It’s commonly understood among practitioners that Buddhism characterizes life as inherently suffering. However, this statement doesn’t paint the full picture; it applies specifically to the lives of ordinary beings mired in confusion and afflictions. In contrast, for the enlightened, life is also defined by freedom and joy. This is because behind our confusion and afflictions lies the potential for enlightenment. By unlocking this potential, our lives will become infinitely free, peaceful, and joyful.

学佛者都知道，佛教说“人生是苦”。其实这个说法并不完整，而是有特定对象的。也就是说，凡夫以迷惑和烦恼为基础的生命才是痛苦的。而对于觉悟者来说，生命的本质也是自由而欢喜的。因为在迷惑烦恼的背后还有觉悟潜质，一旦开启这个层面，生命就是无限的自在，无限的宁静，无限的喜悦。

Our lives are influenced by two internal forces. Healthy and positive minds are our allies. They enhance our lives, foster happiness, and contribute to a stable and harmonious society. In contrast, unhealthy and negative minds are our adversaries. They consistently breed suffering and discord. Buddha Dharma teaches that the most formidable enemy in life is the self, specifically referring to our inner afflictions.

这是生命的两个层面，是由内心的两大阵营造就的。其中，健康的良性心理是我们的朋友，会让生命得到提升，给人生带来幸福快乐，给社会带来安定和谐。而那些不健康的负面心理则是我们的敌人，会不断制造痛苦和麻烦。佛法认为，人生最大的敌人就是自己。这个自己，正是指内心的烦恼。

These inner enemies are the root causes of all forms of suffering, from personal anguish to strained relationships, and even crimes such as killing, stealing, lying, and sexual misconduct. At the core, humanity grapples with two natures: the Buddha-nature and the demonic-nature. Cultivating our Buddha-nature leads us towards attaining perfect wisdom and compassion. Conversely, succumbing to our demonic-nature traps us in cycles of prolonged suffering across the lower realms.

生活中一切痛苦，从对自己的折磨，到不和谐的人际关系，乃至杀盗淫妄等种种犯罪现象，都是这个敌人造成的。从根本上说，人的两面性就是佛性和魔性。开启佛性，能让我们成就圆满的智慧和慈悲；而放任魔性，结果只能是堕落恶道，长劫受苦。

We frequently devote considerable effort to grasping societal dynamics and showing concern for society, yet we often overlook the most critical aspect: learning to understand and manage ourselves, which truly should be our foremost priority. The teachings of Buddha Dharma can guide us to identify the positive and negative forces within our minds.

我们会花很多精力去了解和关心社会，可从来没想过，真正应该学会的是了解自己，管理自己，这才是人生的头等大事。佛法就是帮助我们了解，内心有哪些正向的力量，哪些负面的心理。

摘自《心灵创造幸福》

版权所有：济群法师

Excerpted from:

Happiness Comes from the Mind

by Master Jiqun