出离心的定义 -- 【编辑室】

常听大德说，学佛一定要有“出离心”，到底什么才是“出离心”，这是我们所要明白与了解的。

“出离”就是超出脱离之意。在佛家来说，是指超出三界之牢狱，脱离惑业之系缚。也就是超脱生死轮回，成办佛道，达成解脱之境。因此，可以将出离就有境与对镜两方面来说：就有境言，指心中生起坚定的要出离轮回之心；若从对镜来说，则指四谛中的灭谛。灭谛具灭尽妙离等四行相，其中离者，以出离一切有为法故，因此出离又指永断一切烦恼。

《瑜伽师地论》中云：“复次能超恚等诸过失故，名为出离。”《佛地经论》五指出：“言出离者，即是涅盘。”可见有境是从因中说，而对镜是约果位上来说。如果单就二字从因果上说，“出”是指对整个轮回产生反感，而“离”则是在此基础上希求解脱。由此可知“出离心”就是指希求解脱轮回苦，灭尽诸烦恼的心态。就是由对世间无常和痛苦的深刻体会，而对三界轮回产生强烈的厌离，并要求从中解脱的意愿。这是在彻底认识轮回世界本质的基础上，所产生的危机感和厌离思想，而不是厌离人生，希求天福的相似出离心。因此，出离心不只是一分希求离苦得乐的心态，更是一种正知苦乐的智慧。

真正的出离包括两方面：一是外在的出离，一是内在的出离。外在是指世间的五欲、六尘，内在则是对五欲、六尘的贪着以及由此所引发的种种凡夫心。所以，我们要出离的不仅仅是环境，更是自身的凡夫心，其实出离环境的目的正是为了出离凡夫心。所以我们不是不能接受一切东西，而是一定要有随时准备放下的心态。万法无常而不可执，为我们所用，却不为我们所有；因而，不是从表面舍弃，而是要从内心真正舍弃对它的贪着，这就是出离心。

Vesak Day 卫塞节，佛诞 -- [EDITORIAL]

Vesak Day was celebrated by Buddhists in Singapore on the 5th day of May 2012, just a month ago. Different countries celebrate Vesak Day on different days, for example, Japan on 8 April, China, Hongkong and Taiwan 28 April, India and Indonesia 6 May, South Korea 8 May and Thailand 4 June 2012. Notwithstanding the difference in the date of celebration, Vesak Day is universally celebrated as the day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing away into Mahaparinirvana of the historical Buddha.

A common practice undertaken by devotees is the bathing of the infant Prince Siddhartha (before he became the Buddha) at monasteries and Buddhist centres. Devotees would offer light, flowers and incense to venerate the Triple Gem, namely the Buddha, the Dharma and Sangha and also to make donations to temples and Sangha members as acts of generosity and wholesomeness. Those who are sufficiently inspired and could understand the purpose of Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and the Five Precepts, would undertake to formalize their entry as Buddhists in this auspicious ceremony.

The contribution of Buddhism to the society we live in and to the world at large, is not insignificant. This is borne out by the UN General Assembly Resolution 54/115 of 2000 that formally recognizes International Day of Vesak. It is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and at all its worldwide offices. A unique practice is that in each year, a different Permanent Mission to the UN would host the event. The celebrations would include cultural activities that are supported by Buddhist and non-Buddhist countries alike. It is a recognition and celebration of common universal themes and objectives against the backdrop of cultural diversities that the world is what it is. This makes Buddhism indeed unique and embracing.

The Buddha’s message of non-violence, tolerance, understanding, wisdom, compassion and peace is powerfully relevant for all times and for all, in order to secure a better world to live in (人間净土).