Promptly Transform Karma into Blessings
众生垢重，何人无罪？何者无愆？凡夫愚行，无明暗覆。
的确，人生在世间，谁能无过失，所以我们这几天就是这么说：「众生垢重，何人无罪？何者无愆？」
有意犯错称作「罪」，无意犯错叫做「过」；人生在世罪过难免，若能及时改过，将可转业为福。
罪，就是有意去犯错，称作「罪」；如果是无意犯的叫做「过」。我们平时可以知道，故意犯错实在是罪不可赦！平常时社会的法律也是这样说：「如果蓄意做出谋害的行为，罪就很重；无意的过失，这样罪就比较轻。」所以大家应该，最好不要有意去规谋，如何去害人，我们不可以这样。
如果是无心犯错，我们就要及时改过，因为我们知道，凡夫从无始以来，不知道在六道中轮转几回了！我们难免都有罪过，既然业报现前，我们应该要好好来警惕；过去的业如今现，我们如果可以及时改过，业就容易消。
三人行，必有我师焉，择其善者而从之，其不善者而改之，
- 《论语 述而 第七•二十一》
我们慈济里面就有很多的故事，有的人可以做我们的榜样，有的人可以作为我们的警惕；所以常有一句话说：「三人行必有我师焉，我们择其善而从之，其不善而改之。」
因缘果报聚合不定，只要心存善念，懂得择善迁过，命运亦可转。
在不久以前，有一位菩萨「美莲」，她虽然年纪不太大，现在才是中年，但是她过去的人生很坎坷，家境贫穷。她是大女儿，她不忍心父母那么拖磨，母亲也期待，女儿能够早日去工作，能够减轻家庭负担。虽然她很想再读书，不过，家境环境不允许，所以她也认命了。所以她到台北，在台北工作很辛苦，拿回去的钱很少，做妈妈的也会念她：「说别人到台北可以赚很多钱，工资很好，为什么妳每个月只拿这么少的钱回来？」
年纪小小的才十几岁，心直口快就回妈妈说：「妳如果希望我赚很多钱，我就去酒家陪酒，这样不就可以赚很多钱给妳？」在她的想法，妈妈如果听到这样，一定会阻止她，但是妈妈竟然没有阻止！她也负气这一点气，真的又回到台北，就去酒家陪酒。
有一天，就是在她十七岁的那一年，那天有一位客人，要找她下场跳舞，年纪小没有经验，看到客人跳舞那种态度，很好玩，跟他说了一句话，她说：「你跳舞好像猴子。」只是这句话，这个客人喝醉了，激怒了，就开始打她，打得她遍体鳞伤。
后来送到医院，全身都是伤，还年轻十几岁而已，怎能堪忍这样的痛？医病为了要帮她止痛，所以为她打吗啡。注射吗啡之后，她觉得很轻松，只要有一点痛就开始喊叫；所以就这样，吗啡麻醉了她的身，也麻醉了她的心。已经打上瘾了，离开医院之后就开始吸毒，她以麻醉自己本身来过日子。
她的内心非常地痛苦，经常想要割腕自杀，每次割腕自杀就被人送到医院，不知道经过几次。她说：「凡是有时这样自杀的时候，就会做梦，好像梦见师父。」我相信当时她还不认识我，但是她总是会梦见这样的出家人，以非常忧郁的眼神看着她。虽然做梦，但是醒了之后，还是过着那种迷茫、自我堕落的生活。
有一天，她想要去跳海，拦住一辆计程车，这辆计程车载她的时候，问说：「妳要去哪里？」她说：「要去海边。」就载她了，但是这个计程车司机，觉得这个女孩子好像心情不对劲，似乎很痛苦、很忧郁，一个人要到海边。所以这位司机就一直注意着，到海边下车后，这位司机很好心，在旁边不敢离开。
果然这女孩子真的要自杀，他赶紧拉住她，开始和她聊天、劝她；结果这个女孩子，自己已经比较清醒了。从此开始，回来后每次心情郁闷时，她就会打电话叫计程车，这位先生若是接到她的电话，就知道烦恼又来了、麻烦又来了。因为每次若是接送坐车，都要和她说很多话，要辅导她。不过，这位计程车司机很善良，所以他每次都会载她。
有一次回她跟他说，拜托司机先生载她回乡下，结果司机就载她回去了。原来是内山的乡下，不是普通的乡下。在山区里才发现到，这个女孩子原来这么孝顺，买东西回家，还有阿嬷、父母亲。看到她对阿嬷、对父母亲，那种态度，那种温顺体贴，这位司机先生看了之后，内心很感动，慢慢地培养出那分感情，结果这两个人结婚了。司机先生也是很疼她，建立了一个家庭。
这位少女离开了这个环境，她很想要改变她的习惯，不过，很难改，喝酒、抽烟、吸毒又赌博，在风月场所里，沾染到的习气很难改。司机先生很宽容，还是一样很爱她，三番五次劝她，她也说：「我知道，我会改！我会改！」不过，还是无法改。
有一回她已经怀孕了，因为怀孕，母性，母亲的天性，已经唤醒了她，开始自己很挣扎，知道自己怀孕，她不能再吸毒，不能再打吗啡，所以在挣扎之中，终于毒品戒掉了。很不容易，其实，这实在是慈母的天性。生完之后，她的毒是戒了，但是酒、烟、赌博，还是没有办法改，还是一样过着自我麻醉的生活。
有一回她身体不好去检查，检查之后，发现她有癌症，那个时候她自己吓到了：「为什么我的人生会这样？」也就是在那个时候，和慈济人接触了。结果来花莲之后，看到师父，觉得这就是了，每次自杀的时候，就是看到这位师父，都是很忧郁的神情。所以那时她就开始知道，人生的错误不可以再继续，所以很用心改过，戒酒、戒烟，当然也戒赌博。
那要怎么打发时间？做环保。所以用做环保来打发赌博的时间，用作环保经常和慈济人在一起，时时可以提醒，可以让她有那分醒悟的机会。所以慢慢地，这些习气都改过来了，所以这个家庭也慢慢地改变了。
这就是一念偏差，环境的缘所造成，在台北做女工，钱赚得比较少，母亲念她，只为这样一个念心起，无意中向母亲说了一句：「我去当酒女。」就是那个因缘、业；平常做父母的，怎么可能这么简单，就让孩子去做酒家女呢？但是孩子这样说，母亲以为她在开玩笑，就没有理她，她以为父母不爱她，就自甘堕落。这样一踏入风月场中，要自拔就困难了。幸好，她有一段福缘，遇到好人，所以可以让她在还年轻时，可以选择这条路，结婚了，这就是她的人生。
所以人生的因缘，「因」是过去所造的，「缘」就是现在所遇到的，如果没有那个因，也就没有那个缘，所以因缘会合，就是坏的种子，也可以转成好的结果。看，坐这台计程车，就是一个缘，就是转变她生机的一个缘。这个缘是否无因成缘？绝对不是，他们在过去生中，一定有因，人和人之间，彼此所结的缘成为因。否则计程车载过这么多人，从来不曾注意，任何一个人怎么样，只要载到目的地就是了。否则那么多计程车，她怎么不去叫，偏偏叫到这辆计程车？应该是她命不该绝，所以计程车司机才会一直注意。就只是这样，能够让她定下这辈子的方向。
当然虽然有了家庭，不过，若是再继续执迷下去，迷上加迷，这样不断再累积下去，这个家庭不久的将来，还是同样不堪设想。幸好，一场病痛，让她遇到我们慈济人，这个缘又在这里产生出来，这个缘真的改变了她的一生。
是否定业不可改？也可以改，只要你有很好的缘，自然我们懂得把握这个缘，我们人生的命运也是可以改的。
所以何人无罪？何人无愆？因为我们众生垢重，就是不断在造业，在不知觉中，业就愈积愈高。所以这个罪，有意的造罪，或是无意的犯错，这都是凡夫很平常的事。
我们学佛，就是要在平常中，找出人生、生命，因缘果报的道理出来，所以我们大家要时时多用心。
Sentient beings are steeped in defilement. Who is without transgressions? Who is without fault? Ordinary people behave foolishly and are covered with ignorance.
Indeed, in this world, there is no one who does not err. Lately, we have been discussing the passage, "Sentient beings are steeped in defilement, "Who is without transgressions?" "Who is without fault?"
Intentional offenses are called transgressions. Unintentional offenses are called mistakes. In life, transgressions and mistakes are inevitable. If we can correct our mistakes in time, we can transform karma into blessings.
Intentional offenses are called transgressions. Unintentional offenses are called mistakes. As we all know, committing an offense knowingly is unpardonable. This is also the way laws work in society. To deliberately commit a harmful act, is a grave offense. An unintentional act of misconduct, however, is a lesser offense. So we really should not scheme to harm others intentionally. We must not do this.
If we acted unwittingly, we must quickly correct out mistakes. Since time, we have cycled through this Six Reams ceaselessly and have inevitably committed transgressions. Thus as karmic retributions manifest, we must be more vigilant. As past karma manifests, if we can correct our mistakes in time, we can easily eliminate that karma.
In a group of three, at least one is my teacher. I will discern their good qualities to follow and bad qualities to avoid. - The Analects, 7-21
In Tzu Chi, there are many real life stores. Some people can serve as our role models. Some people can serve as our warning. There is a saying "In a group of three, at least one is my teacher. I will discern their good qualities to follow and bad qualities to avoid."
The coming together causes, conditions and retributions are not definite. As long as we have good thoughts and know to choose the good and avoid the bad, we can transform our fate.
Not so long ago, there was a volunteer named Mei-Lian. She was not very old, just middle aged but had a very hard life. Her family was poor. Being the eldest daughter, she felt for her parents who had to work very hard. Her mother hopped that the daughter could soon work, to lessen the burden of the family.
Although Mei-Lian hopped to continue her studies but her family's situation did not allow it. So she accepted her lot and went to work in Taipei. The work was exhausting and did not pay much. Her mother chided her, "Other people in Taipei are well paid and earn a lot. Why do you send back so little every month?"
She was young, only in her teens, so she quickly retorted "If you want me to make more money, I can be bar girl. That way I can send you loads of money." In her thought, if her mother hearing this would surely stop her. But her mother did not discourage her. In a fit of anger, she returned to Taipei and went to work at a bar.
One day, when she was 17 years old. A customer invited her to dance with him. Being young and inexperienced, she thought the way he danced looked very funny. So she remarked "You dance like a monkey." This simple remark, angered the customer who was already drunk, and he started beating her. She was completely covered in wounds and sent to the hospital lately with injuries all over her body.
She was only a teenager, how could she endure such pain? To alleviate her pain, they injected her with morphine. After the injections, she felt very relaxed. So she screamed at the slightest hint of pain. Consequently the morphine injections numbed her body as well as her mind. She became addicted to morphine. After she was discharged from the hospital, she began to abuse drugs to get through the day.
Inside she was suffering deeply. She often slit her wrists to kill herself. Yet each time she was rushed to the hospital. She did this countless time. She said: "Every time I tried to commit suicide, I would have a dream; I think I dreamt of Master Cheng Yen." I do not believe Mei-Lian even knew me then. But she would often dream of a nun who looked at her with such sadness. Although she had this dream, when she woke up, she still carried on with her dazed and self-destructive lifestyle.
One day she decided to drown herself in the ocean, so she hailed a taxi. When the driver asked her where she wanted to go. She said, "To the beach". During the drive, the driver felt that something was not right. She seemed very miserable and depressed and was going to the beach alone. So the driver watched her closely.
After she got out at the beach, the well-intentioned driver stayed and did not dare to leave. Indeed, she was going to commit suicide. He quickly grabbed her and began to talk to her and counsel her. Finally, this girl seemed more clear-headed.
From then on, every time when she was depressed, she would call for this particular taxi driver. And whenever he received her call, he knew that trouble was forthcoming. Every time she got into the car, he would have to talk to her a lot and counsel her. But this driver was very kind, so he always picked her up every time.
One day she asked him to take her back to her home village. So he took her home. Unlike a typical village, it was up in the mountains. After they arrived, he realized that she was very filial. She brought gifts home and was accommodating and considerate toward her grandmother and parents.
After the driver saw this, he was deeply touched. The gradually developed a relationship. Eventually they got married. He was very good to her and they started a family.
After leaving the bar, she really wanted to change her habits, but it was very difficult to quit drinking, smoking, abusing drugs and gambling. The bad habits she picked up from that shady world were very difficult to break. Her husband was very tolerant and still loved her deeply. Again and again, he tried to counsel her. She always said, "I know. I will change". But she was unable to.
Then, one time when she became pregnant, her maternal instinct finally awakened her to the need to change. She was thrown into turmoil. She knew that since she was pregnant she must not abuse drugs by injecting herself with morphine. After much struggle she finally quit her addiction. It was not easy. Truly, maternal instincts made this possible. After she gave birth, she remained drug-free. But she continued to drink, smoke and gamble and still lived a numbing life.
One time, she felt ill and had a physical. She was diagnosed with cancer. It frightened her and made her think, "Why did my life turn out this way?” It was also at this time that she came into contact with Tzu Chi volunteers. As a result she came to Hualien. When she saw me, she thought to herself, "That's her！" 'This is the sad-looking Master whom I saw in my dreams every time I attempted suicide".
From that moment on she realized that she could not continue making the same mistakes in her life. So she made a great effort to reform herself to quit drinking smoking and gambling. How did she pass the time? By sorting recyclables. She started sorting recyclables with the time that she usually spent on gambling. By spending that time with Tzu Chi volunteers, she was constantly reminded of what was right. Gradually she corrected all her bad habits and her family was slowly transformed.
This all started with a misguided thought. Her family circumstances created the conditions that sent her to Taipei for work. Because she did not bring in much income, her mother chided her and in the heat of the moment, she unintentionally said, "I will be a bar girl". Such were the causes conditions and karma. What normal parents in the world could let their daughter compromise herself as a bar girl? But when the girl made that remark, her mother thought she was joking and ignored her. Mei-Lian thought her parents did not love her. So she degraded herself. After becoming involved in such a place, she was in too deep to save herself.
Fortunately, she had the blessed affinity to meet a good person. She was able to choose another path and get married while relatively young. This is the course of her life. The seeds in one's life were sown in the past. What one encounters now are the conditions. Without such causes, such conditions would not exist. So when causes and conditions converge, even bad seeds can yield good fruits.
Taking this particular taxi on that day was a condition. It was a life-charging condition. Did this come out of nowhere? Definitely not. They must have sown this seed in the past. Conditions created through human interactions become future causes. Out of all the passengers he had driven, he never took special notice of any of them. He just took them to their destinations. Out of all the taxis she could have called, how did she end up with this one? It was probably not her time to go, so the taxi driver noticed her and changed the course of her life.
Although she had a family, if she were to continue with her deluded ways, her family would also suffer tremendously. Fortunately, her bout with cancer led her to meet Tzu Chi volunteers. Another condition arose here. This condition truly turned her life around.
Is it possible to change Karma? Yes, it is possible. As long as we know to seize favorable conditions, we will be able to change our fate.
Who is without transgressions? Who is without fault? Steeped in defilement, sentient beings continuously create karma and unconsciously accumulate karma. Therefore, intentional transgressions or unintentional mistakes are common things for ordinary people.
To learn Buddhism is to seek the truth of karmic retributions in our ordinary lives. So everyone, please always be mindful.
出处：http://moya.iyard.org/bin/view/Blog/BlogEntry2179
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