我覺得中國佛教有很多迷信的色彩存在，有些不合情理的事情，令人起懷疑而不信佛。這種種的地方，必須要改革，如果不大刀闊斧修正一番，佛教的前途就不堪設想了！

I feel that Chinese Buddhism contains a lot of superstition. The irrational ideas and practices that cause people to lose faith in Buddhism should be reformed. If sweeping changes aren't made, I can hardly imagine what will become of Buddhism in the future.

譬如上廟燒香；認為燒香得越多，功德也就越多，其實這是錯誤的觀念。給佛上香，是表示恭敬之意，只要虔誠上一支香就夠了，何必上很多支呢？如果心不誠，無論上多少香也不會有感應。

For instance, when people go to the temple, they equate the amount of incense they burn with the amount of merit they will earn. That's wrong. We offer incense to the Buddha to show our respect. It's enough to sincerely offer one stick of incense. Why offer so many sticks? If our mind isn't sincere, then no matter how many sticks we offer, there won't be a response.

佛並不是嗜好香氣的，如果佛嗜好香，那和我們凡夫又有什麼分別呢？這種風氣要改，否則令人懷疑佛有貪圖香氣之心。這樣在無意之中，就給佛高尚的名譽加上了污點，實在是罪過之至！

It's not that Buddhas like the smell of incense. If they did, they would be no different from ordinary people. We have to change this trend; otherwise, people will think that Buddhas crave the smell of incense, and the lofty name of Buddhism will be ruined. That would truly be a great offense!

一般愚夫愚婦到佛前叩頭，這是理所當然，但是他們不知道拜佛是怎回事？只知道祈求佛保護他們升官發財、平安，求男求女，求名求利，一切所求都是自私自利的表現，沒有利人利世的想法。佛菩薩雖然有求必應，不令眾生失望，但是貪求無厭，那就不對了。我看到這種情形，很有感觸，所以要改革這種愚夫愚婦拜佛的觀念，開導他們為信仰而拜佛，為祈求世界和平而拜佛，要有正大光明的祈求，為人不為己，這才是真正佛教徒的行為。

Ordinary people are doing the right thing when they bow before the Buddhas, but they don't know the real meaning behind it. They only pray to the Buddhas for protection, a good position, good fortune, peace, a son or daughter, fame, and profit. The things they seek show that they are selfish and only want to benefit themselves. They don't think about benefitting people or helping the world.

Although the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas respond to all prayers and do not disappoint any living being, it is not right to be insatiably greedy. When I see this kind of situation, I have many feelings. I wish to change people's views about bowing to the Buddhas. I want to teach them that they should bow to the Buddhas to show their faith and to pray for world peace. Their prayers should be proper, noble, and bright. They should pray for others, not for themselves. That's how true Buddhists should behave.

有不肖的出家人，宣傳燒紙錢有大用處，讓死者有錢可以賄賂獄卒，減輕刑罰。有的人聽法師說，燒紙錢越多越好，就相信法師所說的話，因為他們認為出家人不打妄語。哪知這其中另有祕密，出家人暗中得好處，所以大家心照不宣，狼狽為奸，欺騙當事人的金錢，這種手段多麼卑鄙！所以我要改革燒紙錢的陋習，打倒迷信，不要令佛教受不白之冤，佛教不是提倡燒紙錢的宗教。

Some left-home people advocate the benefits of burning paper money, saying that it provides the deceased with money to bribe the wardens of the hells to reduce their sentences. Thinking that monks don't lie, some people believe those Dharma Masters who tell them the more paper money they burn, the better. What they don't know is that those monks make a hidden profit. Those monks maintain a silent conspiracy of cheating people out of their money. What vile tactics! I want to change the custom of burning paper money. I want to overthrow superstition; I don't want Buddhism to receive undeserved criticism. Buddhism does not advocate burning paper money.

一九八三年十月十五日開示