南无萨怛他
苏伽多耶
阿罗诃帝
三藐三菩陀写
南无萨怛他
佛陀俱胝瑟尼钐
南无萨婆
勃陀勃地
萨多鞞弊
南无萨多南
三藐三菩陀俱知南
娑舍啰婆迦
僧伽喃
南无卢鸡阿罗汉多喃
南无苏卢多波那喃
南无娑羯唎陀伽弥喃
南无卢鸡三藐伽多喃
三藐伽波啰
底波多那喃
南无提婆离瑟赧
南无悉陀耶
毗地耶
陀啰离瑟赧
舍波奴
揭啰诃
娑诃娑啰摩他喃
南无跋啰诃摩尼
南无因陀啰耶

NA MO SA DAN TUO
SU QIE DUO YE
E LA HE DI
SAN MIAO SAN PU TUO XIE
NA MO SA DAN TUO
FO TUO JU ZHI SHAI NI SHAN
NA MO SA PO
BO TUO BO DI
SA DUO PI BI
NA MO SA DUO NAN
SAN MIAO SAN PU TUO JU ZHI NAN
SUO SHE LA PO JIA
SENG QIE NAN
NA MO LU JI E LUO HAN DUO NAN
NA MO SU LU DUO BO NUO NAN
NA MO SUO JIE LI TUO QIE MI NAN
NA MO LU JI SAN MIAO QIE DUO NAN
SAN MIAO QIE BO LA
DI BO DUO NUO NAN
NA MO TI PO LI SHAI NAN
NA MO XI TUO YE
PI DI YE
TUO LA LI SHAI NAN
SHE PO NU
JIE LA HE
SUO HE SUO LA MO TUO NAN
NA MO BA LA HE MO NI
NA MO YIN TUO LA YE

方才读的这一遍，这是〈楞严咒〉的前边二十八句，这二十八句是教我们“皈依尽虚空遍法界，一切诸佛、一切菩萨、一切声闻、缘觉、一切诸天”。那么最后那个“南无因陀啰耶”，这一句就是我们中国人所说的玉皇大帝。所以不懂佛法的人，他说：“玉皇大帝那是道教的，我们不要拜他。”他不知道这玉皇大帝就是这个帝释天；可是我们做佛的弟子，也要恭敬他，也要来摄受他。在〈楞严咒〉这前一段，这也是护持三宝的一段，所以念上这一段咒的时候，一切的妖魔鬼怪他都要退避三舍；不止退避三舍，他要退到他所不能退的那个地方去。

What I just recited was the first twenty-eight lines of the Shurangama Mantra. These twenty-eight lines tell us to take refuge in all the Buddhas, all the Bodhisattvas, all the Hearers, all Those Enlightened by Conditions, and all the gods throughout empty space and the Dharma Realm. The last line, "Na mo yin tuo la ye," refers to what Chinese people call the Jade Emperor. Those who do not understand the Buddhadharma say, "The Jade Emperor belongs to Daoism. We shouldn't bow to him." They don't realize that the Jade Emperor is just Lord Shakra. As Buddhist disciples, we should also respect him and gather him in. This first section of the Shurangama Mantra is the section for protecting and supporting the Triple Jewel. Therefore, when this section is recited, all the demons, goblins, ghosts, and other strange creatures flee far away. They retreat as far as they can go.

所以我们在佛教里头，如果有一个人能在这个世界上念〈楞严咒〉，这妖魔鬼怪他都不敢公然出现于世；如果一个人也没有了，也没有人会背〈楞严咒〉了，这时候妖魔鬼怪他们都出现于世了。他们在这个世界上为非作歹，一般人也不认识他们了。现在因为有人会念〈楞严咒〉，所以妖魔鬼怪他不敢公然出现于世。你念这一段咒文，有四句话可以来表达这段咒文的意思。这四句话说的：

Therefore, in Buddhism it is said that if there is even one person in the world who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, then the demons, goblins, ghosts, and all the other weird creatures will not dare to openly show themselves in the world. If not even one person can recite the Shurangama Mantra from memory, then at that point all the demons, goblins, ghosts, and all the other weird creatures will appear in the world. They will wreak havoc, but no one will recognize them. Right now, since there are still people who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, the demons, goblins, ghosts, and all the other weird creatures don't dare to openly show themselves in the world. There is a verse which expresses the meaning of this section of mantra.

千朵红莲护住身，
坐驹骑着墨麒麟，
万魔一见往远躲，
济公法师有妙音。

A thousand red lotuses protect one's body.
As one sits astride a black unicorn.
Seeing this, the myriad demons go away to hide.
Dharma Master Ji Gong had this wonderful sound.

“千朵红莲护住身”：我们佛教都知道这个莲华，有千朵红莲来护持你这个身。

“坐驹骑着墨麒麟”：你一念这个咒，你这个持咒的人是坐到一个麒麟的身上。

“万魔一见往远躲”：他都跑了，不敢面对这种大威德的相。我们人人都知道佛教里头有一位济公，当初济公就是专用这一段咒文的，所以说“济公法师有妙音”。这是这一段咒文大概的意思，那么至于要详细说呢，这个〈楞严咒〉是妙不可言的。所以说：

奥妙无穷实难猜，
金刚密语本性来；
楞严咒里有灵妙，
五眼六通道凡开。

A thousand red lotuses protect one's body. A thousand red lotuses come to protect your body.


As one sits astride a black unicorn. When you recite the mantra, you are sitting astride a unicorn.


Seeing this, the myriad demons go away to hide. They all flee, because they are afraid to face such awesome virtue. We all know about the character Ji Gong in Buddhism. In his time, Ji Gong used this section of mantra, so the verse says, Dharma Master Ji Gong had this wonderful sound. This verse gives the general meaning of this section of mantra text. If we were to go into detail, the Shurangama Mantra is wonderful beyond words. Thus it is also said:

The esoteric wonder is inexhaustible.
It is truly difficult to fathom.
The secret words of Vajra come from
the inherent nature.
The Shurangama Mantra contains
miraculous wonders.
Cultivators and ordinary people can open
the Five Eyes and Six Penetrations.

“奥妙无穷实难猜”：〈楞严咒〉非常奥妙，它这个变化也是不可思议，很不容易测度的。“金刚密语本性来”：这个金刚密语，〈楞严咒〉是密中之密，这是金刚来护持这个咒。本性来，它是从自己那个佛性生出来的。“楞严咒里有灵妙”：这个〈楞严咒〉也叫做灵文，因为他特别灵，特别有力量，所以说“楞严咒里有灵妙”。“五眼六通道凡开”：你若能常持〈楞严咒〉，专心一致，心不旁骛，你可以得到五眼六通，可以有不可思议那种的境界来变化莫测的，所以不是一般凡夫俗子可能知道的。因为这个，所以希望大家都能读诵《楞严经》，背诵〈楞严咒〉。

The esoteric wonder is inexhaustible. It is truly difficult to fathom. The Shurangama Mantra is extremely wonderful, and its transformations are inconceivable. It is very difficult to fathom. The secret words of Vajra come from the inherent nature. The secret words of Vajra, the Shurangama Mantra, is the secret within the secret. It is Vajra that supports and protects this mantra, which comes from our own Buddha-nature. The Shurangama Mantra contains miraculous wonders. The Shurangama Mantra is also known as a magical text. It is very miraculous and especially potent. That's why it is said, "The Shurangama Mantra contains miraculous wonders." Cultivators and ordinary people can open the Five Eyes and Six Penetrations. If you constantly recite the Shurangama Mantra with single-minded concentration, not thinking of anything else, you can attain the Five Eyes and the Six Penetrations. You can experience inconceivable states and transformations which are beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Therefore, I hope everyone will study and recite the Shurangama Sutra, and recite the Shurangama Mantra from memory.

一般的学者说：《楞严经》是假的，不是佛说的，又有什么考证，又有什么地方记载。这都是他怕《楞严经》，没有办法来应付《楞严经》这个道理。《楞严经》中他们所最怕的，就是〈四种清净明诲〉。这〈四种清净明诲〉是照妖镜，把所有妖魔鬼怪都给照现原形了；还有那个〈五十阴魔〉把天魔外道他们的骨头都给看穿了，把他们妖怪的这种相貌都给认识了。哪一位能读诵，能把《楞严经》背得出来，那是真正佛的弟子。

Most scholars say the Shurangama Sutra is false and claim that it was not spoken by the Buddha. They say they have various pieces of evidence and documents to support it. This is all because they fear the Shurangama Sutra and have no way to deal with the principles in the Shurangama Sutra. What they fear most in the Shurangama Sutra are the Four Clear Instructions on Purity. The Four Clear Instructions on Purity serve as a demon-spotting mirror. All the demons, goblins, ghosts, and weird creatures are reflected in their true form. Furthermore, the section on the Fifty Skandha-demons exposes the celestial demons and externalists to the bone, enabling people to recognize their demonic appearance. Anyone who can memorize the Shurangama Sutra is a true disciple of the Buddha.

《楞严经》在佛法末法的时候是先断灭的。为什么它断灭？就因为这一些个学者啊，又是什么教授啊，甚至于出家人，都说它是假的。那么他们这种的言论，久而久之，被人以讹传讹，就认为他们所说的是对的，所以就认为《楞严经》是假的了，连佛教徒也认为它是假的，久而久之，这个经就没有了。所谓经典断灭也就是这样子，大家不学习，它就没有了，就这样断灭了。

In the declining period of the Buddha-dharma, the first Sutra to disappear will be the Shurangama Sutra. Why will it disappear? Because these so-called scholars, professors, and even left-home people all claim it is false. Over time, their theory will become widespread, and people will all believe what they say and take the Shurangama Sutra to be false. Even Buddhist disciples will consider it false, and after a while the Sutra will disappear. That is how the Sutras become extinct. People no longer study them, so they disappear.

《楞严经》里〈四种清净明诲〉说得非常地正确，非常地肯定，就说这个杀、盗、淫、妄，所以一般学者、教授就怕这〈四种清净明诲〉，他们就想得到不明白的那个诲，这个明诲他们就很怕很怕的。因为如果说《楞严经》是真的，他们就没有立足之地了，他那种又抽烟、又喝酒、又玩女人，就立不住了，被人家都认识他了。所以你看看，《楞严经》里所讲的道理，是非常正确的，非常有逻辑学的，再没有比这个说得更清楚了。《楞严经》全部经，就是一部照妖镜，所以这照妖镜一悬起来，这个妖魔鬼怪都胆颤心惊。

In the Shurangama Sutra, the Four Clear Instructions on Purity which explain killing, stealing, lust, and lying, are absolutely accurate and definite. That's why those scholars and professors fear the Four Clear Instructions on Purity. They only want to listen to muddled instructions and are terribly afraid of the Clear Instructions. If they admitted that the Shurangama Sutra is true, they would have no ground to stand upon. They would not be able to defend their smoking, drinking, and womanizing, for everyone would know them for what they are. The principles of the Shurangama Sutra are extremely accurate, extremely logical, and as clear as can be. That is why the entire Shurangama Sutra is a demon-spotting mirror. When this demon-spotting mirror is hung up, the demons, goblins, ghosts, and weird creatures are frightened out of their wits.

我方才所说的话，所解释的《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉这个道理，如果不合乎佛的心、不合乎经的意，如果《楞严经》是假的，我愿意永远永远在地狱里，再不到世上来见所有的人。我虽然是一个很愚痴的人，可是也不会笨得愿意到地狱去，不再出来。各位由这一点，应该深信这个《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉。

If what I have just said about the Shurangama Sutra and Shurangama Mantra does not accord with the Buddhas' mind and the Sutra's meaning, and if the Shurangama Sutra is really false, I am willing to stay forever in the hells and never come out to see the people in the world. Although I am a stupid person, I am not so foolish that I would want to go to the hells and never come out. For that reason, you should all deeply believe in the Shurangama Sutra and Shurangama Mantra.

我方才所说的我的愿力是这样子，如果不合乎佛心，我愿意下地狱。那么我现在所说的话，也请十方尽虚空遍法界无尽无尽常住佛法僧三宝，在默默中证明，令一切众生早成佛道。

What I have just said is my vow. If what I said does not accord with the Buddhas' mind, I am willing to go to the hells. I now request the infinite, endless, eternally dwelling Buddhas, Dharma, and San-gha--the Triple Jewel in the ten directions throughout empty space and the Dharma Realm--to silently certify what I have said and to enable all living beings to quickly realize the Buddha Way.

我再请十方菩萨摩诃萨、十方声闻缘觉诸圣人、贤圣僧，再请一切护法诸天，光明会上，所有护法放光加被，令所有一切众生都离苦得乐，了生脱死。

I also request the Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas in the ten directions, the Sound Hearers and Those Enlightened by Conditions in the ten directions, all the Worthies and Sages in the Sangha, and all the Dharma-protecting gods of the Radiant Assembly, to emit light and shine upon all living beings, enabling them to leave suffering, attain bliss, and be liberated from birth and death.

我再请求各位善知识，如果我说的有不合乎佛法的地方，希望明以教我，我虽不敏，请尝试之。我是一个很愚痴的人，所见的也不圆满，所以我讲的有不圆满的地方，希望无论出家人、在家人，不吝指导，明以教我，我当叩头顶礼，尽形寿而感谢。

I also pray that all of you Good and Wise Advisors will instruct me if I have said something that disagrees with the Buddha-dharma. Although I am not intelligent, I hope you will try to teach me. Since I am a very stupid person with limited views, my words are far from perfect. Whether you are a left-home person or a layperson, I hope you will kindly teach me. I shall bow in respect and be grateful all my life.

所以有人读诵《楞严经》，要我尽形寿供养这样的修道人，我也愿意的。因为“正法兴，楞严兴；正法灭，是楞严灭。”由这个各位应该知道，这个《楞严经》在佛教里是多么重要的。

If there is anyone who recites the Shurangama Sutra, I am willing to serve and make offerings to such a cultivator all my life. When the Proper Dharma prospers, the Shurangama prospers. When the Proper Dharma declines, the Shurangama becomes extinct. From this, you should all realize how important the Shurangama Sutra is in Buddhism.

“开慧的楞严，成佛的法华，教化众生的是华严。”因为这个，我在美国，头一次由西雅图华盛顿大学来了三十几位大学的学生，我开讲《楞严经》。第一个暑假班是九十六天，那么我给这些个大学生讲《楞严经》，中间只有礼拜六放半天假，放半天香，其余的时间都是讲经说法，他们也都写笔记。那么一开始，一天讲一次，由他们去研究。过了半个月，我算一算这个《楞严经》的篇幅和日期，恐怕讲不完，所以就增加一天讲两次。又过一个时期，还是讲不完，就一天讲三次，那么最后有半个多月，一天讲四次。

"The Shurangama is for opening wisdom. The Dharma Flower is for becoming a Buddha. The Avatamsaka is for teaching living beings." Therefore, in America I started out by lecturing on the Shurangama Sutra to a group of over thirty students from the University of Washington in Seattle. During the ninety-six days of summer vacation, I lectured on the Shurangama Sutra to those college students. During that time, there was only a half day's break on Saturdays. Aside from that, I lectured on the Sutra every day, and they all took notes. In the beginning, I lectured once a day, and then they studied on their own. After half a month, I assessed the time and the length of the Shurangama Sutra. Fearing that I might not finish in time, I began lecturing twice a day. After a while, I calculated again and decided that I still would not be able to finish, so I started lecturing three times a day. Finally, in the last half month or more, I lectured four times a day.

在这个“暑假楞严讲修班”的期间，我一个人，给他们讲经也是我，做饭也是我，做菜也是我，烧茶也是我，那么买菜一切一切都是我，那时候四十八单执事，我一个人兼而行之，就这样子。那么这些个学生我本来可以叫他们轮流来做事情，但是我怕耽误他们的功课，耽误他们研究经典的时间，所以谁我也不用，那时候不敢说行菩萨道，但是因为有人要学《楞严经》，我愿意尽形寿来供养这样的人，所以在九十六天中，把《楞严经》讲完了。讲完之后，这是在美国一般人认识佛教的一个开始。

During the Summer Shurangama Study and Cultivation Session, not only did I lecture on the Sutra, I also cooked the meals, made tea, and did the grocery shopping and everything else for them. You could say I single-handedly took on all the monastic chores. Of course, I could have asked the students to take turns working, but I did not want to interfere with their cultivation and study of the Sutra. So I didn't let a single person help. Although I dare not say I was practicing the Bodhisattva Way, if people wanted to study the Shurangama Sutra, I was willing to dedicate my life to serve and support them. After ninety-six days, I finished lecturing the Shurangama Sutra. With the end of this lecture, people in America were beginning to give recognition to Buddhism.

讲完《楞严经》，有五个人就出家了，在那年正月初一的时候，我曾经对一切的信众说过，“今年美国的佛教会开五朵莲华，这五朵莲华将来就是把佛教传到西方去。”这是那时候说的话。

At the end of the Shurangama Sutra lecture series, five people left the home-life. On New Year's Day, I said to the assembly, "This year, five lotuses will bloom in American Buddhism. In the future, these five lotuses will spread Buddhism in the West." That's what I said then.

那么在这个“暑假楞严讲修班”毕业之后，就有五个美国人要出家，我就派他们到台湾海会寺去受戒，遇着台湾的善知识，就告诉这五个人，说：“现在末法时代了，没有人在修行了，你们还吃一餐哪，被你师父给骗了！”我这些个美国徒弟，一听这个话，“哦！原来我们是被师父骗了，那我们怎么办呢？”这个善知识就说：“吃饭嘛！喝酒嘛！吃肉嘛！”这五个人对佛教就生了怀疑了，“怎么我师父教我们吃一餐，他们叫我们早晚都应该吃饭的，这是怎么搞的？这里头一定有问题？”心里就活活动动地就要吃饭，于是乎他们自己就开会，说：“我们回去问清楚再吃饭！”他们又告诉那个台湾的善知识说：“我们是坐单的。”台湾有一些个人就告诉他们说：“坐单！那是佛住世的时候，有人坐单；现在佛都不在世了，你们坐什么单哪？唉！真是美国人被中国人骗了。”

After they graduated from the Summer Shurangama Lecture and Practice Session, five Americans left the home-life. I sent them to Hai Hui (Sea-like Assembly) Monastery in Taiwan to receive the precepts. The Good and Wise Advisors in Taiwan told them, "Now it is the Dharma-Ending Age. No one cultivates anymore. You're still eating one meal a day? You've been cheated by your teacher." When my American disciples heard this, they thought, "Oh, so we've been cheated by our teacher. What should we do?" The Good and Wise Advisors said, "Well, go ahead and eat. Drink wine and eat meat." The five people started to have doubts about Buddhism. "How come our teacher taught us to eat one meal a day, and now they tell us we should eat in the morning and evening as well? What's going on? There must be something wrong here." Their minds were swayed, and they wanted to start eating more meals, but they had a meeting and decided to go back and make sure before they did that. They also told the Good and Wise Advisors in Taiwan that they slept sitting up. Some people in Taiwan told them, "You sleep sitting up? People did that when the Buddha was in the world. Now the Buddha isn't around anymore, so why do you do it? It's really a case of Americans being cheated by the Chinese."

这么样一来，怎么样呢？回去就调皮了，说：“人家台湾人都吃三餐，我们不应该吃一餐。”就和我捣蛋了。又说…，唉！总而言之，我也不记得这么多了。结果搞了三个月之后，这才没有怀疑了。

What happened then? When they returned, they got mischievous. They said, "In Taiwan, everyone eats three meals a day. We shouldn't eat just one meal." They acted naughty with me. They said more, but I don't remember that much. It took more than three months before their doubts were resolved.

那么当时台湾就有人说：“这个宣化法师在美国，收了一些个邪皮（嬉皮），他因为到金门公园去，那儿很多邪皮，宣化法师就到那儿去打坐，一打坐，这些邪皮看着很奇怪的，就去和他谈话，那么宣化法师就叫他们去庙上看看，到庙上一看，和他们邪皮过的生活差不多，于是乎就都出家了。”

At that time, some people in Taiwan would say, "Dharma Master Hsuan Hua has taken some hippies as disciples in America. There are many hippies hanging out in Golden Gate Park, and Dharma Master Hsuan Hua goes there to meditate. When the hippies see him meditating, they are curious and go up to talk to him. Then Dharma Master Hsuan Hua tells them to go visit the temple. They go to the temple and find that the lifestyle there is pretty similar to their hippie lifestyle, so they all leave the home-life."

台湾又有一个谣言，说：“你知道吗？宣化法师在美国，和一班邪皮在一起吸毒啊！那个邪皮吃LSD（迷幻药）、吸大麻，一粒LSD一吃，就惚惚悠悠的，好像到了极乐国似的，这个宣化法师他吃十几粒，都不动弹，也不这么惚惚悠悠到极乐世界去。所以这些邪皮都佩服了，于是乎就跟他出家。你们不要相信他！”

There is another rumor in Taiwan: "You know what? Dharma Master Hsuan Hua takes drugs with the hippies in America. The hippies take LSD and marijuana. They can get high on just one capsule of LSD and feel as carefree as if they were in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. But Dharma Master Hsuan Hua can take more than ten capsules without being affected in the least. He doesn't get high or feel as carefree as if he were in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. That's why all those hippies admire him and left the home-life under him. Don't believe in him."

那么说来说去，邪皮也好，不邪皮也好，大家谁用功修行谁就好，谁不用功修行谁就不好。不是邪皮，你若不修行也不好；若是邪皮，你若能修行也一样好。所以佛教里头，不是口头禅所说的，要有真实的功夫，要有真实的受用，你不要在口头上说：“我得了定了！我有三昧！我有四昧！”那个人又创出个五昧来。

You can talk back and forth, but whether they are hippies or not does not matter. He who works hard in cultivation is good. He who does not work hard in cultivation is not good. If he is not a hippie, but he does not cultivate, that is not good. If he is a hippie and he cultivates, that is just as good. Therefore, in Buddhism, mere talking about cultivation doesn't count. There must be real practice and real benefit. Don't just say, "I have concentration. I have this samadhi or that samadhi." And another person also comes up with another kind of samadhi.

现在我想起几句话来，和大家说一说，我说：

Now I will tell everyone about some lines that I thought of:

口头说三昧，
我对你不对；
日久现原形，
搞得满身罪。

Paying lip service to samadhi,
They say, "I am right and you are wrong."
In time, their original appearance is revealed,
And they are covered with offenses.

这是说的这个尽用口头禅，把佛教当儿戏，来随便乱讲乱说，也不负因果的责任。谁下拔舌地狱呢？就是这一类人。将来下拔舌地狱，那时候把舌头给拔出来，他不会说话了，那时候他说不出话，心里想：“唉呀！我真糟糕！我若知道这么样子，我就不应该开那种玩笑。”

This is saying that people just pay lip service to Buddhism and treat it as child's play. They talk carelessly without taking responsibility for the cause and effect. Who will fall into the hell of Ripping Out Tongues? Precisely that kind of people. When they get there, their tongues will be ripped out and they cannot talk anymore. In their minds they will think, "What a mess I'm in. If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have fooled around like that."

总是口头三昧，总说：“我对，我自己对！你什么都不对！”你对，我也说你不对；你不对，我也说你不对。这是“我对你不对！”，你说这有公理没有？什么事情都是“我对你不对！”。“日久现原形”：时间一久了，“路遥知马力，日久见人心”，日久那个原形毕露了。“搞得满身罪”：满身都是罪业，入了拔舌地狱还不知道。

They always paid lip service to samadhi, saying, "I'm right. You're wrong about everything. Even if you were right, I'd say you were wrong. And if you're wrong, I also say you're wrong." Would you say that is just? In everything, they say "I am right and you are wrong." "In time, their original appearance is revealed."

After a long distance, one will know a horse's stamina.
After a long time, one will see a person's heart.

In time, their true form is uncovered. "And they are covered with offenses." Their bodies are covered by offensive karma. They enter the Hell of Ripping Out Tongues without even realizing it.

说：“法师，你不要骂人哪，讲法骂什么人！”唉！我这不是骂人哪！我骂人？我天天都向那个蚊虫、蚂蚁叩头，我怎么敢骂人，不过我不能不说真理，真理是如此！

"Dharma Master, don't scold people. As you speak the Dharma, why are you scolding people?" you ask. I am not scolding anyone. I bow to the ants and mosquitoes every day; how would I dare to scold people? But I cannot refrain from telling the truth. The truth is just like that.

我再告诉你们各位，我有今天，就是这些个说我不对的人，来教我的，来帮助我的。所以这些个说我不对的人、毁谤我的人，都是我的善知识。他们都是我的师父，我的师父都是口头禅的，我现在所以会说口头禅，也就因为学我师父的。

Let me tell you, it's just those people that criticize me who have taught and helped me, making me the way I am today. So the people who criticize and slander me are all my Good and Wise Advisors. They are all my teachers. My teachers all pay lip service to Chan. The reason I know how to do it is because I learned it from my teachers.

我有这么几句话，我说：“众人是我师”：众人都是我的师父，不论哪一个，你是有血气的，我都要照你们学习。你们有好的，我就学好的；有坏的，我就学坏的；我要学得全身都是武艺，十八般兵刃件件精通，所以到比起武来，这绝招很多。“我是众人师”：我也是大家的师父。“时常师自己”：时常我还要以自己作为师父，自己也时常给人家作师父，所以大家互相提携，互相向这个菩提道路上勇猛精进，不要在娑婆世界这么打算盘，来争你强我胜的。我们看谁先走到极乐世界去！

I have another verse which begins: "All people are my teachers." Everyone is my teacher. As long as you have blood and breath, I want to learn from you. If you are good, I learn the good. If you are bad, I learn the bad. I want to learn until I am a martial arts expert, skilled in all weapons. That way, when I am challenged to a fight, I will have many winning moves. "I am a teacher for all people." I am also everyone's teacher. "I always teach myself." I am very often a teacher for myself. I am also constantly a teacher for others. That way, everyone can encourage one another to vigorously advance on the Bodhi Way. Let's not linger in the Saha world, scheming and calculating about wins and losses. Let's see who will reach the Land of Ultimate Bliss first!

有人说：“法师你尽强辞夺理，骂人还不承认！你承认吗？你骂人你若承认，你就不会骂人的。对吗？”可是骂人的人，是“仰天自唾，还岔己身”。那么要喜欢被人骂，骂人给人加肥料呢！你那土地不肥沃，要上一点肥料，令你那五谷就长得茂盛了，你那果实也坚固了。

Someone says, "Dharma Master, you keep arguing and refusing to admit that you are scolding people. Do you admit it? If you admit that you are scolding people, then you won't scold them anymore. Right?" But the one who scolds people is like "one who spits up into the skies, and gets the spit back on his own face." We should like being scolded, because when people scold us, they are giving us fertilizer. Our fields are not fertile, so they need to be fertilized. Then our crops will be abundant and our fruits will thrive.

说：“法师！你方才说众人是你的师父，那有好人，有坏人，都是你师父，你也学好，也学坏？”你这是误会了，所谓“众人是我师”，善者，是我的法师，我就效法他；恶者，是我的戒师，我自己不要学他那样子，所以众人都是我的师父。“时常师自己”，自己要常常提高警觉，不要做错了，不要用那个无明去做事，要用那个智慧。要用光明智慧来处理一切的问题，不要用那个愚痴、无明处理事情。人要把这个境界转过来，那个境界不要转我们人，我们再要“勿以善小而不为，勿以恶小而为之”。不要说，善很小的，我不要做了；那恶事很小的，我要做，做了也不要紧；譬如吃斋，吃个鸡蛋没有关系。没有关系？将来你去作鸡的时候，就知道那关系是从吃鸡蛋那儿来的。就这一点点小的问题，你弄不清楚，这叫“善恶夹杂，果报不爽”，不是很好玩的！

"Dharma Master, you just said that all people are your teachers. But there are good people and bad people, and if you take them all as teachers, you will learn to be both good and bad," you object. You have misunderstood. When I say "All people are my teachers," I mean that good people teach me how I should be, and I learn to be like them. Bad people teach me how I should not be, and I learn to not be like them. That's why all people are my teachers. "I always teach myself." We ourselves must always be alert and not make mistakes, not act in ignorance. We should use bright wisdom in handling all matters instead of using stupidity and ignorance to take care of things. We must turn states around, rather than being turned by states. "Do not fail to perform a good deed, thinking it is trivial. Do not perform an evil deed, thinking it is insignificant." Don't think, "That good deed is trivial. I'm not going to do it. That bad deed is really minor. I'll go ahead and do it. It doesn't matter." For example, you think, "I'm vegetarian, but it won't matter if I eat an egg." But in the future when you are reborn as a chicken, you will know that it was because you ate chicken eggs. If you are not clear in these small matters, then you are "mixing good and evil, and the retribution will not be off." It's not fun at all.

今天我又发狂了，也不知道讲什么，我若讲的有得罪各位的，请你来打我一顿、骂我一顿，我都很欢喜的！

I've gone kind of crazy today, and I don't really know what I am saying. If I have offended you, please come up and give me a beating or scolding. I would be very delighted.