摘要：In our lives, cultivating good habits is crucial. However, because of ignorance, all beings will often be unknowingly contaminated
在我们的成长过程中，培养良好习惯非常关键。可是众生由于无知，总会在不知不觉中沾染许多不良习气。
In our lives, cultivating good habits is crucial. However, because of ignorance, all beings will often be unknowingly contaminated by bad habits.
有些人喜欢铺张浪费，以一掷千金来炫耀财富，结果不但折福，还引来他人的觊觎；有些人喜欢表现自己，以夸夸其谈来显示能力，结果事与愿违，导致他人的反感。
Some people enjoy extravagance, spending lavishly to show off their wealth. This only diminishes their blessings and even attracts greedy eyes. Some like to showcase themselves and brag about their abilities, only leading to the opposite effect and provoking others’ aversion.
有些人喜欢独断专行，以强制手段排除异己，压制他人，结果树敌众多；有些人喜欢沽名钓誉，以种种不正当手段获取虚名，结果为世人所不齿；还有些人喜欢赌博，将此视为一本万利的生意，结果不能自拔，乃至倾家荡产……
Some like to act peremptorily, using forceful means to eliminate dissent and suppress others, ending up making many enemies. Some like to fish for fame through various improper means, only to be despised by others. Others like gambling and consider it a highly profitable business until they get deeply entrapped in it, to the point of losing their family fortune.
一切社会问题及犯罪现象的产生，也来自不良习惯。争斗往往从自我中心开始，盗窃往往从贪图小利开始，贪污往往从以权谋私开始，暴力往往从欺负弱小开始，诈骗往往从好逸恶劳开始……当不良习惯处于萌芽状态时，很少会引起我们的重视，但若不能及时察觉，任其发展，后果不堪设想。
Bad habits also form the emergence of social issues and crimes. As you know, conflicts usually stem from self-centeredness; theft often begins with seeking small profit; corruption arises with abuse of power for personal gain; violence often starts with bullying the weak; fraud is from idleness and laziness. When bad habits are in their nascent stage, they seldom capture our attention. However, if they are allowed to develop, without being noticed in time, they can bring about dreadful consequences.
毒品的过患虽已人尽皆知，吸毒现象却屡禁不止。究其原因，很多吸毒者在开始时，并没有意识到这些行为已触犯法律。只是被不良习惯纵容，或是出于好奇以身试法，或是因为空虚无聊寻求刺激，或是因为生活受挫逃避现实。却不曾想到，这种暂时的满足会带来无穷后患，使身心受到极大摧残。
For instance, although the dangers of drugs and their prohibition are known to all, drug abuse remains hard to tackle. The reason is that, from the beginning, many drug addicts do not realize that their behaviors have violated the law. They are merely indulged in bad habits. Some try to challenge the law out of curiosity; some want to seek thrills when feeling empty and bored; and some attempt to escape from reality when frustrated with their lives. Unfortunately, they do not realize that such temporary satisfaction will bring endless trouble, ruining their body and mind.
除了上述种种，我们不愿让心有片刻闲暇，也属于不良习惯。世人总是习惯于忙忙碌碌，不肯将心念稍做停留。除了工作和家务之外，我们还用各种娱乐将所剩无几的业余时间打发殆尽。电视虽然在很大程度上使我们拓宽了眼界，增长了见识，丰富了文化生活，但也在无形中成为生活不可或缺的依赖，消耗了我们大量的时间。
Additionally, not allowing our mind a moment of relaxation is also a bad habit. We are so used to being busy that our minds cannot rest peacefully for a while. After finishing our work and household chores, we usually fill our little spare time with various entertainment. Although TV programs have greatly broadened our horizons, expanded our knowledge, and enriched our cultural lives to a large extent, it has also become so indispensable that we spend much time watching them.
席卷全球的网络更是如此。它们在现代科技的诱人包装下，不断助长向外攀缘的心，使我们只有在外境刺激下才感到充实，一旦稍有闲暇，就觉得空虚无聊。其实，这种所谓的充实是短暂而虚假的。
It is the same with the global prevalence of the internet. Under the enticing guise of modern technology, they constantly incite us to seek external things, making us feel fulfilled only with external stimuli. The moment we have some spare time, we feel empty and bored. But this kind of “fulfillment” is temporary and illusory.
真正的充实是来自内心。如果我们向内寻找，找到那个本来清净、具足万法的源头，在任何情况下都能自足，都能找到平衡，根本不需要依赖于外境。
What is truly fulfilling comes from within. When we look within and find that inherently pure source which encompasses all dharmas, we can achieve self-sufficiency and find balance in any situation without having to depend on external circumstances.
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
