5月31日

玫瑰或荊棘
佛光星雲 ( 1927~ )

改變一生造化的原因很多，像為一段感情的來去
生滅，為一句話的冷暖好壞，為一件事情的看法見
解，甚至為了書本裡的詩偈文章，影響了我們未來
的因緣，最後不可思議改變我們原本運行的軌道。

外在的緣，起滅不定，禍福難料，主要的因還是
源於自己的心，面對人間的利、衰、毀、譽、稱、
譏、苦、樂八風的吹搧，能否安然不動,甘之如飴？
要改造命運時，不如先增加我們內在的定力和慧觀，
為自己創造一個好鳥歌詠，清涼無惱的心靈淨土。

在命運的田地裡，每個人都有選擇的權利，你想
種植甜蜜芬芳的玫瑰，還是雜亂叢生的荊棘？

──選自《星雲說喻》

May 31

Roses or Thorns?
Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: Miao Guang

There are many reasons to why life can change
entirely. For example, the start or end of a relationship,
the emotions and effects caused by what people say,
how a matter is viewed and valued, and even a poetry or
article that we have read in books, which could affect our
future conditions, and consequently, cause the orbit of
life to shift in an unimaginable way.

External conditions arise and extinguish indefinitely
and unpredictably. Nevertheless, the cause of which is
mainly our own mind. When we are being provoked
by the Eight Winds──benefit, decay, defamation, fame,
praise, ridicule, suffering and joy, are we able to
remain calm and composed, and even learn to enjoy
the bitterness? Instead of changing our destination,
we might as well start by strengthening our inner powers
of concentration and insight so as to build ourselves a
spiritual Pure Land that is filled with melodious chirping
birds and cool perfect ease.

Over the lands of destiny, every one of us has the right
to choose. Would you rather grow sweet and fragrant
roses, or clusters of thorny vines?

── from Hsing Yun Shuo Yu (Hsing Yun's Commentaries on Allegories)