黑暗面 The Dark Side

The "Dark Side" are thoughts and actions that will lead to negative Karma.


在這裡用「黑暗面」來代表會造惡業的思想和行動。


We choose not to use the word "Evil", or "Wrong" to describe these actions because these words can cause us to fall into the trapping of absolute morality.
These actions that manifest from the "Dark Side" are not "Wrong" in the moral sense.
According to Buddha's teaching, these "Dark Side" actions are "wrong" because they lead to suffering. Since suffering is to be avoided, "Dark Side" is to be avoided.


我們選擇不使用「惡」，或「錯」來形容這些行動，因為這些字眼可能會導致落入絕對道德的陷阱。
「黑暗面」 不見得是道德上的「錯」。
根據佛陀的教誨，這些「黑暗面」的行動是「不好的」，畢竟它們會造成「惡」業報。
我們稱這些業報為「惡」，因為 「惡」業報導致痛苦。
既然沒有人喜歡痛苦、大家都避免痛苦，我們就要避免「黑暗面」的產生。


What causes us to choose the "Dark Side"?
One idea is that it is because people are ignorant; ignorant of the teaching of Buddha and Karma. While true, this is easy to fix.
But the problem is that Karma are sometime hard to observe,
because negative Karma does not happen right after the "Dark Side",
so people are easily skeptical about it.


什麼原因導致我們去選擇「黑暗面」呢？一個觀點是無知，不知道因果報應。
這雖然很容易教，但問題是，因果報應很難觀察，業報不會馬上發生，
所以人很容易懷疑因果報應。


I believe that the true reason that the "Dark Side" manifests itself is
"when we want some thing that is beyond our capabilities."
If there is a gap between your desire and your capabilities, you will be tempted to use "Dark Side" temporary to increase your capability in order to satisfy your desire.
For example, if you don't have enough money to buy a car, you might resort to stealing to get more money.


我覺得真正的理由是「當我們沒有能力得到渴望的東西或情感」，「黑暗面」 就有可能出現。
因為「黑暗面」可以暫時增加您的能力，去滿足您，代價就是「惡」業報的產生。
例如，如果您沒有足夠的錢買車，可能會用偷錢的方法，去達到這個目的。


If the problem is the gap between "cost of desire" and "capability", then if the gap is closed, "Dark Side" will not occur. You can lower your "want" or you can increase your "capability".


如果問題是「欲望的代價」跟「能力」的差距，把差距縮到零，「黑暗面」就不會發生。
您認為如何呢？
兩個方法 ，降低您的「欲望」或增加您的「能力」。


"Reducing Wants" is the easier path and is advocated by most tradition Buddhists.
Live simply and avoid temptations are two of the most common advices.
While reasonable and laudable, there is another way to close the gap, and that is to increase your "capability."
For example, if money is the goal, one can work more hours, learn better and useful skills. If you want to be a better athletes, you will need to spent more time training. Basically, you improve yourself.


「減少欲望」是一條比較容易走的路，而且受到傳統佛教影響。
簡化您的生活跟避免誘惑是兩種最常見的建議。合理，也值得稱道。
但還有另外一個方法來縮小這個 差距，那就是增加您的「能力」。
例如，如果錢是一個差距，那您可以工作更長的時間，學習新的、
有用的技能，來賺取更多的錢。若您想成為一個更好的運動員，
您將需要花更多的時間訓練、改變自己。


All three methods have their own costs.
Self improvement requires efforts and time. Self improvement sometime even requires sacrifices.
For example, you might have less time to go see movies if you have to study.
Self improvement's cost is here and now, very visible, like paying cash.
"Dark Side's" cost is unknown and later, like paying with credit card.
"Reducing Wants" has a cost too, and that is your standard of living.
However, if you can tranquilly accept lower level of living, the cost is very little; but if you can not, then your discontent will one day surface to become the "Dark Side."


這三個方法都需要付出代價。


「改變自己」需要努力和時間，有時甚至需要犧牲。
比如說，您需要上課，可能就無法去看電影。「改變自己」 的代價是顯而易見的、是付現金的。


「黑暗面」的代價是看不到的，像是用信用卡付的。


「減少欲望」的代價是犧牲，您需要降低生活水準。
如果您能平靜的接受這樣的生活品質，
「減少欲望」 的代價非常小；
可是，如果您不能平靜的接受這樣的生活品質，那麼心中不滿有一天即會成為「黑暗面」。


If you do not believe in Karma, then "Dark Side" will come naturally to you.
If you have no wants, then you do not have to fear the "Dark Side."
However, if you are a normal human being, how you balance this equation is entirely up to you.


若有人不相信因果報應，他就會主動的去運用「黑暗面」。
如果一個人沒有「欲望」， 他也不必去擔心「黑暗面」。
一個正常人，會如何選擇，端看您的決定。


Buddhist Texts teach us the Truth, so we know the consequences of our actions and not due to ignorance.
Buddhist Texts also teach us that achieve Enlightenment is the ultimate power boost to one's capabilities.


佛經給我們真相，因此我們可以有知識性的去選擇，而不是無知無明的選擇。
佛經也說了解真相會給我們最大的能力。