我是谁【下】Who Am I? (Part III)

From a Buddhist perspective, the "Self" is the greatest misconception of sentient beings. 从佛教角度来说，“自我”正是有情最大的误解。It is a false construct arising from our ignorance of the true nature of life. Neither our body nor our emotions possess a permanent, unchanging essence; therefore, they cannot represent a so-called "Self."是我们因为不了解生命真相而产生的错误设定。无论身体还是情绪，都不具有永恒不变的内涵，都不能代表所谓的“我”。Thus, Buddhism introduces the profound concept of "Non-Self" (Anatta). This is Buddha’s greatest contribution to humanity.所以，佛教提出“无我”的思想。这也是佛陀对众生最大的贡献。Many may find this confusing or even frightening: If there is "No Self," then what is this being that speaks and moves right now? Where will it vanish?或许不少人会觉得费解，甚至对此感到恐惧：如果“无我”，那现在这个会说会动的又是什么？又会消失何方？In truth, what "Non-Self" negates is only the illusion we superimpose upon the "Self," not the existence of phenomena themselves.其实，“无我”所否定的，只是加诸于“我”的错觉，而非现象本身。There is a famous Koan in Zen: "What was your original face before a single thought arose?"禅宗有个话头是：“一念未生前本来面目是什么？”We live every day in an unending stream of thoughts and mental activities. But what is the state of our life before these thoughts arise?我们每天都在不绝如缕的思绪中，在一念接一念的意识活动中。当这些念头尚未生起之前，生命是一种什么状态？Tracing back even further: In what state did "I" exist before coming into this world? This leads to another vital Zen Koan: "What was your original face before your parents gave birth to you?"再往前追朔：来到这个世界前，“我”又是以什么状态存在？所谓“父母未生前本来面目是什么”，这也是禅宗另一个重要的话头。Zen practice uses this inquiry to sweep away the layers of delusion that obscure the heart and to dismantle our existing false constructs.禅宗的修行，正是通过这样一种追寻，将遮蔽内心的妄执层层扫荡，将现有的错误设定逐步瓦解。"Know thyself"—this is the fundamental concern of the Dharma and the highest maxim of Western philosophy.认识自己——这是佛法关注的根本问题，也是西方哲学的最高名言。Only by seeing through to the truth of life can we grasp the helm of our journey and become the true masters of our existence.惟有透彻生命真相，我们才能把握前进之舵，成为生命的真正主人。Otherwise, we remain slaves to our bodies or emotions, toiling endlessly for their sustenance and exhausting our lives for their whims. Even more tragic is that many not only labor in vain but also create negative karma, causing continued wandering and suffering in the future.否则，只能是这个色身或情绪的奴隶，为他的衣食奔忙不休，为他的喜怒耗尽生命。更悲哀的是，很多人不仅劳而无功，还会由此造作恶业，使未来继续沉沦，继续受苦。