境异理同　林钰堂

因缘千差境万异，纠结脱缠理则一；
观彼顺逆皆己事，随波能游赖自力。

跋

众生因缘悬殊，因而境遇各别。在种种遭遇中，陷入纠缠或脱缚出困之道理则有一定之原则。明乎此等，则所有众生之苦乐、悲欢，皆可能即是自身之遭遇，而感到同样的觉受。至于在种种境遇中如何能走出缠缚的阴霾，则有赖当人各自的努力与学习。佛法所说之慈悲、智慧，并非空洞之理念，而是各人依“无我”、“去执”、“开阔”、“利他”的原则，在生活中日复一日，年以继年的修习，而后慢慢养成的。别人只能说明这些道理，每个人需要自己摸索出在各种情况下如何运用，才是渐趋圆满。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　一九九九年八月七日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　养和斋　　　于加州

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Environments Different but Principles the Same　Yutang Lin

Conditions vary thousand folds leading to situations even more diverse;
Falling into entanglements or freeing from bondage by same reasons.
Seeing others' ups and downs to be the same as one's own matters;
Floating on waves to swim around is a matter of each one's own ability.

Comment:

Sentient beings are of very divergent causes and conditions, and hence encounter drastically different environments. Under all various situations the reasons for falling into entanglements or freeing from bondage are certain ones. Once this point is understood, then all the suffering and pleasure, sadness and happiness of sentient beings could well have been one's own, and hence could be deeply felt. As to how to get out from under the gloomy clouds of entanglements in various situations, it depends on each one's learning and efforts. The compassion and wisdom as mentioned in Buddhism are not merely empty ideals. They are qualities to be cultivated through practices in daily life for a lifetime in accordance with the principles of "non-self," "no grasping," "opening up" and "benefiting others." Others can only help by explaining these principles; each one needs to figure out how better to apply them in all kinds of situations in order to approach completion.

Written in Chinese: August 7, 1999
Translated: October 12, 1999
El Cerrito, California

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