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宣化上人開示錄(三)
Venerable Master Hua's Talks on Dharma Volume Three　

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

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認真修行莫放逸

Cultivate Diligently and Don't Be Lax

要時時刻刻反省和檢討， 有過改之，無過勉之。
Examine yourself at all times and reform any faults that you find. If you find no faults, then press on.

金山聖寺是法界佛教總會所屬的機構，以前叫佛教講堂，在三藩市中國城一棟小樓房的四樓。第一個暑期班（一九六八年）在那裏開課，當時有很多人從西雅圖來參加，為期九十六天，功課很忙，每天沒有休息的時間，只有在星期六放半天假時，有的就去洗衣服，有的就做私人的事。

 

Gold Mountain Monastery is operated by the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and used to be known as the Buddhist Lecture Hall, which was then a tiny flat located in a fourth floor walk-up in San Francisco's Chinatown. That's where our very first Summer Cultivation Session took place in 1968. Many people from Seattle took part in that ninety-six day session. The full daily schedule allowed no time for resting. The only chance for a break came on Saturday afternoon, when participants did their laundry or took care of personal business.

《楞嚴經》就是在那時講的，計劃在暑期班的期間把它講完。最初每天講一次，講了一個時期，覺得時間不夠，於是乎增加一次，每天講兩次。後來又怕講不完，再增加一次，每天就講三次；到了最後，每天講四次。就這樣，在這個暑期班的期間，勉強將這部《楞嚴經》講完，功德圓滿，迴向一切眾生。

　

We lectured on the Shurangama Sutra during that session, planning to finish it before the session ended. We began by holding one lecture daily, but before long, realizing that there wasn't enough time to finish the complete Sutra, we added an extra lecture, so there were two lectures a day. Later, because it still looked like we couldn't finish the Sutra, we added a third lecture to the daily schedule, and so forth, until at the end we had four lectures each day. We barely finished explaining the Shurangama Sutra during that summer session. Thus the merit and virtue was completed and we transferred it to all living beings.

《楞嚴經》講完之後，就有五位美籍青年出家，三位比丘、兩位比丘尼。這是美國最先有人出家，受具足戒的開始。

　

Once the Shurangama Sutra had been explained, five young Americans left the home-life, so now there are three Bhikshus and two Bhikshunis. These are the first Americans to leave home and receive the complete precepts.

　 　

以後每年都有暑期班，繼續有很多人來學習佛法，也有人出家做比丘和比丘尼。雖然人數不多，但是金山聖寺的宗旨，重質不重量，只要實實在在修行，研究佛法，就是一個也不算少，何況不止一個。

　

Each year thereafter we held a Summer Cultivation Session. Many people came to study Buddhadharma, and some of them decided to leave home and become Bhikshus and Bhikshunis. Although the total number of people is not large, at Gold Mountain Monastery we value quality over quantity. What counts is that those who come are sincere in wanting to cultivate the spiritual path and investigate Buddhadharma. Even one such person can't be considered too few; and if many people have that attitude, that's even better!

　 　

金山聖寺出版一本英文雜誌，定名為《金剛菩提海》（編按：目前是中英對照，改名為《萬佛城金剛菩提海》），是月刊，刊登佛法要義，令西方人曉得佛法的來龍去脈，而對佛法有個正確的認識，不再誤解佛教是迷信，是崇拜偶像，是消極悲觀者，是社會的寄生蟲。令一般人知道佛教是自由平等，以提倡世界和平為目標，沒有種族、國籍、地域的界限，大家一律都是佛弟子。

　

Gold Mountain Monastery publishes a monthly English journal called Vajra Bodhi Sea. (The journal is now bilingual, with Chinese and English side by side, and is called The Buddhist Month-ly--Vajra Bodhi Sea.) This journal brings the essentials of the Buddha's teachings to Westerners so they can learn the ins and outs of Buddhism, develop a correct understanding, and not misinterpret Buddhism as a superstitious religion, an idol-worshipping cult, a pessimistic escape, or parasitical burden on society. Our journal informs people that Buddhism advocates equality and freedom. It transcends all boundaries of country, race, and nationality and regards all beings alike as Buddhist disciples.

佛教從有史以來，沒有發生過戰爭。因為佛教的戒律，第一條就是不殺生，不但不殺人，就是其他的動物也不殺；而且還要放生，保護一切動物的安全，所以沒有戰爭。

　

Since Buddhism's inception, there has never been a Buddhist war. This is due in part to the first of the Buddhist precepts, which is "no killing." Buddhists not only refrain from killing humans, we don't kill any animals, either. Instead, we liberate living creatures, and protect the safety of all animals; therefore, we've never been involved in a war.

　 　

金山聖寺是在沙裏澄金。若是金子，來到金山聖寺，等於回到自己的家裏。雖然不講話，但是讀書很方便，天天研究佛法，沒有人來打閒岔，這是很好的環境。美國人很多，但真正發心來到這裏研究佛法，來聽經學法的有多少呢？所以，成佛是一個一個成的，不是一群一群成的。世界上無論什麼，都是以少為貴。我們金山聖寺研究佛法的人數雖然不多，但在這個世界上卻是最寶貴的。將來各位把佛法學會了，都可以到各處去弘揚佛法，利益眾生。令一切眾生早成佛道，這是我對各位的期望。

　

At Gold Mountain Monastery, it's as if we're panning for gold in the sand. If a person has the quality of gold, when he arrives at Gold Mountain, he'll feel right at home. Although we don't talk much here, the silence makes it quite convenient for studying; Every day we study Buddhism, and nobody comes to interrupt our work; this is an ideal environment. America has a large population, but how many have taken the opportunity to come investigate the Buddhadharma and listen to lectures on the Sutras here? This attests to the fact that Buddhas are created individually, one by one, and not in groups. In this world, things which are scarce are considered valuable. Although the people who come to Gold Mountain to investigate Buddhism may be few in number, they are the most valuable people in this world. In the future, when you all understand the Buddhadharma, you can go out to propagate the teachings in every land and bring benefit to all creatures. My wish is that you will quickly lead all beings to Buddhahood.

　 　

這次來參加暑期班的人，每一個人都必須要遵守時間，不要浪費光陰，中國有句名言：「一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰。」所以時間是最寶貴的，最重要的。今年暑期班的同學，在這裏要努力學習佛法，不要把寶貴的光陰空過去，一定要學點真正的道理。

　

Each one of you who has come to attend this summer session must cherish the time; don't let it pass by carelessly! I mentioned the Chinese proverb that goes, "An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold. Even an ounce of gold can't buy back an instant of time." So time is the most valuable, the most important of all commodities. All my classmates in this summer session, diligently study Buddhism! Don't allow the precious minutes to slip by. Use this time to learn some true principles of the spiritual path!

　 　

現在有一件事情，想對各位說一說，本來我不想說，可是不能不說。什麼事情？就是出家人一定要尊重自己，不要把自己看得太低賤，又不可以貢高我慢。要時時刻刻反省和檢討，有過改之，無過勉之，絕對不可散漫，不可放逸。

　

There's an important matter that I want to discuss with you all. In fact I thought not to mention it, but now I see I can't avoid it. You left-home people absolutely must learn to respect yourselves. Don't see yourselves as worthless and cheap. But neither should you be haughty and proud. Examine yourself at all times and reform any faults that you find. If you find no faults, then press on. Under no circumstances should you become lax and careless.

　 　

你們大家既然跟我出家學道，凡是我所見到的，一定要講出來，糾正你們的毛病。如果不講，那是我對不起你們各位。我將所見到的事說出來之後，你們聽不聽？改不改？那是你們個人的事。我把做師父應負的責任盡到，問心無愧，你們可不要墮地獄的時候，才來埋怨師父：「啊！我師父當初為何不嚴教？如果好好教我，我怎麼會墮地獄呢？」

　

Since you left the home-life to study the spiritual path with me, I'm obliged to point out everything that I see, in order to correct your faults. If I failed to tell you of your faults, then I'd be doing you an injustice. Once I tell you your faults, it's up to you to decide if you want to listen to me and change. By telling you, I've fulfilled my duty as a teacher, and have nothing to regret or be ashamed of. So if any of you fall into the hells, you have no right to complain, "Oh, why wasn't my teacher more strict with me? If he'd taught me better, then I wouldn't have wound up in hell!"

　 　

現在我把要說的話說出來，出家人切記！切記！不可以干涉別人的自由，不要影響別人的行動。自己不修行，不要妨礙他人修行；自己不持戒，不要妨礙他人持戒；自己不修德行，不要妨礙他人修德行。如果有這種思想和行動的人，一定要糾正過錯，改惡向善。出家人要時時刻刻自己管自己，一舉一動，一言一行，都要合乎戒律，不荒唐，要認真，不可隨隨便便，所謂：

無規矩，不能成方圓。

　

So now I've had my say. Left-home people should never disturb other people or interfere with their freedom. If you yourself don't cultivate, take care not to obstruct the cultivation of others. If you don't hold the precepts yourself, be sure not to prevent others from holding the precepts. If you choose not to cultivate virtuous conduct yourself, don't keep others from cultivating virtuous conduct. If you do obstruct others in these ways, then you must discipline and reform yourself. Left-home people must take charge of themselves at all times and accord with the moral precepts in every word and deed. Don't act so wild! Be serious! Don't just do what you please. Don't you know the proverb:

Without using a compass and a T-square,
You'll never draw good circles and corners.

　 　

所以佛在入涅槃時，告訴阿難尊者說：「以戒為師」，這是出家人的座右銘。

　

That's why before the Buddha entered Nirvana, he told Ananda, "Take the precepts as your teacher." This phrase can serve as a motto for every left-home person.

　 　

我們在吃飯的時候，要存三念五觀。

施主一粒米，重如須彌山；
吃了不修行，披毛戴角還。

　

While we eat, we should make the Three Recollections and the Five Contemplations. There's a saying,

A single grain of donor's rice,
Is as weighty as Mount Sumeru.
If one should eat it and then fail to cultivate,
One will have to repay the debt by wearing fur and horns.

　 　

這是多麼危險！所謂「袈裟底下，失去人身。」所以，出家人處處要嚴守戒律。我們在生死未了的時候，欲心未斷的時候，時刻不能懈怠，處處不能馬虎。所以普賢菩薩說：

是日已過，命亦隨減；
如少水魚，斯有何樂？
大眾！當勤精進，如救頭然，
但念無常，慎勿放逸。

　

How dangerous this situation is! This is called "losing one's human body while wearing the precept sash." So left-home people, wherever they may be, must sternly guard their precepts. Before we've put an end to birth and death, before our thoughts of desire have been severed, we may not be even the slightest bit lax or careless. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva exhorts us:

This day is already done,
Our lives are that much less.
We're like fish in evaporating water,
What joy can there be in this?
Great Assembly!
We should be as diligent and vigorous,
As if our own heads were at stake.
Never forget impermanence!
Be careful, and never be lax!

　 　

我們出家人，一分一秒也要愛惜，所謂「一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰。」光陰如此地寶貴，不可浪費時間。每個人要用功修行，精進再精進，才能有所成就。凡是用功修行的人，沒有時間說話，沒有時間打閒岔。關於這一點，我希望每個人都要注意。我見到不修行的人，覺得非常痛心，這豈不是辜負自己當初出家時所發的願嗎？這種口是心非的出家人，焉能為僧寶？盼望各位自己尊重自己！

　

We who have left the home-life must cherish each passing minute and second of time. Remember: "An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold. Even an ounce of gold can't buy back an instant of time." Time is just this precious, so don't waste it! Work hard at your cultivation. Be ever more vigorous. Only then can you expect success. There's never been a hard-working cultivator who had time to hold casual conversations or disturb others. I hope all of you will pay attention to this. It hurts me deeply to see people fail to cultivate! Aren't you letting down the vows you made upon first leaving home? Can this kind of left-home person who says one thing and does another consider himself part of the Sangha Jewel? I hope you'll all learn to respect yourselves!

　

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