文／佛光星雲（1927～）

春天，不是季節，而是內心；

生命，不是軀體，而是心性；

老人，不是年齡，而是心境；

人生，不是歲月，而是永恆。

剎那的善心可得無盡的福報，

剎那的淨心可得無量的功德，

剎那的悟心可得無限的妙覺，

剎那的空心可得無相的寂滅。

從一砂一石中看到無限的世界；

從飛湍鳴澗中聽到真理的聲音；

從剎那因緣中感受永恆的未來；

從明月清風中體悟清淨的自性。

日有升沉起落，故有晚霞餘映；

月有陰晴圓缺；故有皓月當空；

人有悲歡離合，故有聚散情緣；

世有苦空無常，故有真理示現。

──選自《佛光菜根譚》

The Way of Life

Venerable Master Hsing Yun (1927~)

English translation:

Ven. Man Ho, Tom Manzo, and Shujan Cheng

Spring is not just a season,

but a state of mind.

Life is not in body only,

but also in the mind.

Old age does not mean living many years,

but thinking you are old.

Our lives are measured by eternity, not years.

A kind-hearted moment will bring endless merit.

A pure-hearted moment will bring innumerable virtue.

An enlightened moment will bring infinite wonder.

A pure, empty-minded moment

will bring the origin of no-notion.*

See endless worlds in a grain of sand.

Hear truth in the roar of raging waters.

Grasp eternity in a moment’s cause and condition.

Discern your Buddha nature in the bright moon

and cool breeze.

Sunrise and sunset give us rose-pink clouds.

The changing month gives us a bright full moon.

The sorrow of parting and joy of meeting

lead us to cherish the time we are together.

The suffering, emptiness, and impermanence

of the world manifest the truth.

── from The Everlasting Light;

*Humble Table, Wise Fare