有弟子问佛：“什么人力量最大?”

Does enduring humiliation means the shorter end of the stick?

佛教的六度波罗蜜里第一个就是“忍辱波罗蜜”。很多初学佛的人对于这点会有一点恐惧，心想：忍辱，那不吃亏嘛。有些家长也问过我，他们说：“在现在这个社会上，如果小孩子受了委屈不反抗的话，那小孩子不会吃亏吗？”我回答说：“如果你家小孩从小就有谦让的品格，他遇到事情愿意退一步想，宁愿吃亏，那父母就可以放心了，这小孩子以后无论遇到什么事情肯定不会走极端的。”在他小小的心灵里已经拥有了退、让的意识，那他一定能够接受“吃亏”。这是非常高贵的品格，具有这样品格的孩子会得龙天护佑，天地善神都会喜爱他。

最近有一个词很热，叫“天选之人”。“天选之人”，顾名思义，就是天地选中的人。我们佛教里常常讲的“龙天推出”，也具有同样的含义。

一个福德具足之人，会感得护法善神天龙八部拥而出之，委以重任，承担大事。这样的天选之人，你千万别欺负他，否则天地都不会饶过你。不肯吃亏这是人的本能，能够忍辱、谦让，这是高尚的品格。一个人具有了高贵的人品，他才会柔软，才会退让，这才是文明人的标志。

A person with complete merit and virtue will naturally attract the protection of Dharma guardians, benevolent deities, and the heavenly beings and dragons of the eight legions, who will rally around them, entrusting them with significant responsibilities. Such individuals, chosen by heaven, must not be mistreated, for even heaven and earth will not tolerate it. While it is human nature to avoid getting the short end of the stick, the ability to endure humiliation and show humility is a noble quality. A person with refined character becomes gentle and willing to yield; this is the hallmark of a truly civilized person.

愿意吃亏的人，其内在一定饱含厚重之德。虽然表面上我们看他是吃亏了，但是他在用理性和修养驾驭自己。我们的前途命运是由品格决定的，能够具有这样高度理性和崇高品德的人，一定会感得高贵的人生。

A person willing to take the shorter end of the stick is surely filled with profound virtue inside. Although it may seem on the surface that they are at a disadvantage, they are, in fact, mastering themselves through rationality and cultivation. Our future and destiny are shaped by character, and those who possess such deep rationality and noble virtue will inevitably lead a life of true dignity.

反之，如果自己的价值观念是模糊的、迷茫的，是不可能对应于高贵的结果的。没有心灵空间、道德没有迂回之地的人，会觉得如果被欺负了，就要还回去。其实，这就是刚强的表现。在《道德经》里老子讲了很通俗的比喻给我们听，他说你看秋天的树叶都是枯黄的，手一碰就会碎掉，而春天的树叶都是柔软的，所以刚强是死亡之相，柔软是生生之相。所以，人不能刚强，要学得柔软，要有迂回之地。

In Tao Te Ching, Laozi offers a straightforward metaphor: he points out that in autumn, the leaves are withered and yellow, crumbling easily at the slightest touch, while in spring, the leaves are soft and pliable. He suggests that rigidity represents death, while softness symbolizes life and vitality.

“人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒也，柔弱者生之徒也。是以兵强者则不胜，木强则共。故坚强处下柔弱处上。”

——《道德经》

忍辱的功德，佛在诸多经典中均有透彻的阐述。在《四十二章经》中“沙门问佛：‘何者多力?’佛言：‘忍辱多力。不怀恶故，兼加安健。忍者无恶，必为人尊。’”这段经文的意思是，有弟子问佛：“什么人力量最大?”佛说：“修忍辱的人力量最大。因为他了知人法俱空，內心稳健安闲，不怀纤毫恶意。自然受人尊敬。”

The Buddha said, "Those who practice patience and endure humiliation possess the greatest strength. This is because they understand that both self and phenomena are empty, maintaining a calm and stable mind without harboring even the slightest malice. As a result, they naturally earn the respect of others."

在《大方等大集月藏经》中佛陀更是详细地叙述了忍辱可得安乐、富贵、相好，乃至圆满六度般若波罗蜜等功德：

“忍为世间最，忍是安乐道，

 忍为离孤独，贤圣所欣乐。”

“忍得富自在，忍能具端正，

 忍能得威力，忍照于世间。”

“忍得好容色，忍能具眷属，

 忍招诸胜报，忍能超善道。”

“忍力成施戒，精进及禅那，

 般若波罗蜜，能满此六度。”

佛陀三十二相，八十种好，亦是其多生累劫修忍辱度众生的福德所显现出來的。能忍辱的人，內心无恶意，自然相貌庄严，这就是相随心转。《黄帝内经》亦载有“有诸形于内，必形于外。”人的内在气质，必然会在外在上有所体现，而忍辱的高贵品格在外表上的表现就是相好。

A person who can endure humiliation harbors no malice within, and naturally possesses a dignified appearance. This reflects the principle that one's appearance follows the state of the heart.

佛弟子常常讲福报，不管是在顺境，还是逆境中，懂得忍辱精进就是大福报。广钦老和尚曾开示道：“人家侮辱我、欺负我、占我便宜，如果我们能忍下来，不去斤斤计较别人占我多少便宜，也不去挂碍它，这样，不但宿世业缘消除，且当下便能平静无事，又能增长福慧，延长我们的寿命。”懂得忍辱，福报、福德自然会来。百丈禅师说：“是非以不辩为解脱。”这是忍辱的一个很好的方法。我师父悟公上人也说过：“忍字头上一把刀，遇事不忍祸先遭，若能忍得片时过，事后方知忍为高。”

Buddhist disciples often speak of blessings. Whether in favorable or unfavorable circumstances, the ability to endure humiliation and strive diligently is a great blessing. Venerable Master Guang-qin once taught, "When others insult, bully, or take advantage of us, if we can endure without fixating on what they have gained or holding onto grievances, not only will we eliminate the karmic ties from past lives, but we will also find peace in the present and increase our blessings and wisdom, thereby extending our lives." When we understand the value of enduring humiliation, blessings and virtues will naturally come our way. Zen Master Bai-zhang said, "Not arguing about right and wrong is liberation." This is a profound method for enduring humiliation. My master, Venerable Grand Master Wugong, also said, "The (Chinese) character for 'endurance' has a knife over it; if you cannot endure, disaster will come. But if you can endure for a moment, you will later realize that endurance is truly a virtue."

佛教里还有这样的话，“一念嗔心起，百万障门开”、“一念嗔心起，火烧功德林”。

一念嗔恨心生起，各种各样的业障都会出现，嗔心一起，以往所修种种功德全都消失殆尽。所以，嗔恨心是很可怕的。可以这样说，能不能修好忍辱法门，是检验我们修行好不好的一个重要标志。因此，我们应该重视起来。

When a single thought of anger arises, various kinds of karmic obstacles will emerge. Once anger takes hold, all the merits cultivated in the past can be completely wiped out.

The ability to practice the method of enduring humiliation is an important indicator of the quality of our cultivation. 

——三参法师

 英文翻译：妙莲（新加坡）