你們要知道，你們這個師父很辣，不是甜的，有時辣到我的弟子眼淚、鼻涕一股腦兒都跑出來了。告訴你，我怎樣學得這麼辣？

You know this teacher of yours is very “acerbic,” not sweet. I am so acerbic that sometimes I bring tears to my disciples’ eyes. Let me tell you how I came to be so acerbic.

我十六歲便開始為人講《金剛經》，經上講忍辱仙人被歌利王割去四肢，也不生瞋恨心。從那時候我便發願效法，一心去修這個忍辱法門。我知道自己生來性情那麼辣，這麼剛強，最適合修忍辱法門。一旦下了決心，考驗就從四面八方蜂湧而來。本來不罵我的人也罵我，本來不打我的人都打我；本來對我最好的朋友，結果專門來攻擊我。於是我自己就想：「我為別人講《金剛經》，說忍辱仙人被割截身體而不生瞋恨。現在這些人只是罵罵我、攻擊我，還不致於割斷我的四肢，我若是不能忍辱，還講個什麼《金剛經》？」

I lectured on the Vajra Sutra when I was sixteen years old. That Sutra talks about the Patient Immortal, who endured being dismembered by King Kali without giving rise to anger. When I read that story, I vowed to emulate the Patient Immortal and wholeheartedly devote myself to the practice of patience. I had always had a harsh and stubborn character, and the practice of patience was just what I needed. Once I made up my mind, challenges came from all directions to test my resolve. I was scolded by people who had never scolded me before, beaten by others who had never struck me before, and assaulted by friends who previously had treated me well. I thought to myself, “I explained the Vajra Sutra to people, and that Sutra says that the Patient Immortal didn’t feel hatred even when his limbs were chopped off. I have only been scolded and assaulted, but no one has chopped my limbs off. If I cannot endure this, how can I be qualified to explain the Vajra Sutra to others?”

於是就下定決心要忍辱，無論誰對我不客氣，甚至要害我，也都忍受了，結果終於能夠不為境界所動。其實，這些人並不是要來害我，而是反面來教化我，看看我是否能接受這種考驗。誰罵我，我便向他叩頭；誰打我嘛！我就睡著了給他看看！在家的時候便時常受這種打擊；出家之後，善知識更是往來不絕，左右前後的出家人，沒有一個瞧得起我，都視我為眼中釘，都給我氣受。有個出家人看我上一炷香，便破口大罵：「你出什麼家？連一炷香也不會上，真笨！還說出家！」

Thus, I resolved to be patient. No matter who bullied me or tried to harm me, I endured it. I learned to remain unaffected by external states. Instead of harming me, these people were teaching me by testing me out. I bowed to those who scolded me and lay down when I was beaten. I encountered frequent tests like this as a layman, and I was never short of “good advisors” after I left the home-life either. All the other monks looked down on me and bullied me, considering me a thorn in their flesh. One monk saw me light incense and railed, “What kind of monk are you that you don’t even know how to light incense? What an idiot! How dare you talk about leaving home!”

這時我心裏想：「嗯，考驗又來了。忍辱仙人被歌利王割去肢體，也不生瞋恨，現在我尚不致如此。好吧，向他叩個頭！」於是就向這個人叩頭，謝謝他幫助我。那時候，無論出家、在家的善知識，都不斷地來幫助我，但我對他們不曾生出絲毫瞋恨心。每次都是這樣迴光返照：「一定是我在往昔沒有幫助他們，現在他們反來幫助我，應該感謝他們才對。」

I said to myself, “Here it comes again. The Patient Immortal didn’t feel anger even when King Kali cut off his limbs. This isn’t half as bad as that. Fine, I’ll just bow to him.” Then I bowed to the monk and thanked him for his help. Both left-home and lay “good advisors” constantly came to “help me,” and I never got angry at them. Each time I would reflect: “I must not have helped them in past lives. Now they’re coming to help me, so I ought to thank them.”

諸位現在明白了嗎？你們的師父就是這樣的一個師父，是專門修忍辱行，專門受人家氣的師父，專門忍人不能忍，讓人不能讓。這樣的人，有什麼出息呢？可是你們很不幸，遇上這麼樣一個沒有出息、這麼愚癡的師父，還要跟我來學習。既然要跟我學，我就不能不把我過去的經歷和盤托出，我是從修「忍辱行」這條路走過來的。

Do you understand now? Your teacher is one who specializes in practicing patience when he is bullied by other people. I specialize in bearing what others cannot bear, and in yielding where others cannot yield. What use is this kind of person? You all are pretty unfortunate for having encountered such a useless and stupid teacher and deciding to study with him. Nevertheless, since you came to study with me, I have to tell you about my past. I travelled the path of patience.

諸位學佛，不要聽了很多佛法而不去實行，要躬行實踐，依照佛所教的去身體力行。耶穌提倡「愛敵」，越對他不好的人，越要去愛他。佛教是提倡「怨親平等」，對誰也是一視同仁，不分親疏厚薄。學佛的人要是不能躬行實踐，那麼學到什麼時候也只是皮毛，不能得到真正的大利益！

When you study Buddhism, you should not only listen to the teachings, but also put them into practice in your own lives. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, to be especially kind to those who mistreat us. Buddhism teaches us to regard loved ones and enemies equally. We should treat everyone the same way, not regarding some as closer than others or favoring certain people over others. If students of Buddhism cannot put the teachings into practice, then their learning is superficial and they cannot gain real benefit.

切記！切記！學佛的初步，一定要修忍辱！就算他人真地要把你殺了，也不應該生出瞋恨心。我們甚至要比忍辱仙人所修的行門，更進一步。但也不是說：「忍辱仙人被人割斷四肢而不生瞋恨，現在你可以割去我的身體，我也不生瞋恨！」這是跟人學的，不是出於自己，又落到第二義了。要真正依教修行，不要說單割斷四肢，甚至粉身碎骨，我也不生瞋恨！所以往往有人譭謗我，或者對我不客氣，我也不生瞋恨心。

Remember, the first step in studying Buddhism is to practice patience. Even if someone wants to kill you, you shouldn’t get angry. We should go one step further than the Patient Immortal in practicing patience. However, that doesn’t mean saying, “The Patient Immortal didn’t get angry when his four limbs were severed. Now you can hack up my body and I won’t get angry.” That’s still copying someone else; it doesn’t come from yourself, so it’s already second-rate. Not only should we feel no anger when people chop our limbs off, we shouldn’t resent it even if they pulverize our body. That’s why, when people slander me or treat me rudely, I don’t get angry.

一九八○年十二月一日開示