我們要借假修真，效法諸佛菩薩超人的智慧，難思的神通。為什麼會有超人的智慧？為什麼會有難思的神通？

We have to use the false to facilitate the cultivation of the true. We should follow the example of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have transcendental wisdom and inconceivable spiritual powers. How did they attain their wisdom and powers?

一言以蔽之，因為諸佛菩薩在因地的時候，處處認真修行，處處謹慎持戒；無論在什麼時候，以身作則，行住坐臥具足威儀。對於眾生，流血流汗，任勞任怨，絕不向眾生表功勞；他所做利益眾生的功德事，絕不表露出來，絕不自我宣傳，他認為度眾生是自己的職責。諸佛菩薩有「施恩不求報，與人不追悔」的思想，有「無緣大慈，同體大悲」的行為，因為這樣地修學，才獲得超人的智慧，難思的神通。

To put it in a nutshell, when they were on the causal ground, they cultivated seriously and upheld the precepts carefully at all times and in all places. They had perfect deportment while walking, standing, sitting, and reclining, setting an example with their own conduct. They spared no effort for the sake of living beings and took all the work and blame upon themselves. They never showed off or publicized the meritorious deeds they did to benefit living beings; they took rescuing living beings as their personal duty. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas helped living beings without seeking any rewards or feeling any regret. They showed great kindness to those with whom they had no affinities and practiced great compassion by regarding all beings as identical with themselves. Through such cultivation, they attained transcendental wisdom and inconceivable spiritual powers.

我們常常聽經，要思考，要消化，才能有所受用；不然的話，聽經聽多了，就忽略經中所說的道理，甚至把經的義理，置諸腦後，不去研究，不去思惟，只用自己的精靈鬼、伶俐蟲做一些個糊塗顛倒事。這樣胡作非為，就是對諸佛菩薩不孝順，對自己祖先、父母、師長不孝順。那麼應當怎麼樣呢？就是要認真行持佛法，不可以懈怠，不可以放逸；處處要謹慎，時時要小心，要勇猛精進，嚴守戒律，這是修道人必須遵守的條件。

When listening to Sutra lectures, we have to contemplate and digest what we hear before we can receive the benefit. Otherwise, after having listened to many lectures we'll begin to neglect the doctrines spoken in the Sutras, or even put the principles on the back burner, neither investigating nor contemplating them, only using our worldly intelligence to do muddled things. This kind of foolish behavior is unfilial to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, our ancestors, parents, and teachers. We should earnestly practice and uphold the Buddhadharma, and not be lazy or careless. We must be cautious at all times and places, be vigorous, and strictly uphold the precepts. These are the guidelines cultivators must follow.

有這種不正當的習氣毛病，一定要糾正過來，不要有這種毛病不但不改，反而保護它，那就是助紂為虐。殷紂王本來是無道的昏君，若是有人幫助他作惡，那就是助紂為虐。修道中也有殷紂王，誰是殷紂王？就是魔王。魔王看佛法興盛起來，就感覺不舒服，於是千方百計來破壞佛法，擾亂道場。你有道場他就擾亂你的道場，你沒有道場他就擾亂你的身心，令你身不安，心不寧；你的身心顛倒，就不能如法次第地修行，這是直接的破壞法。還有間接的破壞法，譬如利用種種境界來誘惑你，令你沒有定力，神魂顛倒，中了他的詭計，失去修道的真心。

If we have improper habits and faults, we must correct them. We cannot cling to our faults, refuse to correct them, even defend them. That would be “helping King Zhou perpetuate evil.” King Zhou was a depraved tyrant during the late Shang dynasty, and evildoers are said to have helped him in his tyranny. The “King Zhou” of cultivation is Mara, the demon king. When the demon king sees the Buddhadharma flourishing, he feels uneasy and does all he can to destroy Buddhism and disrupt its Way-places. If you have a Way-place, he'll come to disturb it. If you don't have a Way-place, then he'll come to disturb your body and mind, making you feel restless and ill at ease, so that you cannot practice the Dharma. This is a case of direct sabotage. There is also indirect sabotage, such as enticing you with all kinds of states that cause you to lose samadhi power, get carried away and fall into his trap, losing the resolve to cultivate.

所以修道人，要心定如須彌山，見到任何境界，都不動心，那魔王對你也就無可奈何，只有棄甲而逃了。

Therefore cultivators should be as calm and steady as Mount Sumeru, remaining unmoved no matter what states they encounter. Then the demon king will be helpless to do anything; he will have to abandon his armor and run away.