行住坐卧，不离这个；
离了这个，便是错过。

A verse goes,

While walking, standing, sitting, and reclining,
Never stray from "this."
Once you stray from "this,"
You've gone amiss.

“这个”是什么？就是用功参悟的话头。用真心来办道，提起绵绵密密不断的话头来参悟，来研究。一时一刻，一分一秒，也不生杂念妄想，总是念兹在兹去参悟自己的话头，哪有时间讲话、打闲岔？也没有时间躲懒偷安，更没有时间说人家的是非，只是专一其心在参悟话头。所谓：

事事都好去，脾气难化了，
真能不生气，就得无价宝。
再要不恨人，事事都能好，
烦恼永不生，冤孽从哪找？
常瞅人不对，自己苦没了！

What does "this" refer to? It's talking about the meditation-topic that we work at in our investigation. We use a true mind to practice the Way. Constantly and ceaselessly, we look into the topic and investigate it. In each successive hour, minute, and second, we allow no scattered or idle thoughts to occur. In thought after thought, we only investigate our meditation topic. Who has time left over to casually talk, or to disturb others? Even less are we at leisure to take a break, or gossip about people. We simply concentrate our minds and investigate the meditation topic, seeking understanding. There is a verse that reads,

Things pass by quite easily,
But a bad temper's truly hard to change.
If you can never get angry,
You've got a pearl beyond price.
Then, if you can never know hatred,
Everything will go your way.
Since afflictions never bother you anymore,
Your evil karma no longer comes to call.
But someone who knows only to criticize others
Is one whose own suffering has not yet ended.

参禅打坐，具有这种思想，才能入门。在禅堂里，每个人都要回光返照，反求诸己，问问自己，是在用功？还是在打妄想？看看自己，是回光返照照自己？还是反光镜照外边？这一点要特别注意。

Only if you maintain these attitudes as you meditate, do you have hope of "entering the gate." People in the Chan Hall must reflect inwardly and seek within themselves. Introspect and ask, "Am I working hard, or am I engaging in idle thoughts?" Take a close look at yourself: are you reflecting the light inwardly, or shining it out to mirror the exterior surroundings? Pay especially close attention to this question.

在禅堂里，要记住这两句话：

摩诃萨不管他，
弥陀佛各顾各。

Remember this statement as you work in the Chan Hall:

Mahasattvas pay no attention to others;
Amitabha! Every man for himself!

时时刻刻管自己，不要去管他人。更不可打闲岔，障碍人家用功修道，耽误他人开悟的时光，这种行为最要不得。我常对你们说：

真认自己错，
莫论他人非；
他非即我非，
同体名大悲。

At all times watch over yourself, and don't supervise others. Even less should you disturb others, obstructing them from diligently cultivating the Way and denying them their chance to get enlightened. Such behavior is most despicable. As I often say to you all:

Truly recognize your own faults,
And don't discuss the faults of others.
Others' faults are simply my own faults:
Being one in substance with all is called Great Compassion.

人人有这种思想，就会一心一意用功办道，并无二想，不会乱讲话、打闲岔。 参禅的人，要把根本问题认识清楚，什么问题？就是习气毛病。我们打禅七，就是打掉恶习气、坏毛病，洗心涤虑，解除妒贤嫉能的心理。把嫉妒障碍心、无明烦恼心，统统灭尽，这样真心现出，智慧现前，才有好消息。

If we can all think this way, then everyone will work hard, with single-minded concentration. No one will have any interest in idle chatter or disturbing others.

People who practice Chan meditation should be clear about the basic problem. What is the basic problem? It is our bad habits and faults. When we attend a Chan meditation session, we aim to eliminate those bad habits and faults. Wash the mind clean and purify your thoughts. Purge yourself of jealousy towards worthy and capable individuals. Banish forever all thoughts of envy and obstructiveness, of ignorance and afflictions. If you can do this, then your true mind, your wisdom, will manifest, and then there will be good news.

人为什么讲是讲非？因为愚痴。为什么嫉妒障碍？因为愚痴。为什么有害人心？因为愚痴。凡是做出不合理的事，都因为愚痴。为什么愚痴？因为没有禅定的功夫，所以没有智慧，在人我是非圈中转，跳不出圈外。对于这一点，我们要回光返照，认清自己的过错，痛改前非，不要紧抱着臭习气而放不下。

Why would people gossip? Only due to their stupidity. Why would they indulge in envy and obstructiveness? Because of stupidity. Why would they want to harm others? Because of stupidity. In fact, we do all sorts of unreasonable things because of our stupidity. Why are we stupid? It's because we lack the skills of Chan samadhi, and so we have no wisdom. We turn forever in the little sphere of self and others, rights and wrongs, and can't find our way out of that tight circle. This is the place where we must look within ourselves and clearly see our own faults. Then we need to earnestly repent of these past mistakes. We must not hold onto our stinking habits and fail to let them go.

打坐的时候，为什么要睡觉？因为求法心不真实；如果真心求道，绝对不会睡觉。大家不妨试一试这个道理正确不正确？

Why do we fall asleep when we should be meditating? It's because we aren't sincere in seeking the Dharma. Someone who is sincere in seeking the Dharma would definitely not fall asleep. Why don't you all check this principle out and see if it is correct?

一九八○年禅七 十二月开示