光明面 1 The Light Side 1

Just like the "Dark Side", we will refrain from using morality to define the "Light Side."
However, instead of accumulating "bad karma" when the "Dark Side" is invoked, thoughts and actions of the "Light Side" produces "good karma".


就像「黑暗面」，我們將不使用道德來定義「光明面。」
「黑暗面」累積「惡業」，「光明面」累積「福報」。


What good is "good karma?" For one thing, it helps smooth out our physical existences. Having "good karma" can help one have a bit more money, more friends, more luck, and in general, more creature comforts. But these are mere fringe benefits. In Buddhism, the real benefit of "good karma" is that it will provide you with the energy and power that you need to achieve enlightenment.


「福報」有什麼好處？最少，它幫我們過好一點的生活。有多一點錢、有好朋友、好家庭、好運...等，但這些都只是附帶的福利。在佛學思想中，「福報」最大的好處，是提供能量來幫我們了解真相。


The "Light Side" are traditionally associated with actions or deeds that benefits others. We are not of the opinion that one should perform actions that benefit others, but hurt oneself. This should not be done, because if one is weaken, his ability to perform additional "Light Side" in the future is weaken as well. One should always perform "Light Side" fully within one's capabilities.


一般來說 ，「光明面」的行為都是有利於他人。但我們認為一個人需要保護自己，不應該因為做了利於他人的事而傷害到自己。傷害自己會削弱能力，下一次因為能力不足，也許就不能產生「光明面」。


Generosity (or acts of compassion and charity) is the most prevalent form of "Light Side". However, not all acts of generosity are the same in term of accumulating "good karma."


「布施」是「光明面」最普遍的做法。然而，並非所有的「布施」都累積同樣的「福報」。


Buddha told us in the Diamond Sutra:
"That is to say, he should practice compassion and charity without regard to appearances, without regard to form, without regard to sound, smell, taste, touch, or any quality of any kind. Subhuti, this is how the disciple should practice compassion and charity. Why? Because practicing compassion and charity without attachment is the way to reaching the Highest Perfect Wisdom, it is the way to becoming a living Buddha." (Translation from www.diamond-sutra.com)


佛陀在金剛經說：
「菩薩於法應無所住，行於布施。所謂不住色布施，不住聲香味觸法布施。須菩提，菩薩應如是布施，不住於相。何以故？若菩薩不住相布施，其福德不可思量。」


What Buddha is telling us is that if we can be generous without regard to the act itself: (i.e. what we are giving, what the process is and what we might expect to gain in return.) then we will acquire more good karma than any other way.


佛陀在這裡告訴我們「不住相布施」的福報比「有住相布施」 好很多。


At some level, this is easy to understand. Because if we were to perform an act of giving expecting to gain something in return, then the "Light Side" seems less bright because it is tinted with a slight sense of selfishness.


在某種程度上，這是很容易理解的。如果我們「有住相布施」，「光明面」就沒那麼明亮，因為我們的布施有了一些自私的感覺。


Of course it is not to say that "attached generosity" is any less. In aggregate, compassion and charities, either "attached" or "detached", all provide us with a better and harmonious world to live in.


當然，這並不是說「有住相布施」是不好的。無論「有住相」或「無住相」布施，我們都同樣為一個更美好、更和諧的世界努力著。


But why does "detached generosity" has such a benefits?


但為什麼「不住相布施」有這樣的福報？

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