The Soul Engineering—XVII
佛法遍諸世間：無福德者，難遇逢；遇逢者，當惜之。佛弟子：當處學習佛法之義，當善珍階此生一切之因緣。若不得遇佛、不得聞正法，即之八種障難，又作八難處。八難解法：八無暇、八不閑、八非時、八惡、八不聞時節。
八難即：
- 在地獄難：眾生因惡業所感墮於地獄，長夜冥冥而受苦無間，不得見佛聞法。
- 在餓鬼難：餓鬼有三種，業最重之餓鬼，長劫不聞漿水之名。業次重之餓鬼，唯在人間、伺求蕩滌膿血糞穢。業輕之餓鬼，時或一飽、加以刀杖驅逼，填河塞海，受苦無量。
- 在畜生難：畜生種類不一，亦各隨因受報、或為人畜養、或居山海等處，常受鞭打殺害、或互相吞瞰，受苦無窮。
- 在長壽天：此天以五百劫為壽，即色界第四禪中之無想天。無著想，以其心想不行，如冰魚、墊蟲、外道修行，多輪轉其處，而障於見佛聞法。
- 在邊地之鬱單越難：「鬱單越」譯為勝處。生此處者，其人壽千歲，命無中夭，貪著享樂，而不受教化，是以聖人不出其中，不得見佛聞法。
- 盲聾瘖啞難：此等人雖生中國（古印度中部、摩竭陀國一帶），業障深重、盲聾瘖啞、諸根不具，雖值佛出世，而不能見佛聞法。
- 世智辯聰難：謂雖聰利，唯務耽習外道經書，不信出世正法。
- 生在佛前佛後難：謂由業重緣薄，生在佛前佛後，不得見佛聞法。
無上甚深微妙法 百千萬劫難遭遇
我今見聞得受持 願解如來真實義
大德：當勤精進共勉之
資料來源：心靈甘露(三)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平。
The Soul Engineering—XVII
The Buddhist Dharma is everywhere in this world, but it is difficult for those without blessings and virtues to encounter. Those who have encountered it have to cherish it. Buddhist disciples should learn the principles of the Buddhist Dharma and cherish all the affinities well in this life.
Those who fail to meet the Buddha and fail to hear the right Dharma are said to have eight obstacles or eight calamities, which also means eight situations in which one is fully occupied, .eight situations when one is too busy, eight untimely situations, eight evils, or eight situations in which one does not perceive the four seasons.
The eight calamities are as follows:
(1) Being in the Hell: Because of bad karmas, sentient beings fall into the Hell and suffer continuously in the long dark night, unable to see and hear the Buddhist Dharma
(2) Being in the Path of the Hungry Ghosts: .There are three kinds of hungry ghosts. Those with the heaviest karma cannot hear the name of liquids for many kalpas. Those with the second heaviest karma stay in the human world only and keep imploring for cleansing the pustules, blood, and feces on their bodies. Those with the light karma can at times have a meal but are forced to fill the rivers or seas by knives and canes, suffering endlessly.
(3) Being in the Path of Animals: There are different kinds of animals there. Retribution is made according to different causes. Some (animals) are raised by people, and some live in the mountains or by the seas. They are often whipped or killed, or may devour each other, suffering endlessly.
(4) Being in the Heaven of Longevity: Here longevity means 500 kalpas. This realm is the Non-thinking Heaven in the fourth dhyana of the Form Realm.
(5) Being in Uttara-Kuru: Uttara-Kuru is translated as “a magnificent place.” Those who are born here enjoy a lifespan of 1000 years and none of them dies young. But they seek pleasure and are unwilling to be educated. So sages are not born there and they cannot hear or see the Buddhist Dharma.
(6) Being born blind, deaf, and dumb: Although these people were born in the middle part of ancient India, they were blind, deaf, or dumb with incomplete intrinsic roots due to the heavy karmas. They encountered the birth of the Buddha, but they failed to see or hear the Buddhist Dharma.
(7) Being born smart and eloquent: Although these people are smart and witty, they indulge in studying non-Buddhist sutras and do not believe the transcendental right dharma.
(8) Being born before or after the birth of the Buddha: Those who have heavy karmas and slight affinities are born before or after the birth of the Buddha and cannot see or hear the Buddhist Dharma.
The Buddha’s teachings are supreme, profound, and wondrous.
They are difficult to encounter even in millions of kalpas.
Now that I am able to hear and abide by it,
I vow to understand the real message of the Buddha.
Virtuous ones! We should be diligent. Let’s encourage each other with this article.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. III), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.