"Self-realization" 「自內證」

 "Self-realization" (or "self-verification") is a term commonly used in Chinese Buddhism. It refers to the direct realization of the truth of Buddhism through external sources of learning, such as scriptures or teacher's teachings, as well as personal practice and experience.

「自內證」是漢傳佛教中常用的用語。它指透過外在的學習來源，如經典或老師的教誨，以及個人的修行和體驗，直接證悟佛教的真理。

On the other hand, "external paths" is a term used in Buddhism. It refers only to the practice of seeking salvation from external sources such as mercy or grace from the Mighty Saints, which are recorded in the scriptures or teachings of a teacher. (By the way, the term "external paths"  is only used to distinguish the practice that emphasizes less on direct realization. It is never equal to "heretic", which may have a derogatory connotation.)

另一方面，「外道」是佛教用語，只是用來區分不太強調直接開悟的修行方式。它指的是從外部（例如強大的聖人）尋求救贖的做法。這個用語不應該與「邪教」或「異端」混淆。

Both terms are important in distinguishing Buddhism from non-Buddhism, because they emphasize the importance of personal experience and direct realization in one's spiritual practice, rather than relying solely on external sources. While non-Buddhist traditions or teachings may have some value, they are ultimately considered to be incomplete, because they do not lead to the ultimate realization of enlightenment.

這兩個用語對於區分佛教與非佛教都很重要，因為它們強調個人經驗和直接實現精神修行的重要性，而不是僅僅依賴外部來源。雖然非佛教的傳統或教義可能有一定的價值，但它們最終被認為是不完整的，因為它們不會導致最終的證悟。

Therefore, "Self-realization" can be seen as a fundamental aspect of Buddhist practice, while "external paths" is used to distinguish between Buddhist and non-Buddhist spiritual practices. By understanding these concepts, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of personal experience and direct realization in Buddhist practice, as well as the significance of the Buddha's teachings in guiding us towards enlightenment.

因此，「自內悟」可以被視為佛教修行的一個基本面，而「外道」則被用來區分佛教和非佛教的精神修行。透過了解這些概念，我們可以更深刻地認識到佛法修行中個人體驗和直接證悟的重要性，以及佛陀教義引導我們走向開悟的意義。

Translation and interpretation 筆譯與口譯

 In the field of interlingua communication, intermediary services are needed to convey messages from one language to another language. These intermediary services fall into two main categories:  Translating, which focuses on written content and requires a high level of accuracy and can take time to produce. Interpretation, which deals with the spoken word and is convey immediately, thus it prioritizes understanding and communication over a perfect outcome. Although translating and interpreting may not share their requirements of skill sets, both share the requirements for understanding of the deep culture between the source and target languages, expert knowledge of the subject being dealt with, and the ability to communicate clearly in multiple languages.

在跨語言交流的領域，需要中介服務將某種語言的訊息以另一種語言來傳達。這些中介服務分為兩大類： 筆譯（筆譯），著重於書面內容，需要很高的準確性，並且需要時間才能完成。口譯（傳譯），涉及口語並立即傳達，因此優先考慮理解和溝通，而不是完美的產出。儘管筆譯和口譯對技能的要求可能不同，但兩者都對理解源語言和目標語言之間的深層文化、所處理主題的專業知識以及用多種語言進行清晰交流的能力有共同的要求。

Translating is a service that converts any information in written form into another language. It is available for websites, print, video subtitles, software, multimedia...etc. The focus of translating is to create a translation that is as close as possible to the source message. It retains the core information of the source message, and also maximizes the import of the context (customs, tone, idioms, colloquialisms, etc.) through rhetorical techniques that help better comprehension for the readers of the target language. This is a service that takes time to process after getting a source message. To speed-up the translating processing, most professional translators nowadays use computer-aided tools in their work. This involves converting the source content by applying corpus, automatically translating tools, etc. As the translator goes through each section of text, they may refer to glossaries and translation style guide templates to ensure quality. Finally, for ensuring the translation is as close as possible to the source text, one or more proofreads will be processed by the translator himself or by another translator.

筆譯是將任何書面形式的信息轉換為另一種語言的服務。它可用於網站、印刷品、視訊字幕、軟體、多媒體...等。筆譯的重點是創建盡可能接近來源訊息的筆譯。它不單保留了源訊息的核心資訊，也透過修辭技巧最大限度地引入語境（習俗、語氣、習語、口語等），讓目標語言的讀者更好地理解。這是一項在收到來源訊息後需要時間來處理的服務。為了加快筆譯處理速度，現今大多數專業筆譯人員在工作中使用電腦輔助工具。涉及到透過應用語料庫、自動筆譯工具等來轉換來源內容。譯者在筆譯文章的每個部分時，可能會參考術語表和筆譯風格指南範本來確保品質。最後，為了確保譯文盡可能接近源文本，譯者將親自或由另一位譯者進行一次或多次校對。

Interpreting refers to the service of repeating speeches in another language on the spot of a conference or meeting, an address, litigation proceedings, live TV coverage, or an expression of sign language. There are two types of interpreting for different situations. Simultaneous interpretation (SI) refers to the oral translating starting at the same time when the original speech started, and consecutive interpretation (CI) refers to the oral translating starting immediately when the source speech pauses or stops. It is impossible for interpreters to ensure the content of the message they are repeating in another language is completely consistent with the source message, as they are limited by the facts such as the speaker's accent, speaking speed, and unknown terminology, further, reference materials such as a dictionary are unavailable in the real-time translating they are dealing with. However, to keep the conversation going, interpreters must guarantee the accuracy of the core contents of the message they are repeating with their experience, memory, contingency capacity and the knowledge of the subject that they are dealing with.

口譯是在會議、演講、訴訟程序、電視直播或手語表達的現場將發言內容以另一種語言覆述的服務。針對不同情況，有兩種口譯方式。 同聲傳譯（SI）是指在源語發言開始的同時開始口譯，交替傳譯（CI）是指在源語發言暫停或停止時立即開始口譯。口譯員無法確保他們用另一種語言覆述的內容與來源訊息完全一致，因為他們受到說話者的口音、語速和未知術語等事實的限制，同時，在他們處理即時翻譯時，無法用到諸如字典之類的參考用品。然而，為了使對話能夠繼續，口譯員必須利用自己的經驗、記憶、應變能力和所處理主題的知識來保證他們所重複的訊息的核心內容的準確性。

Compared with becoming an interpreter, the quality for becoming a translator are not too demanding, so, the income of translators/charges for translating services are also relatively low. Therefore, who are willing to have a good development in this field of interlingua
communication, should cultivate the ability of oral and of cultural contrast beside the learning of reading and comprehension from school.

與口譯員相比，筆譯員的素質要求並不高，因此，筆譯員的收入/翻譯服務費用也相對較低。 因此，想要在跨語言交流這一領域中得到良好的發展，除了學校學習的閱讀和理解能力外，還應該培養口語能力和文化對比能力。

修心 Cultivating our mind

如果說修行是糾正我們的態度、言行等外在表現的一系列行為，那麼修心，即糾正我們的思想和意識的過程，就是展現我們內在智慧的方式。外在表現是受心引導和影響的，所以第一步，也是修行中常重複的步驟，就是修心。如果心修得正確，外在表現的糾正就會變得更容易。

If practice is a series of acts to correct our external performances such as attitude, words and deeds, then cultivating our mind,  the process to correct our thought and consciousness, is the way to show our inner wisdom. External performances are guided and affected by the mind, so the first step, and the step which is always repeated in practice, is cultivating our mind. The correction of our external performances will become easier, if the mind has been cultivated correctly.

修心的原因有很多。最主要的理由是，它可以幫助我們更了解和留意我們的想法、情緒和行為。這樣可以提高自我意識，並可以進一步幫助我們在日常生活中做出更明智和有意識的決定。此外，還可以幫助我們對他人產生更大的同情心、仁慈和同理心，從而建立更和諧和充實的人際關係。

There are many reasons for cultivating our minds. The majority one is that it can help us to become more aware and mindful of our thoughts, emotions, and actions. It can lead to greater self-awareness, and can further help us to make more informed and conscious decisions in our daily lives. Additionally, it can also help us to develop greater compassion, kindness, and empathy towards others, which can lead to more harmonious and fulfilling relationships.

修心的方法有很多，具體方法取決於個人的信仰和喜好。常見的方法包括冥想、正念、自我反省以及對他人的仁慈和慷慨行為。

There are many ways to cultivate our minds, and the specific methods depend on our personal beliefs and preferences. The common ways include meditation, mindfulness, self-reflection, and acts of kindness and generosity towards others.

打坐是修心的有效方法。它包括安靜地坐著，專注於我們的呼吸、特定的物體、現像或真言。打坐可以幫助平靜心靈，減輕壓力和焦慮，增加內心的平靜和幸福感。（順便說一下，根據關節和肌肉的身體狀況，打坐期間不一定要像佛一樣盤腿而坐。）

Meditation is an effective way to cultivate our mind. It involves sitting quietly and focusing on our breath, a particular object, phenomenon or mantra. It can help to calm the mind, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase one's sense of inner peace and well -being. (By the way, depending on the physical condition of joints and muscles, sitting cross-legged like a Buddha in the period of meditation is not a must.)

正念是另一種強力的修心的練習，讓我們以開放和不批判的態度專注於當下。它可以幫助我們更了解自己的想法和情感，並更清晰和深入地了解我們的內在運作。

Mindfulness is another powerful practice on cultivate our mind, it pays our attention to the present moment with an open and non-judgmental attitude. It can help us to become more aware of our thoughts and emotions, and to develop greater clarity and insight into our inner workings .

自我反思也是修心的一個重要面向。我們需要花時間反思我們的想法、感受和行動，並找出我們可以改進和成長的領域。寫日記、與值得信賴的朋友或治療師交談，或進行其他形式的自我探索都有助我們反思。

Self-reflection is also an important aspect on cultivate our mind. It requires us to take time to reflect on our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and to identify areas where we can improve and grow. The acts that help with self-reflection include journaling, talking with a trusted friend or therapist , or engaging in other forms of self-exploration.

最後，對他人仁慈和慷慨的行為也可以成為一種強大的修心方式。它包括志願服務、向慈善機構捐款，或只是對我們周圍的人表現出友善和同情心。透過學習相關的行為，我們可以對他人產生更大的同理心和同情心，並培養與他人的相互連結和團結感。

Finally, acts of kindness and generosity towards others can also be a powerful way of cultivate our mind. It includes volunteering, making donations to charity, or simply being kind and compassionate towards those around us. By learning from related acts, we can develop greater empathy and compassion towards others, and cultivate a sense of interconnectedness and unity with others.

我們在某些宗教的修行中，總會得到要修心的指導。但修心不僅僅是宗教上的教義。那些關注「改變心態」或「成長心態」等術語的人，會將「修心」放在他們所關注的學術界、商界或其他領域中運作，但是「修心」可以適用於所有日常生活中。 所以，凡是願意不斷修心的人，無論是否有宗教生活，都可以透過修心而過得更加順利。 它引導我們正確調整外在表現，從而讓我們在日常生活中享受更好的互動和協調。

We are always told to cultivate our minds in our practice of some certain religions. However, it is not only the teaching in religions. Those who focus on terms such as "Changing The Mentality" or "Growth Mindset" will process "cultivating our mind" on their aspects of academia, business or other fields they pay attention to, when "cultivating our mind" may apply to all daily aspects. So, everyone who is willing to keep cultivating his mind, whether they have a religious life or not, may enjoy a smoother life by cultivating their mind. It guides a correct adjustment to our external performance and thus lets us enjoy better interaction and coordination in our daily lives. 

四聖諦 The Four Noble Truths

四聖諦是佛教的核心教義。無論是南傳佛教（泰國、斯里蘭卡等南亞國家）、大乘佛教（中國佛教）或是藏傳佛教，都以四聖諦作為佛教信仰和修行的基礎。

The Four Noble Truths are the core teaching in Buddhism. Whether Theravada Buddhism (in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries), Mahayana Buddhism (Chinese Buddhism) or Tibetan Buddhism, they all regard the Four Noble Truths as the foundation of Buddhist belief and practice.

第一個是理解「苦」。苦難存在於世界上，是人類經驗的一部分。痛苦可以包括身體上的痛苦、精神上的痛苦、以及生活中普遍的不如意。

The first one is understand  "Suffering". Suffering exists in the world and is a part of human experience. Suffering can include physical pain, mental anguish, and the general unsatisfactoriness of life.

第二個是苦因的「(積)集」。透過十二因緣，我們可以知道痛苦的根源是我們對無常事物的執著和貪愛。 這些執著會導致我們走向痛苦。

The second one is the "Accumulation" on the cause of suffering. Through the Twelve Dependent Originations, we may know that the cause of suffering is our attachment and craving for things that are impermanent. These attachments lead us to suffering.

第三個是苦的“滅”，找到了苦的原因，就應該尋求滅苦的方法。透過修習八正道，我們可以減少或甚至停止對無常榮辱的執著和貪愛。

The third one is the "Cessation" of suffering, when the cause of suffering are found, solutions for cessation of suffering should be seeked. By practice the Noble Eightfold Paths , we may reduce or event stop our attachment and craving for honor and disgrace that are impermanent.

第四個是止息苦的「道」。我們可以在日常生活中應用八正道。它可以改善和加強我們的心理素質、靈性、言行舉止。當我們透過修習八正道，累積了更強大的內在力量並吸引更多的外在幫助後，我們就可以輕鬆地面對和克服痛苦。

The fourth one is the "Ways" to the cessation of suffering. We may apply the Noble Eightfold Paths in our daily life. It may improve and strengthen our psychological qualities, spirituality, words and deeds. We may face and overcome our suffering easily after we have accumulated our stronger inner strength and attract more outer assistance by practising the Noble Eightfold Paths.

值得注意的是，十二因緣與業力並非完全相同的概念，但可以相輔相成。十二因緣主要描述我們的慾望（執著和貪愛）可能會讓我們陷入痛苦的循環，而業力則強調我們的慾望所引導的意圖、言語和行為可能會引來今生和來世的善惡果報。然而，我們可以透過修行八正道來預防或處理我們的痛苦和果報。

It is worth noting that the Twelve Dependent Originations and Karma are not exactly the same concept, but can complement each other. The Twelve Dependent Originations mainly describe that our desires (attachment and craving) may possibly lead us to the loop of suffering, while Karma emphasizes that our intentions, words and deeds leding by our desires may carry out our good or bad consequences in this life and future lives. However, we may prevent or deal with both our sufferings and consequences by practicing the Noble Eightfold Paths. 

四聖諦為理解痛苦的本質和解脫之道提供了一個框架。前兩者描述了痛苦的本質及其原因，而後兩者則描述了結束痛苦的狀態以及實現這一目標的道路。它是佛教徒或其他希望擺脫痛苦的人的核心課程，也是進一步達至開悟的基礎。

The Four Noble Truths provide a framework for understanding the nature of suffering and the path to liberation from suffering. The first two describe the nature of suffering and its causes, while the last two describe the state of ending suffering and the path to achieve this goal. It the core lessons for Buddhists or other individuals who hope to escape from suffering, and also the foundation for further achieving of enlightenment.

順便說一句，我在之前的文章中已經分別對十二因緣和八正道做了簡單的介紹。但是，我覺得我所寫的內容不足以讓您對相關主題有更深入的了解。所以，我建議大家同時參考其他作者的相關文章。

By the way, I have separately made brief introduction for the Twelve Dependent Originations and the Noble Eightfold Path in my earlier articles. However, I feel that what I have written are not enough to give you a deeper understanding for the related topics. So, I recommend that you should refer to related articles by other authors at the same time.

「學佛」和「佛學」 "學佛"(Practice of Buddhism) and "佛學"(Study of Buddhism)

 「學佛」和「佛學」這兩個中文用語看起來相似，因為都是使用“學”和“佛”這兩字組成，但它們實際上代表了不同的佛教層面。「學佛」是一種個人的、經驗性的實踐，而「佛學」是一種學術性的、分析性的追求。

The two terms writing in Chinese,
"學佛" and "佛學", may seem similar due to their shared use of the Chinese characters "學" and "佛," they actually represent distinct approaches to Buddhism. "學佛" is a personal and experiential practice, while "佛學" is a scholarly and analytical pursuit.

「學佛」是指學習、修行佛法的行為。包括學習佛陀的教義，遵守佛教戒律，並進行禪修和其他修行，以培養智慧和慈悲。本質上，「學佛」就是積極追求精神道路，努力在日常生活中體現佛教的原則。

"學佛" refers to the act of learning and practicing Buddhism. It involves studying the teachings of Buddha, following Buddhist precepts, and engaging in Zen meditation and other practices to cultivate wisdom and compassion. Essentially, "學佛" is about actively pursuing a spiritual path and striving to embody Buddhist principles in daily life.

另一方面，「佛學」是指對佛教的學術研究。這涉及研究佛教傳統的歷史和文化背景，分析佛教文本和教義，並探索佛教思想的哲學和倫理意義。本質上，「佛學」是從理智的角度來理解佛教，並尋求理解其理論和概念。

On the other hand, "佛學" refers to the academic study of Buddhism. This involves examining the historical and cultural context of Buddhist traditions, analyzing Buddhist texts and teachings, and exploring the philosophical and ethical implications of Buddhist thought. Essentially, "佛學" is about approaching Buddhism from an intellectual perspective and seeking to understand its theories and concepts.

「佛學」對「學佛」有幫助，其中一方面是透過研究佛教的歷史及其隨時間的發展，修行者可以更深入地了解佛教思想和修行的起源和演變。這有助於闡明佛教教義的意思和意義，也能深入了解佛教思想在不同文化背景下如何適應和解釋。

One of the aspects that "佛學" can be helpful for "學佛" is by studying the history of Buddhism and its development over time, one can gain a deeper understanding of the origins and evolution of Buddhist thought and practice. This can help to clarify the meaning and significance of Buddhist teachings, and can also provide insight into how Buddhist ideas have been adapted and interpreted in different cultural contexts.

另一方面是提供理解佛教概念和實踐的框架。透過研究佛教經典和教義，人們可以更深入地了解業力（因果）、輪迴、四聖諦和八正道等概念。這可以幫助闡明這些概念的含義和意義，也可以為如何在日常生活中應用它們提供指導。

Another aspect is by providing a framework for understanding Buddhist concepts and practices. By studying Buddhist texts and teachings, one can gain a deeper understanding of concepts such as karma (cause and effect), reincarnation, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path. This can help to clarify the meaning and significance of these concepts, and can also provide guidance on how to apply them in daily life.

另外，學習「佛學」有助於加深禪修，這是「學佛」的重要面向。透過學習不同的冥想技巧及其背後的原理，人們可以發展出更有效、更有意義的冥想練習。這可以幫助培養正念、定力和智慧，這些都是對學佛感興趣的人必備的素質。

In addition, studying "佛學" can help to deepen one's meditation practice, which is an important aspect of "學佛". By learning about different meditation techniques and the principles behind them, one can develop a more effective and meaningful meditation practice. This can help to cultivate mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom, which are all essential qualities for those who are interested in 學佛.

總而言之，對於願意「學佛」的人來說，「佛學」是一個很有價值的工具。「佛學」透過了解歷史文化背景、理解佛教概念的框架、指導禪修，可以加深對「學佛」進步的認識，而不在於批評那些願意「學佛」的人的錯誤言行。

Summarly, "佛學" can be a valuable tool for those who are willing to "學佛". By understanding the historical and cultural context, a framework for understanding Buddhist concepts, and guidance on meditation practice. "佛學" can help to deepen one's understanding and practice of Buddhism, but not to criticize the wrong words and deeds of those who are willing to "學佛".