摩訶目犍連尊者，他是神通第一；但世尊多次警告他，不可隨便顯現神通。為什麼？因為神通不是人人皆有，若是亂顯神通，驚世駭俗，就會令世人迷於神通，崇拜神通。那麼有神通的人，就很多人供養；沒有神通的，可能就沒人供養。所以佛令弟子不可隨便顯神通，用來保護後世的修行人。

The Venerable Mahamaudgalyayana was foremost in spiritual powers, but the World Honored One repeatedly warned him not to casually show off his spiritual powers. Why? Because not everyone has spiritual powers. If you indiscreetly manifest your spiritual powers, ordinary people will be amazed and infatuated by them and will worship them. Consequently, people with spiritual powers will have many people making offerings to them, while those who don’t have them might not receive any offerings. Therefore, the Buddha forbade his disciples from casually displaying their spiritual powers, so as to protect cultivators of the future.

修行人，不可自誇其德，自說是開悟的人，自說是祖師或菩薩。這是打大妄語，將來要墮拔舌地獄的，這話絕不是戲論。唯獨無知無識的人，才有這種自滿的行為。真正有財富的人，絕對不會對人說：「你們知道嗎？我有多少鑽石，多少珠寶，全世界所有的財寶，也不如我的多。」這樣一宣傳，就被土匪視為目標，一定打你的主意，設法來搶奪這批珠寶。修道也是這樣的情形，不可對人說：「我有神通，可以聽到佛菩薩講話，可以看見佛菩薩現前。」要是這樣，就給魔王製造機會，乘虛而入，和你合作，來指揮你的行動，你就成為他的眷屬了。

Cultivators should not praise their own virtue and say that they are enlightened, or claim to be Patriarchs or Bodhi-sattvas. Those are serious lies that will cause one to fall into the Hell of Pulling Tongues. This is no joke. Only people who don’t know anything would behave in such a conceited way. Truly wealthy people never say to others, “You know what? I have all these diamonds and precious gems. I have more treasures than all the treasures in the world put together.” If you advertise yourself like this, bandits will definitely target you and find a way to rob your treasures. The same thing happens in cultivation. You can’t tell people, “I have spiritual powers. I hear the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas talking, and I see them appear before me.” If you say that, you are giving the demon king an opportunity to come in and work with you, control your activities, and make you part of his retinue.

修行人，無論遇到什麼境界，要蓋清境界，不要被境界所轉，要用定力來轉境界。不可胡言亂語，信口雌黃，說證得什麼神通，見到什麼境界。要曉得這是魔來作祟，令你失去道心而發狂；這正是走火入魔的現象，不是真實的境界。在《楞嚴經》五十種陰魔中，說得清清楚楚，希望你們大家要徹底研究一番，免得上了當，就後悔莫及了。參禪的人，不要執著境界，所謂「佛來佛斬，魔來魔斬」，無論誰來，都要斬，這是不執著一切有為法，不著一切形相。修行人，要專一其心來用功，哪有時間去管閒事。不可以貢高我慢、貪名貪利，如果有這種思想和行為，那就是入魔的境界。

Cultivators should clearly recognize whatever states they encounter; they shouldn’t let those states affect them, but should use samadhi power to influence states. Don’t make reckless claims or tell lies about having attained certain spiritual powers or seen certain states. You should know that such states are the mischief of demons, who want to destroy your resolve for the Way and make you go insane. These are signs of demonic possession; these states are not real. The section on the Fifty Skandha-Demon States in the Shurangama Sutra explains this very clearly. I hope you will investigate it thoroughly and not be fooled by such states. Otherwise it will be too late for regret.

People who investigate Chan should not get attached to states. It is said, "When the Buddha comes, slay the Buddha. When the demon comes, slay the demon." Slay anyone who comes, no matter who it is. This is not being attached to any conditioned dharmas or any marks and appearances. Cultivators should apply effort single-mindedly. They have no time to mind other people’s business. Don’t be arrogant, and don’t be greedy for fame or benefits. If you have such thoughts, you have entered a demonic state.

修行人，無論在何種情況之下，不能自滿，不可以驕傲，蓋為自己了不起。要謹之慎之，不可錯因果，否則後果不堪設想。

No matter what the circumstances, cultivators should never become self-satisfied and arrogant, and think they are something special. They must be very careful not to make mistakes in cause and effect. Otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable.

修行人，主要是修清淨戒，身口意三業要清淨。有神通的人，絕對不說自己有神通。何況自己沒有神通，亂說一豹，豈不是造了墮地獄的因嗎？這真可怕！口業不清淨，要受拔舌地獄之罪，切不可大意。要時刻管著自己，不可放肆，胡說八道。若種下不清淨的因，將來必定結不清淨的果。

Cultivators concentrate on upholding pure precepts in order to purify the three types of karma: physical, verbal, and mental. People with spiritual powers would certainly never admit that they have them; how much the less should people without spiritual powers make reckless claims. Wouldn’t that just be creating the causes for falling into the hells? It’s scary! If your mouth karma isn’t pure, you’ll undergo punishment in the Hell of Pulling Tongues. Don’t be reckless. Always watch over yourself. Don’t misbehave and talk a lot of nonsense. If you plant impure causes, you’ll receive impure retributions.

一九八一年六月六日開示