金山禪寺、金輪聖寺、如來寺，將來都要有一位住持。大家要共同選舉有德行、有才幹的人，大家都擁護他，他才有資格做住持。

In the future, Gold Mountain Monastery, Gold Wheel Monastery, and Tathagata Monastery should each have an abbot. Everyone should elect virtuous and capable people and give them the group's support. Only in that way can anyone qualify to be an abbot.

選擇住持，以什麼為標準？第一個條件，要沒有脾氣，待人和氣，處處有人緣，不用權力壓迫任何人，以民主作風辦事，令人恭而敬之。

What are the criteria for an abbot? First of all, he must have no temper. He should be courteous and get along well with people. He cannot use his authority to oppress others. He should work democratically in order to win the respect of others.

如果選出的住持，有很大的脾氣，人人都受不了他的壓力，敢怒而不敢言，這樣對佛教不但沒有幫助，反受其累。

If the abbot had a big temper, no one would put up with his bullying. People would be angry inside, but would not dare to speak out. Such a situation would be totally unbeneficial and would only cripple Buddhism.

誰若沒有脾氣，忍耐程度到家，誰就能被選做住持。有脾氣的人，恐怕希望就很小的，為什麼？因為有煩惱，容易把佛法就燒光了。煩惱是屬火的，能燒毀一切，這種大火災，就是用前面所講的大雨，也不能消滅它。

Anyone without a temper and with a mature level of patience is eligible to become an abbot. Those with bad tempers don't have much of a chance, because their afflictions would probably completely burn up the Buddhadharma. Afflictions belong to the element of fire and can burn up everything. Such a disasterous fire cannot be extinguished even by the big rainstorm mentioned earlier.

今天我對你們所說的話是很重要的，將來選住持的時候，切記要考慮這個人的品行學識如何？凡是做住持的人，必須有廣泛的善緣，能與人同甘共苦，相處融洽，使大眾都不討厭他，人人尊敬他。無論比丘、比丘尼、優婆塞、優婆夷，大家都認為這個人不錯，有道心，肯修行，並且有領導的能力，這樣的人才可以做住持。

What I'm telling you today is very important. When you elect an abbot in the future, you should carefully consider the character and education of each candidate. In order to be an abbot, a person should have affinities with a wide range of people and get along well with everyone. He should share the bitter toil as well as the sweet rewards; then no one will dislike him, and everyone will respect him. If all the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, and Upasikas feel that a certain person is pretty good, that he is intent on cultivating the Way and would make a good leader, then he can be an abbot.

一九七八年一月二十日