今天的社会都在通过鼓动欲望而刺激消费。厂家在不断升级产品，商家则全方位地激发购买欲，整个社会处在占有、攀比和竞争中。

Nowadays, society fuels consumption by constantly feeding into people’s desires. With each new product iteration, and through aggressive marketing strategies, sellers tap into the public’s purchasing impulses from every conceivable angle. As a result, we find ourselves living in a cycle of constant buying, comparing, and striving to outdo others.

我们不但想占有财富，还会不断攀比：我要比你有钱，比你消费得起。这种攀比带来了竞争，甚至是不择手段的恶性竞争。一旦陷入这种占有、攀比和竞争的循环，人就会被裹挟其中，难以自主。

It’s not enough to simply have resources; the ambition often extends to surpass others by having more wealth and living more extravagantly. These comparisons foster a competitive atmosphere, sometimes leading to unethical behavior in an attempt to stay ahead. Falling into this cycle of endless buying, comparing, and competing can strip us of our independence, making us prisoners to these dynamics.

我们现在有了那么多便利的生活用品，可以从洗衣做饭的劳作中解放出来，却没能因此过得悠闲，反而活得更累。为什么？

Today, our homes are filled with convenient appliances intended to ease our daily tasks. However, rather than enjoying increased leisure, we find ourselves more exhausted than ever. Why is this the case?

在过去的年代，我们虽然物质清贫，但相对单纯，也没有攀比带来的压力。但在今天这个全球化的时代，我们可以看到太多激发欲望的东西，这就很容易带来攀比。

In simpler times, with fewer material possessions, life was straightforward, and we weren’t caught up in the competitive frenzy of today. The modern era, marked by globalization, presents before us countless stimuli that trigger our desires and lead to constant comparisons.

有了这个，还要那个；拥有之后，还要追求品牌。为了攀比，只能不断向前。我们付出的很多努力，既不是生存所需，也不是生活和生命的需要，而是攀比让自己停不下来。

Once we acquire one item, our attention quickly shifts to the next; having met our basic needs, we aspire for luxury and status symbols. Our relentless comparisons propel us into unnecessary toil – not for survival, genuine well-being, or answering the profound questions of life, but for the sake of vanity, denying us the opportunity to ever take a break.

另一方面，发达的资讯和各种电子产品也在侵占我们的时间。尤其是手机和移动互联网，让很多人时时刻刻地粘著其上。在那些庞杂的信息碎片中，我们的时间碎片化了，注意力碎片化了，生命也变得破碎不堪。

Additionally, modern electronic devices and the vast array of information channels consume a significant portion of our time. The allure of smartphones and the internet has become a source of addiction for many. As information becomes more fragmented, so too do our time, our attention spans, and our increasingly frazzled lives.

现在很少有人可以安安静静地和自己相处，一旦有点时间，就得在手机上看些什么，否则就无所适从。这种习惯带来的最大问题，是使我们失去了休息的能力。很多时候，哪怕身体已经很想休息了，可心还在躁动着，不得安宁。

In this era, few can enjoy quiet moments alone; most feel lost without their cell phones to fill every spare moment. The biggest problem with this habit is that it robs our ability to rest. Often, even when our bodies scream for rest, our minds remain agitated and unable to find peace.

古人讲的心猿意马，就是心在不断地抓取外境。这样活着，能不累吗？能幸福吗？

The ancient Chinese description of a heart like a capering monkey and a mind like a galloping horse aptly captures this state of constant distraction. How could such a lifestyle not exhaust us? How can it possibly lead to happiness?

摘自《心灵创造幸福》

版权所有：济群法师

Excerpted from:

Happiness Comes from the Mind

By Master Jiqun

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