摘要：Superstitions are caused by ignorance as well. In the face of the immense universe and complex nature, humanity appears insignific
迷信也是由于无知造成的。在浩瀚的宇宙面前，在神奇的大自然面前，人类显得如此渺小和无能。正如爱因斯坦所说：“最大的秘密是宇宙的存在和它的被理解。”
Superstitions are caused by ignorance as well. In the face of the immense universe and complex nature, humanity appears insignificant and incapable. As Albert Einstein said, “The greatest secret lies in the existence of the universe and its comprehension.”
在人类的早期活动中，由于对宇宙人生缺乏了解，万物有灵论几乎通行于世界各民族：山有山神，树有树神，打雷有雷神，刮风有风神，下雨有雨神，掌管学业有文昌神，管辖农作有神农大帝，主持阴间有阎罗王……世间一切都在神灵的控制下，包括我们一生的吉凶祸福，也来自冥冥之中的安排。
In early human activities, people did not understand the universe or life, so animism prevailed almost worldwide: mountains had their deities, trees had their deities, thunder had its deity, wind had its deity, rain had its deity, Wenchang (deity of literature and education) governed learning, Shennong (king of farmers) presided over agriculture, and Yama (king of death) ruled the underworld. Everything in the world was under the control of deities, and even the fortunes and misfortunes of our lives were somehow predestined.
尽管现代科学已在一定程度上对此作出了解释，使人类对世界的认识不再停留于简单的猜测和臆想，但万物有灵的影响至今不衰，依然有很多人将全部幸福寄托于对神灵的祈求和祭拜。
Although modern science has to some extent explained these phenomena, keeping humans away from simple speculation and conjecture about the world, the influence of animism remains undiminished to this day. Today, many people still depend on the prayers and worship of deities to secure their happiness.
人类对于命运的关注，使古老的算命术至今仍大有市场。那么，命运到底有没有呢？从因果的角度来看，命运的确存在。但算命看相的准确性却很值得怀疑，它关系到操作者的心智修养及所依典籍的可靠性。很多时候，这些对运程的推算不过是蛊惑人心的游戏而已。倘若对其过分依赖，显然是不明智的。
The fascination with fate has kept the ancient practice of fortune-telling very much alive to this day. So, does fate really exist? From the perspective of causality, fate indeed exists. However, the accuracy of fortune-telling and physiognomy is highly questionable, as it depends on the mental cultivation of the practitioner and the reliability of the texts they rely on. Often, these predictions about one’s fate are nothing more than games that bewitch the mind. Over-reliance on them is clearly unwise.
还有人迷信风水，不论是买地还是盖房都要请人勘查指点。其实，环境的影响固然存在，但能直接影响人生的还是自身行为。事实上，命运就取决于我们造作的善恶业力，是随着我们的起心动念和所作所为变化的。
Some people also have a deep belief in Feng Shui, consulting experts for advice on purchasing land or building houses. Indeed, while environmental influences exist, it is one’s own actions that have a direct impact on life. In fact, our fate is determined by the wholesome and unwholesome karma we create, changing with our thoughts and deeds.
也有人说，以上这些我都不信、都不迷。可我们仔细观察一下就会发现，通常情况下，每个人都会有自己特别在乎和关注的所在，从而使心念不由自主地转向那个地方。
By contrast, some people would claim they are not believers or fans of anything mentioned above. However, after careful observation, we can often find that everyone has something they particularly care about and focus on, causing their thoughts to involuntarily turn towards it.
其实，这正是我们心之所迷：贪财的是财迷，贪色的是色迷，贪权的是权迷，其他如球迷、歌迷、影迷……更是形形色色，不一而足。
It is exactly what captivates our minds: those greedy for wealth are obsessed with money, those greedy for lust are obsessed with desire, those greedy for power are obsessed with authority, and others are fans of football, singers, or movies.
总之，没有觉悟的众生难免情有所钟，难免向外界攀缘。因为有所迷，就会有所执著，而执著正是痛苦的根源之一。当我们的心沉溺于某件事物时，就会被它的种种变化所操纵，无法超然物外。
In general, unawakened people will inevitably be fond of particular objects or crave external things. Because of this delusion, there comes attachment, and their attachment becomes one of the roots of their suffering. When our mind is immersed in something, we are manipulated by its various changes, unable to remain detached.
摘自《生命的痛苦及其解脱》
作者：济群法师
Excerpted from:
Life’s Suffering and Its Liberation
By Master Jiqun
来源：云水三千
