星雲大師點撥 《迷悟之間》：放下與拿開

星雲大師點撥
《迷悟之間》：放下與拿開
有人說，心上有一塊石頭，你可以把它拿開，不拿開，壓力太重了！有人說，面前有一塊石頭，你要把它搬走，不搬走，不好向前！有人說，院子裏有一塊石頭，你要把它放好，不放好，不好看！
心上的石頭是什麼？憂愁、苦惱、悲傷、怨恨、煩悶、罣礙；尤其一股委屈之氣，比石頭更加嚴重！不把這許多東西放下，心上壓力太重了，日子實在不好過！
有時候，一個人成為我們心上的石頭，有時候，一件事成為我們心上的石頭；金錢、房屋、土地、物品，都會成為我們心上的石頭。石頭不放下，日子總是不好過。
想想我們一個人，也真是很有承擔力，心上的煩惱就不知道有幾千幾萬斤重！還有人情、經濟、生活的壓力，都不容易承受，尤其是非人我、得失好壞，這許多的石頭，一直壓在心上，難怪現代人都要學習紓解壓力，就是要想放下心上的一塊石頭。
豈但是心上的石頭難以放下，面前的石頭更是難以搬開。什麼是面前的石頭呢？公家的一個政策、團體的一個計劃、他人批評的一句言論、不同人事的一個主張，甚至紛至沓來的指責、批評、教訓、毀謗，都是不容易拿開的石頭喔！
心內的石頭、心外的石頭，一定要靠自己拿開，靠別人幫忙是不可能的。別人的勸解、安慰、鼓勵，也只是一時的，別人今天幫你挪開了心上的石頭，你明天、後日，還是會再有新的石頭堆積起來。
新的石頭有時候不是別人搬來的，而是自己找來的。所以，無論是放下石頭，還是拿開石頭，最重要的是「解鈴還須繫鈴人」，最好是學習佛法，用戒定慧搬開你心上的石頭，用八正道化解你心上的石頭。如果是心外、面前的石頭，你可以用智慧、慈悲、結緣，改變外在的石頭；外在的石頭獲得了你自我的改變，那麼石頭也就不成其為石頭了！
佛說「放下，就會自在」；能夠照見五蘊皆空，當然就會度一切苦厄，當然就能自在了！

Letting Go and Taking Away
Some people say that if there is a rock lodged in our minds, we must remove it. Otherwise, it becomes too much of a burden. Or, if there is rock on the road we are on, we also have to remove it so we can pass by. If there is a rock in the yard, we have to put it in the right spot for it to look good.
What are the rocks in our minds? Distress, worries, sorrow, hatred, depression, and anxiety; and when we are frustrated because we feel we have been wronged, it is worse than carrying any rocks in our minds. A particular person or a certain situation can also be like a rock. Even money, properties, or possessions can become rocks in our minds. If we do not let go of these rocks, they become our burden, and life will be difficult.
If you think about it, we are really quite strong, always carrying tons of worries in our minds! In addition to these worries, there are also human relations, finances, and the stresses of daily life. We have to deal with right and wrong, self and others, gain and loss, and good and bad all the time. They just keep piling high in our minds. No wonder people nowadays are learning to get rid of their stress and to let go of that rock in their minds.
Unfortunately, rocks are not easy to let go of. The pile of rocks in front of us is even harder to remove. What are the rocks in front of us? They can be a government policy, a group plan, others' disapproval, a different opinion, or in worse cases, endless blame, criticism, warnings, and slander. These are the rocks that are most difficult to get rid of.
It takes our own efforts to unload the rocks that are either inside or outside of our minds, because it is impossible to count on others to do the job. What others can offer for the moment are usually advice, consolation, and encouragement. Even if others helped us remove the "rocks" today, there will be other rocks tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow. Whether it be letting go or taking away the rocks, we must understand, "The one who can untie the bell is the one who tied it in the first place." The best way to do it is to learn and practice the Dharma. We can remove the rocks with morals, concentration, and wisdom or break them up by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path. If we are dealing with rocks outside our minds, we can apply wisdom and compassion and build relationships to change their nature. When these rocks are changed as such, they will no longer be rocks!
The Buddha taught us, "Let go, and be carefree." By being able to view the five aggregates as empty, we will naturally be able to liberate ourselves from all suffering and be carefree!