龙树菩萨写给国王的修行秘籍
Practicing at Home
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HRIB
Advice from Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva to the King
（2024.07.03）
Practicing
at Home
Advice from Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva to the King
2024/07/03
Practicing at Home
Advice from Nāgārjuna
Bodhisattva to the King
✤
龙树菩萨写给国王的建议：
在家修行
西元二世紀，
龙树菩萨写了一封长信
给身为国王的挚友乘土国王。
他告诉他，在忙碌生活与享受富裕的同时，
还有一种生活的可能，
如月光映照在粉白墙上，光辉闪耀。
这是什么生活呢？
In the second century CE, Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva wrote a lengthy letter to his dear friend, the king of Andhar. He advised that amid the luxurious enjoyment in a busy life, there is another possible way of living, like moonlight shining on a white wall, gleaming with brilliance. What kind of life is this?
“求财少欲最，人天师盛陈，
若能修少欲，虽贫是富人。”
“To seek wealth by keeping desires to a minimum is best. The Master of man and heaven has emphasized that if one can practice keeping desires to a minimum, one is wealthy even in poverty.”
最棒的财富是什么呢？就是少欲知足。少欲知足就是「可以了，这样很好了，不用再多了」的想法。「人天师」是指佛陀，「人天师盛陈」是说少欲知足是佛陀一直在告诫我们的。
如果能够做到少欲知足，就算贫穷、生活条件不理想，也可以说是一个富有的人。
What is the greatest wealth? It is contentment and keeping desires to a minimum. Being content with minimal desires means thinking in this manner: "This is enough, this is already very good, there is no need for more." The Master of man and heaven refers to the Buddha, and "The Master of man and heaven has emphasized" talks about the Buddha's constant admonition to us on contentment and keeping desires to a minimum.
If one can be content and keep desires to a minimum, even if one is in poverty with less-than-ideal living conditions, one can still be considered a wealthy person.
得到快乐的方式
The way to get happiness
Advice from Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva to the King：Practicing at Home
（2024.07.14）
“若人广求诸事者，还被尔许苦来加，智者若不修少欲，受恼还如众首蛇。”
“If one seeks many things, one will only bring much suffering upon oneself. A wise person who does not practice keeping desires to a minimum will suffer like a multi-headed snake.”
不知足的人，身边可能已经拥有很多的财富和享受，然而因为贪得无厌，得寸进尺，所以一点也不快乐。其实，得到快乐的方式，只要是内心当中具备知足，快乐就会随之而来。
这里以「众首蛇」做比喻，有的蛇会有五个头或七个头等等，头愈多就会带来愈多的痛苦，当我们不知足的时候，烦恼、痛苦就会愈多。
A person who is never satisfied might already have gained much wealth and enjoyment, but because of one's insatiable greed and constant desire for more, one will never be happy. In reality, the way to attain happiness is by cultivating contentment from within, and happiness naturally follows.
Here, the metaphor of the "multi-headed snake" is used. Some snakes are said to have five or seven heads, and the more heads they have, the more afflictions they bring. Similarly, when we are not content, our worries and afflictions increase correspondingly.
These three types of partners are the ones we should definitely abandon.
These three types
of partners are
the ones we
should definitely
abandon.
“禀性抱怨如杀者，
欺轻夫主如男偶，
纵使片物必行偷，
宜可弃兹三贼妇。”
由于乐行国王是男性，所以龙树菩萨这里伴侣的用词是「妇人」。颂文中说：应该舍弃的「三贼妇」，第一种妇人象是仇人，内心恶毒，甚至会杀害自己的性命；第二种象是老板，总是欺凌、轻视自己；第三种象是小偷，再微小的东西都要占有、偷取。
这三类伴侣，是我们一定要舍弃的。接下来谈到的是三种可以相依的伴侣。
“Resentful by nature, like a killer; belittling and bullying the husband, treating him like a male puppet; stealing even the smallest items from the household—these three types of deceptive women should be abandoned.”
Because King Gautamiputra is male, the term "woman" is used by Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva as the term for partner. The verse describes the three types of women to be abandoned: The first type of woman is like an enemy, malicious at heart, and might even threaten one's life. The second type of woman is like a boss, always bullying and belittling the husband. The third type of woman is like a thief, wanting to possess and steal even the smallest things.
These three types of partners are the ones we should definitely abandon. Next, the three types of reliable partners are discussed.
“顺若姊妹慈如母，
随从若婢伴犹亲，
如兹四妇宜应供，
应知此室号天人。”
“Obliging like a sister, compassionate like a mother, obedient like a servant, and loyal like a close friend—these four types of women should be cherished, knowing that such a household is like heaven.”
我们可以选择的伴侣有四种，第一种伴侣就像手足亲人，随顺自己；第二种如同母亲一样，具备慈爱之心；第三种象是仆从一样，言听计从；第四种象是亲密的挚友一样，不会轻易舍弃我们。
虽然上述的四种伴侣可以依止，但还是要避免过度贪执。
The four types of partners we can choose from are: the first type of partner is like kin, always supportive. The second type is like a mother, full of compassion. The third type is like a servant, always obedient. The fourth type is like a close friend, never abandoning us.
Although these four types of partners can be relied upon, excessive attachment should still be avoided.
What mindset should we adopt when eating?
“受飡如服药，知量去贪嗔，
不为肥憍傲，但欲住持身。”
“Take food as if taking medicine, in moderation, without greed or anger. Do not eat for the sake of indulgence, but to sustain the body.”
我们吃东西的时候，要带着什么样的想法而吃呢？主要是为了身体健康，而把食物当成药一样地去食用。为什么身体要健康呢？是因为我们要用这个身体来修持佛法。
我们应该避免为了口腹之欲而吃，也不应该带着烦恼心吃东西，例如嗔恨他人。吃东西的时候，要带有清净的动机而吃，为了利益自他，得到佛法的利益，而这一切的前提在于身体要健康。
What mindset should we adopt when eating? The primary purpose is for physical health, hence, consume the food as if it were medicine. Why should the body be healthy? Because we need this body to practice the Dharma.
We should avoid eating merely for indulgence and should not eat with a troubled mind, such as harboring anger or hatred toward others. When eating, one should have a pure intention, eating for the benefit of oneself and others, to gain the benefits of the Dharma, and a healthy body is the prerequisite to all of these.
We should diligently practice for the benefit of oneself and others.
“勤躯度永日，于初后夜中，
眠梦犹存念，勿使命虚终。”
“Be diligent throughout the day, and in the early and late hours of the night, maintain mindfulness even in one's sleep and dreams. Do not let time pass in vain.”
白天的时候，我们应该精进于利益自他的修持。到了晚上，也就是初夜和后夜的时候，也要尽力行持二利。而在这三个部分——白天、初夜、后夜之外的时间，就是睡眠、休息的时候，也不要虚度，应该带着利益自他的动机而睡，同时发愿隔天要能早起，继续精进修持。如果能够带着这样做到，这样的睡眠就是有意义的，对于身体的健康也是好的。
以上讲到的对于物质、食物、财富，还有家庭、亲人等等的贪着，都是应该断除的，这些都是修持禅定的相违处。
During the day, we should diligently practice for the benefit of oneself and others. In the evening, both in the early and late hours of the night, we should also strive to continue the practice and uphold these two benefits. Even during times of sleep and rest, which falls outside the daytime, early and late-night periods, time should not be wasted. One should sleep with the intention of benefiting oneself and others, and with the aspiration to wake up early the next day to continue with one’s diligent practice. If this can be upheld and achieved, such sleep will be meaningful and beneficial for one's health.
The above discusses the attachments to material things, food, wealth, family, and relatives etc., which should be eradicated as such attachments contradict with the practice of meditation.
乃至虚空世界尽 众生及业烦恼尽
如是一切无尽时 我愿究竟恒无尽
频繁刷手机，我们的心灵很容易被碎片化，不要沉溺其中，学会自我节制，通过学习佛法来有效滋养并净化我们的心灵，一起回归心灵，保持身心灵的健康。
Frequent phone usage can easily fragment our minds. Avoid indulgence and practice self-restraint. Studying Buddhism can effectively nourish and purify our minds. Let us return to our true selves and maintain the health of our body and mind together.
