善问妙答
(translated from Good Question Good Answer 5th Revised Edition)
(翻自英文Good Question Good Answer 第五版)
作者：达弥卡法师
Translator: Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society Chinese Translation Group
翻译：佛教曼茶罗学会中文翻译小组
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Content
Brief Introduction
Preface
1. What Is Buddhism? 什么是佛教？
2. Basic Buddhist Concept 佛教的基本教义
3. Buddhism and the God-Idea 佛教与“神”的概念
4. The Five Precepts 五戒
5. Rebirth 轮回
6. Meditation 禅修
7. Wisdom and Compassion 智慧与慈悲
8. Vegetarianism 素食主义
9. Good Luck and Fate 运气与命运
10. Monks and Nuns 僧团
11. The Buddhist Scriptures 佛教的经典
12. History and Development 历史与发展
13. Becoming a Buddhist 皈依佛教
14. Some Sayings of the Buddha 佛陀语录
Brief introduction 简介
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika was born in Australia in 1951. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in India in 1976 and later lived in Sri Lanka where he became well-known for his efforts to promote Buddhism. He worked in Singapore in 1985 being a spiritual Advisor to the Dhamma Mandala Society and several other Buddhist groups.
达弥卡法师（Venerable Shravasti Dhammika) 1951年出生于澳洲，1976年在印度落发为僧。他在斯里兰卡和新加坡居住多年，目前是新加坡佛教曼茶罗学会的宗教顾问。
达弥卡法师著有许多佛学及与佛教相关的书籍。在本书里，他解答了人对佛教常有的疑问。
Preface 序
I wrote most of this book in just a few days in 1987 and since that time several hundreds and thousands of copies of it have been printed in numerous editions. It has also been translated into 19 languages, most recently Polish, Laotian and Serbo-Croatian. I have often wondered what it is about this little book that has made it so widely spread and appreciated.
Some years ago, while researching the history of Buddhism in China, I heard a man named Mou Rong who lived in the late Han dynasty (late 2nd century CE) and who wrote a book called Mouzi lihuolun. When the Dhamma first came to China, it found itself at odds with Confucian ideas and values. Confucianists expected Buddhists to explain and justify their ideas before they would accept them, something Indian monks were not very good at doing as they knew so little about Chinese culture. Eventually Mou Rong came to the rescue. His book took the form of a Confucianist asking questions about the Dhamma to a Buddhist who answered them. As much as possible, he tried to reconcile Buddhism and Confucianism and highlighted their common features. Many people found the question and answer format easy and Mou Rong's answers ingenious and convincing. Mou Rong's book was very popular for several centuries and had an important role to play in helping the Chinese understand the Dhamma.
Good Question and Good Answer is nowhere near as good as the Mouzi lihuolun and it will certainly never be so enduring. But its question and answer format has probably got something to do with its popularity.
After you have finished reading it, give it to a friend and then make a point of reading more about the Dhamma so you can come to understand it in a broader and deeper way.
S.Dhammika
Nov 2008
序
在1987年，我花了仅仅几天的时间，写了这本书。至今，这书的各个版本相继印了数千本，同时也译成了19个语言，包括最近译成的波兰语，寮语（老挝语）及塞尔维亚克罗地亚语。我常常想：到底是什么原因使这本书这么广泛流传又受欢迎？
几年前，在研究中国佛教历史时，我发现东汉末年（公元2世纪末）有个叫牟荣的人写了一本《牟子理惑论》。佛法最初传入中国时，受到了儒家的抵制，被指违背了儒家思想和道德观。儒家要佛家解释并辩证佛法，但印度僧人不了解中国文化，无法作出适当的辩解。牟荣就以《理惑论》一书为佛法进行辩解。他调解了儒家和佛家的分歧，并强调儒佛之间的共同之处。《理惑论》运用一问一答的方式，以儒家观点发问，再以佛家观点回答。许多人觉得这种问答方式简明易懂，而牟荣的解答方式即匠心独运又具说服力。《理惑论》因此在后来几个世纪深受欢迎，也在中国人认识佛法的过程中，扮演了举足轻重的角色。
《善问妙答》无法与《牟荣理惑论》媲美，也不可能像《牟子理惑论》那样流传千古。然而，其一问一答的格式或许是这本书深受欢迎的原因吧！
读完这本书后，请你把它送给一个朋友，和他结缘，并再继续阅读佛法书籍，以便更进一步认识与了解佛法。”
弥卡法师写于2008年11月
1. What Is Buddhism? 什么是佛教？
QUESTION: What is Buddhism?
ANSWER:
The name Buddhism comes from the word budhi which means 'to wake up' and thus Buddhism can be said to be the philosophy of awakening. This philosophy has its origins in the experience of the man Siddhattha Gotama, known as the Buddha, who was himself awakened at the age of 35. Buddhism is now more than 2,500 years old and has about 380 million followers worldwide. Until a hundred years ago Buddhism was mainly an Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining adherents in Europe, Australia and the Americas.
问：什么是佛教？
答：
佛教这个名词是梵文"Budhi"的音译演变而来的。"Budhi"的意思就是觉醒。所以佛教可说是觉醒的哲学。
这个哲学出自于悉达多的亲身经验。悉达多在三十五岁时觉醒了，他就是佛陀。
佛教从佛陀创始以来，至今已有两千五百年的历史，在世界各地有三亿左右的信徒。直至一百年前，佛教的活动范围主要只是在亚洲，而如今世界各地已逐渐接纳了佛教。
Back to 1.What is Buddhism?
QUESTION: So Buddhism is just a philosophy?
ANSWER:
The word philosophy comes from two words philo, which means ‘love’, and sophia which means 'wisdom’. So philosophy is the love of wisdom, or love and wisdom. Both meanings describe Buddhism perfectly. Buddhism teaches that we should try to develop our intellectual ability to the fullest so that we can understand clearly. It also teaches us to develop love and kindness so that we can be like a true friend to all beings. So Buddhism is a philosophy but not just a philosophy. It is the supreme philosophy.
问：如此说来，佛教仅仅是一门哲学吗？
答：
“哲学”在英文里是“philosophy”，是从“philo”和“sophy”这两个字根结合而来。“Philo”的意思是爱，而“sophia”是智慧。那么哲学可说是“智慧的爱”或是“爱的智慧”。这两种解说很完整形容佛陀的教诲。
佛教指导我们全面开发我们的智能，以便能彻底地理解一切事物。他也教导我们要培养慈悲与爱心，并把慈爱施予一切众生。
由此可见，佛教不仅是一般的哲学，而是一门无上的哲理。
Back to 1.What is Buddhism?
QUESTION: Who was the Buddha?
ANSWER:
In the year 563 BC a baby was born into a royal family in northern India. He grew up in wealth and luxury but eventually found that worldly comforts and security do not guarantee happiness. He was deeply moved by the suffering he saw all around and resolved to find the key to human happiness. When he was 29 he left his wife and child and set off to sit at the feet of the great religious teachers of the day and to learn from them. They taught him much but none really knew the cause of human suffering and how it could be overcome. Eventually, after six years study, struggle and meditation he had an experience in which all ignorance fell away and he suddenly understood. From that day onwards he was called the Buddha, the Awakened One. He lived for another 45 years during which time he traveled all over northern India teaching others what he had discovered. His compassion and patience were legendary and he had thousands of followers. In his 80th year, old and sick, but still dignified and serene, he finally died.
问：佛陀是什么人？
答：
公元前563年，一名婴孩诞生于北印度的一个皇室里。他在豪富和奢侈的生活中成长，但总觉得世间的享受与安稳并不能确保生活就能幸福美满。他对世人所受的种种痛苦有无限的感触，所以下定决心要寻找人类幸福的秘诀。
在他29岁那年，他离开了爱妻与儿子，开始向当时的许多宗教导师求教。这些导师虽然教导了他不少，但始终没能解说痛苦的起因及解决方法。
最终，经过了六年的努力，苦行及禅修，他觉醒了，所有的无明随之而消逝。从那天起，他被尊称为“佛陀”，即觉悟者。
接下来的45年，佛陀游走北印度，宣扬他所证悟的道理。由于佛陀的慈悲和宽容在当时声明远扬，因此跟随他的信徒成千上万。在80岁那年，年万有病的佛陀终于安详地入灭。
Back to 1.What is Buddhism?
QUESTION: If he was only called ‘Buddha’ after he had this profound realization, what was his name before that?
ANSWER:
The Buddha’s family or clan name was Gotama, which means ‘best cow’, cattle being objects of wealth and prestige at that time. His given name was Siddhattha which means ‘attaining his goal’, the kind of name one would expect a ruler to give his son.
问：佛陀出家前叫什么？
释迦牟尼佛，原名乔达摩·悉达多（巴利文：Gotama Siddhattha；梵文: Siddhārtha Gautama），古印度释迦族人（生于尼泊尔南部），佛教创始人。
成佛后的释迦牟尼，尊称为佛陀，意思是大彻大悟的人；民间信仰佛教的人也常称呼佛祖、如来佛祖。在佛教中记载着农历的四月初八是佛教鼻祖释迦牟尼佛诞辰日。
（汉语读音释迦牟尼shì jiā móu ní，牟为多音字，在这里读móu。）
Back to 1.What is Buddhism?
QUESTION: Wasn't it irresponsible for the Buddha to walk out on his wife and child?
ANSWER:
It couldn't have been an easy thing for the Buddha to leave his family. He must have worried and hesitated for a long time before he finally left. But he had a choice between dedicating himself to his family or dedicating himself to the world. In the end, his great compassion made him give himself to the whole world, and the whole world still benefits from his sacrifice. This was not irresponsible. It was perhaps the most significant sacrifice ever made.
问：佛陀离家出走不是不负责任的行为吗？
答：
选择出家，一定是个不容易做出的决定。为此，佛陀必定踌躇忧虑了一段时间。佛陀当时可以选择将自己的一生献给家人，或是将之奉献给世界。出自于佛陀的慈悲心，他最终选择了后者。他的自我牺牲让世间所有的人从中受益。这非但不是不负责任，反而还是最有意义和价值的牺牲！
Back to 1.What is Buddhism?
QUESTION: If the Buddha is dead how can he help us?
ANSWER:
Faraday who discovered electricity is dead, but what he discovered still helps us. Louis Pasteur who found the cures for so many diseases is also dead, but his medical discoveries still save lives. Leonardo da Vinci who created masterpieces of art is dead, but what he created can still uplift the heart and give joy. Great heroes and heroines may have been dead for centuries but when we read of their deeds and achievements we can still be inspired to act as they did. Yes, the Buddha passed away but 2500 years later his teachings still help people, his example still inspires people, his words still change lives. Only a Buddha could have such power centuries after his passing.
问：佛陀既然已经去世，他如何能帮助我们？
答：
发现电流的法拉迪（Faraday)已经不再人间，但他的发现仍让我们受益。发现了许多疾病的治疗方法的路易斯.巴斯特(Luis Pasteur)已过世多时，但他的医学发现还在挽救无数的性命。达文西（Leonardo da Vinci）这名大画家虽已逝世，但他的创作尚能振奋人心并继续陶治世人的性情。许多伟人与英雄人物，虽然已经死了数百年，但他们的事迹与成就还是激励我们。
佛陀虽在2500年示寂，但今时今日，他的教诲依然造益世人，他的榜样仍旧启发人心，他所说过的话还在改造生命。只有佛陀，在去世了这么多世纪以后，依然有如此深远的影响力。
Back to 1.What is Buddhism?
2. Basic Buddhist Concept 佛教的基本教义
3. Buddhism and the God-Idea 佛教与“神”的概念
4. The Five Precepts 五戒
5. Rebirth 轮回
6. Meditation 禅修
7. Wisdom and Compassion 智慧与慈悲
8. Vegetarianism 素食主义
9. Good Luck and Fate 运气与命运
10. Monks and Nuns 僧团
11. The Buddhist Scriptures 佛教的经典
12. History and Development 历史与发展
13. Becoming a Buddhist 皈依佛教
14. Some Sayings of the Buddha 佛陀语录
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