佛法将要到灭亡的边缘，无论是比丘、比丘尼、优婆塞、优婆夷，都应该以复兴佛教为己任，所谓“天下兴亡，匹夫有责。”现在可以说“佛教兴亡，人人有责。”然而佛教徒，更有责任，不可推诿，我们应该扪心自问，怎样才能使佛教复兴起来，并且发扬光大？这就要深刻反省！时时检讨！应该做的做到没有？为什么没有做到？

When Buddhism is on the verge of extinction, all Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, and Upasikas should take it upon themselves to make Buddhism flourish again. It is said, “The well-being of the nation is every citizen’s responsibility.” We can say, “The well-being of Buddhism is everyone’s responsibility.” However, Buddhists should take even more responsibility than other people, and should not shift the responsibility to others. We should ask ourselves: How can we revive Buddhism and make it grow and prosper? This takes some deep self-reflection! At all times we should take stock of ourselves to see whether we have done what we ought to do. If we haven’t, why have we failed?

弘扬佛法是大家的事，唯有大家分工合作：有钱出钱，有力出力，努力团结一致，才能令佛教兴盛起来。所谓“团结就是力量。”不可一盘散沙，不要有袖手旁观的观念。

The propagation of the Buddhadharma is everyone’s business. Only when we all share the work－when people who have money give money and those who are strong give their strength－and strive to unite can we make Buddhism flourish. There’s a saying, “Unity is power.” We shouldn’t be scattered, like grains of sand on a plate, nor should we think that we can be idle spectators who just watch from the sidelines.

身为佛教子弟，既然认清了自己的任务，就不能再有依赖的心理，想：“反正有人宣扬佛法，我不过是其中的一份子，没有多大的关系。”若是人人都有这种想法。那么佛教何时能复兴？何时能放异彩？恐怕遥遥无期吧！

Once we clearly recognize our duty as Buddhist disciples, we should not leave it to others and think, “Well, people are working on the propagation of Buddhadharma anyway. I am only one person; I can’t make much of a difference.” If everyone thought that way, when will Buddhism ever revive and flourish? Probably never!

在现今这个时代，若是没有真正修行的有心人住世来领导，恐怕佛教注定要逐渐衰萎乃至灭亡，我们既然是佛教徒，就应当为佛教尽心竭力。在弘法时期，勇猛向前，不可畏首畏尾，不要怕人嫉妒，不要怕人障碍，这是考验。因为经过大冶洪炉，千锤百炼才能成为金刚。所谓“吃得苦中苦，方为人上人”，这是经验之谈。我们要诚心来为佛教贡献，要拿出真正的坚志和决心来为佛教做事情。这样，佛教才会一天比一天好转起来。

In the present age, if there are no genuine cultivators in the world who can act as leaders, Buddhism will probably gradually decline and disappear. As Buddhists, we ought to do our very best for Buddhism. When it’s time to propagate the Dharma, we should advance heroically and unhesitatingly, without worrying whether people will be jealous or try to obstruct us; these are all tests. Vajra is forged only after being smelted and refined hundreds and thousands of times in the great blasting furnace. There’s a saying,

If you can endure the greatest suffering,
You’ll become the loftiest person.

These are words of experience. We must sincerely contribute to Buddhism. We should bring forth a firm resolve and true determination to work for Buddhism. Then, and only then, will Buddhism grow stronger day by day.

万佛圣城是真正修行的道场，人所共知，绝不是挂羊头卖狗肉的。我们必须脚踏实地，依教奉行，不能戴着假面具欺骗世人，也不可以有好高骛远的思想，我们知多少，就做多少，这才是修行人的本分。光说不做，落为口头禅，那是一无是处的，又怎么希冀佛教能复兴起来呢？

The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a place where genuine cultivation takes place. This is a known fact; we aren’t trying to deceive people. We must honestly and devotedly practice in accord with the teachings, and not fool people by wearing masks. We should not aim high without doing the groundwork. We should practice whatever we have learned. This is a cultivator’s duty. If you only talk but don’t practice, then you’re merely paying lip service, which won’t do any good. In that case, what hope is there of Buddhism ever flourishing?

一九八四年四月六日开示