每個人一生要經過「生老病死」四大苦，任何人也逃不出這四種苦。除非你修道，了生脫死，那又另當別論，可是一般人都要受這四苦。

In the course of one’s life, everyone must go through the four great sufferings of birth, old age, sickness and death. No one can escape these four kinds of suffering, unless they cultivate the Way and end birth and death-then it’s another story. But ordinary people all have to undergo these four sufferings.

「生」的時候，好像兩山相夾，所以小孩出生時，首先要哭，表示苦的意思。生時，親友被生的境界所轉，大家來慶祝，雖然賀喜，其實是苦。

Birth is like being sandwiched between two mountains. That’s why the first thing babies do when they are delivered is cry. Crying indicates suffering. When there is a birth, relatives and friends are moved by the event and all come to celebrate. Although people think of birth as a cause for celebration, it’s actually suffering.

「老」的時候，眼睛花了，耳朵也聾了，牙齒也掉了，頭髮也白了。手腳不聽指揮，互相罷工，不能動彈，這也是很痛苦。

In old age, the eyes become blurred, the ears grow deaf, teeth fall out, hair turns gray. The limbs are out of control; they go on strike and can’t move. That state is very painful.

「病」的時候，四大失調，互不合作，乃至臥床不能起。如果貧病交加，更是苦上加苦。那時候，心有餘而力不足，你說苦不苦？

During sickness, the four elements are imbalanced and uncooperative, sometimes to the point of causing one to be bedridden. If poverty is added to sickness, the suffering is aggravated. At that time, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. What do you say: Is that not suffering?

到「死」的時候，其苦更無法表達，簡直如活牛剝皮，為兒女牽腸掛肚，被七情六欲所迷，還是放不下。其實「死」是人生必經的途徑，何必生時歡喜死時愁呢？可惜一般愚癡的人，打不破這種執著。

The agony of death is beyond words. It is as great as that of a cow being flayed alive. Deluded by the seven emotions and the six desires, you worry about the children and cannot let go of your attachments. Death is something we must go through. What need is there to rejoice at the time of birth and mourn at the time of death? Unfortunately, most people are too foolish to break through those attachments.

我們現在要研究「生從何處來，死往何處去」的問題。把它研究明白，就能出離三界，不受輪迴。

Where do we come from at birth, and where do we go to at death? We must investigate that question until we understand; then we can leave the Three Realms and avoid further transmigration.

釋迦牟尼佛就為研究這個問題而出家修道。訪道六年，苦修六年，沒有得到解決生死的方法。最後在菩提樹下靜坐四十九天，夜睹明星而悟道，徹底明白生命之輪──「十二因緣」。

Shakyamuni Buddha renounced his home in order to pursue that question. For six years he sought the Way and undertook ascetic practices, yet he still found no solution to the problem of birth and death. Finally, he sat in meditation beneath the Bodhi tree for forty-nine days, saw a bright star one night and got enlightened. He thoroughly understood the wheel of life--the twelve causal conditions.

今天為什麼說這些道理？因為我初到香港（一九四九年）時，最先皈依的弟子就是羅果明居士。她今年八十一歲，昨天早晨往生，使我有所感觸。她一生受環境壓迫，但是從不向環境投降，自己忍苦耐勞養育五個兒女，兒女都有相當的成就，羅果明居士也得以含笑於九泉之下，或者往生於極樂世界。

Why do I tell you this today? When I first arrived in Hong Kong in 1949, the first person who took refuge with me was Upasika Luo Guoming. This year she turned eighty-one years old. She passed away yesterday morning, and that brought some thoughts to my mind. All her life she was oppressed by circumstances, but she never gave up. She bore suffering and hardship patiently, and brought up five children. Her sons and daughters all have considerable achievement. Therefore, she ought to be able to rest in peace, or be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

一九八三年九月四日