你真的是佛教徒吗？（英文佛学文章翻译)
<P>收到国外佛学网站发给我的邮件，读来很有启迪，粗略翻译一下，分享一下：我们有时会遇到一些人，自称以前是<SPAN class=t_tag onclick=tagshow(event) href="tag.php?name=%B7%F0%BD%CC">佛教</SPAN>徒，后来因为信仰了更好的东西而放弃了，这里有一个关键的问题是：他们曾经是个真正的佛教徒吗当我有一次等火车的时候，遇到一个脸上带着自信的人和我聊天，并且像我所预料的鹅一样，热情地分享着他的信仰，我微笑着等待他的讲述，他告诉我以前他也是个佛教徒弟，后来放弃了，说起放弃的原因，他说佛教只是简单的烧香和拜佛，不能让他领悟到什么有意义的东西，我向他解释了，佛教中的这些礼拜也是需要的，因为烧香可以提醒我们，<SPAN class=t_tag onclick=tagshow(event) href="tag.php?name=%CA%C0%BD%E7">世界</SPAN>上在在处处都有着象香味一样“芬芳”的优点值得我们学习，同时，跪拜可以提醒我们谦卑地学习<SPAN class=t_tag onclick=tagshow(event) href="tag.php?name=%B7%F0%CD%D3">佛陀</SPAN>的宽容与智慧。</P>
<P>接下来我又问他如何看待佛陀45年的讲学，他一脸迷茫，于是，我请他帮我一个忙，以后不要再自称佛教徒了，因为他从来就不曾是个佛教徒！他点头同意后，我表示了感谢，火车来了，我祝福他一路平安。</P>
<P>或许我应该给他一本好的佛教书籍，如果我手边有的话，或者是好的佛教网站和我的邮箱，以便他深入了解。作为一个真正的佛教徒，我们不仅应该努力<SPAN class=t_tag onclick=tagshow(event) href="tag.php?name=%D0%DE%D0%D0">修行</SPAN><SPAN class=t_tag onclick=tagshow(event) href="tag.php?name=%B7%F0%B7%A8">佛法</SPAN>，同时，也应该勇于纠正他人对佛学的误解。 </P>
<P>Occasionally, we come across some who proudly proclaim that they were Buddhists... but not anymore - because they have found what they believe to be better and truer teachings. The golden question is - How truly Buddhist were they in the first place? While waiting for a train, a confidently smiling stranger approached me. It was as I expected - someone eager to share his faith. I brace myself and smile back... reminding myself to be patient and kind for another round of this. </P>
<P>The below exchange is usually what happens............. He would invite me to his place of worship, and I would say "Thanks, but I'm Buddhist." He would say that "It's okay!", that he was once Buddhist too, and I would ask him why he gave up Buddhism. He would say that it did not offer him much that was meaningful, that it was a just matter of burning incense and bowing. I would explain to him the significance of the respective rituals being reminders to permeate the world with the "fragrance" of virtue, and to express humility to learn from the Buddha's perfect virtues - of compassion and wisdom. </P>
<P>I would then ask for what he thought of the Buddha's 45 years of teaching. He would be dumbfounded, and I would ask him for a favour - not to ever tell anyone again, that he was a Buddhist, because he never truly was. As he nods, I thank him. The train comes and I wish him well before leaving. If I had a Buddhist book, I would offer it. If not, I would recommend him a good Buddhist website, plus my email - for queries. As true Buddhists, not only should we learn and practise Buddhism well, we should clarify when it is misunderstood too!</P>
