步入完美人生的秘诀

步入完美人生的秘诀

《慈经》到底告诉我们什么道理？如果不清楚，只是那么听着，往往过耳即忘。即使一字一句地念着，也往往有口无心。这样的听和念，是达不到修心效果的。《慈经》的内容包括两部分，一是修慈心的方法，二是修慈心的对象。

What exactly does the Metta Sutta teach us? If we do not have a clear understanding, we may just listen to it and forget about it soon after. Even when reciting it word by word, we may be lacking sincerity. This type of passive listening and recitation will not help us cultivate the mind. The Metta Sutta has two components: the methods for cultivating Metta and the targets of our Metta practice.

从方法来说，就是核心的四句话：第一，愿我乃至一切众生无敌意，无危险；第二，愿我乃至一切众生无精神的痛苦；第三，愿我乃至一切众生无身体的痛苦；第四，愿我乃至一切众生保持快乐。

The core methods revolve around four essential wishes:

May I and all living beings be free from hostility and danger.

May I and all living beings be free from emotional harm.

May I and all living beings be free from physical harm.

May I and all living beings remain happy.

这四句话看似简单，但我们想一想，如果自己和世界没有任何对立，也没有来自他者的敌意和危险，就不必有任何担忧，充满安全感。进一步，没有烦恼纠结带来的精神痛苦，没有四大不调带来的身体痛苦，时时都能保持快乐，不正是最圆满的人生吗?

At first glance, these four phrases may seem simple, but let us deeply consider their relationship to our lives. Being free from conflicts and hostility allows us to feel truly safe and worry-free. Being free from emotional harm and physical imbalances enables us to experience lasting happiness. Is this not the perfect life?

看看我们当下的现状，想想我们努力追求的一切，为了什么？无非是为了获得安全感，为了解除身心痛苦，得到快乐。所以我们要用这四句话来祝福自己，祝福众生。如果大家都能拥有这样的理想生活，不正是最美好的世界吗?

Ask yourself: what is the ultimate goal of all your efforts? It all comes down to these four things—a sense of security, freedom from physical harm, freedom from emotional harm, and ultimately, happiness. So let us bless ourselves and all sentient beings with these four wishes. When everyone can enjoy such an ideal life, is the world not at its best?

可能有人会说：难道想一想，世界就会好吗？事实上，当你以慈心面对一切时，你的世界就是美好的。进一步，还能把这样的美好带给众生。

Some may wonder: can the world really become better just by thinking positively about it? The truth is, if we approach everything with loving-kindness, our world will naturally become beautiful. Then, we can spread this beauty to all sentient beings.

能不能有这样的效果，取决于你的慈心有多少力量，是不是纯粹、圆满、没有夹杂？这是需要训练和培养的。所以慈心不是生起一次，也不仅仅是在座上祝愿，而要让这样的心逐步增长、强大并延展。

How effectively we can do this depends on the strength of our Metta—is it pure, complete, and sincere? Indeed, cultivating Metta requires constant practice and nurturing. It is more than a one-time event or a simple wish made during meditation; it is a mental force that needs to be strengthened and expanded.

摘自《〈慈经〉的修行》

作者：济群法师

Excerpted from:

The Practice of the Metta Sutta

By Master Jiqun