Tobacco Ban 禁煙

Scientific research has fully demonstrated that smoking is harmful to health, leading to serious diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. Many countries have taken measures to regulate smoking through restrictions, taxation, and public health campaigns. However, global smoking bans have not yet been implemented for several reasons:
科學研究已充分證明，吸煙有害健康，會導致肺癌、心臟病和呼吸系統疾病等嚴重疾病。許多國家已採取措施，透過限制、徵稅和公共衛生運動來規範吸煙，但由於以下幾個原因，全球禁菸尚未能實施：

- Tobacco industry is a large global enterprise that generates billions of dollars in revenue and employs millions of people, and governments rely on tobacco taxes as a significant source of revenue.
- 煙草業是一個龐大的全球產業，創造了數十億美元的收入並僱用了數百萬人，並且政府依賴菸稅作為重要稅務收入來源。

- Global bans on smoking could promote illegal markets, leading to unregulated products that may be even more dangerous.
- 全球禁煙可能助長非法市場，導致產品不受監管，甚至更危險。

- Many people believe individuals should have the right to make their own choices, even if those choices are harmful.
- 許多人認為個人應該有權利做出自己的選擇，即使這些選擇是有害的。

- In some cultures, smoking is deeply rooted in traditions and social interactions, making comprehensive bans difficult to enforce.
- 在某些文化中，吸煙深植於傳統和社會互動中，因此全面禁止吸菸很難實施。


What I want to say is:
我想說的是：

First, although citizens' smoking habits can bring extra tax revenue to the government, we should not overlook the greater private and public health costs caused by smoking and secondhand smoke on smokers and those affected by it.
首先，市民的吸煙習慣雖然可以為政府帶來額外的稅收，但不要忽視吸煙對煙民及受二手煙影響的人在健康方面更大的私人與公共支出！

Second, the costs associated with tobacco control— including publicity, legislation, and enforcement—are not less than those of a ban. In essence, a smoking ban is simply to regulate tobacco products as drugs, which would only slightly increase the costs related to combating illegal substances. If there are concerns that banning smoking might not suppress illegal markets, I believe these countries are simply incapable of cracking down on any illegal activities.
第二，現在各國著眼於控煙的成本，包括宣傳、立法與執法上的人力與財力，絕不低於禁煙。禁煙簡單來說就是將煙草產品列為毒品來監管，只是稍為增加一點在打擊違禁品方面的成本吧！若然擔心禁煙後無法壓制相關的非法市場，我想，這些國家跟本無能力打擊任何違法行為！

Third, personal freedom should not infringe upon the welfare of others. Medical evidence has shown that smoking seriously affects the smoker's health and is a form of slow self-destructive behavior; the secondhand smoke exhaled by smokers can impact the health of those nearby, which is akin to chronic murder!
第三，個人自由不應該侵犯他人的福祉。已有醫學證明，吸煙會嚴重影響自己的健康，是一種慢性自殺的行為；吸煙時吐出的二手煙，會影響附近其他人的健康，這就等於慢性謀殺！

Fourth, although tobacco was once used as a medicinal substance by shamans, modern medicine and pharmaceuticals have advanced significantly. Therefore, we should not ignore its harms and preserve it solely because of its historical and cultural significance.
第四，雖然煙草曾經是巫醫所施用的藥物之一，但是現在有更先進的醫學與藥物，就不應該僅僅因為煙草與吸煙是歷史文化就無視其傷害地將其保留下來。

Since taxation and illegal markets are mentioned, here is a transition approach as reference from tobacco control to the tobacco ban: smokers can only buy and enjoy tobacco products and smoke in smoking areas with special licenses! These places need to be equipped with appropriate facilities to ensure that smokers do not bring tobacco products and secondhand smoke into the community through their skin, clothing or even lungs after smoking. This approach will allow the government to retain tax revenue, create jobs, reduce public health costs in the community caused by secondhand smoke, increase smokers' opportunity costs when smoking, and clearly convey the government's message and determination to eventually ban smoking.
既然提到了稅收與非法市場，這裡有一個從控煙到禁煙的過渡做法，可供參考：吸煙者只能在領有特別牌照的吸煙場所買到並享用煙草產品！這些場所需要設有適當的設施，以保證吸煙者在吸煙後不會透過其皮膚、衣物甚致肺部將煙草產品及二手煙帶入社區。這做法可讓政府保留這方面的稅收，創造就業機會，減少社區中因為二手煙做成的公共健康開支，增加煙民在吸煙時的機會成本，並明確帶出政府在最終禁煙方面的訊息與決心。

Brief talk on "Self-Nature" 淺談「自性」

"Self-Nature" is a concept by Buddhists which refers to the state or nature where something exists on its own without depending on any condition. The challenge in the comprehension of this concept (especially for those unfamiliar with Buddhist philosophy) is that it cannot be realized in the real world. However, we can attempt to interpret it reluctantly as a concept that is the opposite of "Emptiness".

「自性」是佛教的概念，指事物不依賴任何條件而自然存在的狀態或性質。理解這一概念的挑戰（特別是對於那些不熟悉佛教哲學的人來說）在於它無法在現實世界中實現。然而，我們可以勉強地嘗試將其解讀為與「空性」相反的概念。

Through exploration of "Emptiness", we got an idea that all phenomena, including material, psychological and emotional, never possess an inherent, unchanging essence. This means everything arises due to the interdependence of causes and conditions, and is not created by nothing. This idea leads us to gradually understand that we should approach things happen with greater freedom (wisdom and flexibility) and more compassion, but not with a cold, nihilistic sense.

透過對「空性」的探索，我們認識到一切現象，包括物質、心理和情感，都不具備固有的、不變的本質。意思是說，一切事物都是因緣合而產生的，不是無中生有。這種想法使我們逐漸明白，我們應該以更大的自由（智慧和靈活性）和更多的同情心來對待發生的事情，而不是以冷漠、虛無的心態來對待。

However, the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice is to achieve enlightenment and Buddhahood. When "Enlightenment" refers to the exploration and practice of "Emptiness", on the other hand, "Buddhahood" refers to the discovery of  "Buddha-Nature", a transcendental state due to "Enlightenment". This transcendental state is shared by all sentient beings (all life, physical or spiritual) and is inherent, eternal, unchanging. The achievement of Buddhahood means a thorough understanding of "Buddha-Nature", that is, the only eternal "Self-Nature".

然而，佛教修行的最終目的，是達致開悟與證得佛果。如果說「開悟」是指對「空性」的探索與修行，那麼「佛果」則是指因為「開悟」而發現（並安住於）一種超脫的境界。這是一切眾生（所有的生命體，無論是物質生命體還是精神生命體）所共有的、也是本有的、永恆的、不變的境界。「佛果」就是對「佛性」，也就是唯一的「自性」的透徹了解。

We will never be able to understand and accept the concept of "Buddha-Nature" as integration and symbiosis if we have never got a deep understanding of "emptiness". That is, we will definitely continue to compete or infringe on each other for temporary success and failure or gain and loss when we remain keeping our consciousness and cognition on the appearances that we attach. Thus, the understanding and comprehension of "Buddha-Nature", or named as "self-nature" , is a great challenge.

如果我們對「空性」沒有深刻理解，就永遠無法理解和接受「佛性」一體共生的概念。也就是說，當我們的意識和認知停留在我們所執著的外相（表像），我們仍然會為了暫時的成敗、得失而繼續相互競爭、互相侵害。因此，對「佛性」，或者說「自性」的認識和理解是一個很大的挑戰。

Even though there are great challenges in the process of understanding and finding our "Self-Nature", it does not mean there is no hope of doing that. Whether we are facing trivial incidents in our daily life, or the major events that shock the world, we can attempt to cultivate our compassion and wisdom to replace our attachment on any appearances. When we are no longer attached or trapped by the phenomena, we can achieve enlightenment gradually, and thus get known as our "Self-Nature" and achieve Buddhahood.

即使在理解和尋找我們的「自性」的過程中存在重大挑戰，但這並不意味著我們沒有希望做到這一點。無論我們是面對日常生活中的瑣碎事件，還是震撼世界的重大事件，我們都可以嘗試培養我們的慈悲和智慧，以取代我們對任何表象的執著。當我們不再被現象所束縛或執著時，我們可以逐漸實現開悟，從而認識到我們的「自性」，達致成佛。