Voice of Master Jingzong - Q and A about the Purpose of Life
淨宗之聲 - 人生目的問答
Q12: What is meant by the “great matter of birth-and-death” in Buddhism? How does one resolve it?
Answer:
There are so many things happening in the world. Being unwise, we often make trivial matters into big ones. The Infinite Life Sutra says, “People of the world lack meaningful virtue and engage in strife over matters which are unimportant. In the midst of abject wickedness and extreme afflictions they painstakingly toil for their living.”
Generally, people think raising children, studying, working, career achievement, and family glory are the most important matters in our lives. Some entrepreneurs, politicians, diplomats, and scientists may think environmental pollution is a great matter because the Earth may be destroyed. Such matters as space travel, immigration, or even AI are also considered of great importance too.
However, nothing is greater than life - the reality of life, the nature of life and the perfection of life. So, if the riddle of life cannot be resolved, what we do is like a dream or an illusion. What is the meaning of making a great fortune or losing it all in a dream?
(to be continued tomorrow)
問(12) 什麼是“生死大事”?如何解決?
:佛教裡經常說生死是大事,究竟什麼叫“生死大事”?應該如何解決?
淨宗之聲:
人世間每天都有許多事要發生,由於我們智慧淺短,往往就把鷄毛蒜皮的小事當作大事。
《無量壽經》就說“世人薄俗,共諍不急之事。于此劇惡極苦之中,勤身營務,以自給濟”。
都以為這些是人生大事,比如生兒育女、考學、工作、事業成就、光宗耀祖,這是指一般老百姓。一些大企業家、政治家、外交家、科學家,認為地球環境污染,這是大事;地球將來可能會毀滅,現在我們發展太空,搞移民計劃,這是大事;現在人工智能發展,這是大事。
但是,所有的大事都不如生命本身更重要,諸如生命的真相、生命的本質、生命的圓滿。所以,生死的謎題如果不解開,怎麼做都是如夢如幻。在夢裡,即使發了財、虧了本,一醒,都沒有意思。
Namo Amituofo!
