這麼樣的一則新聞出來，兒童新娘，也是在衣索匹亞。那時有記者看到一位媽媽大肚子，問她幾歲？「十二歲！」再問她：「這是第一個嗎？」「第二個，半年前生了一個。」半年前才生一個，但是他現在已經又有了，等於他的肚子沒有空過。這麼小的孩子，她就已經懷孕生子。這樣有童年嗎？
There was a similar news story about child brides, also in Ethiopia. At that time, a reporter saw a pregnant mother He asked, "How old are you?" She replied, "12". "is this your first child?" "No, my second." Six months earlier she had her first, and then she was pregnant again. It was like her womb was never empty. Such a young child was already having children. Did she even have a childhood?
想到我們生在台灣的孩子，我們看得到的，十一歲、十二歲、十四、五歲，他們青少年，多麼幸福！父母把他們當作寶貝。
I think of the children raised here in Taiwan, we see that 11-,12-,14-,15-year olds are still children. They are so fortunate. Their parents treat them as treasures.
雖然當地政府在很多年前，因為「國際童工與兒童新娘太早婚不行」的聲音出來了，所以政府也已經通過法令，不能壓迫十多歲的孩子結婚，小孩子不能讓他懷孕。但是這種法令對當地民間是不是能夠產生什麼樣的效果呢？沒有！尤其是童年懷孕，早產或是產難死掉的還是很多；因為懷孕的兒童都還很小，所以為了生孩子而往生的不少。
A number of years ago, the government there received some international criticism, saying child labor and child marriage are not appropriate. So the government decreed that young adolescents could not be forced to marry, and children should not get pregnant. But did this kind of law have any effect on the local people? No, children are still getting pregnant. If they have a premature or difficult birth, there is a good chance they will die. Since they are so young, many die during childbirth.
想想看，這種的人生是不是很可憐呢？這種的業報，和在佛經當中所提道的，就是在畜生道、地獄道當中，餘報未盡，來到人間再受報的人。苦不苦啊？雖然說生人道中難，但是生在福人中更難。你能夠生在這種有機會好禮樂道這種的環境更難。
Isn't this kind of life pitiable? This kind of retribution, according to the Sutras, comes from unexhausted karma of being born as an animal or in Hell, so there is still retribution when born as a human. Isn't this suffering? Although being born human is rare, being born blessed is rater still. To be born and raised in a life where you have opportunities to take joy in the path in a civilized society is even rarer.
所以我們既然人人已經生在這種好禮樂道的環境當中，我們已經福在其中，我們更要自種福田，自得福緣。
All of us are already blessed to be in this kind of environment, so we really need to plant our own field of blessings and reap the karmic rewards.
我們要多種福田，我們也要多結好緣，所以請大家眼界看開一點，看全世界，光是在人道的生態就有這麼多的苦難。所以在我們現在這樣的環境當中，要知福、要惜福。所以人人要多用心！
We should plant more blessings, create more good affinities. Please broaden your vision a bit. Look at the whole world; even our human realm is riddled with so many difficulties. In this kind of environment, we need to recognize and cherish our blessings. Everyone, please always be mindful.
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