 English translation of the following Sutras' excerpt will be shared in 2012. 《五苦章句经》一名《净除罪盍娱乐佛法经》东晋西域沙门竺昙无兰 译 佛言：“三恶道者，是一切众生之家，暂得为人，暂得为天；譬如作客日少，归家日多。学者思之，勤力精进，可得脱苦。人身难得、六情难具、口辩难中、才聪难致、寿命难获、明人难遭、直信难有、大心难发、经法难闻、如来难值。” The Five-Sufferings Chapter Sutra Translation Summary: According to the Buddha, “The three wretched realms (animals, ghosts, hell) are the homes of all sentient beings. Both the human state (very brief) and the heavenly-deva state are temporary. This is similar to spending only a few days as guests (in others’ homes) but returning to stay at home for many days. Having pondered on this, the practitioner diligently and progressively cultivates to liberate himself from the (Samsara) sufferings. The human body is difficult to gain; complete six senses are difficult to possess; eloquence, intelligence and ability are difficult to come by; longevity is difficult to gain; wise people are difficult to encounter; trust and belief are difficult to have; big heart (Bodhi mind) is difficult to arouse; the Dharma based on the sutras (Buddha's teachings) are difficult to come across; the Tathagata (Buddha) is difficult to meet.” 《菩萨从兜术天降神母胎说广普经》 姚秦凉州沙门竺佛念译 菩萨处胎经 定意品 第二十四 卷第六 世尊说颂曰： 盲龟浮木孔 时时犹可值 人一失命根 亿劫复难是 海水深广大 三百三十六 一针投海中 求之尚可得 一失人身命 难得过于是 Sutra of the Bodhisattva’s descent from Tusita Heaven into his mother’s womb to expound widely and universally Translation Summary: According to the Buddha, “A blind turtle rising to the sea surface and putting its neck through the yoke’s hole can still occur at times. But a person who has lost his life will have great difficulty regaining his human form even after billions of kalpas. The sea waters are deep and extensive. Having thrown a needle into the sea, it can still be found if one yearns for it. But once a person loses his life, to regain his human form is even more difficult than finding a needle in the sea. ” 《佛说长阿含经》卷第十九 地狱品 第四 姚秦三藏法师佛陀耶舍共竺佛念译 佛告比丘：“时，阎罗王自生念言：‘世间众生迷惑无识，身为恶行，口、意为恶，其后命终，少有不受此苦(地狱)。’” Dirghagama (long discourses) Chapter on the Hells Translation Summary: The Buddha told the bhiksus: “At that time, the underworld King Yama thought aloud to himself: ‘The living beings in this world are confused, deluded and ignorant. Due to their evil conduct, evil speech and evil thoughts, after their death, few people do not undergo such suffering (in the Hells).’ ” [This sutra excerpt is indeed a ‘wake-up call’ warning us that almost all people had already committed grave sins often unknowingly (in this life or past lives) that may lead them to the Hells after their death. In other words, almost all people risk plunging into the three wretched realms in this Five-Turbidities World during the Dharma-Ending Age. Hence, the Buddha had stressed the importance and urgency to clear our infinite sinful karma accumulated in this life as well as past countless kalpas, through sincere, repeated repentance and other effective means.] Please read the Buddha's teachings on: Ways to Clear All Sinful Karma 灭除一切罪业 《杂阿含经》卷第十五（四○六） 宋天竺三藏求那跋陀罗 译 如是我闻：一时，佛住猕猴池侧重阁讲堂。 尔时，世尊告诸比丘：“譬如大地悉成大海，有一盲龟寿无量劫，百年一出其头，海中有浮木，止有一孔，漂流海浪，随风东西。盲龟百年一出其头，当得遇此孔不？” 阿难白佛：“不能。世尊！所以者何？此盲龟若至海东，浮木随风，或至海西，南、北四维围绕亦尔，不必相得。” 佛告阿难：“盲龟浮木，虽复差违，或复相得。愚痴凡夫漂流五趣，暂复人身，甚难于彼。所以者何？彼诸众生不行其义、不行法、不行善、不行真实，展转杀害，强者陵弱，造无量恶故。是故，比丘！于四圣谛当未无间等者，当勤方便，起增上欲，学无间等。” 佛说此经已，诸比丘闻佛所说，欢喜奉行。 《中阿含经》卷第五十三〈大品痴慧地经〉东晋罽宾三藏瞿昙僧伽提婆 译 （佛言）“比丘，若愚痴人从畜生出，还生为人，极大甚难。所以者何？彼畜生中不行仁义，不行礼法，不行妙善；彼畜生者更相食啖，强者食弱，大者食小。比丘，犹如此地，满其中水，有一瞎龟，寿命无量百千之岁。彼水上有小轻木板，唯有一孔，为风所吹。比丘，于意云何？彼瞎龟头，宁得入此小轻木板一孔中耶？” 比丘答曰：“世尊，或可得入，但久久甚难。”...... “比丘，如是彼愚痴人从畜生出，还生为人，亦复甚难。所以者何？彼畜生中不行仁义，不行礼法，不行妙善；彼畜生者更相食啖，强者食弱，大者食小。” 《佛说称扬诸佛功德经》卷中 元魏天竺三藏吉迦夜 译 佛言：“一切世界设满中水，水上有板而板有孔。有一盲龟，于百岁中乃一举头；欲值于孔，斯亦甚难。求索人身，甚难甚难。于此欲得，除去八难之患。” 大正藏 No.377《大般涅槃经》遗教品 第一 唐 若那跋陀罗 译 （佛告阿难）“未脱三界，世间痛苦，早求出离。于此五浊爱欲之中，应生忧畏、无救、护想。一失人身，难可追复。毕此一形，常须警察，无常大鬼，情求难脱。怜愍众生，莫相杀害，乃至蠢动，应施无畏。身业清净，常生妙土。口业清净，离诸过恶。莫食肉、莫饮酒。调伏心蛇，令入道果。深思行业，善恶之报，如影随形，三世因果，循环不失。此生空过，后悔无追。涅槃时至，示教如是。” 《百喻经》 尊者僧伽斯那撰 萧齐天竺三藏求那毗地 译 愿为王剃须喻 （五五） 卷第三 昔者有王，有一亲信，于军阵中没命救王使得安全。王大欢喜与其所愿，即便问言：“汝何所求？恣汝所欲。”臣便答言：“王剃须时，愿听我剃。”王言：“此事若适汝意，听汝所愿。”如此愚人，世人所笑。半国之治、大臣辅相，悉皆可得，乃求贱业。愚人亦尔。诸佛于无量劫，难行苦行自致成佛。若得遇佛及值遗法；人身难得，譬如盲龟值浮木孔。此二难值，今已遭遇；然其意劣，奉持少戒便以为足。不求涅槃胜妙法也，无心进求，自行邪事便以为足。
《杂阿含经》卷第十六（四四二） 宋天竺三藏求那跋陀罗 译 尔时，世尊以爪甲擎土已，告诸比丘：“于意云何？我爪甲上土为多？此大地土多？” 诸比丘白佛言：“世尊甲上土，甚少少耳；此大地土甚多无量，乃至算数譬类不可为比。” 佛告比丘：“如甲上土者，若诸众生，形可见者，亦复如是。其形微细，不可见者，如大地土。是故，比丘，于四圣谛未无间等者，当勤方便，学无间等。”...... 如甲上土，如是众生人道者，亦复如是；如大地土，如是非人亦尔。 如甲上土，如是生中国者亦尔；如大地土，如是生边地者亦尔。 如甲上土；如是成就圣慧眼者，亦复如是；如大地士，如是不成就圣慧眼者亦尔。 如甲上土，如是众生知此法、律者，亦复如是；如大地土，如是众生不知法、律者亦尔。如知，如是等知，普知，正想、正觉、正解，法无间等亦如是。 如甲上土，如是众生知有父母亦尔；如大地土，如是众生不知有父母亦尔。 如甲上土，如是知有沙门、婆罗门、家之尊长、作所应作，作福、此世他世、畏罪行施、受斋持戒亦尔；如大地土，不知有沙门、婆罗门、家之尊长、作所应作，作福、此世他世、畏罪行施、受斋持戒，亦如是说。 如甲上土，如是众生不杀、不盗、不邪淫、不妄语、不两舌、不恶口、不绮语亦尔；如大地土，如是众生不持诸戒者亦尔。如是离贪、恚、邪见，及不离贪、恚、邪见，亦如是说。 如甲上土，如是不杀、不盗、不邪淫、不妄语、不饮酒；如大地土，如是不持五戒者亦尔。 如甲上土，如是众生持八戒者亦如是；如大地土，如是众生不持八戒者亦尔。 如甲上土，如是众生持十善者亦如是；如大地土，如是众生不持十善者亦如是。 如甲上土，如是众生从地狱命终，生人中者亦如是；如大地土，如是众生从地狱命终，还生地狱者亦如是。如地狱，如是畜生、饿鬼亦尔。 如甲上土，如是众生从地狱命终，生天上者亦如是；如大地土，如是众生从地狱命终，还生地狱者亦如是。如地狱，如是畜生、饿鬼亦尔。 如甲上土，如是众生人道中没，还生人道中者亦如是；如大地土，其诸众生从人道中没，生地狱中者亦如是。如地狱，如是畜生、饿鬼亦尔。 如甲上土，其诸众生从天命终，还生天上者亦如是；如大地土，其诸众生天上没，生地狱中者亦如是。如地狱，畜生、饿鬼亦如是。 |