【菩提好聲音 #36】一些貌似可靠的支持 Seemingly Reliable Supports

Once we lose touch with our primordial awareness, we generate a series of false assumptions about ourselves.當我們迷失覺悟本體之後，就會對自己產生一系列的錯誤設定。What exactly am I? What is the foundation of my existence? In truth, there is no fixed, unchanging basis for the "Self."究竟什麼是我？其存在基礎是什麼？作為我的存在，其實並沒有固定不變的基礎。Because it lacks a foundation, this ego acts like a vine, creeping outward to find something to cling to.因為沒有基礎，這個我就會像藤蔓一樣向外攀附，尋找依托對象。Our most common misunderstanding is mistake the body for the self. Furthermore, we treat our appearance, roles, status, and wealth as "Me."我們最容易產生的誤解，是把身體當做是我，這是我們在世間最為熟悉也最為密切的部分。此外,我們還會把相貌當做是我，把角色當做是我，把地位當做是我，把財富當做是我。The problem is that all of these are impermanent and in constant flux. No matter how much we grasp, we can never feel truly safe or at peace, because what we hold is still impermanence.問題是，這一切都是無常的，是處於變化中的。所以,無論我們抓住多少，還是無法感到安全，感到釋然，因為抓住的依然是無常。To maintain this precarious sense of security, we manufacture some seemingly reliable supports. Chief among them are a sense of self-importance, superiority, and the desire for control.為了維護這份岌岌可危的安全感，我們就會製造一些看似可靠的支撐。其中最主要的，就是自我的重要感、優越感和主宰欲。First is the sense of self-importance. Its characteristic is that anything related to "Me" becomes extraordinarily vital.首先是自我的重要感。其特點在於，凡與我有關的都特別重要，這是自我存在的關鍵。Because this ego is fabricated and built out of nothing, it constantly requires bracing and reinforcement. We instinctively amplify its importance, believing this will protect the self from being crushed by impermanence.因為這個自我是由我們設定的，是無中生有地搭建起來的，它需要支撐，需要鞏固。所以，我們就會本能地強化它的重要性，以為這樣就會使自我得到保護，不被無常所擊垮。Second is the sense of superiority. The ego relies on comparison to find its coordinates.其次是自我的優越感。自我的存在，還需要通過對比來找到坐標。Once we possess ego-attachment, we separate ourselves from others and the world. To stand firm in this confrontation, we constantly belittle others to highlight our own superiority and confirm our existence.有了我執之後，我們就和眾生、和世界分離了。為了在這樣的對壘中站穩腳跟，使自我不至因為孤立而倒塌，我們會通過不斷貶低別人來突顯自身的優越,來確認自我的存在。Third is the desire for control. This involves expanding our domain by possessing and dominating others.第三是自我的主宰欲。這是通過對他人的占有和主宰來擴張我的領域。Just as an army needs allies in war, the ego needs reinforcements and followers in its self-declared battles to boost its confidence.就像打仗需要盟軍支持一樣，在自我發動的這場戰爭中，它也需要援助，需要有更多追隨身後的附屬，以此增強自信。All of these are merely the habitual tricks of ego-attachment—the psychological food on which it relies to survive.所有這些，都是我執慣用的把戲，是它賴以生存的精神食糧。