Buddhism for man in Society

佛教为广大社群而存在

This religion can be practised either in society or in seclusion.

佛教不仅为修行者存在，同时也为广大社群而存在。

There are some who believe that Buddhism is so lofty and sublime a system that it cannot be practised by ordinary men and women in the workday world. These same people think that one has to retire to a monastery or to some quiet place if one desires to be a true Buddhist.

有些人认为佛教是高尚和庄严的，并不是一般的人能理解的，因为想要成为一名佛教徒，就必须隐居寺院或清净偏僻的地方。

This is a sad misconception that comes from a lack of understanding of the Buddha. People jump to such conclusions after casually reading or hearing something about Buddhism. Some people form their impression of Buddhism after reading articles or books that give only a partial or lopsided view of Buddhism. The authors of such articles and books have only a limited understanding of the Buddha's Teaching. His Teaching is not meant only for monks in monasteries. The Teaching is also for ordinary men and women living at home with their families. The Noble Eightfold Path is the Buddhist way of life that is intended for all people. This way of life is offered to all mankind without any distinction.

这是由于对佛陀的教义缺乏了解，而产生的可悲的错误观念。这是由于阅读或聆听了一些有关佛教的教义，而这些教义并非全面的佛教观点。一些现代的学者或作家，由于对佛陀的教义缺乏全面的认识，因此造成错误的印象。佛陀的教义，不仅意味着只有出家人才可修持，任何在家的男女信众一样可以修持。八圣道是所有佛弟子的生活方式，这种生活方式适合于全人类。

The vast majority of people in the world cannot become monks or retire into caves or forests. However noble and pure Buddhism may be, it would be useless to the masses if they could not follow it in their daily life in the modern world. But if you understand the spirit of Buddhism correctly, you can surely follow and practise it while living the life of an ordinary man.

这世间绝大多数的人，都无法出家为僧，或隐居于山林洞穴中。如果，他们不能在生活中体现八圣道的精神，那么佛教对他们是毫无作用的。但是，一旦了解佛教的真正精神与价值，你就会在日常生活中实践佛陀的教义。

There may be some who find it easier and more convenient to accept Buddhism by living in a remote place; in other words, by cutting themselves off from the society of others. Yet , other people may find that this kind of retirement dulls and depresses their whole being both physically and mentally, and that it may therefore not be conducive to the development of their spiritual and intellectual life.

或许，有些人会发现，在僻静的地方修持佛法，比较容易或更方便，也就是说，断绝了一切的人际关系和往来。可是，某些人却发现，这种修行方式，减少或降低了整个身、心的全面发展，对精神或知识一点帮助也没有。

True renunciation does not mean running away physically from the world. Sariputta, the chief disciple of the Buddha, said that one man might live in a forest devoting himself to ascetic practices, but might be full of impure thoughts and 'defilements'. Another might live in a village or a town, practising no ascetic discipline, but his mind might be pure, and free from 'defilements'. 'Of these two,' said, Sariputta, 'the one who lives a pure life in the village or town is definitely far superior to, and greater than, the one who lives in the forest.' (Majjhima Nikaya)

真正的出家，并不意味着身体将远离社会。佛陀的大弟子沙利子说： 「一个人隐居山林，可是心中充满了污染杂念，而另一个人，居住在城里或村落里，严谨的修持佛法，远离污染杂念。这两个人相比较，居住在城里，过着清净生活的人，远比隐居于山林的人，来得高尚和伟大。」《中部》

The common belief that to follow the Buddha's Teaching one has to retire from a normal family life is a misconception. It is really an unconscious defense against practising it. There are numerous references in Buddhist literature to men and women living ordinary, normal family lives who successfully practised what the Buddha taught and realized Nibbana. Vacchagotta the Wanderer, once asked the Buddha straightforwardly whether there were laymen and women leading the family life who followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states. The Buddha categorically stated that there were many laymen and women leading the family life who had followed His Teaching successfully and attained the high spiritual states.

一般人相信学佛必须脱离正常的家庭生活，这是一种错误的观念，这种观念是拒绝和阻止在家人学佛。在佛教文献中，多处提到人们在正常的家庭生活中，成功的修持佛法而证悟涅槃的例子。有一回，苦行者瓦差哥达(acchagotta)很真诚的问佛陀：「在家的男女信众，真诚的奉行佛陀的教义，是否能成功的达到精神最高的境界。」佛陀明确的回答：「在家的男女信众，只要能真诚的奉行佛陀的教义，一定能成功的达到精神最高的境界。」

It may be agreeable for certain people to live a retired life in a quiet place away from noise and disturbances. But it is certainly more praiseworthy and courageous to practise Buddhism living among fellow beings, helping them and offering service to them. It may perhaps be useful in some cases for a man to live in retirement for a time in order to improve his mind and character, as a preliminary to moral, spiritual and intellectual training, to be strong enough to come out later and help others. But if a man lives all his life in solitude, thinking only of his own happiness and salvation, without caring for his fellowmen, this surely is not in keeping with the Buddha's Teaching which is based on love compassion and service to others.

我们不反对某些人在宁静偏僻的地方过隐居的生活。但是，更值得称赞和鼓励的是，那些和一般人打成一片，又严谨的修持佛法、帮助社会、服务人群的人。隐居一段日子，增益心灵和个性的修养，当获得道德与心智的发展，和坚定、充实自己之后，再回到社会，服务人群，也不失为有效的方法之一，假如，一个人整个人生都脱离群众而独居，只为自己的安乐和解脱着想，不愿利益他人，这与佛陀的大悲心和服务人群的精神背道而驰。

One might now ask, 'If a man can follow Buddhism while living the life of an ordinary man, why was the Sangha, the Order of Monks, established by the Buddha?' The Order provides opportunity for those who are willing to devote their lives not only to their own spiritual and intellectual development, but also to the service of others. An ordinary layman with a family cannot be expected to devote his whole life to the service of others, whereas a Monk, who has no family responsibilities or any other worldly ties, is in a position to devote his life 'for the good of the many'. (Dr. Walpola Rahula)

我们不禁要问：「既然在家也同样可以修持佛法，为何佛陀要成立僧团，披剃僧众呢？」僧团和出家制度是为那些肯献身、肯牺牲的人而设的。他们不仅为了个人心智修养，同时也为了服务大众。换句话说，出家人没有家庭责任，没有社会拖累，他们可以无私的奉献，甚至奉献生命，为更多的人谋求福祉。

And what is this 'good' that many can benefit from? The monk cannot give material comfort to a layman, but he can provide spiritual guidance to those who are troubled by worldly, family emotional problems and so on. The monk devotes his life to the pursuit of knowledge of the Dhamma as taught by the Buddha. He explains the Teaching in simplified form to the untutored layman. And if the layman is well educated, he is there to discuss the deeper aspects of the teaching so that both can gain intellectually from the discussion.

为什么说，出家能利乐众生呢？僧众虽然不能给予信众物质的满足，可是，他们引导信众在心灵和精神的修行，解决信众精神的困扰。出家人追随和实践佛陀的教义，再把自己所学到的教育群众。如果信众拥有大智慧，也一样可以和出家人研究，切磋佛陀的教义和自己的心得。

In Buddhist countries, monks are largely responsible for the education of the young. As a result of their contribution, Buddhist countries have populations which are literate and well-versed in spiritual values. Monks also comfort those who are bereaved and emotionally upset by explaining how all mankind is subject to similar disturbances.

在佛教国家，僧人负起了教育的责任，在佛教国家佛学的普及，精神及道德价值的提升，都是僧人做出的贡献。

In turn, the layman is expected to look after the material well-being of the monk who does not gain income to provide himself with food, shelter, medicine and clothing. In common Buddhist practice, it is considered meritorious for a layman to contribute to the health of a monk because by so doing he makes it possible for the monk to continue to minister to the spiritual needs of the people and for his mental purity.

另一方面，僧人并无金钱收入，他们的衣着、住处、食物和药品，都有赖在家人为他们提供。在佛教的修行，在家人有义务维护出家人的健康，出家人同样有义务协助指引在家人精神的需要，及教导他们如何净化心灵。