摩诃目犍连尊者，他是神通第一；但世尊多次警告他，不可随便显现神通。为什么？因为神通不是人人皆有，若是乱显神通，惊世骇俗，就会令世人迷于神通，崇拜神通。那么有神通的人，就很多人供养；没有神通的，可能就没人供养。所以佛令弟子不可随便显神通，用来保护后世的修行人。

The Venerable Mahamaudgalyayana was foremost in spiritual powers, but the World Honored One repeatedly warned him not to casually show off his spiritual powers. Why? Because not everyone has spiritual powers. If you indiscreetly manifest your spiritual powers, ordinary people will be amazed and infatuated by them and will worship them. Consequently, people with spiritual powers will have many people making offerings to them, while those who don’t have them might not receive any offerings. Therefore, the Buddha forbade his disciples from casually displaying their spiritual powers, so as to protect cultivators of the future.

修行人，不可自夸其德，自说是开悟的人，自说是祖师或菩萨。这是打大妄语，将来要堕拔舌地狱的，这话绝不是戏论。唯独无知无识的人，才有这种自满的行为。真正有财富的人，绝对不会对人说：“你们知道吗？我有多少钻石，多少珠宝，全世界所有的财宝，也不如我的多。”这样一宣传，就被土匪视为目标，一定打你的主意，设法来抢夺这批珠宝。修道也是这样的情形，不可对人说：“我有神通，可以听到佛菩萨讲话，可以看见佛菩萨现前。”要是这样，就给魔王制造机会，乘虚而入，和你合作，来指挥你的行动，你就成为他的眷属了。

Cultivators should not praise their own virtue and say that they are enlightened, or claim to be Patriarchs or Bodhi-sattvas. Those are serious lies that will cause one to fall into the Hell of Pulling Tongues. This is no joke. Only people who don’t know anything would behave in such a conceited way. Truly wealthy people never say to others, “You know what? I have all these diamonds and precious gems. I have more treasures than all the treasures in the world put together.” If you advertise yourself like this, bandits will definitely target you and find a way to rob your treasures. The same thing happens in cultivation. You can’t tell people, “I have spiritual powers. I hear the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas talking, and I see them appear before me.” If you say that, you are giving the demon king an opportunity to come in and work with you, control your activities, and make you part of his retinue.

修行人，无论遇到什么境界，要认清境界，不要被境界所转，要用定力来转境界。不可胡言乱语，信口雌黄，说证得什么神通，见到什么境界。要晓得这是魔来作祟，令你失去道心而发狂；这正是走火入魔的现象，不是真实的境界。在《楞严经》五十种阴魔中，说得清清楚楚，希望你们大家要彻底研究一番，免得上了当，就后悔莫及了。参禅的人，不要执着境界，所谓“佛来佛斩，魔来魔斩”，无论谁来，都要斩，这是不执着一切有为法，不着一切形相。修行人，要专一其心来用功，哪有时间去管闲事。不可以贡高我慢、贪名贪利，如果有这种思想和行为，那就是入魔的境界。

Cultivators should clearly recognize whatever states they encounter; they shouldn’t let those states affect them, but should use samadhi power to influence states. Don’t make reckless claims or tell lies about having attained certain spiritual powers or seen certain states. You should know that such states are the mischief of demons, who want to destroy your resolve for the Way and make you go insane. These are signs of demonic possession; these states are not real. The section on the Fifty Skandha-Demon States in the Shurangama Sutra explains this very clearly. I hope you will investigate it thoroughly and not be fooled by such states. Otherwise it will be too late for regret.

People who investigate Chan should not get attached to states. It is said, "When the Buddha comes, slay the Buddha. When the demon comes, slay the demon." Slay anyone who comes, no matter who it is. This is not being attached to any conditioned dharmas or any marks and appearances. Cultivators should apply effort single-mindedly. They have no time to mind other people’s business. Don’t be arrogant, and don’t be greedy for fame or benefits. If you have such thoughts, you have entered a demonic state.

修行人，无论在何种情况之下，不能自满，不可以骄傲，认为自己了不起。要谨之慎之，不可错因果，否则后果不堪设想。

No matter what the circumstances, cultivators should never become self-satisfied and arrogant, and think they are something special. They must be very careful not to make mistakes in cause and effect. Otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable.

修行人，主要是修清净戒，身口意三业要清净。有神通的人，绝对不说自己有神通。何况自己没有神通，乱说一豹，岂不是造了堕地狱的因吗？这真可怕！口业不清净，要受拔舌地狱之罪，切不可大意。要时刻管着自己，不可放肆，胡说八道。若种下不清净的因，将来必定结不清净的果。

Cultivators concentrate on upholding pure precepts in order to purify the three types of karma: physical, verbal, and mental. People with spiritual powers would certainly never admit that they have them; how much the less should people without spiritual powers make reckless claims. Wouldn’t that just be creating the causes for falling into the hells? It’s scary! If your mouth karma isn’t pure, you’ll undergo punishment in the Hell of Pulling Tongues. Don’t be reckless. Always watch over yourself. Don’t misbehave and talk a lot of nonsense. If you plant impure causes, you’ll receive impure retributions.

一九八一年六月六日开示