佛見一切眾生有「生老病死」四大苦，所以才發心出家修行，研究解決這四大苦的方法。我們時常在不知不覺中，就現出煩惱，有時現之於色，有時藏之於心，有時候無明一動，什麼也不知道了；無明一作怪，就糊塗了。所以煩惱是障道的因緣，修道的絆腳石。

When the Buddha saw that all living beings undergo four great sufferings—birth, old age, sickness, and death—he resolved to leave the home-life, to cultivate and find the way to escape from these four great sufferings.

Without our knowing it, our afflictions manifest them-selves. Sometimes they show in our appearance; sometimes they are hidden in our minds. Once ignorance is stirred up, we are totally lost. When ignorance plays its tricks on us, we become muddled. Afflictions are stumbling blocks to cultivating the Way.

可是話又說回來，我們也不能沒有煩惱，為什麼？因為煩惱即菩提。你若是會用，煩惱就是菩提；若是不會用，菩提就變成煩惱。譬如，菩提是「水」，煩惱是「冰」；水就是冰，冰就是水，水冰是同體，沒有兩樣。寒的時候，水就結成冰；熱的時候，冰就化為水。換句話說，有煩惱時，水結成冰；無煩惱時，冰化為水，這個道理很容易明白。簡單地說，有煩惱就有煩惱冰──無明；無煩惱就有菩提水──智慧，這一點，各位切記！切記！我們修道，不要修了八萬大劫，這個煩惱還是存在，天天靠吃煩惱而活著，若不吃煩惱，就要餓死，這真是很可憐的！

On the other hand, we cannot do without afflictions. Why not? Because “affliction is Bodhi.” If you know how to use it, affliction is Bodhi; if you don't know how to use it, then Bodhi becomes affliction. Bodhi is analogous to water, and affliction to ice. Ice and water are of the same substance; there is no difference. In freezing weather, water will freeze into ice, and in hot weather, ice will melt into water. When there are afflictions, water freezes into ice; and when the afflictions are gone, ice melts into water. This principle is very easy to understand. In other words, having afflictions is having the affliction-ice of ignorance; having no afflictions is having the Bodhi-water of wisdom. Please remember this! We shouldn't cultivate for eighty thousand great kalpas and still have afflictions, day after day living to eat afflictions, and starving to death if there aren't any. That would be truly pathetic.

我們的疾病，是從什麼地方生出來的呢？就是從貪瞋癡三毒所生。人若是沒有三毒，什麼疾病也沒有了。佛法中的「戒定慧」，就是醫治「貪瞋癡」的特效藥，有藥到病除的神效。所謂：

Where do our sicknesses come from? They come from the three poisons of greed, hatred, and stupidity. If people didn't have these three poisons, there wouldn't be any illnesses. In the Buddhadharma, precepts, samadhi, and wisdom are the antidote to greed, anger and stupidity. They have the magical effect of eradicating sickness immediately upon being taken.

心清水現月，
意定天無雲。

When the mind is clear,
The moon is reflected in the water;
When thoughts are settled,
There are no clouds in the sky.

這種境界，就是沒有煩惱。所謂「心止念絕真富貴，私欲斷盡真福田」，妄想的心也止了，攀緣的念也絕了，這就是真富貴。簡單地說，「不貪」就是富貴。人為什麼要貪？因為不知足，覺得不夠，所以要貪。沒有私欲就是福田，如果斷盡就是真福田。這點各位要特別注意！

In this state, there are no afflictions.

When the mind is still and thoughts are gone,
That is true wealth and honor.
When selfish desires are totally cut off,
That is the true field of blessings.

When deluded thoughts are stilled and the exploitation of conditions comes to an end, that is true wealth and honor. In short, to not be greedy is to be wealthy and honored. People are greedy because they aren't content; they feel they don't have enough. Being without selfish desires is called a field of blessings. If the desires are totally cut off, that is the true field of blessings. You should pay special attention to this.

心平百難散，
意定萬事吉。

If your mind is at peace,
A hundred difficulties will be dispelled.
If your thoughts are settled,
All things will be auspicious.

這是至理名言，把它當作金科玉律，那一生就受用不盡了。

This is a famous saying. Use it as a motto, and you will receive limitless benefits throughout your whole life.

什麼是「煩惱」？就是煩身惱心，不得自在。什麼是「憂」？就是憂愁苦惱，悶悶不樂。什麼是「橫」？就是飛災橫禍，發生不幸。我們被這些事情纏住，就好像用無明鎖把你鎖住，用煩惱繩把你繫住，又好像用塊大石頭把你壓住，壓得你喘不過氣來，令你有窒息的感覺。佛想令一切眾生離開煩惱，得到安樂；離開一切迫害，得到解脫，才教一切眾生，發大菩提心，修學佛的功德、佛的行門。所以我們眾生應該聽受，應該相信，更應該依教奉行。

What is affliction? Having an afflicted body and an annoyed mind. In this state, there is no self-mastery. What is worry? Distress and vexation, and being in low spirits. What are sudden misfortunes? Accidents and unfortunate events. These things bind you and oppress you, like the lock of ignorance which locks you up, like the rope of affliction which ties you up. They are also like a huge rock pinning you down and suffocating you, so that you cannot breathe. The Buddha wanted all living beings to part with afflictions and attain peace and happiness; to escape from all oppression and gain liberation, and this is why he taught all living beings to bring forth the great Bodhi mind, and to learn and cultivate the Buddha's meritorious, virtuous conduct. Therefore, we living beings should listen to, accept, believe in, and practice the Buddha's teachings.

眾生的煩惱心，有無量無邊那麼多，菩薩見我們眾生顛顛倒倒，以直為曲，以曲為直；將黑作白，將白作黑；以惡為善，以善為惡；無論如何地教化，他的習氣總是不改，障礙重重。若是說出他的毛病，他就很不高興，而設法保護自己的過錯，不肯改過遷善，甚至於發大無明，生出大煩惱。

Living beings' afflictions are limitless and boundless. They are just like a mirage. The Bodhisattvas see how deluded living beings are: living beings reverse the straight and the crooked, black and white, good and evil. No matter how one tries to teach them, they just cannot change their habits. They have countless layers of obstacles. If you point out their faults, they'll get upset and try to justify them; they don't want to correct them and change for the better. They'll even display great ignorance and become terribly afflicted.

菩薩對這類眾生起慈悲憐愍的心，耳提面命，三令五申，教眾生不要講是非，不要生煩惱，如果不發脾氣、不妒忌障礙，就能出離苦海。

The Bodhisattvas bring forth a kind, compassionate, and sympathetic mind for these living beings. Again and again, they remind living beings not to gossip or become afflicted, and tell them that if they don't lose their tempers or let jealousy obstruct them, they'll be able to leave the sea of suffering.

人身一切是假的，不要把臭皮囊當作寶貝，處處保護著它，你怕它受苦，總想令它享福；可是呢，它卻處處給你添麻煩。

This human body is illusory. Don't always protect this stinking skin bag as if it were a precious jewel, afraid to let it suffer and wanting it to enjoy blessings. In spite of all this coddling, your body only gives you a lot of trouble.

一九八三年五月三日開示