第十七世大寶法王聽列泰耶多傑 – 對信眾問題的回應 – 2013.11.08
His Holiness Karmapa Thaye Dorje responds to disciple’s question – 8.11.2013
問題：
身為父母，看到世界現況，我為兒女恐懼。因為環球暖化，人類將不能棲息於地球。政府不是補救得太慢，就是袖手旁觀。佛法怎樣能幫助扭轉這危機？
Question:
• As a parent I am terrified for our children and the world we are leaving them. Global warming suggests that one day the earth will be uninhabitable. Governments seem too slow and in some cases unwilling to act for change, so how can Buddhism help us to avert this crisis?
聖者大寶法王的回答：
His Holiness Karmapa Thaye Dorje’s response:
這是一個很好的問題。當然，環球暖化是一個確實的問題。但偶爾，我覺得這個概念有點被過度渲染。過度渲染會引起沒有利益、不實、令人覺無助的情緒。
That’s a very good question. Of course global warming is a real issue, but from time to time I feel that maybe the idea of this threat is a little bit overused. When this threat is overused, it can lead to the feeling that there is very little an individual can do, which is not beneficial – or true.
我們需要知識，令我們知道在每一境況中，可以做到什麼。我覺得佛法能在這方面，扮演一個非常重要的角色。
What is needed is the knowledge about what each of us can do in any situation, and I believe Buddhism has a very important role here.
這種情況裡，‘知識’不是空泛的詞語，而是有其特別意義。即是，對我們內在特質的認識 – 我們的內在知識。這種知識幫助我們在同一時間打開過百扇門。佛法的用意就是幫助我們得到這種知識。從這角度看，我想我們已經處於有利位置去處理各種挑戰。
In this context, ‘knowledge’ is not just a vague term, but refers to something very particular: the knowledge of our inner qualities – our inner knowledge. In other words, a type of knowledge that helps to unlock a hundred doors at the same time. This is the intention of the Buddha dharma. In this sense, I think we are already in a beneficial position to address all kinds of challenges.
普遍來說，我們經過教育得到知識。先不談佛法。我想在世界各地，現時對教育的重視是空前的。當然，在某些地方，建立教育系統還面臨挑戰。但大多情況下，過往沒有機會受教育的，現在都有充裕機會了。其實，在某些地區，教育機會過盛，還令人難以選擇。
When we think of knowledge in more general terms, the usual method and form that it takes is education. If we leave aside the Buddhist part for a moment, I think that in many cases around the world, the emphasis on education today is much better than previously in history. There are of course still challenges faced today, but in many cases, where there was previously an absence of education opportunities, now there is an abundance of it. In fact, there are so many education opportunities in some parts of the world, that sometimes there is a problem of not knowing which route to take, a problem of choice.
因為我們需要知識來解決環球暖化及其他問題，我覺得教育供給培養知識一個很好的平台。
As knowledge is what is required to tackle global warming and other challenges, I believe that education provides a very good platform for this knowledge and potential to be cultivated.
在佛學的角度，‘教育’可以被稱為‘內在財富’。有如我最初提及，‘內在財富’是所有人都有的未生（與生俱來）品質。‘教育’就是培養這些知識及品質。我們不需要別人的指導。這些特質是自然存在的。例如，慈愛、慷慨、善解人意。。。。這些是最基本的品質。
Education from a Buddhist point of view – what I would like to call ‘inner wealth,’ the unborn qualities that we all have, and which I already mentioned in my first answer – is about cultivating knowledge and qualities that are already there. No-one had to teach us them, no-one had to open our eyes or expose us to anything like that. Somehow, these qualities are naturally there, such as being kind, being generous, being understanding… one could even say the most basic of qualities.
我們應該發掘這些知識。在這方面，佛法最能作出幫助。從佛陀 釋迦牟尼 開始說法，直至最終，都是教導我們發掘這些知識。從那時開始，越百世紀，我們修煉時都是希望能夠長養內在品質。誰人能夠明白這一點，就能活得精彩及非凡。這些人永遠都能帶利益給他們觸及過的、遇過的、交談過的。
These are the things that I think we need to tap into, and I think that is key to what Buddhism can offer. Ever since our historical Buddha Shakyamuni taught the Buddha dharma, these were His very first words and also more or less His last words too. And ever since, the Buddha dharma that we have been practicing over the centuries and millennia, it has always been about cultivating our inner qualities. And whoever has understood this point has lived amazing, extraordinary lives. Whoever they touched, whoever they met, whoever they spoke to – there was always a benefit.
密勒日巴 是一個很好的例子。參看他的生平故事，可以察覺到他遇過的人，在任何情況下，就算會面只是一次小意外，都能得到利益。
One great example would be that of Milarepa. If we just look at his life story we can see that whoever he met, whatever the context, after that meeting somehow there was always a benefit, even from simple accidents.
所以我覺得佛法能在征服環球暖化中，很有幫助。教育平台及長養我們內在財富的方法已經存在。我們只需把握機會實踐。但怎樣實踐？
So I think that in terms of overcoming global challenges, Buddhism has a great deal to offer. The platform is already there, the methods to cultivate our inner wealth, and so all we need to do is just act upon it. But how?
在此時、此地、當下，我們有一個機會。當下是我們宇宙的中心，別無他處。在當下，我們能夠立即開始。換句話說，佛法供給我們重要知識，去明白在每一個境況中我們可以做什麼。不需要覺得無助，因為我們做到的還有很多。
In this very moment, this very space that we have right here, right now, there is an opportunity. This moment for us is the centre of the universe, nowhere else. So here and now we can already start doing something… In other words, the Buddha dharma provides us the important knowledge and understanding about what each of us can do in any situation. So there is somehow no need to feel helpless or hopeless, because each of us can do so much.
在這情況，幸運的我們不需要費勁便能做到很多。只需要專注於認知我們的內在品質/財富。坐下來，思量一下便何。佛陀發掘了一個方法，令我們不需費勁便能得到知識。在任何情況下，坐著、在交談中、睡著，我們都可以啟動及長養這些內在慈悲及包含智慧的品質。
In this case, the fortunate thing is that we have to hardly move a muscle to achieve so much. We just need to focus on recognizing what these inner qualities are, or what this inner wealth is – just by sitting. Buddha found a way where basically we seemingly need to do hardly anything. Whatever we’re doing, whether we are sitting, talking or even sleeping, we can activate and cultivate these inner qualities of wisdom and compassion.
如果隨著佛陀的腳步，我們能夠停止環球暖化、冰河時期、石器時代、所有的 – 全在靜修的片刻間。
If we can follow in the footsteps of Buddha, then we will be able to stop global warming, ice age, stone age, everything – all in a single sitting.
