10月19日

面對生死
佛光星雲 ( 1927~ )

之一

佛教淨土宗稱死亡為「往生」，既是往生，就如
同出外旅遊，或是搬家喬遷，如此死亡不也是可喜
的事嗎？所以，死亡只是一個階段的轉換，是生命
託付另一個身體的開始。死亡以後就像移民一樣，
到了另外的國家。只是我們有生存的資本嗎？只要
我們有功德法財，即使換一個國土，又何必害怕不
能生活呢?因此，死亡不足懼，面對死亡，要順其
自然，要處之泰然。

之二

在佛門裡，有許多的大德高僧，他們對於死亡的
看法，認為生要歡歡喜喜而來，死也要歡歡喜喜而
去。因為來來去去、生生死死，無有休止。從歷史
上看一些禪者，有的田園荷鋤而亡，有的自我祭拜
而終；有的吹簫奏笛，泛舟而逝；有的東門西門，
向親友告假而去。所謂「來為眾生來，去為眾生去」，
來來去去，根本就不用掛懷。

──選自《迷悟之間》

October 19

To Be at Peace with Living and Dying
Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927 - , Fo Guang Shan)
English translation: Miao Hsi and Cherry Lai

                                   I
The Pure Land School of Buddhism considers death
to be a rebirth. To be reborn is like going abroad
or moving to a new house. So, dying is something
to be happy about. It is simply the turning point
between two phases, the beginning of life in another
form. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid. When
death arrives, we should take it as it comes and
accept it peacefully!

                                   II
In Buddhism, many highly-cultivated monastics
reflect with joy on living and dying. They believe
that we should come into this world joyfully and
leave it likewise, knowing that there is no end to all
the comings and goings! Throughout history, some
Chan practitioners passed away while farming the land;
some held their own funeral services before dying;
others played the flute and left sailing on a boat;
still others journeyed east and west bidding
farewell to friends and relatives before dying.
As they come for the sake of sentient beings and go
for the same reason, they have no attachments with
either coming or going.

── from Between Ignorance and Enlightenment