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宣化上人開示錄(十)
Venerable Master Hua’s Talks on Dharma Volume Ten　

上宣下化老和尚開示 Lectures by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua

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不幸中之大幸

Great Fortune in Unfortunate Times
在萬佛聖城讀書，懂得做人真正的精神，
給你們改過自新的好機會，這是你一生幸福的關鍵。
As you study at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, you will understand how to be a truly worthy person.
This is an excellent opportunity to turn over a new leaf and turn your whole life around.

同學們！人生最好的時候，就是二十歲以前的時期，就是所謂的「黃金時代」。在這個時期，本有的佛性還未失去，清淨的自性仍然存在。此時，若能跟著好人在一起，就會做個好人；若是跟著壞人在一起，就會做個壞人，很容易受環境的影響。所謂「近朱者赤，近墨者黑」，就是這個道理。

  

Fellow students! The most important time in your life is before you reach the age of twenty. This period is your “golden age.” During this period, your original Buddha nature has not totally been lost, and your pure inherent nature is still present. At that time, if you associate with good people, you will become a good person. If you hang around with bad people, you’ll turn into a bad person. It’s very easy to get influenced by your surroundings. There’s a saying, “Those who are near rouge turn red; those who are around ink turn black.” That’s what I mean.

若是遇到良師益友，就能學到真正的學問，端正品行；反之，遇到不守規矩的師友，就會受他們的影響，成為不守規矩的人。小者，成為害群之馬；大者，則為社會的敗類。

切記！你們的自性好像純潔的白布，染之於蒼則蒼，染之於黃則黃。你們在這樣優越的環境讀書，將來一定要做個有益社會的人，改善社會的風氣，要有犧牲小我的精神。

 　

If you meet good teachers and wholesome friends, you will be able to acquire genuine knowledge and build a good character. On the other hand, if you encounter teachers and friends who are rather slack about the rules, under their influence you will also turn into an unruly person. On a small scale, you might become the black sheep of your group; on a larger scale you could become a villain in the society. Remember, your own nature is just like a piece of pure white cloth. If you dye it blue, it becomes blue; dye it yellow, and it turns yellow. You are studying in such a superb environment. In the future, you should certainly do something to benefit the society, and change the trends of society for the better. You ought to sacrifice your petty, selfish interests to work for the common good.

同學們！你們多數是從國外來的，（註：學生們有來自越南、柬埔寨等地）經過顛沛流離，拋家去國的痛苦。在動盪不安的時期，能有特殊因緣來到萬佛聖城讀書，奠定做人良好的基礎，可說是不幸中之大幸。

Fellow students! Most of you come from abroad. [Note: There were students from Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries.] You have suffered the pain of leaving your own country and making a rough journey to get here. In these turbulent times, to have the special opportunity to come to study at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and build a good foundation for your character, could be considered something very lucky in the midst of misfortune.

因為萬佛聖城育良小學的教育宗旨，乃在培育優良的學生，使他們知道如何孝順父母、尊師重道、選擇良友及忠於國家。培德中學的教育宗旨，是培養學生有道德的觀念，知道禮、義、廉、恥四維的道理，將來做個堂堂正正的好人。這是萬佛聖城辦學的本懷。

The educational aim of Instilling Goodness Elementary School at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is to mold children into excellent students by teaching them to be filial to their parents, respect their teachers, choose good friends, and serve their country. The educational aim of Developing Virtue Secondary School is to develop the students’ ethical values so that, understanding the four cardinal virtues of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame, they become upright and good citizens. This is the basic purpose for which the schools were established at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

你們既然獲得這樣好的讀書環境，就應該愛惜光陰，愛惜生命，還要愛惜一切眾生、一切物質；不要把黃金時代寶貴的時間空過，不要看小說、電視，要努力用功，所謂「口而誦，心而惟；朝於斯，夕於斯。」口中念這本書，在心裏要思惟書中的道理；早晨想著書中的道理，晚上也想著書中的道理，時時刻刻不忘所學的書，時時刻刻要溫習所學的書。在《論語》上說：「溫故而知新」，溫習舊的書，而能得到新的學識，就是這個道理。

In such a fine educational environment, all of you should cherish your time, cherish your life, and cherish all living beings and all things. Don’t let your "golden years" go by in vain. You should study hard; don’t read novels or watch TV. "Recite (your lessons) orally, reflect on them mentally. Be mindful of them morning and evening." Recite the book with your mouth, and contemplate its principles in your mind. Be mindful of those principles in the morning as well as in the evening. Never forget the books you have studied; always review your lessons. As the Confucian Analects say, “Review the old and learn the new.” Go over your old lessons and learn new knowledge from them. That’s the principle here.

現在是求學問的時期，除了幫助家裏做事之外，就是要好好讀書，把握光陰，不可浪費。古人說：「一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰。」你們看看，光陰多麼寶貴呀！所謂「少壯不努力，老大徒傷悲。」在黃金時代不讀書，到老的時候，後悔也來不及了！

Now is the time of your life when you should concentrate on learning; aside from helping out with the family chores, you should cherish your time and study hard. Don’t waste your time. There’s an ancient saying, “An inch of time is worth an inch of gold, but an inch of gold can hardly buy an inch of time.” You see how precious time is! It is said, “If you don’t work hard when you’re young and strong, you’ll grieve in vain in your old age.” If you don’t study during these golden years, you’ll regret it when you get old, but by then it will be too late to do anything!

同學們！你們在少年時，就遇到這些災難，離鄉背井，投奔自由。在路途上流離失所，苦不堪言，遭遇種種的痛苦，才到達平安的地方。這是因為你們在往昔生中，不知修福修慧，或者給人災難，令人有痛苦，所以才得受今日的苦難，這都是前因後果的業力所感。雖然你們年紀還小，但已飽嘗災難滋味，如果再不發菩提心，不知用功讀書，將來的前途也是在意料中：將會黑暗多，光明少。你們明白嗎？

Fellow students! At your young age, you have been through a lot of trauma, for you left your home and country to flee to freedom. Homeless and wandering from place to place, you have experienced suffering that’s beyond words. Only after having undergone all kinds of distress and woe did you arrive at a safe place. This is because in your past lives, you didn’t cultivate blessings and wisdom, or perhaps you brought disasters down upon other people and caused them to suffer. And so now you are undergoing the painful retribution. This is the power of karma from previous causes bringing on subsequent effects. Though you are still young, you have already had a full taste of disasters. If you still fail to bring forth the resolve for Bodhi and fail to study hard, it’s pretty easy to see that your future will be dark rather than bright. Do you understand?

現在你們在萬佛聖城讀書，知道不爭、不貪、不求、不自私、不自利、不妄語這六大宗旨，懂得做人真正的精神，這是給你們改過自新的好機會，創造光明的前途。所以不要空過，要深深瞭解這個重要性，這是你一生幸福的關鍵。

As you now study at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, you are learning the Six Guidelines of not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not pursuing personal advantage, and not lying; and you understand how to be a truly worthy person. This is an excellent opportunity for you to turn over a new leaf and create a bright future. Don’t let it pass you by. You must realize that this is extremely important. This is the point at which you can turn your whole life around.

現在你們來這裏除了用功讀書外，若能再把握良機，時常修持，誠心念佛、拜佛、參禪、靜坐，這樣來修行，就能得到超群的能力──天眼通、天耳通、他心通、宿命通，甚至神足通，或者漏盡通。現在只講四通，其他二通以後再講。

In addition to studying hard while you are here, if you can take advantage of the opportunities to always cultivate by sincerely reciting the Buddha’s name, bowing to the Buddhas, investigating Chan and sitting in meditation, then you will be able to attain extraordinary abilities－namely, the penetration of the heavenly eye, the penetration of the heavenly ear, the penetration of knowing others’ minds, the penetration of knowing past lives, and even the penetration of the complete spirit or the penetration of ending outflows. I will explain only four of the six spiritual penetrations now, and leave the remaining two for another time.

什麼是天眼通？在地球上能看見天人的一舉一動、一言一行，清清楚楚，無所障礙。現在中國大陸有很多兒童，在屋內就能看見牆外的東西，又能知道他人手中所藏的是什麼東西，這就是天眼通，也就是透視作用。

What is the penetration of heavenly eye? It means that from here on earth you can observe all the movements, activities, and conversations of heavenly beings very clearly and without any obstruction. In mainland China now, there are many children who have the ability to see the things outside the walls of the room they are in. They can also know what someone is holding concealed in his hand. This is the penetration of the heavenly eye, which is just the ability to see through things.

什麼是天耳通？可以聽到天人講話，又能聽到佛菩薩講話，或者幾千里以外人的談話，能聽得清清楚楚。現在大陸上有些兒童，靠聽覺就能知道紙上所寫的字。事先將字秘密地寫在紙上，他放在耳邊一聽就知道，百試百中，並非猜測。

這些感應乃是他們前生修來的，有善根所致；但若沒有善知識的導引，一過童年，便會失去此種特殊的功能。

What is the penetration of the heavenly ear? It means that you can hear what heavenly beings are saying. You can also hear what the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are saying. You can also hear very clearly what people are talking about several thousand miles away. At present in China there are some children who can use their sense of hearing to "read" what is written on a piece of paper. They take a piece of paper on which something has been written beforehand (without their seeing it), place it by their ear, and listen for a second, and then they know what’s written on the paper. It works every single time, so they’re clearly not guessing. These responses derive from good roots that they cultivated in previous lives. However, if not guided by a wise teacher, they will lose these special abilities after their childhood years.
     

什麼是他心通？就是對他人心中所想的事，都能知道得清清楚楚，通達無礙。

What is the penetration of knowing others’ minds? It’s the ability to know clearly and without any obstruction what other people are thinking about.

什麼是宿命通？能知道他人過去的因果。譬如曾經造過什麼善業或惡業，都能清清楚楚地知道。你們若能認真修行，便能獲得這種特殊的能力，又能開大智慧，證得辯才無礙的神通力。

What is the penetration of knowing past lives? It’s the power to know very clearly other people’s past causes and effects, such as the good and evil deeds they have done. If you cultivate diligently, you can obtain this special skill; you can bring forth great wisdom and achieve the spiritual power of unobstructed eloquence.

中國大陸有這種奇特超群能力的兒童，可惜沒有懂得這種技能的人，所以把這些神通的人才都埋沒了。對佛教來說，這真是不幸之至！若是能積極培植這些小神童，讓他們發展起來，就能現身說法，令世人對佛教另眼相待，一如噩夢初醒，覺悟到佛法是救人救世的宗教。

There are many children in mainland China who are gifted with these extraordinary abilities. Unfortunately, since no one understands these abilities, these spiritually gifted children are neglected. This is truly a pity for Buddhism. If we could actively train these child prodigies and help them develop their abilities, they would be living examples of the Dharma who would cause the world’s people to see Buddhism in a new light. People would awaken as if from a nightmare and see that Buddhism is really a religion that can save people and save the world.

你們在萬佛聖城讀書，如果再能專心一致來學佛法，相信都有機會得到這種專門的能力。 這並非迷信，而是真實的，好像電視、雷達、收音機、電話、電報等，也有天眼通、天耳通的功能，但這些是人為的神通，而非自然的神通。若是由參禪所證得的神通，乃是任運自在的神通；只要你願意，也可以修到這種境界。

You are now attending school at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. If you concentrate on studying the Buddhadharma as well, I believe you have the chance to attain these special abilities. These aren’t just superstition; they are genuine powers.

Instruments such as the television, radar, the radio, the telephone, and the telegraph also have the functions of the penetrations of the heavenly eye and the heavenly ear, but those are manmade spiritual penetrations, not natural ones. The spiritual penetrations gained through Chan meditation are effortless and carefree in their functioning. All you have to do is want to, and you can obtain such states through cultivation.
     

一九八四年三月五日開示

 　

A talk given on March 5, 1984
　

法界佛教總會 • DRBA ／ BTTS ／ DRBU

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