Lantern Festival 元宵節

Today, March 3, 2026, the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Lantern Festival. In traditional Han Chinese culture, this festival is considered the final part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. On this day, people, especially young couples, gather at temple fairs to guess riddles on lanterns. Therefore, the Lantern Festival is also regarded as Valentine's Day.
今天是2026年3月3日，也就是農曆新年的第十五天，元宵節。在傳統漢族文化中，這個節日被認為是農曆新年慶祝活動的最後部分。在這一天，人們，尤其是年輕情侶，會聚集在廟會上，一起猜測燈籠上的謎語。因此，元宵節也被視為情人節。

Due to advancements in technology that allow people to access information and communicate instantly, the significance and atmosphere of this festival have been greatly diminished.
由於科技進步使人們能夠即時獲取資訊和進行交流，這個節日的意義和氛圍已經大大減弱了。

What I want to say is that today is the day to mourn my master, the
Venerable Master Hsing Yun. He is the founder of Fo Guang Shan (Taiwan), passed away on the Lantern Festival in 2023.
我想說的是，今天是悼念我的師父，尊貴的星雲大師的日子。他是佛光山（台灣）的開山祖師，於2023年元宵節圓寂。

The Six Supernatural States 六通

The Five Insights that were briefly talked about in the previous article are the subjects every Bodhisattva must master to serve beings wisely. These Five Insights are the foundation of the Six Supernatural States, or, it could be said that the Six Supernatural powers are the wisdom and status that naturally arises after an individual has cultivated the Five Insights to a certain level.
上一編文章簡介了五明是每位菩薩為了更有智慧地服務眾生所以必須精通的功課。五明是六通的基礎，或者說，六通是個人在修習五明到一定程度後自然而然產生的智慧和境界。

Clairvoyance: The ability or status of view things that are invisible to ordinary people, including the heavens, hell, ghosts and spirits, and scenes from the future or the past. Also, to view things that are extremely far away or obstructed.
天眼通：能夠看到一般人看不見的事物，包括天堂、地獄、鬼魂和精靈，以及未來或過去的景象。此外，還能看到極其遙遠或被遮蔽的事物的能力或狀態。

Clairaudience: The status of Extraordinary auditory perception, unrestricted by time, space, or language, which able to hear sounds from heaven, hell, the dead, and other realms that are inaudible to ordinary people.
天耳通：非凡的聽覺感知狀態，不受時間、空間或語言的限制，能夠聽到來自天堂、地獄、死者和其他領域的聲音，而這些聲音是普通人聽不到的。

Extra-sensory Perception: Like telepathy in psychology, advanced practitioners may directly perceive or read the thoughts, intentions, and feelings of others.
他心通：就像心理學中的心靈感應一樣，高階從業人員可以直接感知或讀取他人的想法、意圖和感受。

Insight of Fate: An awareness that may help practitioners to eliminate afflictions and achieve liberation by understanding the cause and effect (karma in the past and the fate of the future).
宿命通：一種能幫助修行者透過理解因果（過去的業力與未來的命運），從而消除煩惱並獲得解脫的覺察力。

Supernatural of Moving Freely: Moving freely, manifesting transformations.
神足通：能夠做出非凡的動作，例如飛行、消失、穿越空中或地面，以及改變自己的外觀。

Complete Cessation of Defilements: Different from the previous five states that can be reached by the practitioners of other religions, this is a unique supernatural ability or state in Buddhism, referring to the state of complete liberation without any lingering afflictions or suffering. It can be achieved if a practitioner of Buddhism has the ability to completely eliminate all afflictions, attachments, and karmic obstacles.
漏盡通：有別於其他宗教修行者所能達到的前五種境界，此乃佛教獨有的超然能力或境界，指完全解脫、毫無煩惱與苦痛殘留的狀態。若佛教修行者具備徹底消除一切煩惱、執著與業障的能力，便能證得。

Modernly, The Six Supernatural States refers to extraordinary competitiveness and wisdoms in the aspects of daily living and providing services. Clairvoyance and Clairaudience make the reception and dissemination of information more detailed and transparent; Extra-sensory Perception is more effective in communicating, utilizing talent and making virtuous friends; Insight of Fate brings more effective reasoning and prediction of the causes and consequences of events; Supernatural of Moving Freely is the wisdom to skillful decisions and flexible actions; Complete Cessation of Defilements is a special and unique wisdom in Buddhism that enables the practitioners attain enlightenment, it arises from continuously practices of guide all beings from defilements (Insight of Inner).

現代來說，六通指日常生活與服務提供層面所展現的非凡競爭力與智慧。天眼通與天耳通使資訊接收與傳播更為詳盡透明；他心通在溝通、任用賢能及結交良友方面更為卓效；宿命通帶來對事件因果更精準的推演與預判； 神足通乃精準決策與行動變通之智慧；漏盡通乃佛教獨有之殊勝智慧，修持者藉此證悟解脫，此智慧源於持續引導眾生遠離煩擾（內明）的修行。

The Five Insights 五明

The Five Insights of Buddhism are the subjects every Bodhisattva must master to serve other beings. On the other hand, the Six Supernatural powers are the abilities that are naturally acquired when preparing to enter a state of liberation that is before achieving enlightenment.
佛教的五明是每位菩薩必須精通的功課，以便為眾生服務。六通則是在準備進入解脫狀態（即證悟之前）的過程中自然而然獲得的能力。

Let's have a brief talk about The Five Insights in this article.
本文是五明的簡介。

Insight of Language: Technologies and abilities related to communication, such as language, writing, rhetoric, body language, and translation, that facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of information and knowledge.
聲明：語言、寫作、修辭、肢體語言、翻譯等與溝通相關的技術和能力，能夠促進訊息與知識的獲取和傳播。

Insight of Arts & Crafts: Practical skills and abilities required for daily life and survival, such as skills like farming, carpentry, blacksmithing, and plumbing, or abilities like mathematics, music, management, and accounting.
工巧明：日常生活和生存所需的實用技能和能力，例如耕作、木工、鐵匠和水管工等技能，或數學、音樂、管理和會計等能力。

Insight of Medicine: Pharmacological and nursing techniques for alleviating or eliminating physical and mental illnesses in all living beings.
醫方明：減輕或消除一切眾生在身心方面的疾病的藥理和護理技術。

Insight of Logic: The ability of logical thinking for establishing appropriate words and actions to respond to a phenomenon by drawing on experiences.
因明：結合經驗來確定適當的言語和行動來應對某種現象的邏輯思考能力。

Insight of Inner: The wisdom that guides and regulates the continuous development and ethics of the other insights, which can be obtained through study and exploration of philosophy, spiritual practices, and meditation (especially Zen meditation).
内明：其他四明在持續發展與倫理上的引導與規範的智慧，可透過研究與探索哲學、靈性修習及冥想（特別是禪修）而獲得。

The study and practice of the Five Insights are directly the practice of the Noble Eightfold Paths* in Buddhism. These are not only the practices for improve personal character by serving other sentient beings, but also the means for improve the quality of life and interpersonal relationships.
五明的學習和實踐直接等同於佛教八正道*的修行。這些不僅是透過服務眾生以改善個人品德的修行方法，也是改善生活品質和人際關係的途徑。

* please view my article at: 請參看我的文章：
https://arkai-1975.blogspot.com/search?q=eight+path

NewYear Outlook 新年展望

Dear Friends:
各位朋友：

As we transition into the new year, we welcome 2026. The past year has been turbulent, with challenges piling up, but it also reminds us that only by upholding our beliefs amidst the storm can we see the dawn.
在這新舊交替之際，我們迎來了2026年。過去一年，世界並不平靜，挑戰接踵而至，但也提醒我們：唯有在風雨中堅守信念，才能看見黎明的曙光。

2025 Review  回顧2025年
US Tariff War: In 2025, the US significantly increased tariffs, bringing the global effective tariff rate to its highest level in a century, escalating trade tensions and putting pressure on supply chains.

美國關稅戰：2025年，美國大幅提高關稅，全球有效關稅率達到百年來最高水平，貿易緊張加劇，供應鏈承壓。

Russia-Ukraine War: The conflict continues, the security situation in Europe remains tense, and energy and food markets are profoundly affected.
俄烏戰爭：戰事仍未停歇，歐洲安全局勢持續緊繃，能源與糧食市場受到深刻影響。

Thailand-Cambodia War: In December 2025, fierce clashes erupted on the Thai-Cambodian border. Although a ceasefire agreement was signed under international mediation and prisoners of war were released, nearly 100 people died and millions were displaced, highlighting the fragility of peace.
泰柬戰爭：2025年12月，泰柬邊境爆發激烈衝突，雖在國際斡旋下簽署停火協議並釋放戰俘，但近百人死亡、百萬人流離失所，和平仍顯脆弱。

Taiwan Strait Situation: US-China-Japan-Taiwan relations have entered a "strategic decision-making period." The US has increased arms sales and deployments, Taiwan has increased its defense budget significantly, Japan claims that Taiwan's survival affects its own security, and China continues to exert military pressure, leading to escalating regional tensions.
台海局勢：美中日台關係進入「戰略決斷期」，美國加強軍售與部署，台灣追加巨額國防預算，日本宣稱台灣存亡影響日本安全，中國則持續軍事壓力，區域緊張升高。

China's Stance: In the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China faces external pressures and weak domestic consumption. Policies emphasize expanding domestic demand and technological self-sufficiency, but the foundation for economic recovery remains fragile.
中國肅條：中國在「十四五」收官之年，面臨外部壓力與內部消費疲弱，政策強調擴大內需、科技自主，但經濟回升基礎仍不穩固。

World Economy: Global growth slowed to approximately 2.3-2.8%, the slowest level since 2008. Trade barriers, policy uncertainty, and geopolitical conflicts led 70% of economies to lower their growth forecasts.
世界經濟：全球增速放緩至約2.3–2.8%，創下2008年以來最慢水平。貿易壁壘、政策不確定性與地緣衝突，令70%經濟體下調增速預測。

Outlook  展望
Challenges: Tariff barriers, the shadow of war, and geopolitical competition have filled the world with uncertainty.

挑戰：關稅壁壘、戰爭陰影和地緣政治競爭使世界充滿不確定性。

Hope: International cooperation remains the only way forward. Whether it's anti-fraud consensus, regional security dialogue, or global economic policy coordination, all can inject strength into peace and prosperity.
希望：國際合作仍是唯一出路。無論是反詐共識、區域安全對話，或是全球經濟政策協調，都能為和平與繁榮注入力量。

Conclusion  結語
In the new year, may we uphold our original aspirations amidst turmoil and find opportunities in adversity. Let 2026 be a year of rebuilding trust and pursuing peace.
新的一年，願我們在動盪中堅守初心，在困境中尋找契機。讓2026成為重建信任、追求和平的一年。