如何认识皈依？皈依三宝是什么意思？（双语开示）

　　皈依三宝是成为佛弟子之门。皈依，可以从几个层面来理解和认识。首先，参加由法师所主持的皈依仪式，仪式之后很多寺院还会发给一个皈依证。这是形式上的皈依。

　　The conversion to Triratna---the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha---is the real beginning for a person to become a Buddhist. We can understand the Buddhist conversion in several different aspects:

　　Firstly, it refers to the conversion ceremony, which is formally hosted by a venerable master and a conversion certificate is issued at the ceremony or afterwards.

　　之后，还必须完成观念上的皈依，情感上的皈依，建立归属感，使自己的生命有所依托，提高个体的安全感和生存的幸福指数。至此，宗教意义上的皈依就算完成了。

　　After this comes the conversion of one’s conceptions and feelings, whereby a psychological dependence is set up so that one can enjoy a sense of belonging and safety, hence one’s happiness index may immensely grow accordingly. So far, the conversion is completed in the religious meaning.

　　然而，作为一个真正的佛弟子，要将成就佛道作为皈依三宝的最终目的。因此我们还要实现观念的进一步转化，要从对三宝的依赖中走向学习佛法修行成就的道路。确定自己从此要向佛陀学习，发菩提心，彻悟生命及宇宙万法本性，把握生命及万法规律，最终修行成就佛道。这就要深入经藏，并积极寻找大善知识，以使自己尽快领悟佛道。

　　However, as a real Buddhists, one should regard Buddhahood attainment as the final purpose of his conversion. So the most important step of conversion is the radical transformation of our conceptions. Consequently, one must upgrade his conversion from the primary stage of psychological dependence on Triratna to the earnest study and practice of Buddha’s teachings, confirming his determination of learning from the Buddha and generating Bodhicitta. Only by doing so can one completely understand the nature of life and the principle of the cosmos. As a result, one shall be able to master his life and the principles of the cosmos and finally attain Buddhahood through constant and painstaking practice.

　　In order to comprehend Buddha’s teachings quickly and completely, one must carefully study Buddha’s teachings as much as possible. At the same time, one should try to find a venerable master as his guiding mentor, who will show him the right way to enlightenment and will finally lead him to Buddhahood attainment.

　　这个时候的关键是要领悟佛陀正法的真实义理，切不可以有法门的限制，要知道法门只是路径，法门不是结果，不可执着。有个别人落到某个法门之后就开始执着自己所钟爱的法门，见到有人修别的法及法门就心生不爽，自赞毁他。这你就不再是佛弟子了，成了这个法门的斗士，以狭隘之心为法门利益最大化与其它法门作对，甚至不惜以个别法门取代佛陀正法，这是极其可怕的事，是灭佛的行为。所以，我们无论在哪个法门修学，都不可以执着地卡死在某一个法门上，而是要向彻悟和成就佛法大道的方向不断前行，努力把佛陀正法搞懂弄通，以实现尽快成就佛道的目的。其实每一个大成就者都是能够超越法门限制的人。

　　At this stage, what one should do is to understand the genuine and authentic meaning of Buddha’s teachings. One must get rid of all prejudices or biases of schools or sects and bear in mind that no one should become attached to any sects since they are just ways or approaches instead of results or achievements. Some Buddhists follow a special sect and become so much attached to it that they depreciate or despise against any other sects or approaches. They become so narrow-minded that they may behave like warriors fighting against any other different sects or approaches. In order to gain more believers and bigger benefits, they even replace all Buddha’s teachings with their only sect. Such stupid behaviors will lead to the destruction of Buddhism. Therefore, one mustn’t become attached to whatever sect he is following. Instead, one must try to understand the genuine meaning of all Buddha’s teachings and keep practicing accordingly so as to attain Buddhahood quickly. In fact, all venerable masters of great achievements with no exceptions have transcended the prejudices and limitations of sects.

　　在这个过程中，我们要经常看看自己心灵是否还在束缚之中，放下了多少，解脱了多少，得自在了吗？我们的菩提心发起来了吗？我们的大悲心发起来了吗？究竟大道真的领悟了吗？

　　所以，皈依是从形式的皈依到心灵的皈依，直到证得菩提果的过程。

　　During the whole process, one should often ask himself such questions: Is my heart still bounded? How much have I let go? Have I gained complete liberation? Have I generated Bodhicitta and great compassion for all sentient beings? Have I understood the genuine meaning of Buddha’s teachings?

　　We can see from above that a real Buddhist conversion is the conversion both in form and in heart, and is actually a process of Buddhahood attainment.

　　从皈依的对境上来分，又可以分为外皈依和内皈依。外皈依是指皈依外三宝，即外在的佛宝，外在的法宝，外在的僧宝。外在的佛宝如本师释迦牟尼佛、药师佛、阿弥陀佛等等十方诸佛；外在的法宝就是指佛说三藏十二部一切经典；外在的僧宝是指一切走在自己前面的有所修证的修行人，比如诸大菩萨，以及三个比丘以上的僧团等等。而内皈依是要皈依于自己的内三宝，就是皈依于自己的佛性，皈依于自己的成就之道，皈依于自己的清净心。从皈依外三宝到皈依内三宝，是个飞跃，这也是成就佛道的必须经历的过程。

　　The conversion can also be divided into two kinds, extrovert conversion and introvert conversion. The former one refers to the conversion to the outside Triratna----converting to the outside Buddha such as our great teacher Buddha Shakyamuni or Buddha Amitabha ， converting to the outside Dharma which refers to all the Buddha’s teachings, and converting to the outside Sangha which refers to all the practitioners who are walking in front of us in Buddhist practice, including all the great Bodhisattvas and Sangha groups consist of over three monks.

　　The introvert conversion refers to the conversion to one’s inner Triratna---converting to one’s Buddha nature, converting to the approaches of Buddhist practice toward Buddhahood attainment, and converting to the original undifferentiated heart. It’s a great breakthrough to go from extrovert conversion to introvert conversion, which is also the process one must go through before attaining Buddhahood.

　　总之，只要我们的心灵与佛陀还有差距，我们的皈依就没有结束。

　　In a word, as long as there is a distance between our heart and the heart of the Buddha’s, our conversion will keep going on and on.

译者：若水隆丹

Translated by Diana Zhang

原标题：如何认识皈依（久晃法师双语开示系列）

文章转自微信公众号：久晃讲般若