空难

Air Disaster

厦门度过了悠闲而有意义的四个月，这里秀美的风景、宜人的气候，为我和同伴提供了一个宽松的环境，使我得以完成《释尊传》的翻译工程。今天，我恋恋不舍地告别椰风荡漾的鼓浪屿、告别清凉宁静的五老山，离开厦门回到成都。

I have spent a carefree and noteworthy four-month period in Xiamen. Thanks to the pleasant environment this city provides for me and my friend—fine scenery and superb weather, for instance—I was able to finish my translation of The Great Biography of Buddha Shakyamuni. Now it’s time for me, with reluctance, to say goodbye to Gulangyu with its coconut grove breeze and bid farewell to the tranquil setting of Wu Lau Mountain. Today I am on my way back to Chengdu, leaving Xiamen behind.

前天，一架从北京飞往大连的航班于大连附近的海域不幸失事，一百多位男女老幼在此次空难中丧生。这一消息惊动了全世界的人，也使我和我周围的人感到不安。

Just two days ago, an airplane flying from Beijing to Dalian crashed in the sea near Dalian. More than 100 people, old and young, male and female, all perished in the disaster. This news shook the world and made me and those around me feel quite uneasy.

机场显得格外冷清，人们都尽可能地取消了出行计划，仿佛这样可以避免死神的牵制。飞机上的人也显得忧心忡忡，仿佛事到如今，才明白自己的命脉攥在死神的手里。

The airport appeared unusually deserted because many passengers had chosen to cancel their impending flights, in an attempt to outsmart the Lord of Death. Those having boarded the airplane seemed beset with anxiety, as if they realized the situation at this point was hopeless and their lives were at the mercy of the Lord of Death.

其实，不论在天上还是地下，人的生命都非常脆弱，随时面临死亡的威胁。一个活鲜鲜的生命，可能在一刹那间化为碎片。

In reality, human life is extremely fragile and Death hangs over our heads all of the time, whether on the ground or in the air. A bouncing, vibrant being can be shattered into many pieces in a mere instant.

佛经云：“老少贤愚等，各各向前行，向死威力境，各有死在前。或空或在海，或在山谷中，皆不能避死，死无处不侵。”

The scripture says:
Human beings, young or old, wise or foolish,
All are propelled to march forward
Into the domain of formidable Death,
Each will breathe their last.
In the air, at sea, or in the valley
Nowhere is there a safe place to hide,
As there is nowhere Death does not butt in.

如同这次遇难的人一样，他们来自不同的国家，生活于不同的环境，性别年龄各异，却因为相同的业力而同时丧命于太平洋上空。看来，太平洋上也不“太平”啊！

The victims of this disaster came from different countries and varied in age and sex; all had been living their own lives until they met the same fate and died at the same instant in the air over the Pacific Ocean. It seems, sadly, that there is no guarantee of anything “pacific” above the Pacific Ocean.

当大限来到之时，即使你拥有南赡部洲所有的财富，却买不通铁面无私的狱卒；即使你构筑了铜墙铁壁，指令重兵把守，却逃不脱死神的魔掌。

As the great departure approaches, even if you own all of the wealth of Jambudvipa (the southern continent where we live) you can’t bribe the minions of Death. Even if you seal yourself inside an impenetrable chamber guarded by hundreds of thousands of strong men, you can’t escape the claws of Death.

我们这些侥幸活在世间的人，看着别人面临死亡威胁时的种种无奈，是否应该考虑一下，如何为必将到来的死亡做点什么？

When confronted with Death, most people can do nothing but feel utterly hopeless. Shouldn’t we, who are also living on borrowed time, give serious thought to preparing ourselves for the inexorable last moment?

壬午年三月二十七日　
2002年5月9日　　

27th of March, Year of RenWu
May 9, 2002