去寺廟拜佛，只要有大雄寶殿，就會有釋迦牟尼的佛像。在神聖而又莊嚴的佛像面前，人們會不自覺進行膜拜。說真的，看到別人拜佛我也拜，但對佛的生平及事跡所知太少，拜得有些盲目。為了理清心頭的霧水，特意把星雲法師著的《釋迦牟尼佛傳》通讀了一遍。讀後，還是很受觸動的。雖然對其中的一些神靈顯現的部分有些將信將疑，但總體還是很讓人相信的。下面就將給我感觸最深的三點分享如下。
We can always see the figure of Buddha of Sakyamuni as long as there is Daxiong temple hall when we go to the temple to worship Buddha. People will worship on bended knees unconsciously in front of the sacred and stately figure. To tell you the truth, I will also worship the Buddha like others. However I was a little blind as I knew too little of the life story of the Buddha. To make me clearer of it, I specially read the book 《The Biography of Shakyamuni Buddha》which was written by master Xingyun. I was very impressed by the Buddha after reading it. Although I was doubtful about some events of the presence of the deities, I believe in most of the story in the book. Below are three points which moved me the most.
1、 佛祖為什麼要出家？
Why did the Buddha choose to become a monk?
釋迦牟尼曾是太子，一人之下萬人之上，要風得風要雨得雨，在皇宮裡那日子過得是逍遙得很。但，他的想法與眾不同，在五欲的享樂快樂中，他卻看得很長遠，想到這一切死時是什麼都帶不走的。還有如果追求現世的快樂，就會有不可避免的貪慾。「貪慾就像大海，終難有滿足的時候」。為了徹底弄清生死的苦惱問題，同時也為了世間的一切民眾都能永久過上幸福快樂的生活，他寧願捨棄王位，離別嬌妻愛子，去悟道去過苦行僧式的生活。
Sakyamuni was the prince who was the second to emperor and can get almost everything he wanted and had the time of his life in the palace. However, he had different ideas with anyone else. He saw the five sensual pleasures in the long run which could not be brought along with the death. Furthermore, there will be inevitable greed if we pursue the earthly pleasures.」 The greed is like the sea which cannot be fulfilled all the time」. To resolve the trouble about life and death in the heart thoroughly and make all the people in the world live the perpetual happy life, he would rather abandon the throne and leave his loved wife and son to realize the truth and philosophic theory and live a life like ascetic monk.
看中外的歷史就知道，為了爭奪王位，兄弟反目成仇骨肉相殘的例子有多少，跟佛祖比可是天壤之別。真正當上皇帝的，迫於權威當時的人民是會臣服，但更朝換代之後，又有幾個皇帝還有後人繼續朝拜的？
In the ancient history of china and abroad, so many bothers became enemies and so many fratricidal fightings occurred for the throne, which was a world of difference comparing with the Buddha. The people might acknowledge allegiance to the one who became the emperor by force of the authority. But when the dynasty was replaced, was there still one emperor who could be worshiped by the descendants?
啟示一、真正為人民大眾著想，才能流芳百世為萬世所敬仰。
Enlightenment one: The one who really took the people into consideration can have a niche in the temple of fame and be admired by thousands of generations.
2、 成佛過程經歷了什麼曲折？
What setbacks did he experience to realize the enlightenment?
當佛祖的父親淨飯大王得知兒子，要捨棄王位去悟道是十分著急的。於是，便用錦衣玉食和美貌的女子去拉攏和誘惑他，千方百計想讓他留下來。可他絲毫不為所動。由於他的威望遠近聞名，隔壁國的國王以見到他為榮，甚至願意以整個國家相送做他的臣下，他也不願意，鐵了心了要達到解脫和正覺。
When the father of the Buddha, who was called King suddhodana, got to know that he planned to abandon the throne to realize the truth and philosophic theory. King suddhodana then became very anxious and used costly clothes and nice food and beautiful girls to rope in and tempt him to make every attempt to let him stay. But he was not attracted a bit. As he was known far and wide for his high prestige, the king of the adjoining country was honored to see him and would like to send all his country as present to him and be his liege. The buddha refused the king’s good intention and was determined in his effort to realize extrication and enlightenment.
他立定志向一定要做成此事，不完成誓不罷休，再苦再難都要堅持。他的修煉之路可謂艱苦卓絕，經歷了六年的苦行，遍訪仙人，最後在一棵菩提樹下發誓：「若不能了脫生死，到達正覺涅槃，誓不起此座」。
He set his heart upon finishing this thing and wouldn’t give up until done. And he would stick to it no matter how many pains or difficulties he faced. His road of practice was extremely hard and bitter and last for six years. He visited almost all the immortals and swore under a banyan「I will sit here and will not stand up until I understand the truth on life and death and realize the enlightenment.」
啟示二、決心是成功的第一要訣
Enlightenment two: The determination is the first key to success.
3、 成佛後他做了哪些事？
What did he do after his enlightenment?
十分難能可貴的是，佛祖成就正覺的佛陀後，並沒有就此滿足而是盡其所能地宣揚的他的教法，讓更多人能離苦得樂。最終光是證得阿羅漢果的比丘弟子就有一千二百五十五人之多，影響的在家弟子則是不計其數。凡是誠心想皈依他的弟子，不管是來自高地位的婆羅門階層還是低下的首陀羅階層他都同等視之。不管之前犯過再大的罪惡，只要能誠心懺悔他都願意接收。現世說法四十餘年，直到生命的最後時刻，一位百歲的一生修行未果的老者求見，他也不拒，耐心說教收了最後一個弟子。如此精進勤奮，著實讓人感動。
What was rare and commendable was that the Buddha was not satisfied with the achievements when he realized the enlightenment. And he chose to try his best to propagate his ideas to make more people leave suffering and attain bliss. At last there were one thousand and two hundred and fifty-five his monk students who became Arhat. Meanwhile countless his students at home were greatly influenced by him. He treated everyone equally who would like to be converted to Buddhism no matter they were from the brahmin class or from the sudra class. He would accept the one even he had made hideous crime as long as he confessed in earnest. He had been speaking dharma for over forty years till the last moment of his life. When an old man, who was one hundred years old and failed to realize his enlightenment, asked to see him, the Buddha didn’t refuse and taught him in patience and made him his last student. I was so moved by the hardworking spirit of the Buddha.
啟示三、一分耕耘，一分收穫，無論對誰都是一樣的
Enlightenment three: No pains no gains. This applies to every one no matter who he is.
以上三點是我感受最深的，分享的可能比較淺。最後以，書中的一句話作為結語，以共勉。「要走進正覺之門，必須要以正見（正確的見解）、正思（純真的思想）、正語（淨善的語言）、正業（正當的工作）、正命（合理的經濟）、正精進（積極的精神）、正念（真理的信仰）、正定（禪定的生活）等八種正道去修學，才能解脫無明集聚的煩惱眾苦，獲得清淨寂滅的境界。」謝謝
The three points may be a little plain but what impressed me the most. Let’s end with one sentence in the book for mutual encouragement. 」To open the gate of enlightenment we must practice with right views, pure thoughts, kind words, honest job, rational income, positive spirit, mindfulness and right concentration to free ourselves and let go of the annoyance full of avidya and go into the state of peace and quiet.」 Thank you.