萬佛聖城是修道的處所，天龍八部時刻在護持這個道場，如果有人發菩提心，他們一定護持，令你身心輕安，有大成就，有大感應。可是你不要存著這種希望，它才會自然現前；如果存著這種希望，那就是貪，也就是犯了聖城的六大宗旨。

The Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a place for cultivation. The gods, dragons, and the rest of the eightfold division of spirits constantly protect this Way-place. If you bring forth the resolve for Bodhi, they will surely protect you and cause your body and mind to be at ease. You will have great attainments and great responses. If you don’t harbor any hopes or expectations, these things will happen naturally. If you crave accomplishments or responses, however, you have violated the Six Guidelines of the Sagely City by being greedy.

萬佛聖城的修道人，天天所行所做都不離這六種條件：

Cultivators at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas follow these Six Guidelines in their daily activities.

（一）不爭。絕對不和任何人去爭，也不爭名，也不爭利。凡是旁人所歡喜的，讓給他，不必爭，所謂「爭之不足，讓之有餘。」

1. Not to fight. Never fight with anyone. Don’t contend over fame or benefits. If there’s something that other people desire, give it to them and don’t contend. It is said, “If people contend over things, there’s never enough to go around. If everyone yields, there’s always a surplus.”

（二）不貪，不是口說不貪，等到境界來了，照貪不誤，這就錯了。必須要言顧行，行顧言，不可自相矛盾。沒有貪心，才能培養高尚的人格。

2. Not to be greedy. This doesn’t mean saying we’re not greedy, but then being as greedy as ever when states come up. That would be wrong. Our words should reflect our behavior, and vice versa; they shouldn’t contradict each other. Only when we do away with greed can we develop a noble character.

（三）不求，若有所求，便有苦惱。求之不得，當然有苦惱，所謂「到無求處便無憂。」這是至理名言。人到無求品自高。

3. Not to seek. If we seek something, we suffer and get afflicted. Of course if our desires are frustrated, we’ll also be afflicted. It’s said, “When we seek nothing, we’ll have no worries.” This statement is absolutely true. When we reach the state of seeking nothing, our character will naturally be lofty.

在八苦中，有求不得苦；求不得也苦，求得了也苦，這樣患得患失，何苦來哉？這是自找苦吃。如果想得開，放得下，就沒有苦惱了。

One of the Eight Sufferings is the “suffering of not obtaining what one seeks for.” If you can’t get what you want, you suffer. If you do get what you want, you still suffer. Worrying about obtaining something and then worrying about losing it－is it worth the trouble? You’re just making yourself suffer. If you can realize this and let go of things, you won’t suffer or get afflicted anymore.

（四）不自私，人人都有自私心，事事先為自己打算，為子孫去著想。所以修道人，就是要修「無我」的境界。無我還爭個什麼？貪個什麼？求個什麼？什麼也不要了。我們應該學菩薩捨己為人的精神。世界為什麼烏煙瘴氣，沒有清明的時候？就是因為人人自私自利。這是我的，那是我所有的，所以搞得天下大亂，世界不寧。

4. Not to be selfish. Everyone has selfish concerns. We always think of ourselves first, and of our own children and grandchildren. So as cultivators, we must cultivate until we reach the state of “no self.” Without a self, what would we contend for, be greedy for, or seek for? We wouldn’t want anything at all. We ought to learn the Bodhisattvas’ spirit of renouncing themselves for the sake of other people. Why is the world so badly polluted that it can never become clean and pure? Just because everyone is selfish and wants to benefit themselves－“this is mine; that belongs to me”－so the world is in chaos and there is no peace.

（五）不自利，人人不自利，時時能知足，隨遇而安，自然和平相處。就好像魚餌，令貪心人見利忘義，做出傷天害理的事。有多少人為利，身敗名裂，傾家蕩產，甚至國破家亡，流離失所。

5. Not to pursue personal advantage. If people don’t care to benefit themselves and are always content with whatever comes their way, they will naturally get along peacefully. Like fish who fall for the bait, greedy people forget justice when they see profit. Consequently, they do things that offend the heavens and go against principle. How many people have ruined their reputations and exhausted their family fortunes in pursuit of profit? Some have even destroyed their families and brought their country to ruin, so that they themselves end up homeless.

（六）不妄語，無論什麼境界現前，絕對不打妄語，見則言見，聞則言聞，老老實實說真話，不可以說些沒有根據的話。要曉得說無中生有的妄語，損人不利己的話，死後一定墮落到拔舌地獄，這是毫無疑問的，各位要謹之！慎之！

6. Not to lie. Under no circumstances should we ever lie. We should honestly report what we have seen and heard, speaking only the truth and not saying anything that is not based on the facts. We should know that if we fabricate lies or say things that hurt others and are of no benefit to ourselves, after death we are bound to fall into the Hell of Pulling Tongues. There is no doubt about this, so be careful!

今天我對你們所說的話，雖然很淺，但是你們能照這些道理去做，那就受用無窮。所謂「說得好！說得妙！不實行，不是道。」道是行的，不行哪有道；德是做的，不做哪有德？你們能遵守聖城六大宗旨去實行，你們的人格自然高尚。

What I’ve said to you today is very simple, but if you can apply these principles, you’ll derive inexhaustible benefit. As the saying goes,

It may be well spoken and wonderfully stated,
But if it’s not practiced, it’s not the Way.

The Way has to be practiced. If it’s not practiced, how can it be the Way? Virtue has to be done; if one does not do it, how can there be virtue? If you can actually apply the Six Guidelines of the Sagely City, you will naturally be lofty and noble in character.

最後再說一句話：「不要做掩耳盜鈴的愚癡事，騙不了自己，也騙不了佛。」何必滿肚子是鬼，一手想遮天，這豈不是自討沒趣嗎！希望萬佛聖城的人，都有優良的表現，堪為人之模範，令世人刮目相看！

I will say one last thing: Don’t do foolish things, such as plugging your ears and stealing a bell [thinking that no one can hear the bell ring just because you can’t]. You cannot fool yourself, nor can you fool the Buddha. What’s the point of filling your mind with cunning schemes, thinking you can hide from your conscience－isn’t this just inviting ridicule? I hope people at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas will maintain excellent moral conduct and be models whom the whole world will marvel at.

一九八四年九月廿五日開示