你不要到戒律本子上去找戒律。

Don't go looking for the precepts in the books on precepts.

南无萨怛多　苏伽多耶　
        阿啰诃帝　三藐三菩陀写
南无萨怛多　苏伽多耶　
        阿啰诃帝　三藐三菩陀写
南无萨怛多　苏伽多耶　
        阿啰诃帝　三藐三菩陀写

Na mo sa dan tuo su qie duo ye e la he di san miao san pu tuo xie.
Na mo sa dan tuo su qie duo ye e la he di san miao san pu tuo xie.
Na mo sa dan tuo su qie duo ye e la he di san miao san pu tuo xie.

每天我开讲之前，称念“南无萨怛他。苏伽多耶。阿啰诃帝三藐三菩陀写。”这几句咒文就是说，我们要皈依尽虚空、遍法界，十方三世无尽无尽常住佛、法、僧三宝。

Every day before I begin to speak, I recite, "Na mo sa dan tuo su qie duo ye e la he di san miao san pu tuo xie." These lines of mantra text mean, "We take refuge with the inexhaustible, limitless, eternal Triple Jewel of the Buddhas, the Dharma, and the Sangha in the ten directions and three periods of time, pervading empty space and the Dharma Realm."

我们为什么要皈依常住三宝？因为我们是佛教徒，应该尽形寿皈依十方三世无尽无尽的常住三宝。我来请三宝加持各位，令各位所求如愿，一切一切都如意吉祥。我若有福报的话，我就给回向在这个道场里边的一切众生；远处我也想回向，可是我离这外边的众生很远，所以也就鞭长莫及。那么到这个坛场里边的人，我都希望他们灾消病散，罪灭福生，如意吉祥，增福延寿，这是我为大家来回向，所以念这几句咒文。

Why do we want to take refuge with the eternal Triple Jewel? Since we are Buddhist disciples, we should take refuge to the ends of our lives with the inexhaustible, limitless, eternal Triple Jewel in the ten directions and the three periods of time. I am requesting the Triple Jewel to confer aid upon all of you, so that your wishes may be fulfilled and everything may turn out auspiciously. I transfer any blessings I have to all the living beings in this Way-place. I would like to transfer to living beings who are outside as well, but they are too far away to receive my influence. As for the people in this Dharma-hall, I hope their calamities and diseases are dispelled, their offenses are wiped away, and blessings are created. I hope that everything is lucky and just as they wish, that their blessings increase and their lives are lengthened. This is how I pray for everyone when I recite these lines of mantra.

那么你们每一个人都可以念这个咒文来回向。可是这话又说回来，首先要不打妄语，再要不自私，也不自利，要无所祈求，也不贪财，也不贪色，也不争––不争名、不夺利。你若能这样子，谁持这个咒、诵念这个咒，都会有很大的感应。如果你不从这条路上走，你想祈求什么，希望得到感应，恐怕是不会满你的愿。所以第一点就要守戒律。

Each of you can also recite this mantra passage and transfer the merit. However, the first requirement is that you refrain from lying. Further, you must not be selfish, pursue personal benefit, or seek anything at all. You must not crave wealth or sex, or fight for fame or profit. If you can refrain from those, you will receive a great response when you recite and uphold the mantra. If you do not follow this path, you will probably not get the response you seek. Therefore, the first step is to hold the precepts.

什么叫戒律？就是不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不打妄语，这就是戒律。你不要到那个戒律本子上去找戒律。这是人人都能做到，人人都可以行的。所以你若能谨守这个不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不打妄语，这十方诸佛常常护佑你、护念你，常常能来加被你。你不要以为我懂得这个不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不打妄语，这个我懂了，我就可以得到佛的加被。不是懂了就能得到佛的加被，也不是念了就得到佛的加被；而是你要身体力行，躬行实践，于这六种的戒律不违背，那你才能得到佛的拥护和加被。不是就那么我念一念，我懂了；你要真懂了，才算呢！可是你就稍微懂一点，你就认为是够了，那是不够的。一定要身体力行，终身行之，犹不能尽者矣！

What is meant by precepts? Precepts refer to not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking anything, not being selfish, not wanting self benefit, and not telling lies. Don't go looking for the precepts in the books on precepts. Precepts can be practiced by anyone. If you can strictly uphold the rules of not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking anything, not being selfish, not wanting self benefit, and not telling lies, then the Buddhas of the ten directions will constantly protect you, be mindful of you, and aid you. Don't think that you can receive the Buddhas' aid just because you understand the rules of not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking anything, not being selfish, not wanting self benefit, and not telling lies. The Buddhas will not aid you for merely understanding and reciting these rules. You have to personally practice them. You have to refrain from breaking these six precepts before you can receive the Buddhas' aid and protection. It is not a matter of just reciting them, or understanding what they mean. It only counts if you really understand them. If you only have a little understanding, you may think it is enough, but it isn't. You must practice them all your life, and even then you will not be perfect.

我今天还没有正式说话的时候，我先说一点你们不愿意听的话，以便我先说了你们愿意听的话，那时候这些你们也没地方装了，也听不进去了。所以现在我有一个小小的条件，对你们各位先要说一说。这个条件是什么呢？我每一次到台湾来，都令我战战兢兢的。我所带的团员，到什么地方，都不受欢迎，只欢迎我一个人，不欢迎我的团员。怎么这样说呢？我每次来都带着一些个团员，到那个庙上，拜佛也没有地方拜，上车也没有地方上。本来预备给我这个团体用的车，可是台湾自己的人都先跑上去，等到我这些团员再上车了呢，没有地方了！不要说坐的地方，站的地方也没有，所以我觉得我很对不起我的这些个团员！那么令一般人这么样子对待我们外来人，这是不是欺负外来人？我这不懂得。

Before I formally begin my talk today, I will first say something that you don't like to hear. If I were to say what you like to hear first, then you wouldn't have any place to put what you don't like to hear, and you wouldn't be able to listen to it! So now, I will bring up a small condition. What condition? Every time I come to Taiwan, I am very nervous, because the rest of my delegation is never made to feel welcome. People only welcome me and do not welcome the members of my delegation. Why do I say this? Every time my delegation members accompany me, there is never any room for them to bow to the Buddha when we go to a temple, and there is never any room in the car for them. A car was prepared for my delegation, but the group from Taiwan got in first and didn't leave any room for the members of my delegation even to stand, much less to sit. So I feel very sorry for the members of my delegation. Do you mean to bully the people from other places by treating them like this? I don't understand it.

还有拜佛，我这些个团员在前边站着，有人一看前边是跟着我的团员，就赶快把他撵跑了，说这个地方是我的位置，你们不能站。团员就跑到后边去。跑到后边，因为人太多了，也没有地方拜佛，也没有地方站。所以我觉得我对我这些个团员，都是对不起他们，他们跟得辛辛苦苦，不远万里而来，想和台湾的佛教徒结缘，结果就被佛教徒这么样排斥。排斥我这些个团员的人都是谁呢？就是去过万佛城，在万佛城住过的，回来就说我这儿的团员对他们太冷了，几几乎冻得成瘫痪委症了，所以这回到了台湾，他们就要公报私仇。你说这我还敢来不敢来？

Also, when it was time to bow to the Buddha, the members of my delegation were all squeezed up in the front. Recognizing them as part of my delegation, people chased them away, saying, "This is my place. You can't stand here." They went to the back, but there was no room to bow or stand there either. I feel very sorry for the members of my delegation. They have exhausted themselves coming such a long way with me, hoping to create affinities with the Buddhists of Taiwan. Instead, they were rejected by the Buddhists here. Who are the people who have mistreated the members of my delegation? They are people who went to stay at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and when they came back, they said my people had been too cold to them, to the point that they almost froze to death. That is why they are seeking revenge now that we have come to Taiwan. Do you think I still dare to come?

还有，我每逢到什么地方，行动都不方便。怎么不方便呢？把路口给挤得满满的，都要人手拉手做一个人墙，在那儿挡着。这如果是学佛的人，怎么会这样子？一点规矩也没有，一点次第也没有。

Also, no matter where I go, it's very inconvenient to walk around. Why? The roads are so crowded that people have to form a human wall to block the crowd. How can those who study Buddhism act this way, with no regard for rules or order?

这次因为游居士他要我来，不要说请，是要我来的。要我来，我就遵命来啦！来了是不是有所顾虑，像过去每一次带团来的样子呢？这次我先声明，我走路，不能挡着我路，无论哪一个，不可以拦路来供养我。拦路供养我，我都不接受的。因为什么呢？你在那儿拦路供养我，以为我是贪图供养，堵在那儿我就欢喜了？我最讨厌是人家供养我。我为什么讨厌呢？我因为少道少德，道也不足以感人，德也不足以化人，以我这种道凉德薄的一个穷和尚，我也没那么大的福报受人的供养。你们不要以为你们放个红包，我一看是写某某的名字，谁的红包最多，我就欢喜。我若贪红包，我不必来到台湾。台湾虽然是叫宝岛，可是现在已经变质了，变得好像有马粪、猪粪、牛粪那股味道，宝岛变了粪岛了。

So this time, because Upasaka You wanted--I won't say invited--me to come, I followed orders and came. Having come, don't you think I'm worried that what happened to our delegation in the past will happen again? This time, I am announcing in advance that my way must not be blocked when I am walking. No one should make an offering to me as I am walking. If anyone tries to do that, I will not accept it. Why? You try to make an offering as I'm walking, thinking I'm greedy for offerings, and that I am happy that you stop me. What I detest most is for people to make offerings to me. Why? Because I have little virtue. My virtue is not enough to influence and transform people. Such a poor monk of little virtue as I am does not deserve to receive people's offerings. Don't think it makes me happy to see that so-and-so's red envelope contains the biggest offering. If I were greedy for red envelopes, I wouldn't need to come to Taiwan. Even though Taiwan is called "Treasure Island," it has changed. Now it seems to be permeated with the odor of horse, pig, and cow manure. "Treasure Island" has turned into "Manure Island."

但是我看见台湾现在的情形，我也不能舍弃台湾这些个真心信仰佛教的人。可是我到这儿来，令我很失望的。台湾就是在这儿迷信，这一些个人也不知道什么是真佛教，也不知道什么是假佛教，听说某某人是名誉非常响亮，以为这样就是佛教。佛教徒不应该做生意，虽然说是自给自足，是我做生意赚来的钱；可是在佛教里头做生意，这个是不究竟的，这个种福里头，也有种种的问题。所以不要认假做真，不要听这个虚伪的宣传，自己总是自夸其德，自己赞叹自己。

Even though I see the deplorable state Taiwan is in, I cannot abandon the sincere Buddhists in Taiwan. I have been very disappointed in coming here. Taiwan is caught up in superstition. These people don't know what authentic Buddhism is, nor do they know what phony Buddhism is. When they hear that someone has a famous reputation, they think he must represent Buddhism. Buddhists should not do business. Even if they say, "I am self-sufficient," doing business in Buddhism is not the ultimate way. All kinds of problems are involved in planting this kind of blessings. You should not take the false to be true. Don't listen to false advertisements by people who just brag about and praise themselves.

我告诉你们各位，我是一个没有德行的人，所以我不欢迎人供养我。不过我怎么样呢？因为台湾的风气都封果仪供养，我虽然不愿意，我也不例外，也勉强接受人一点供养，免得令要供养我的人失望。可是这供养，我们先说清楚了，所有的收入都是用来养万佛城，帮着维修万佛城，做这样的事情；不是我们每一个人私人来用这个钱。所以我勉强受人的供养，我不是喜欢这个。

Let me tell all of you, I am a person with no virtue, so I do not welcome offerings from people. However, since it is the custom in Taiwan to make offerings, I do not make an exception for myself. I make myself accept some offerings, so that those who want to make offerings will not be disappointed. I want to make it clear that all the offerings we receive go to support and maintain the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The money is not used by the individuals who receive it. I make myself accept people's offerings, but it's not something I like to do.

所以我的徒弟每一个人多数都持银钱戒的，都是不用钱的，手也不摸钱，与这个钱是分道扬镳。为什么他们被我迷得这个样子呢？宁可什么钱都不要了跟着我？因为出家人若没有钱，他还能修行；一有了钱，绝对不修行了，这是我敢保证的。你看一看！你研究研究，这个道士讲贫道，僧人叫贫僧；没有说那个富僧、那个富道，没有这样讲的，都是贫僧、贫道。所以你们弄这个钱，都去供养这个富僧、富道的话，这是等于造罪一样的。我说这话会得罪很多人，我虽然得罪，我也要说真话，我不能缄默，我不能不给大家说真理。

Most of my disciples hold the precept of not touching money. They don't need money, and they don't touch money. They stay away from money. How did I manage to charm them to the point that they would give away all their money to follow me? The reason is that when left-home people have no money, they can cultivate. As soon as they have money, they absolutely cannot cultivate. I guarantee this. You can look into this. We talk about poor Taoists and about poor monks, but never about rich Taoists or rich monks. There is no such thing. If you take your money and make offerings to "rich monks" of "the Way of wealth," you are creating offenses. What I've said will upset a lot of people. Even though they will be upset, I must speak the truth. I cannot remain silent and refrain from telling everyone the truth.

所以我在出来访问的时候，任何人的馈送，我不接受的；我徒弟也不可以替我接受一切的礼物。这一切的礼物，包括金钱、食物、用品，都包括在内。如果哪一个他不知道我的规矩，到处乱收人的礼物，和一切的物质，我以后就不会再带他出来，到外边来参学了。所以他们有的不知道的，有的知道的。

When I come to propagate the Dharma, I refuse to accept gifts from anyone. My disciples are not allowed to receive presents on my behalf either. "Presents" include such things as money, food, and commodities. If any disciple does not understand my rule and recklessly accepts people's gifts, in the future I will not bring him or her along to learn. Some of them know, and some don't know.

希望你们以后，谁也不可以看见跟着我来的人就塞东西，你们知道我不收礼物，你们就贿赂跟着我的人，令跟着我的人都是道心不专一了，都是不修行了，这也是你们造罪的地方。你们各位啊，这个我和你们说清楚了，你们各位不要做表面的工作，要在佛教里认真脚踏实地去躬行实践。

Now that you know that I decline all presents, I hope you will not bribe the people I bring along with me. Do not destroy their concentrated resolve for the Way, so that they cannot cultivate. If you do that, you are just creating offenses. Now I've told you very clearly. Don't just do superficial work. In Buddhism, you should be serious and do some solid, real work.

你说：“你这个穷和尚，你告诉人家你是穷的，你一定还是要钱。”我是要钱，不错，我万佛城现在每一天都有几百人吃饭，连学生带老师，还有这个出家人、在家人，都是我在那儿养着他们，也都是你们这一些个善信这种功德，才能养这种修道的道人。我们在万佛城的个人，谁也不受人的礼物和供养，你们现在都听明白了没有？

You say, "When you were a poor monk, and you told people you were poor, you must have asked for money." I asked for money, it's true. At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, there are several hundred people who have to eat every day, including students, teachers, left-home people, and laypeople. They are all there living on my support. It is also the merit and virtue of all of you faithful donors that is supporting these cultivators of the Way. At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, no one accepts presents or offerings from people. Do you all hear and understand?

所以这一次来，我先和游居士讲好了条件：我走路不能有人在那儿拦路供养的。我们都要清清净净的、乾干净净的，也丝毫不茍的。不是说你们在那儿拦着路供养，这就表示你有诚心。你在那儿拦着我走路，这是障碍我的行动。障碍我的行动，你大约也没有功德了，所以我要先清楚告诉你们。我对游居士说：“我怕到台湾来，台湾这些个人像疯子似的来争着供养我，拿着我当一个财迷和尚了，以为这我就欢喜了。”

Therefore, in coming this time, I made an agreement with Upasaka You that when I'm walking, people cannot come up to make offerings. We should all be very pure and clean, and not the slightest bit careless. You shouldn't try to prove your sincerity by blocking my path to make an offering. If you hinder my freedom of movement, you probably won't gain any merit and virtue. So I want to tell you in advance. I said to Upasaka You, "I'm afraid to come to Taiwan, because these people go crazy, fighting to make offerings to me. They think I am a monk who is infatuated with money. They think that makes me happy."

我今天老实告诉你们，我不怕又把财路挡了，因为我万佛城开光和开幕的时候，我曾经说过这么一句话，我说：“你们各位有钱的人注意，你们要知道我这个和尚啊！生来就不会向金钱来叩头的。你们所有有钱的人，甚至于暴发户，我都看不起的，如果你要是循规蹈矩发的财，这还可以；如果你暴发户，不是走私，就是贩毒，这是害人哪！你害大家的孽比供养我的那个功德大得多，你那个罪孽比功德大得多。你有多少财产，就有多少罪业在你后边跟着。”

I'll be honest with you, and I'm not afraid if I stop the flow of money again. At the opening ceremony of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, I said, "All of you wealthy people, pay attention. You should know that I am a monk who will never bow to money my whole life. I look down on all of you rich people, including the newly-rich upstarts. If you made your money in a proper, law-abiding way, that's acceptable. If you struck it rich by dealing in contraband or drugs, your activities have harmed people. The offense of harming all those people far exceeds the merit of making an offering to me. However much wealth you have, that's how much karma of offenses you have following you."

那么有的法师听见我这么一说，说：“唉呀！法师，你真愚痴啊！你这一句话把财路都给挡住了。”我说：“那最好的，我宁可愿意穷，我不愿意有钱。”所以我到了美国三十多年，一块金子也没刨到，你说是不是愚痴到极点了？什么手段也不会用！这是我很坦诚地来告诉你们各位。

Some Dharma Masters heard me say this, and exclaimed, "Dharma Master, what a fool you are! With that one sentence, you have blocked all the money." I said, "That's the best. I'd rather be poor than rich." So in the thirty or more years that I've been in the United States, I haven't dug up a single piece of gold. Wouldn't you say I'm extremely stupid? I don't know any clever schemes. I am being very honest with you.

我讲这么多话，也没有什么道理，浪费你们的时间，你们听得都好像乾燥无味似的。虽然乾燥无味，你叫我讲深的，我也不会讲；叫我讲妙的，我也不会说，我只可以讲这个很浅显的、很平凡的道理，来和你们大家，或者可以说是结法缘，也可以说是结烦恼缘。你听到我所说的这个话之后，就生了烦恼了，这不是我所愿意做的事情；我愿意你们听了，都可以做一个借镜。

I've said a lot, but it doesn't have much principle. It's just a waste of your time, and you'll find dry and boring. Even though it's dry and boring, if you asked me to talk about something profound, I wouldn't know how. If you asked me to talk about something esoteric, I wouldn't know how either. I can only talk about some very basic and ordinary principles, in order to create Dharma-affinities with you, or you might call them affliction-affinities. If you get afflicted after hearing what I say, that was not my intention. What I would like is for you to listen to my words and use them as a mirror to reflect on yourself.

一九九三年一月十三日晚间
开示于台湾板桥台北县立体育馆

A talk by the Venerable Master Hua
in the evening of January 13, 1993,
at the Taipei County Stadium in Banqiao, Taiwan