Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A reflection to face loss of loved ones
Sutta Nipata III.8 Salla Sutta: The Arrow 箭经 translated from the Pali by John D. Ireland
"Unindicated and unknown is the length of life of those subject to death. Life is difficult and brief and bound up with suffering. There is no means by which those who are born will not die. Having reached old age, there is death. This is the natural course for a living being. With ripe fruits there is the constant danger that they will fall. In the same way, for those born and subject to death, there is always the fear of dying. Just as the pots made by a potter all end by being broken, so death is (the breaking up) of life.
在这世上，人生无归属，不可知，烦恼而短促，充满痛苦。没有办法能使生者免于死；到了老年，便是死亡，就是众生的规律。正如成熟的果子面临掉落的危险，出生的人始终面临死亡，这是众生的规律。正如陶工制作的陶器，最终总要破碎，人生也是如此。
"The young and old, the foolish and the wise, all are stopped short by the power of death, all finally end in death. Of those overcome by death and passing to another world, a father cannot hold back his son, nor relatives a relation. See! While the relatives are looking on and weeping, one by one each mortal is led away like an ox to slaughter.
幼者和长者，愚者和智者，所有的人都受死神控制，所有的人和归宿都是死亡。当他们在死神控制下，前往另一世界时，父亲救护不了儿子，亲人救护不了亲人。请看，亲人嚎淘大哭，眼望着一个人、一个人被带走，就像牛进屠场。
"In this manner the world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world. You do not know the path by which they came or departed. Not seeing either end you lament in vain. If any benefit is gained by lamenting, the wise would do it. Only a fool would harm himself. Yet through weeping and sorrowing the mind does not become calm, but still more suffering is produced, the body is harmed and one becomes lean and pale, one merely hurts oneself. One cannot protect a departed one (peta) by that means. To grieve is in vain.
人世就是这样，受衰老和死亡折磨，所以，智者懂得人世的规则，不再悲伤。你不知道来路和去路，也看不见两者的尽头，悲伤也徒然。愚者悲伤，只能伤害自己。如果悲伤有用，那么智者也会这样去做。哭泣和忧伤不能使心境平静，只会加深痛苦，损害身体。消瘦，憔悴，自己伤害自己，死者并不因此复活，悲伤徒劳无益。
"By not abandoning sorrow a being simply undergoes more suffering. Bewailing the dead he comes under the sway of sorrow. See other men faring according to their deeds! Hence beings tremble here with fear when they come into the power of death. Whatever they imagine, it (turns out) quite different from that. This is the sort of disappointment that exists. Look at the nature of the world! If a man lives for a hundred years, or even more, finally, he is separated from his circle of relatives and gives up his life in the end. Therefore, having listened to the arahant, one should give up lamenting. Seeing a dead body, one should know, "He will not be met by me again." As the fire in a burning house is extinguished with water, so a wise, discriminating, learned and sensible man should quickly drive away the sorrow that arises, as the wind (blows off) a piece of cotton. He who seeks happiness should withdraw the arrow: his own lamentations, longings and grief.
为死者哀号恸哭，会陷入悲伤；摆脱不了悲伤，会陷入更深的痛苦。请看另一些按其业死去的人，他们受死神控制，在这世上战战兢兢。人们抱有种种想法，但实际并非如此，死别就是这样。请看，这是人世的规则。一个人即使活上一百年，甚至更多年，最终也要与亲人分离，抛弃这世的生命。因此，听取阿罗汉的话，排除悲伤，看到一个人死去时，便想：“我不会再见到他了。”正如用水扑灭燃烧的房子，一位坚定、聪明、通达的智者能迅速驱散涌起的悲伤，就像风儿驱散棉絮。一个为自己谋求幸福的人，应该拔掉自己的箭，自己的悲伤、欲望和忧虑。
"With the arrow withdrawn, unattached, he would attain to peace of mind; and when all sorrow has been transcended he is sorrow-free and has realized Nibbana.
拔掉了这箭，便无所执着，心境平静，超越一切忧伤，无忧无虑，达到解脱。
"Unindicated and unknown is the length of life of those subject to death. Life is difficult and brief and bound up with suffering. There is no means by which those who are born will not die. Having reached old age, there is death. This is the natural course for a living being. With ripe fruits there is the constant danger that they will fall. In the same way, for those born and subject to death, there is always the fear of dying. Just as the pots made by a potter all end by being broken, so death is (the breaking up) of life.
在这世上，人生无归属，不可知，烦恼而短促，充满痛苦。没有办法能使生者免于死；到了老年，便是死亡，就是众生的规律。正如成熟的果子面临掉落的危险，出生的人始终面临死亡，这是众生的规律。正如陶工制作的陶器，最终总要破碎，人生也是如此。
"The young and old, the foolish and the wise, all are stopped short by the power of death, all finally end in death. Of those overcome by death and passing to another world, a father cannot hold back his son, nor relatives a relation. See! While the relatives are looking on and weeping, one by one each mortal is led away like an ox to slaughter.
幼者和长者，愚者和智者，所有的人都受死神控制，所有的人和归宿都是死亡。当他们在死神控制下，前往另一世界时，父亲救护不了儿子，亲人救护不了亲人。请看，亲人嚎淘大哭，眼望着一个人、一个人被带走，就像牛进屠场。
"In this manner the world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world. You do not know the path by which they came or departed. Not seeing either end you lament in vain. If any benefit is gained by lamenting, the wise would do it. Only a fool would harm himself. Yet through weeping and sorrowing the mind does not become calm, but still more suffering is produced, the body is harmed and one becomes lean and pale, one merely hurts oneself. One cannot protect a departed one (peta) by that means. To grieve is in vain.
人世就是这样，受衰老和死亡折磨，所以，智者懂得人世的规则，不再悲伤。你不知道来路和去路，也看不见两者的尽头，悲伤也徒然。愚者悲伤，只能伤害自己。如果悲伤有用，那么智者也会这样去做。哭泣和忧伤不能使心境平静，只会加深痛苦，损害身体。消瘦，憔悴，自己伤害自己，死者并不因此复活，悲伤徒劳无益。
"By not abandoning sorrow a being simply undergoes more suffering. Bewailing the dead he comes under the sway of sorrow. See other men faring according to their deeds! Hence beings tremble here with fear when they come into the power of death. Whatever they imagine, it (turns out) quite different from that. This is the sort of disappointment that exists. Look at the nature of the world! If a man lives for a hundred years, or even more, finally, he is separated from his circle of relatives and gives up his life in the end. Therefore, having listened to the arahant, one should give up lamenting. Seeing a dead body, one should know, "He will not be met by me again." As the fire in a burning house is extinguished with water, so a wise, discriminating, learned and sensible man should quickly drive away the sorrow that arises, as the wind (blows off) a piece of cotton. He who seeks happiness should withdraw the arrow: his own lamentations, longings and grief.
为死者哀号恸哭，会陷入悲伤；摆脱不了悲伤，会陷入更深的痛苦。请看另一些按其业死去的人，他们受死神控制，在这世上战战兢兢。人们抱有种种想法，但实际并非如此，死别就是这样。请看，这是人世的规则。一个人即使活上一百年，甚至更多年，最终也要与亲人分离，抛弃这世的生命。因此，听取阿罗汉的话，排除悲伤，看到一个人死去时，便想：“我不会再见到他了。”正如用水扑灭燃烧的房子，一位坚定、聪明、通达的智者能迅速驱散涌起的悲伤，就像风儿驱散棉絮。一个为自己谋求幸福的人，应该拔掉自己的箭，自己的悲伤、欲望和忧虑。
"With the arrow withdrawn, unattached, he would attain to peace of mind; and when all sorrow has been transcended he is sorrow-free and has realized Nibbana.
拔掉了这箭，便无所执着，心境平静，超越一切忧伤，无忧无虑，达到解脱。
