求 Pray for Something

In previous article, we discussed three common methods that a person can do when what is desired exceeds his capability. Actually, in Eastern civilization, there is a common fourth way, and that is to "pray for" it. This is not to say that it doesn't happen in Western civilization, but in modern time, it is not as much a public phenomenon in the West as it is in Asian cultures.


在前一篇文章，提到三個方法來縮短我們自己欲望跟能力的落差。
其實，在亞洲社會，還有一個常見的方法，那就是去「求」。
也不是說西方社會沒有這種做法，不過西方人不像東方人總是在公開的場合裡頭「求」，例如：廟宇。


In Asian culture, it is often that a person would go to a temple that is affiliated to some deity to "pray for" something. The usual process is that they go to the temple, and pray to the deity for their desire, and if the wish is granted, how they would repay the deity for this favor. The desire can be money, love, good test scores, and even a child. Whatever one can wish for, one can always find a deity that specializes in granting that particular wish.


亞洲人通常會去一些供奉神明的寺廟「求」東西。 
過程往往是：他會去寺廟發願，如果願成了，就要去寺廟還願。 
什麼都可以「求」 ：錢財、愛情、功名...甚至一個孩子。
不管什麼願，通常都可以找到一個神明專門授予這樣的願。


This seems like a good deal, if the prayer is answered.  I can offer a deity thousands of dollars worth of "gifts" in return for a good husband, a good grade, a winning lottery ticket even a new born.
These deities can offer things that money cannot buy.
But if the prayer has been answer, and people received desired items, do they ever think about where these items came from?
And do these items actually belong to them, or are they just renting them?
And do people think that the "gifts" that they offer to a deity are the only price that they are paying?
Is it possible that in the process of "Praying For", they are offering more than they bargain for without realizing it? Is the items received really free?
Why would these deities do such a seemingly lopsided deal?
Do they know something that we don't?


如果「求」到的話，表面上這看起來很好。 
我可以提供價值數千美元的“禮物”給神明去換來一個丈夫、好成績、中獎的彩券、甚至一個小孩。 
這些神明可以提供金錢買不到的「東西」。
但是，大家有沒有想過這些「東西」怎麼來的？
這些「求」到的東西真的是他們的嗎？還只是暫時租的？
有沒有可能這些「求」到東西的代價不只是這些禮物？還有其他不知道的代價嗎？
收到的東西真的是免費嗎？
為什麼這些神明願意做這樣一個看似不平衡的交易？他們是否知道一些我們不知道的事？
 
In our Buddhism world view, there is no free lunch in the world. Everything has a cost. How much something cost depends on the method you use to acquire it. The best and surest way to acquire something one cannot currently afford is to increase one's ability, because in the end, you will always get to keep your abilities no matter what.


在我們佛學的世界觀，天下沒有「白吃的午餐」。 
任何事物都有代價。您使用的方法，決定一件事物的代價 。 
最好的和最可靠的方法是增加自己的能力，因為不論如何，您總是能保持自己的能力。