【菩提好聲音 #35】今生最可寶貴的 The Most Precious Possession of This Life

Many people fail to realize just how critical the human identity truly is.很多人不曾意識到，人的身份究竟有多重要。Because we came into this world as humans this time, it seems like the most ordinary thing. Little do we know, within the endless cycle of birth and death, how many eons we drifted before gaining this chance to be born human.因為我們此生是以這一身份來到世間，似乎做人是再平常不過的事。殊不知，在無盡的生死輪迴中，我們歷經多少劫的沉淪漂浮才有機會生而為人。Though the global population reaches billions, through the lens of Samsara, it is infinitesimally small compared to the total mass of life across infinite space.雖然世界上有幾十億人口，但從六道輪迴的角度來看，和無窮無盡的空間中難以計數的生命總量相比，又是多麼微不足道。How many among the myriad of sentient beings are fortunate enough to be human? As the Buddha warned: "Those who gain a human body are like the soil on a fingernail; those who lose it are like the soil of the entire earth."大千世界，芸芸眾生，有幸得以生而為人者有多少？正如佛陀告誡我們的那樣：「得人身者，如爪上土；失人身者，如大地土。」Gaining a human form in this vast universe is the greatest blessing we can possess in this lifetime. Beyond this, even the status of a king cannot compare to its worth.茫茫宇宙間，我們有幸得到人身，是今生所能擁有的最大福報。除此而外，即使貴為帝王，其價值也無法與之比擬。When we speak of value, we usually think only of the price of our houses or cars, or how vital our children and careers are. It seems all of life’s meaning is tangled up in these.當我們談到價值時，往往只想到家中的房子、汽車值多少，想到自己的孩子、事業有多重要。我們關注的無非就是這些，似乎人生的所有價值就蘊含其中。Some find value in making a fortune, some in holding a high position, and some in a lavish lifestyle. These aren't entirely worthless, but their meaning to life is fleeting, not permanent. Tragically, these short-term gains become the lifelong pursuits of many.或以日進斗金為人生價值，或以身居高位為人生價值，或以生活奢華為人生價值。當然，也不能說這一切就毫無價值，只是對人生而言，其意義是短暫而非永久的。可悲的是，這些眼前利益反而成了很多人終生不悔的追求。Compared to wealth and status, owning a human identity is clearly more valuable. If a transaction demanded a strict one-to-one swap—money on one side, your life on the other—who would agree to that deal?和財富、地位相比，擁有人的身份顯然更有價值。若必須一對一地交換，一邊是錢，一邊是命，又有誰願意達成這筆交易呢？When life and money cannot both be kept, even the creediest person realizes the preciousness of life. If you cease to exist, what meaning does all that money hold?當生命和金錢不可兼得時，再貪婪的人也會意識到生命之可貴；若是一命嗚呼，再多的錢又有什麼意義呢？Wealth, status, career, or relationships—all look pale and powerless before death. At that final moment, wealth is but a hollow number, a career just a fading dream, and a family a painful attachment to leave behind.無論財富、地位，還是事業、感情，在死亡前都顯得蒼白無力。在那個時刻，財富不過是空洞的數字，事業不過是逝去的舊夢，家庭不過是難以割捨的牽掛。Often, the more you possess in life, the more regrets you carry when leaving. Therefore, we must see clearly what is truly most precious, so that we cherish and utilize it well, rather than ignoring or squandering it.往往是，生前擁有得越多，離開時的遺憾也就越多。所以我們要看清，什麼才是最可寶貴的。在擁有它的時候，珍惜它，善用它，而不是漠視它、揮霍它。