心的种种频道 The Channels of the Mind

Our minds possess various mental factors, each containing two opposing sides.我们的心灵有种种心所，每一种心所都包含着相对的两个方面。Wisdom is opposed to ignorance, diligence to laziness, greed to detachment, and hatred to compassion.智慧和愚痴相对，精进和懈怠相对，贪婪和淡泊相对，嗔恨和慈悲相对。In life, we constantly face these contradictions.在生活中，我们时常都面对着这样的矛盾。The Dharma asks us to let go of desire, yet emotionally we long to pursue it. It asks us to be compassionate, yet we struggle to overcome anger when things go against our will.佛法要求我们放弃对五欲的贪著，可从感情上来说，我们又的确想去追求；要求我们对众生慈悲，可遇到违背意愿的人事，又实在难以克服嗔恨。Our various mental factors are like different "channels" that we enter, often unconsciously.我们的种种心所，又像是一个个频道，使我们往往在不知不觉中进入某种状态。When we tune into the "Greed Channel," we see only what we want to possess, becoming blind to everything else.当我们进入贪的状态时，眼前就只看见自己想要得到的东西，其他的一切我们都视而不见了。When we tune into the "Anger Channel," we are consumed by uncontrollable fire, with no room for anything else.当我们进入嗔恨的状态时，心中就只剩下按捺不住的怒火，其他的一切我们都无暇顾及了。Often, we neither understand nor can we govern our own psychological states. When afflictions strike, our entire being is immediately engulfed.通常，我们对自己的心理状态总是不能很好地了解，更无法驾驭。当烦恼袭来时，我们的整个身心立即就陷入其中。As the saying goes, "Illness comes like a collapsing mountain." Affliction is a disease of the heart—often far more damaging and harder to cure than physical ailments.俗话说，“病来如山倒”，烦恼就是我们的心病，在很多时候，它远比身病的危害更大，更难以痊愈。Many have studied Buddhism for decades but still live by their old habits. We often hear people say, "I understand the principles, but I just can't do it."有的人学佛几十年了，生活习惯还是依然故我。常常听到有人说：“道理我都懂，可就是做不到。”Why is this? Because "three feet of ice is not formed by a single day's cold." Our habits and afflictions have been nurtured over countless lifetimes.为什么会有这样的现象呢？因为“冰冻三尺非一日之寒”，我们的烦恼习气是无始以来养成的。Their power is immense; given the right conditions, they swiftly occupy our hearts. Meanwhile, our strength of goodness and reason is often insufficient to withstand the full-scale assault of greed, anger, and ignorance.它的力量非常强大，只要遇到合适的缘，就会迅速占领我们的内心。而善与理智的力量却远远不够，难以抵挡贪、嗔、痴的全面进攻。