「世界」一詞，實為時間、空間的綜合概括。時光遷流，年歲反覆，過去、現在、未來無有止息；地理方位，自有定律，東西南北、東南、西南、東北、西北、上、下，十方有序，不相混亂。
由此看來，生於其間的人是多麼渺小，他只能佔有短暫的時光和很小的地盤，像一張漂浮在河床上的葉子，隨波逐流，身不由己。但人比葉強，人有知覺，葉無意識，人身可在世界的任何一個地方飄流，人心卻可駐於另一個所在。
以我們生活的經驗，我們的世界是我們看得見，摸得著的世界，我們的眼界有多寬，世界就有多大。一個一輩子不出門的鄉村老太太，她的世界就是四堵牆裡的幾十個坪方，充其量也就是站在門口，望到被遠山隔阻為止。她不知道山外有山、水外有水，山水之外，還有許多好風景。都市中的人見識多些，他跑了不少地方，知道在自己的生活圈子外還有許多別的生活樣式。我們的世界受著眼界的制約，而眼界又受著心靈的影響。
同在一個方位，同在一個時間，卻會有不同的人生感受，人的生活經驗也曾千萬次證明過的。有一個極端的例子可以剖析：釋迦牟尼佛成道時，有一天在野外打坐入定。這時雷雨忽至，一個大閃電，劈倒了離他不遠的一棵大樹，打死了大樹下的一頭牯牛；而他安然坐著，毫無變動。農舍中的人見了，十分驚懼，等他出定後，問他是否聽見雷的巨響？他回答說：好像有一聲輕微的嗡嗡，彷彿只是蚊蠅。
一個強烈的閃電，一個巨大的雷響，對於在世間的人來說，確實可以引起足夠的注意；可對於入定在茫茫宇宙中的釋迦牟尼佛，又算得了什麼呢？閃電雷響，在宇宙中的位置與人一樣，實在太微不足道了。
而我們又有多少次，在盛夏之夜，被一隻蚊子的嗡嗡聲攪得不能入睡？我們專注於討厭的蚊聲，於是蚊聲變為雷聲，這「雷聲」引起了我們的滿腔憤怒，我們到處撲打，並為撲打不著而生起自己的氣來。第二天我們紅腫著雙眼，就將我們的不能入睡，全歸罪於這隻小小的蚊子。不管牠是咬了我們一口，還是沒咬上？在我們安睡的時候，一丁點的微細之聲，就可以打破我們的寧靜；我們的世界就在橫身之間，無形而又脆弱。
由此我們理解：人的互相碰撞、鬥爭、不能安寧，是因為人的心靈環境太差。活在狹隘侷促之中，小小的心靈四壁，擠壓得人傷痕累累，摩擦成為了正常的活動。一點點小事，就可以成為冤家；一點點委屈，就可以引發高血壓、心臟病；有的人甚至會去自殺。不中聽的話，於是比雷聲還要大了，難看的臉，是比閃電還恐怖了。
當父母為我們挑選這個世界時，我們還可以挑選另一個世界；這個世界將決定我們的生活質量。 |
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The term “world” is a combination of time and space. Time flies. Past, present and future continue with no end. Everything has its geographical location course. The ten directions of east, west, south, north, southeast, southwest, northeast, northwest, above, below do not shift or impinge on each other.
Viewed from such a perspective, human beings are but a miniscule part of it all. The time they exist is so brief and the space they occupy is so small that they seem to be like leaves that light on the surface of a river and are carried along by the current without being able to exercise any control. But people are stronger than leaves; people have awareness that leaves lack. People can be physically in one place while mentally in another.
Practically speaking, the world is comprised of what we see and touch. However broad our view of the world is, that is how big the world is. For an old woman in a provincial village who never goes out, her concept of the world is
limited to about ten square feet of space contained within the four walls of her home. space The farthest it would extend is to the distant mountains she sees from her front door. She does not know that there are mountains beyond those mountains, waters beyond those waters and many other kinds of scenery. Residents of the cities have a better idea and know that there are other life styles other than theirs. Our world is limited by what we see; what we see is influenced by our minds.
People who are in the same place at the same time will have different perceptions of the same things. This has been verified millions of times. Let take one outstanding example of that phenomenon. After Shakyamuni Buddha realized the Way, one day he was sitting in the wilderness in samadhi. Suddenly a thunderstorm hit and lightning struck a big tree close to where the Buddha was seated, killing a cow that happened to be standing underneath it. The Buddha sat on undisturbed, entirely unmoved by the incident. People in the farm house witnessed the whole scene and were shocked. When the Buddha left his samadhi, they asked him if he had heard the tremendous thunderclap. The Buddha replied that he had heard something like the hum of the insects.
Such a brilliant lightning flash and huge thunderclap would surely startle any ordinary person. But what could it matter to Shakyamuni Buddha who, engrossed in samadhi, could perceive the vastness of the entire universe? Thunderclaps and lightning flashes are just as insignificant as human beings when compared to the entire universe?
How many times have we been disturbed by a mosquito when we were on the verge of falling asleep on a midsummer night? We become so intent on listening for the hum of the mosquito that it seems like the sound of thunder to us. That “thundering sound” soon enrages us and we flail about trying to bat it down. When we fail, we become angry with ourselves. The next morning we blame that tiny mosquito for our lack of sleep and swollen eyes regardless of whether we got bitten or not. When we are asleep even such a small sound of danger can break our tranquility. How frail our world is as we lie prostrate.
Therefore we understand that when people mutually struggle, fight against each other, and fail to find peace, it is because their mental state is deficient. Existing within the limited space their minds, they suffer wounds and bear scars; conflict becomes the norm. Minor incidents create enemies; a little resentment induces high blood pressure and heart disease. Some even commit suicide. Unpleasant words sound louder than thunder and scornful looks strike more fear in us than lightning bolts.
Our parents choose this world for us, but we still can make choices regarding time and space that can decidely effect the quality of our lives. |
