离世

Bidding Farewell

窗外肆无忌惮地灿烂了一个春天的花朵开始凋零，满地落英缤纷，被车轮碾作泥、行人踩为尘。世间一切美好的东西都是那么短暂，一瞬、一刹那、一眨眼间就飞逝而去。春花萎落、秋叶飘零，示现了宇宙的无常；红颜易衰、青丝成雪，示现了人生的无常。

The gorgeous flowers outside the window, having unabashedly showed off in spring, are now withering. Fallen petals, scattering and flying around like snowflakes, are reduced to mud under the wheels or crushed to dust when stepped on. So ephemeral are all the beauties in this world, fleeting ever so swiftly; in a wink, an instant or a flash—they are gone. Just as the withering of spring blossoms or the falling of autumn foliage betrays the impermanence of the universe, so the fading of a pretty face or the blanching of black hair tells the tale of the impermanence of human life.

如果我们不能从大自然所昭示的真谛中预知死亡的无常，在如露如电的人生中，空耗暇满，为无明绳索所缚，贪执世间财物及亲友，对死亡毫无准备，一旦死亡来临，就会有千变万化的丑态上演。如同《儒林外史》中的严监生、《欧也妮·葛朗台》中的葛朗台，因执著于多点了一盏灯而死不瞑目。

If we fail to see the impermanence of our own death through the truth that Mother Nature reveals, we are likely to squander our precious human existence, which is as ephemeral as a dewdrop or a flash of lightning. Bound by the rope of delusion, we hoard wealth, possession, friends, and relatives, while making no preparation for death whatsoever. When suddenly confronted with the final moment, we are likely to make fools of ourselves in all sorts of ludicrous ways. Two good examples are Jiansheng Yan in The Scholars (Rulin Waishi) and Grandet in Eugenie Grandet, the former of which died with everlasting regret of having lit one too many oil lamps.

如何安度人生、迎接死亡，佛陀为我们开示了八万四千法门。只要择其一而不懈，条条道路通罗马。

The Buddha has shown us 84,000 ways how to make the best use of our life and how to die prepared. As all roads lead to Rome, we need only to pick one and practice it consistently and diligently.

若能通达生死涅槃本自平等、诸佛不生不灭、心佛无二无别，念念安住实相，心心契合佛意，以佛知见观自心性，则能越诸瀑流，永断无明，究竟解脱。

Life and death, samsara and nirvana are all equal. Buddhas are not produced and do not perish, and beings’ minds are no different from the Buddha. If one can realize this and remain unmoved in the absolute reality, have every thought complying with the Dharma, and observe the nature of the mind in thusness, then, one can overcome the torrents of cyclic existence, completely eradicate delusion, and attain ultimate liberation.

对于没有修持至如上境界的薄地凡夫，麦彭仁波切为我们留下了深刻的教言：“如没有以上境界，仅依随念释迦佛一次，也能往生极乐刹土。”所以，无论释迦牟尼佛还是阿弥陀佛，只要有信心，临死之前强烈祈祷，就一定会往生。但是，如果强烈地贪恋世间的财物、亲人，即使你多年持咒，也将功亏一篑。

The meditation level mentioned above may not be within the reach of ordinary people. For them, Mipham Rinpoche left a profound instruction: “For those who have not yet attained a high state of meditation, simply by thinking of Buddha Shakyamuni once, they will also be reborn to the Pure Land of Great Bliss.” Therefore, at the time of death, praying to Buddha Shakyamuni or Amitabha Buddha with unwavering faith can ensure you a rebirth to the Pure Land. However, strong clinging to possessions or loved ones will make you fall short of success at the last stage, despite years of mantra recitation.

壬午年四月十九日 　
2002年5月30日 　

19th of April, Year of RenWu
May 30, 2002