出於污泥而不染

蓮花通常是佛教的象徵，因為它美麗的花朵來自池塘底部的軟泥、淤泥和臭泥。 它為生活中的困難提供了一個絕妙的類比，因為若有技巧地應對，dukkha【生活中各類的不自在感】就可以促進智慧的成長。沒有污泥，就沒有蓮花。人生的苦難有可能成為智慧的催化劑嗎？

The lotus plant is often a symbol of Buddhism because its beautiful flower has grown from the slime, sludge, and smelly mud at the bottom of a pond. It provides a wonderful analogy for life’s difficulties, because when approached skilfully, dukkha, can provide the stimulus for the growth of wisdom. Without mud, there is no lotus. Could it be possible that life’s suffering can be the catalyst for wisdom?

excerpted from Mud And Lotuses: The Buddhist Meaning Of Dukkha by Mal Huxter

小語：

一灘濁水沒有影響了蓮花的色澤、香氣和生長，這一『出於污泥而不染』之說，大家並不陌生。回到當前生活上去做反思，今年的疫情猶如一灘濁水，祈願大家依然能像蓮花般的芬芳綻放。齊心防疫，同舟共濟。

另，正面思考與寫作：自己是否曾有『看似污泥卻成功轉化成智慧』的生活或修行上之經驗？