舉動行為管自己，行住坐臥不離家。

We should watch ourselves in every action and never let our attention wander outside away from home, whether we are moving or still, sleeping or awake.

各位善知識：我們信佛的人哪，首先要循規蹈矩。本來佛教也沒有戒律可講的，可是因為我們人，多數都是不守規矩的，所以釋迦牟尼佛不得已才說出這個戒律來。這個戒律就是止惡防非的；我們每一個人要常常不做諸惡，奉行眾善，不做種種有過的事情，要守法，守佛法、奉行佛法。我們也要守國法，奉行國家這種治國的方法。

All Good and Wise Advisors: We who are Buddhists should abide by the rules and follow the regulations. In the beginning Buddhism had no precepts or regulations to speak of. Because most people tend to be undisciplined, Shakyamuni Buddha had no choice but to establish the precepts and regulations. The precepts prevent evil. Each one of us should always "do no evil and practice all good." Don't break the rules. We should abide by the Dharma, the laws of the Buddha, as well as observe the laws of the nation.

所以，我們每一個人哪，都要「舉動行為管自己，行住坐臥不離家。」管自己，就是要迴光返照，看看我這一天所行所做的事情，是不是有不合法的，有不合理的，有對人不忠實的地方？我是不是用過什麼欺騙人的手段，打過妄語？每一天都要檢討檢討自己，我們這樣子才能配做一個佛的弟子、佛的門人。

We should watch ourselves in our every action and never let our attention wander outside "away from home, whether we are moving or still, sleeping or awake." To "watch ourselves" means to turn our attention inwards to reflect on what we have done during the day. Ask yourself: Have I done anything against the law or against reason? Have I been dishonest to others, or tried to cheat others by saying untruthful things? Each day we should examine ourselves. Only then will we deserve to be a disciple of the Buddha.

我們一定要循規蹈矩，不犯任何的錯誤，不要給旁人洗衣服，要洗洗自己的衣服，把自己的衣服要洗乾淨了它。不是每一天盡講旁人的是是非非，給旁人消罪業；我自己就講是是非非，造一些個口業，造一些個身業，造一些個意業。要是這樣子，我們也不配做一個佛教徒。

We have to follow the rules at all costs and not make any mistakes. Don't just wash other people's dirty laundry. We must first wash our own clothes and make sure they are clean. We shouldn't talk about the faults of others day in and day out and help others reduce their offenses, while we ourselves create karma with our mouth, body, and mind. If that's how we act, then we are not fit to be Buddhists.

我們出家人有出家人的本份，在家人有在家人的本份。我們出家人在吃飯的時候，都要有三念。三念就是：第一念，願斷一切惡；第二念，願修一切善。第一個斷一切惡，我們不要護短，不要把我們的惡事藏起來，不教人知道。我們做一點點的善事，就恐怕人不知道，各處自我宣傳，這個都不是佛教徒的行為。第三念，願度一切眾生，同登彼岸。

We left-home people have our left-home duties, and laypeople have their lay duties. When left-home people eat, we should make the Three Reflections. The first reflection is to vow to cut off all evil. We shouldn't conceal our transgressions so others don't know about them. The second reflection is to cultivate good. When we do the slightest good deed, we should not go around boasting about it. That is not the way a Buddhist disciple should behave. The third reflection is to vow to save all living beings, so that we reach the other shore together.

每一天在吃飯的時候，要先有這三種的念，我們念念不忘這願斷一切惡，願修一切善，誓度一切眾生，同登彼岸。我們發這個願要發真了，不是像念經似地念念而已，我們必須要身體力行，要這樣去做去。

Every day when we take our meal, we should first make these three reflections, so that in thought after thought, we do not forget our vows to stop all evil, practice all good, and take all living beings across to the other shore. We should sincerely make these vows and not just recite them the way we recite Sutras. We must actually put them into practice.

那麼三念之後，還要有五觀。這五觀是：

一、計功多少，量彼來處

你要較量較量多少功德，才能成這一粒米。所以古人說：「施主一粒米，賽如須彌山；吃了不得道，披毛戴角還。」得道這是很長遠的時間修行，才能得道。那麼我把它改一個字，說是「施主一粒米，重如須彌山；吃了不修道」，你不要說得道，你就修道，已經夠了；可是，你若不修道，「披毛戴角還」。

After the Three Reflections, we should make the Five Contemplations:

1. Consider the amount of work involved to bring the food to where it is eaten.

The first is "Consider the amount of work." You should think about how much merit and virtue it takes to produce a single grain of rice. Therefore the ancients said, "A single grain of the donor's rice is as heavy as Mount Sumeru. If you eat it and fail to attain the Way, you will have to repay it with fur and horns." Since it takes a long period of cultivation before the Way is attained, I changed one word, so that the verse reads, "A single grain of the donor's rice is as heavy as Mount Sumeru. If you eat it and fail to cultivate the Way..." Let's not talk about attaining the Way. It's enough if you cultivate the Way. But if you don't cultivate, "you will have to repay it with fur and horns."

古人又說：

鋤禾日當午，汗滴禾下土，
誰知盤中飧，粒粒皆辛苦。

The ancients also said,

The farmer hoes at midday,
     And his sweat drips into the fields.
Who realizes the toil involved in producing
     Each grain of rice on his plate?

「鋤禾日當午」，鋤這個田，鏟這個地啊，日當午，太陽正在中天，午時的時候。「汗滴禾下土」，這個農夫的血汗，流滿了這個田園裡頭，這汗滴禾下土。「誰知盤中飧，粒粒皆辛苦」，我們這樣一想起來，農夫那麼流血流汗，這一粒米才能有所成就。我們如果不感謝農夫的這種功德，我們可以說是都是沒有良心的人，所以我們必須要感激農人的辛苦，才能有飯吃。所以說「誰知盤中飧」哪，你知道不知道，這個盤裡頭的飲食，「粒粒皆辛苦」啊，每一粒都是從辛辛苦苦地換來的，這叫「一、計功多少，量彼來處」。

"The farmer hoes at midday, and his sweat drips into the fields." When the sun is in the center of the sky, the farmer is hoeing the soil, and his sweat falls into the fields. "Who realizes the toil involved in producing each grain of rice on his plate?" When we think of the farmer's sweat and toil to grow even one grain of rice, if we fail to be grateful for all his work, then we have no conscience. We must appreciate the farmer's work which makes it possible for us to have food to eat. Do you know that every grain of rice in your plate came only after a lot of hard work? This is the first contemplation, which is to "Consider the amount of work involved to bring the food to where it is eaten."

二、忖己德行，全缺應供

第二我們要想一想，我有沒有德行？我德行是圓滿了？或者是不圓滿？這叫忖己德行。忖，就是思忖，思忖自己這個德行；也就是想一想自己有沒有功德？全缺，這個德行是全哪？是缺？是夠不夠資格來受人家的供養？這是全缺應供。

2. Consider whether I have enough virtuous conduct to accept the offering.

Second, we should ask ourselves, "Do I have any virtuous conduct? Is my virtuous conduct complete or incomplete?" This is to "Consider whether I have enough virtuous conduct to accept the offering. It means to evaluate our own virtuous conduct, and to reflect on whether we have any merit and virtue. Is our virtuous conduct sufficient or deficient? Do we deserve to receive the offerings of others?

三、防心離過，貪等為宗

第三要防備自己吃東西有一種貪心。啊！好吃的，就想吃多一點；不好吃的，就吃少一點；一點也不平均，也不平等。所以貪等為宗，就是要平等，不要貪好吃的。所以，我這個出家人，我從在家我就不敢貪好吃的東西。我所吃的東西，都是人家不願吃的，我來吃；所以人家願意吃的，我能不吃就不吃，這是我一個很愚癡的習慣，這是很愚癡的。一般人認為吃好東西就好了，對身體也有營養了，吃不好的東西，就認為沒有營養，我不是這樣子。說你是表示標異現奇，表示你怎麼樣特別。也不是這樣子，我不希望有所選擇吃東西。貪等為宗，這是我吃飯的一個宗旨。

3. Guard the mind from transgressions, of which greed is the principle cause.

Third, we must prevent ourselves from being greedy when we eat. Ah! If something tastes good, we eat more of it, and if it doesn't taste good, we eat less of it. We are not at all impartial about it. We should be impartial and not be greedy for good-tasting food. I am a left-home person who has not been greedy for good food even since when I was still a layperson. I eat only the things that other people don't want to eat, and I try to avoid eating the food that others like to eat. This is really foolish. Most people think it's a good thing to eat good food which is nutritious for the body. When they eat plain food, they think it has no nutrition. That's not the way I am. You may say I'm just trying to act special, but that's not the case. It's just that I don't want to be choosy about what I eat. Avoiding greed--that's my principle in taking food.

所以我在吃三餐的時候，每一天每一頓飯，吃五碗飯。等我看見人沒有飯吃的時候，沒有衣服穿，沒有房子住，我願意節省自己這個飲食、衣服，和住的地方。所以我改成每一餐三碗飯，這麼一天吃一餐，只吃三碗飯。到現在我連三碗也吃不了了，最多吃兩碗飯，甚至於就一碗飯；因為不知道什麼原因，這個肚子它容納不下了，所以一吃多了，就覺得不自在了，妄想紛飛了。

In the past when I used to eat three meals a day, I would eat five bowls of food at each meal. After I saw people with no food to eat, no clothes to wear, and no house to live in, I decided to reduce my own consumption of food, clothing, and shelter. I started eating three bowls of food at each meal and taking only one meal a day. Now I don't even eat three bowlfuls. At the most I eat two bowls, or sometimes just one bowl. I don't know why, but my stomach cannot hold that much, and if I eat too much, I feel very uncomfortable and my random thoughts start flying about wildly.

所以我吃一餐以後，就一天吃三碗，省下來這十二碗飯做什麼呢？不是放到我的家裡，留著慢慢吃，不是這樣子。我一天省下十二碗飯，我給這個沒有飯吃的人來迴向，希望我少吃十二碗飯，他們也能得到飽暖。這是我一個小小的思想。啊！就這麼愚癡。這是三、防心離過，貪等為宗。

By eating one meal of three bowls each day, I saved twelve bowls of food. What did I do with these twelve bowls of food? Well, I certainly didn't store them at home so that I could eat them slowly. I prayed for the people who had no food to eat, and hoped that by eating twelve bowls less myself, they would be able to eat their fill. This is my tiny wish. That's how foolish I am.

四、正事良藥，為療形枯

第四個觀，說這是一種良藥，能治人飢餓的病。人有飢餓的病，可以把它治好了。那麼既然是治病，何必又分別好吃不好吃呢？都是一樣的藥，就到應該服這個藥的時候，就服一點；不應該的時候，就不需要。所以有的時候，我常常也自己刻苦自待。正事良藥，為療形枯，如果我不吃這個藥，這個身體就乾了，就不能活了，所以也勉強吃它一點。

4. Properly taken, the food is like medicine to keep the body from wasting away.

The fourth contemplation says that food is a medicine that can cure people of the disease of hunger. Now, since its purpose is to cure illness, why should we discriminate whether or not it tastes good? It is all the same. When it's time to take the medicine, we should take a bit. When it's not time, then we don't need to take it. Therefore, I am always very frugal. Properly taken, the food is like medicine to keep the body from wasting away. If I didn't take this medicine, my body would shrivel and I wouldn't be able to live, so I force myself to eat a bit.

五、為成道業，應受此食

第五是為了修行成道業，所以才要吃飯，令這個身體不朽壞，才吃點飲食。這是出家人三念五觀，每一個出家人都應該常常不要忘了這三念五觀。至於在家人啊！吃東西更應該自己檢點自己，不要那麼奢侈，盡找好東西吃。

5. This food is accepted only in order to accomplish the Way.

The fifth one is to reflect that we eat only for the sake of cultivating and attaining the Way. We eat and drink a bit so our bodies will not waste away. Left-home people should always remember these Three Reflections and Five Contemplations. Laypeople should also examine themselves when they are eating. You should not be so extravagant and always greedy for good things to eat.

所以在萬佛城，飲食也是少油無鹽的，生活都是非常平淡，那麼有的人初初到萬佛城，不習慣過這種生活，我聽報紙上講，臺灣去的人都跑回來說：「受不了！受不了！吃的飯太沒有營養了！」其實我們萬佛城的人，不過都瘦一點，也談不到沒有什麼營養。這一點哪，我還不同意一般人所說的。

At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the food has very little oil and salt, and the lifestyle is very simple. Some people cannot get used to the lifestyle when they first arrive at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. I heard that the newspaper said that people who went there from Taiwan all came back in a hurry, saying, "We cannot take it! The food we ate was too bland; it had no nutrition!" I wouldn't agree with that, but that's what people say. Although it's true that the residents of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas are a bit thinner, I wouldn't say that the food has no nutrition.

方才我這個弟子，就是三步一拜拜了兩年零九個月，可是對佛教的道理還沒能真正地了解，他說佛教不是這樣子，這是錯誤的。現在的佛教都是以盲引盲，盲引癡愚，不知道一個正當的路子，所以我說佛教本來是這樣子。本來是這樣子，可是我要改正這佛教的風氣，我不要自我崇拜，那麼神化自己，我也不要看著我覺得不對的地方我不說。人盲目地崇拜，看見我到了那兒，在旁邊走，又打問訊又叩頭的，好像什麼也不顧了似的。你在那兒念佛，或者誦經，必須要畢恭畢敬，你不能東張西望，這樣一點也不恭敬這個儀式。

Earlier, my disciple, who bowed Three Steps One Bow for two years and nine months, said that Buddhism isn't that way. He doesn't really understand Buddhism yet. In Buddhism nowadays, the blind are leading the blind. The blind are leading the foolish, who do not know what the proper path is. That's why I say that Buddhism is this way. However, I want to reform the trends of Buddhism. I don't want to be put on a pedestal and idolized. When I feel something is wrong, I don't keep silent. When people see me walking by, they start worshipping blindly, bowing and making prostrations as if they were totally unaware of what is going on around them. When you are reciting the Buddha's name or a Sutra, you should do it with the utmost reverence. You should not be looking around at random; that shows a total lack of respect for the ongoing ceremony.

所以我不願意你們大家見到我，就瘋狂了，又叩頭、又打問訊、又打招呼。我在萬佛城也提倡這個，凡是我走到什麼地方，你在那兒念佛，不要和我打招呼；你在那兒做什麼儀式，也不要和我打招呼。我是要你專心致志，一心一意地在那兒做這個法會的佛事；你這麼樣給我打個問訊，又叩頭啊，這個心已經都散了，沒能專一，沒能好好在那兒一心頂禮了，你這個心就有分散了。

Therefore, when you see me, I don't want you to go wild making bows and prostrations and greeting me. I also promote this at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. No matter where I happen to walk, if you are there reciting the Buddha's name, don't greet me. If you are doing a ceremony, don't greet me. I want you to concentrate single-mindedly on whatever Buddhist ritual you are doing. If you bow and make obeisance to me, then your mind is already scattered, and you cannot be single-minded and concentrate on your worship.

我再告訴你們一句真理的話，你們在做儀式的時候，不要說見到我，不可以叩頭打招呼、打問訊；你就在做儀式的時候，見到佛來了，見放光、散花、佛現身來加被你們每一個人，你也不需要拜。因為什麼呢？你在那兒做法會，要拿出萬分的誠心來，你心不旁騖，不要誰走到旁邊，你就知道了；你知道有什麼人走到你旁邊，那你已經是沒有誠心了，沒有真心在那兒做儀式，所以這是我不同意的。

Let me give you another piece of sincere advice. When you are in the middle of a ceremony, not only should you not bow or greet me, you should not bow even if you see the Buddha come and emit light or scatter flowers. Why not? Because you are doing a ceremony, and you should do it with utmost sincerity. Don't let your mind wander off. It shouldn't be that whenever someone walks by you, you know who it is. If you are fully aware of every person who passes by you, that shows your lack of sincerity and dedication in performing the ceremony. That's why I disapprove of bowing to others during a ceremony.

我不同意現在這個佛教，盡做一些個迷信的彩色，盡誘惑人，盡教人不認識真理。我是講真理的人，我所以和一般的佛教有多少不同，我並不是標異現奇，而我是不要瞎人的眼目，不要令人迷信。這個迷信的彩色，佛教裡不應該有的。

I don't agree with today's Buddhism, in which there are a lot of superstitious practices aimed at deluding people and preventing them from recognizing the truth. I'm a person who speaks the truth, and so I'm somewhat different from most Buddhists. It's not that I want to show that I'm special. It's just that I don't want to harm people's vision and cause them to believe in superstition. Buddhism should not have superstitious practices.

在現在的時代，我有很多事情也不懂，所以做的事情，就和其他人所做的事情是格格不入，不一樣。那麼我若知道一點，我就和大家說一點；不知道的，我也沒有法子。好像佛教徒一舉一動、一言一行，都應該給旁人做個榜樣。遇到什麼境界，也不可以慌慌張張的，那麼亂來。所以我希望佛教徒，都應該守秩序，按步就班的，不應該遇到一個什麼奇怪的事情，就慌慌張張的。

In the present age, there are many things that I don't understand. The things that other people do are different from what I do. If I know a little bit, I will tell everyone about that bit. If I don't know, then I have nothing to say. For example, in every word and deed, Buddhists should be a good model for others. No matter what situation they encounter, they should not panic and act recklessly. I hope all Buddhists are orderly and do things step by step. They shouldn't become flustered every time they encounter something strange.

我對臺灣的佛教，本來已經很怕了。怕什麼呢？我就怕臺灣的佛教，佛教徒瘋狂了似地這麼信仰，沒有理智，也不來研究真理。所以我每一次到臺灣來，都是要用又什麼金剛隊，又什麼護法金剛，都來手拉手在旁邊擋著，我覺得這是很沒有智慧的一種行為。因為我們佛教徒，遇到什麼事，都應該守戒律，有定力，有慧力，不應該對什麼境界一來了，就無所措手，手忙腳亂，連次序也都忘了。應該按著次序，無論什麼事，都不要那麼你擠我，我擠你，把人都擠得喘不過氣來，甚至於把人都擠倒了，發生意外，都不一定的。

From the start, I have been afraid of Taiwan's Buddhism. What am I afraid of? I fear Taiwanese Buddhists, who have a crazy kind of faith but no rationality. They do not study the true principles. That's why every time I come to Taiwan, I have to have a team of Vajra Dharma-protectors who surround me and link hands to shield me. I feel this method is very unwise. As Buddhists, no matter what the situation, we should abide by the precepts, and have samadhi and wisdom. We shouldn't be caught unprepared in any situation, so that we have to scramble and cause disorder. No matter what happens, you should not mutually squeeze and crowd each other, so that there is no breathing space, and so people may even be pushed over and accidents may occur.

我們無論做什麼事情，都要規規矩矩的，不要那麼爭先恐後。譬如，你供養要依照次序來供養，不要那麼爭先恐後，好像搶搶奪奪似的，把人家擠得不能上前，自己跑著上前先供養。這是對人也沒有禮貌，對佛也不恭敬。我看見臺灣這個佛教徒，多數是這麼樣子的，不守秩序，所以我很不敢來臺灣，也就是這樣子。

In everything we do, we should abide by the rules and not be so competitive. For example, when you make offerings, you should stay in line. Don't force your way through, leaving no room for others to come to the front. If you rush up to the front to be the first to make offerings, this is both discourteous to others and disrespectful to the Buddhas. Ah! Because I see the majority of Taiwan's Buddhists are so disorderly, I am afraid to come to Taiwan. That's how it is.

那麼各位今天既然來了，我要和你們講一點，最低限度的，我們做什麼事要守秩序；要像那個軍隊似的，有條不紊；要像那個學生似的，也都有條不紊的，要有一定的規矩，這是我們學佛的人最低限度所應該遵守的一個條件。萬佛城是個小地方，我看見各處到萬佛城的人，一看見我走過來，這個爭著叩頭，那個爭著打問訊，那個又爭著供養，這令我對於佛教徒很失望的。

Now, since all of you came today, I will you tell you a little bit. At the very least, in all we do, we should be orderly. We should act like the army, with discipline and organization. We should be like students who have rules they must abide by. These are the minimum requirements that we Buddhists should fulfill. Since the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is such a small place, people who go there from different places keep fighting to bow to me, make prostrations to me, and make offerings to me. This really makes me very disappointed about these Buddhists.

所以你們各位要好自為之，要自己愛惜自己，也要擁護佛教，不要弄得佛教令外邊的人都看不起佛教：「你看他們像一窩蜂似地這麼供養，沒有規矩。」你要供養也要按照次序來，不能爭前恐後的。那麼一般的出家人，我知道他們喜歡這一套，喜歡你對他又叩頭，又頂禮啊，好像什麼都忘了，我覺得這個對佛教是不合法的。所以我到什麼地方，我講出來的話，都是人家不願意聽的話，就常常講這很不近人情的話，令人都說我怎麼嚴峻、多規矩；其實要是真研究起來，我是什麼規矩都沒有的。

Therefore, all of you should take care of yourselves and also protect Buddhism. Don't let non-Buddhists look down on us and say, "Look at them, they are just like a swarming nest of bees when they make offerings; they have no rules at all." In making offerings, you should come in order and not fight to be first. I know that most left-home people like it when you bow and make prostrations to them, so much so that they forget everything else. I think this is not in accord with the Dharma. Therefore, no matter where I go, I always say the things that people don't like to hear. My words are so impersonal that others call me stern and cold, and say that I have so many rules. Actually if you really look into it, I have no rules at all.

眼不見嘴不饞，耳不聽心不煩，你有吃的，教我們看著，這是不太好的。可是佛教徒應該忍飢、忍寒、忍渴、忍餓，一切一切和佛法要相應，不要貪吃好的、貪穿好的、貪住好的，貪享受，受苦是了苦，享福是消福。

When your eyes don't see, your mouth won't drool. When your ears don't hear, your mind won't be vexed. If you have food to eat and you make me watch you eat, that's not very considerate. However, Buddhists should be able to endure cold, thirst, and hunger; in everything we do, we should be in accord with the Buddhadharma. We shouldn't crave good things to eat, fancy clothes to wear, or a nice place to live. We shouldn't crave comfort. If we endure suffering, we will put an end to suffering. If we enjoy blessings, we will exhaust our blessings.

報紙上說，我有霸氣，又有媚氣。你們不要被我這個迷信的彩色迷住了，不要聽人家說，我怎麼有神通啊！我老實告訴你們，我連鬼通都沒有，不要說神通。你們各位不要聽人的傳言，要有擇法眼，要真正認識。我也不會給人治病，我什麼都不會的，「堪笑我心，是如頑如鄙；人問所能，百無一會。」什麼我也不會，我就是愚癡到極點了，旁的我都不懂。我所說的話不是客氣，是真的；你們不要以為我客氣，我從來不會說客氣話，我的確是一個最愚癡、最蠢笨的人。為什麼呢？我所做的事情，旁人沒有人願意做的；我所說的話，沒有人敢說的。為什麼呢？怕傷緣、怕得罪人。我就是這麼一個剛強眾生，願說一些個剛強的話。我老實告訴你們，在東北零下三、四度，冬天都是這樣子天氣。可是我在那兒硬逞強，就是冬天、夏天都是穿三層布，冬天、夏天都是吃一餐。這要不是剛強的人，怎麼會吃這個虧？怎麼願意這麼樣子忍餓、忍飢、忍寒地這麼忍？我方才雖然把這個道理講給你們聽，你們相信，我也這麼說；不相信，我也這麼說。我希望你們都多吃虧，不佔便宜，不要跑江湖。
（司儀叫戒子起立。）

The newspapers say that I am aggressive and charismatic. All of you should avoid being taken in by my superstitious image. Don't listen to those people who say that I have spiritual powers! I'll be frank with you--I don't even have ghostly powers! Don't listen to those rumors. You should have the ability to truly recognize the Dharma. I don't know how to cure people who are sick. I don't have any ability at all. "My mind is truly laughable. It is dull and ignorant. People ask what it can do: It has no ability whatsoever." I don't know how to do anything. I'm stupid to the extreme. I don't understand anything. I'm not being polite; it's true. You shouldn't think I'm being polite. I've never been capable of polite courtesies. I am really the most stupid and dull-witted person. Why is that? The things that I do are what no one else is willing to do. The things I say are what no one else dares to say. Why don't they dare to say them? They're afraid of hurting people's feelings and offending people. I'm just a stubborn living being who likes to say stubborn words. I'll tell you honestly, even though the temperature fell to three or four degrees below freezing during the winters in Manchuria, I stubbornly showed my superiority by wearing the same three layers of clothing and eating only one meal a day in the winter as well as the summer. If I weren't such an obstinate person, how could I have taken such a loss? How could I have been willing to endure the hunger and cold? I have just explained the principle for you. Whether you believe it or not, that's what I say. I hope all of you will take losses more often and not seek so many bargains. Don't be a snake oil salesman.
[The Master of Ceremonies asks the preceptees to rise.]

你不要叫他們那麼快，你說得快了，他們站起來站得來不及，會跌倒的。（司儀：是。）你說：起……立……，要慢一點。（司儀：是。）都是一些年紀差不多的，老了，不要叫他們那麼迅速。

Don't speak so fast when you give instructions. If you talk so fast, they won't have time to stand up, and they'll trip over each other. [M.C.: "Yes."] You should say, "Please----stand-----up." [M.C.: "Okay."] They are all quite elderly, so they shouldn't be given such rapid instructions.

一九九三年一月十五日
開示戒子於臺灣板橋臺北縣立體育館

The Venerable Master Hua's instructions to the preceptees
on January 15, 1993,
at the Taipei County Stadium in Banqiao, Taiwan