我們人有六種知覺性：眼能見、耳能聽、鼻能嗅、舌能嚐、身能觸、意能思想。因為人是萬物之靈，所以具有這六種官能，其他的動物組織就沒有那麼複雜。

People have six kinds of perceptive faculties: the eyes can see, the ears can hear, the nose can smell, the tongue can taste, the body can feel, and the mind can think. Being the most intelligent of creatures, human beings are endowed with these six faculties. The physical make-up of other animals is not as complex as that of humans.

我們吃飯、穿衣、睡覺，就像汽車要加汽油。汽車走多了路，就要加油，我們人將能源消耗多了，也要補充。所以人吃飯，就是幫助身體的新陳代謝。食物在人體內發生一股熱力、一股能源，能幫助我們一切的活動。但實際上，食物的精華很少，所以就要不斷地補充。譬如，早上吃了，到午間又餓了；午間吃了，到晚上又要再吃。睡的時候也不停地消耗能源，所以睡醒了又要吃早餐。

We need food, clothing, and sleep, just as a car needs gasoline to run. After traveling many miles, the car needs to be re-fueled. Likewise, when we people have used up our energy, we need to replenish it. That’s why we need to eat--to help sustain the metabolism of our body. Food generates heat and energy in our body, helping it to carry out all its activities. However, because the part of the food that gives us energy is actually a very small portion, we have to constantly replenish ourselves. For instance, we eat breakfast in the morning, but by noon we’re hungry again; we eat lunch, but by evening we need to eat again. Even when we sleep, we’re still using energy, so when we wake up, we’re ready for breakfast again.

我們是如何消耗這些能源的？我們的眼見色，那是在消耗能源；耳聽聲，也在消耗能源；鼻聞香，也在消耗能源；乃至舌嚐味、身覺觸、意念在思想，這都是在消耗能源呢！所以我們一舉一動，一言一行，無不是在消耗能源。如果你不是消耗太多，適可而止，身體就會保持健康。但若是消耗太多，身體便會發生故障。譬如吃得太多，太營養豐富，或者吃了有毒的東西，這都會令身體發生毛病。所以我們無論行住坐臥，一舉一動，都要非常小心，不要無緣無故地浪費能源，以致傷害自己的身體及精神，這一點是很重要的！

How does our energy get used up? When our eyes look at forms, that takes energy. When the ears listen to sounds, it also uses energy. The nose smells scents, and that uses up energy as well. The tongue tastes flavors, the body feels sensations, and the mind cognizes and reflects－all these things exhaust our energy! Every movement we make and every word we say uses energy. If we use our energy in moderation and don’t drain it completely, our body will be healthy. If we use too much, our body will malfunction. For instance, if we eat too much, eat food that is too rich, or eat something poisonous, it will make our body sick. So, in everything we do, whether we are moving or still, sleeping or awake, we should be very careful. We shouldn’t waste our energy for no good reason, or we will injure our body and mind. This is very important.

小朋友！現在是你們的黃金時代，也是你們生命中的春天。春天時萬物欣欣向榮，朝氣蓬勃。但我們要順其自然去生長，合乎生理的程序，切記不要亂吃亂喝，或亂講話，或者飲酒、吃毒藥，乃至亂看、亂聽、亂嚐、亂嗅、亂觸、亂想，這樣就會損害你的身體及靈性。

Young friends! This is your golden age. It is also the spring of your life. In the springtime, everything flourishes and is full of energy. However, we should accord with our body’s natural physical development as we grow up. We should choose our food and drink with care. We shouldn’t talk recklessly, consume alcoholic drinks, or take drugs. We should not carelessly look at, listen to, taste, smell, touch, or think about improper things, for that would hurt our body and spirit.

你會運用這六種官能，身體就健康；不會用，身體就會隨時罷工，與你分家。分家了，便沒得吃、沒得穿、沒有房子睡了。所以大家要好好愛護珍惜這個身體，不要醉生夢死，走到極危險的歧路上。在《孝經》上說：「身體髮膚，受之父母，不敢毀傷，孝之始也。」不要隨隨便便把自己的身體弄壞，要好好地珍惜它，否則便無顏見父母了。父母生我、育我，我們不好好珍惜身體，那是對父母最不孝的行為。

If you know how to use your six faculties well, you’ll be healthy. If you don’t, your body may go on strike and abandon you at any time. Then you won’t be able to eat, wear clothes, or sleep anymore. So, everyone should take good care of their body. Don’t live as if you are dreaming or drunk, and endanger yourself. The Classic of Filial Piety says, “Our body, hair, and skin are given by our parents. We should not injure them. This is the beginning of filial piety.” We should cherish our bodies, and not carelessly injure them. Otherwise, we won’t be able to face our parents. Our parents gave birth to us and raised us; if we fail to take care of our bodies, we are being most unfilial to our parents.

一九八四年一月五日開示