假相

Illusory Appearances

世间的所谓圆满之事，虽然表面看起来美满无缺，但详细观察却常常是痛苦的因。

Many so-called perfect things in the world may seem entirely satisfactory on the surface. But upon careful investigation, they usually turn out to be the causes of suffering.

龙猛菩萨曾说：“一切欲妙生祸殃，难信如同木鳖果。”也就是说世间的事情，表面看起来像木鳖果一样色彩鲜艳欲滴，令人联想到其果肉也一定如同甘饴。吃后方知是毒药，但已悔之晚矣。

Nagarjuna says: “The Buddha teaches that all the satisfactory matters in this world are just as untrustworthy as the poisonous fruit mubeigou.” In other words, many affairs in the world appear as colorful and enticing as the mubeigou fruit; people conclude that their pulp must likewise be delicious. It is only after eating that they realize the fruit’s poisonous nature. But alas the regret comes too late.

世间的事情常常是这样，最鲜艳的蛇往往是毒蛇，最绚丽的蘑菇常常是毒蕈，最美丽的女人大多是祸水。倾国倾城的海伦导致了特罗伊战争；沉鱼落雁的陈圆圆，令吴三桂冲冠一怒为红颜。因为美丽的女人，而引发绵延不断的争斗，导致无数人深受其害。可见，一切表面美好的东西，都不要为之迷惑，要透过现象看其本质。

It’s the same with things in the world. The snake with the brightest skin is usually poisonous. The most gorgeous mushroom tends to be deadly. The fairest woman frequently is a “fountain of disasters.” Helen’s ravishing beauty ignited the Trojan War, and the unparalleled demeanor of Chen Yuanyuan caused General Wu Sangui to fly into a rage for war. For the sake of exquisite beauties, battles were fought and dragged on, causing tremendous misery to all affected. Therefore, we should not be fooled by anything of pleasing appearance alone, be sure to penetrate the superficial and find the truth inside.

藏地大德根登群佩也说：“若详细观察，世上的一切所为都是痛苦的事，能息灭其因的唯有佛法。深深地思维，人人都能感受其中的滋味。”因此，了知佛法是对治痛苦的方法十分重要。

The great Tibetan sage Gedun Chophel says: “By careful investigation, it is obvious that all worldly undertakings incur nothing but suffering. Only with the Dharma can their root causes be eliminated. By reflecting deeply, everyone will come to appreciate this truth.” Hence, it is essential that we learn how to apply the Buddhadharma to deal with suffering.

壬午年三月初四　　
2002年4月16日

4th of March, Year of RenWu
April 16, 2002