45. 一念之差 失之千里
45. A momentary slip gives occasion to a permanent loss.

人人有个大慈悲，维摩 ^① 屠刽 ^② 无二心也；处处有种真趣味，金屋茅檐非两地也。只是欲闭情封 ^③ ，当面错过，便咫尺千里矣。

【中文注释】

① 维摩：即“维摩诘”，与释迦牟尼同时代的著名居士。

② 屠刽：屠夫和刽子手。

③ 欲闭情封：意为“无欲无情”。

【今文解译】

每个人的心里都有一颗菩萨心，在这一点上，维摩居士和屠夫刽子手是一样的。世界虽大但真趣味无处不在，在这一点上，富贵之家和贫贱之家是没有区别的。如果因为无动于衷而当面错过了菩萨心和真趣味，即使近在咫尺也好似远隔千里。

【English Translation】

Everyone is born with Buddha-nature, in which respect, the saint Vimalakirti and butchers and executioners are all the same. Everywhere is a genuine mood,which can be found both in a golden mansion and in a thatched cottage. But it is much to be regretted that Buddha-nature is often obscured by the craving for fame and fortune and the genuine mood always obstructed by sensual desires.Should a person let slip Buddha-nature and the genuine mood when coming face to face with them, then this would be the result: a short distance away, yet poles apart. iJVb97ZVfoQ2TvZYsOjn+MF69UFcUX1gbvZGcuB82pClBfux659QSMLzudJoheqQ