無饜 林鈺堂

一帆風順猶望增,好景不常空歡喜;
心繫財務無暇修,死到臨頭未及省。

欲待財力厚實,足以安老,才專志於修行,是許多佛教徒的如意算盤。事實上,財務正順利時,都放不下,並且還期望更多。等到情況變壞,更覺得走不開。人生無常;多少人就在這樣遷延、觀望中把一生精力全放在理財上了。又有幾個在死時能省悟說,此生已經如此浪擲了?佛陀的身教是捨離一切,以達證悟;證悟之後,托缽渡日,以結緣弘化。何暇理財?


                     二○○一年九月二日
                     養和齋   於加州


Insatiable Yutang Lin

When all go well one still expects more;
Good times eventually past, joy in vain.
Mindful of finance, no time for practice.
Death arrives ahead of chance to reflect.

Comments:

Wanting to wait till a sound financial foundation has been established to provide for a comfortable old age and then engage whole-heartedly in Dharma practices, such is the wishful plan of many Buddhists. In fact, when the financial situation is going well no one could stop and leave it because people would expect more gains. Then when the financial situation turns sour people would feel more insecure and could not leave it behind. Alas! Life is impermanent and full of ups and downs. Consequently, many people keep procrastinating and speculating and inadvertently devoted their whole lifetime on financial matters. How many would have the chance to realize at the time of death that their lives have been wasted in this way? Buddha set the example of renouncing everything worldly in order to attain enlightenment and liberation from suffering. After having attained enlightenment he lived on begging for food in order to concentrate on spreading the teachings to help others. When did he spend any time on finance?


Written in Chinese on September 2, 2001
Translated on September 3, 2001
El Cerrito, California


[Home][Back to list][Insatiable]