游白马寺感受佛教传输的力量
游白马寺感受佛教传输的力量Visiting White Horse Temple and Experiencing the Power of Buddhist Transmission
到河南旅游，名胜古迹多得数不胜数。
Henan is an ideal tourist destination.It has many places of historic interest and scenic beauty.
中原文化在河南，而中国五千年灿烂文化中，河南占有浓墨重彩的一笔，而这第一笔，应该从白马寺说起。
There is an idiom “The culture of the Central Plains is in Henan.” The culture there is such an important and splendid portrayal of China’s five thousand year civilization.With thick and heavy colours, the origin of Henan culture should surely come from the White Horse Temple.
白马寺位于中国河南洛阳城东12公里处，古称金刚崖寺，号称“中国第一古刹”，是佛教传入中国后第一所官办寺院。
The White Horse Temple is located twelve kilometers to the east of the new city of Luoyang, the original name is the Diamond Cliff Temple.It is said that China's first temple is the White Horse Temple. According to records in history books, the White Horse Temple was the first official temple built after the introduction of Buddhism to China.
它建于东汉明帝永平11年（公元 68年)，距今已有1900多年的历史。相传，汉明帝刘庄“夜梦金人，身有曰光, 飞行殿前，欣然悦之。明日，传问群臣，此为何神”？有臣答曰，此神即“佛”。
It was built in the eleventh year of the Yongping era of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 68), so it has a history of 1,945 years to date. According to legend, one night Emperor Ming of Han (Liu Zhuang) had a dream that he met a golden figure who could fly, whose face was full of delight and whole body could emit sunlight.The next morning, the emperor asked his ministers the question: “Who was this figure?” “Emperor, I think it is a Buddha, a kind of God,” a minister answered.
明帝即派遣大臣蔡愔、秦景出使天竺（今印度）寻佛取经。蔡愔、秦景取回了佛经佛像，并与天竺高僧摄摩腾、竺法兰东回洛阳，藏经于鸿胪寺，并进行翻译工作。次年建寺，名白马寺，寺址在汉魏洛阳故城雍门西1. 5公里处。白马寺, 在我国佛教史上占有重要地位，被尊为“释源”和“祖庭”，享有独特的地位。
“Where is the Buddha?” the emperor asked.“In the west,” the minister answered again.So the emperor sent Secretary Cai Yin, and Qin Jing on a mission to seek the Buddha in Tianzhu (today's India).It was about twenty years before Cai Yin and Qin Jing returned with Buddhist statues and scriptures, and also two Indian monks.The two monks were named SheMoteng and the ZhuFalan.They settled and stored the scriptures in Honglu Temple, which was located to the east of Luoyang.Soon then they began translating the work and the emperor gave them money to build a new temple.The next year a new temple was built, and the emperor named it the White Horse Temple.It was 1. 5 km from the temple to the site of the old city of Luoyang.The White Horse Temple occupies an important position in the history of Chinese Buddhism.It has been honored as the “Source” and “Ancestral Court.”
《西游记》西天取经的原型素材，和白马寺的白马有十分吻合的关系，只不过被作者描写为唐代了，而史实应该是汉朝，比唐朝早两百多年呢！
The ancient classic novel Journey to the West is based on the story and on the prototype materials that Cai Yin and Qin Jing went on a pilgrimage for, but the author depicted it happening in the Tang Dynasty two hundred years later.
现存白马寺坐北朝南，是一座长方形的院落，占地约4万平方米。
Facing the south，the White Horse Temple was built with a rectangular courtyard，with an area of about 40,000 square meters.
寺大门之外，左右相对有两匹石马，大小和真马相当，形象温和驯良。
In front of the temple gate you will see there are two stone horses standing opposite each other that look quite gentle and docile. Their sizes are similar to real horses.
寺内现存五层大殿，坐落在-一条笔直的中轴线上，有天王殿、大佛殿、大雄宝殿、接引殿及田比卢阁等建筑，殿堂共达百余间。
After entering the temple gate you will find there stand five main halls, built in a straight line.The five main haUs are named Heavenly King Hall, Big Buddha Hall, Great Buddha Hall, Code Hall and Pilu Hall.Besides the main halls, there are many pavilion buildings, amounting to more than 100.
我游白马寺感触最深的是佛教传输的力量。
When I visited the White Horse Temple, what impressed me deeply was the powerfulness of Buddhism's spread.
从汉朝派人到天竺取经开始， 佛教就由此传输到了中国，到东晋末年，广泛流行的佛教终于被梁武帝定为国教。
The spread of Buddhism in China began in the Han Dynasty after the two monks arrived from Tianzhu.In the later years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, finally established it as the state religion.
北朝则自石勒父子信奉佛图澄已大流行，中经魏太武帝短暂灭佛，至文成帝营造云冈石窟，佛教作为国教的地位不再动摇。
In the Northern Wei Dynasty, since Emperor Shi Le and his son believed in the Buddha, Buddhism became popular. Although later there was a short period when Buddhism was eradicated, eventually the emperor of Northern Wei built the magnificent Yungang Grottoes for the religion.
唐朝是形成佛教的鼎盛时期。接着佛教从中国又传入日本、朝鲜半岛以及周边国家。
The Tang Dynasty was Buddhism’s heyday and a time when it was transmitted from China to Japan, to the Korean Peninsula and to other surrounding countries.
可以说亚洲大多数国家信仰佛教。
Now most Asian people believe in Buddhism.
那么为什么佛教在亚洲大多数国家扎了根，甚至在亚洲某些国家成为国教呢，而没有像天主教那样成为西方国家的主要宗教或国教呢？
Why is the Buddhism rooted the most in Asian countries?In some Asian countries it is even the state religion.Why did Catholicism not become a major or state religion here?
佛教，经卷浩繁，相对《圣经》和《可兰经》而言，佛教的经卷多而且比较难懂，不仅仅因为是由梵文写的，其博大精深，让人耗尽毕生也难以全部弄懂, 但是她的基本常识如“向善”“因果报应论”“生命轮回论”等易于以农耕为主的人们接受。
I have found that Buddhist scriptures are so much more voluminous, while The Bible and The Koran are just one book.Buddhist scriptures are difficult for ordinary readers to understand, not only because they were originally written in Sanskrit, but also because they are so broad and profound, even if you spent a whole lifetime studying you would not fully comprehend them.But its basic knowledge such as goodness, karma, and the circle of life were easy for farming people to accept.
在中国，佛教是中国汉朝皇帝请来的，当然顺理成章地就成为了宗教信仰的主导。
The Eastern Han Dynasty emperor invited Buddhism into China, so of course it smoothly became the dominant religion.
而向善、因果报应、生命轮回等常识对于当时的人们来说， 解开了他们对宇宙观的谜团，比中国古老的多神宗教更科学、更系统、更宏大， 所以佛教替代了本土的宗教。
Good, karma, reincarnation, and the rest of the common sense of Buddhism, for the people at that time, unlocked their doubts about the mysteries of the universe.The farming people found that Buddhism was more scientific, more systematic, and more ambitious than the ancient Chinese polytheistic religion.Buddhism replaced this native religion.
况且，佛教并不讲究人生来平等，甚至认为人生来就是不平等的，这是和他的前因有关，这对于统治者和百姓来说，皆大欢喜， 各得其所。
Buddhism does not pay attention to equality, and even says that everyone’s life is not equal, for it is related to that of your ancestors.All the rulers and the people became satisfied with the explanation of life and played their proper role.
特别是其向善的学说，对于促进社会稳定有积极的作用。
The good doctrine of Buddhism especially works well to promote social stability with positive effect.
尽管佛教在中国因皇帝的推动而广泛传播（汉朝、晋、魏、唐朝、宋朝等许多皇帝都推崇佛教），但是，细分析，佛教没有像西方国家那样——天主教、 基督教等形成政治势力，并成为统治国家的机器。
Thanks to promotion by the emperors (in the Han, Wei, Jin, Tang, and Song dynasties many emperors respected Buddha), Buddhism widely spread through China.If analyzed finely however, you will find that it is not the same as Catholic and Christian formations in western countries.Buddhism has never turned become a political force, and has never become the official state machine in China.
这也正是佛教的伟大之处。
I would like to say that this is the greatness of Buddhism.
在西方的历史上，都留下中世纪宗教统治的黑暗一页，就连伽利略这样伟大的科学家都被教会处死。
In Western history medieval religious rule was a dark chapter, for example, even the great scientist Galileo was tortured to death.
而由于宗教成为国家机器，以铲除“异教”为名义的战争就接连不断。
Because religion was the state machine, there were many wars in the name of it to eradicate paganism.
佛教从没有成为任何一个国家的统治利器，相反，佛教更加弘扬和平，反对战争和“杀生”。
On the contrary, Buddhism has never become a ruling tool and there has never been so much as one war launched by Buddhism.
这对亚洲的农耕人们来说，符合人们渴望和平的愿望。
In contrast, Buddhism has promoted peace and strongly opposed wars.It is against killing.Asian farming people desired peace, so Buddhism was welcomed.
佛教对皇帝和对平民百姓都一样，只要你“向善”就“善有善报”，做恶就“恶有恶报”。
In Buddhism, no matter emperor or civilian, as long as you are good, you will receive the rewards of good, otherwise you will not receive rewards for virtuous deeds, but will receive evil for evil.
而扬善惩恶，是民心所向。
Usually rulers were overbearing and tended toward evil, and the disadvantaged people had to endure their bullying.
强势的统治者往往做恶多，而弱势的百姓只有受欺负的份，所以佛教不是统治者制服臣民的利器，相反，是百姓求得安慰和企求公平正义甚至感情宣泄的偶像，向善与否成为百姓内心评判统治者的标尺。
Buddhism was not the sharp tool for these rulers to use to subject their people.In contrast, people would be comforted from the Buddhism and they would consider Buddha justice god, and pray to him.To judge whether rulers were good or not depended on whether the mlers could benefit the people.Buddhism became the scale people used for evaluation.
因此，佛教更民间化、平民化，深受平民百姓的欢迎，所以她的传输的速度比其他宗教都快。
Therefore, Buddhism became more popular and welcome.The speed of Buddhism's transmission was faster than other religions.
此外，佛教不排斥其他信仰，没有“异教徒”概念，历史上从没有一场战争是因为佛教发起的。
In addition, Buddhism does not exclude other beliefs or paganism.
佛教对任何人都无条件地敞开大门，上至皇帝、达官显贵， 下至百姓、乞丐，甚至罪恶满盈的人，只要“放下屠刀”，从此向善，都可逐渐“修成正果”，或积荫后代。
Not only have no wars in history initiated from Buddhism, but Buddhism’s door has been kept open to everyone without condition, from the emperor, to dignitaries, to ordinary people, even beggars and impoverished men.Even someone who is full of sin, as long as he “puts down the butcher’s knife”，then does good，can gradually “accumulate karma to become immortal”，or can do so to benefit his offspring.
佛教并不因为富人钱多或官大就得到庇护多，而穷人并不因为穷就得到庇护少。
Buddhism does not shelter the rich or officials more than impoverished people.
这种平等和宽容的态度，也使佛教易于为百姓接受, 易于与其他宗教和平共处。
The equal and tolerant attitude of Buddhism is easy for people to accept.And it is easy to integrate with other religions peacefully.
相对天主教、伊斯兰教而言，佛教对以农耕为主的亚洲国家有更深远的影响。这是因为以农耕为主的人们被拴在土地上，因此最渴望和平和安定，不像游牧民族更富于征服精神，倡导和平和安定的佛教很快被亚洲以农耕为主的各民族所接受。
Buddhism, relative to Catholicism and Islam in the farming Asian communities has had a profound impact, because the farming people are tied to the land and strongly desire peace and stability, unlike nomadic people who are of richer spirit of adventure and conquest.
此外，在航海不发达的年代，陆路传播是佛教主要传播途径，中亚的沙漠和欧亚交界处隆起的山脉也阻挡了佛教西行的路线。
Buddhism meets the farming nationalities need.In addition, the main routes of Buddhism's transmission were on the Asian continent, but the Central Asian deserts and Eurasian junction uplift of mountains stopped Buddhism's westbound route.
亚洲向西国家的各民族在过去大部分是游牧民族，征服性占主导地位，因此，天主教、基督教、伊斯兰教等宗教更适合他们接受。
In the Westem countries most people in the past were nomadic and full of conquering spirit.Therefore, Catholicism, Christianity, Islam and other religions were more suitable for them to accept.
白马寺大雄宝殿内供奉释迦、药师及阿弥陀佛，东西分置十八罗汉，均为元代以来干漆工艺制成。
In the White Horse Temple main hall people worship Buddha, Pharmacists and Maitreya.In the splits there are eighteen Arhats, made in the Yuan Dynasty with a dried paint process.
百姓来白马寺企求除病消灾也是一大景观。
You will see many people come to the White Horse temple to eliminate disease and misfortune.
过去医学不发达，而佛教把佛学、哲学和医学作为和尚们的必修课，以便于他们“普渡众生”。
In the past all monks had to study three major subjects, Buddhism, philosophy and medicine as compulsory education.
寺庙免费舍药、舍粥等善举，特别是免费为百姓治病深受百姓的欢迎。
As a result, all monks had the ability to cure certain illnesses with science.They offered free medicine and food for impoverished people.
而百姓通过祈求的方式，使心理的焦渴得到平息，使身心的疾病得到缓解和消除，因此佛教在百姓心中的位置更加高大，也有利于佛教的传输。
Poor people soon warmly welcomed Buddhism.In the White Horse Temple，visitors’ psychological problems subsided, physical and mental diseases could be alleviated and eliminated, so Buddhism held a very important position in people's hearts.It indeed helped Buddhism to become popular and transmit quickly and widely.
游览白马寺，在最里面一层的大殿门口的牌匾和对联给我印象十分深刻， 甚至是一种震撼。
When I visited the White Horse Temple I found the innermost layer of the plaque and poetic couplet door impressed me most.I was so impressed I was shocked.
我记得上联是“慈航普渡难渡无根之草，佛法无边不佑不法之徒”。
“General salvation is difficult for the rootless grass to cross，while the boundless Dharma cannot bless the outlaw”.
我想这蕴含了佛学的精髓，做恶必受惩，向善终有报。
I think it contains the essence of Buddhism—doing evil will be punished, while good will be rewarded with good.
向善的人多了， 社会就多一份和谐，世界就多一份和平和美好。
The more people are inclined to goodness and charity, the more harmonious, peaceful and beautiful the world will be. 向善的人多了，社会更和谐，世界更美好。 还是中英双语的
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