金山禅寺、金轮圣寺、如来寺，将来都要有一位住持。大家要共同选举有德行、有才干的人，大家都拥护他，他才有资格做住持。

In the future, Gold Mountain Monastery, Gold Wheel Monastery, and Tathagata Monastery should each have an abbot. Everyone should elect virtuous and capable people and give them the group's support. Only in that way can anyone qualify to be an abbot.

选择住持，以什么为标准？第一个条件，要没有脾气，待人和气，处处有人缘，不用权力压迫任何人，以民主作风办事，令人恭而敬之。

What are the criteria for an abbot? First of all, he must have no temper. He should be courteous and get along well with people. He cannot use his authority to oppress others. He should work democratically in order to win the respect of others.

如果选出的住持，有很大的脾气，人人都受不了他的压力，敢怒而不敢言，这样对佛教不但没有帮助，反受其累。

If the abbot had a big temper, no one would put up with his bullying. People would be angry inside, but would not dare to speak out. Such a situation would be totally unbeneficial and would only cripple Buddhism.

谁若没有脾气，忍耐程度到家，谁就能被选做住持。有脾气的人，恐怕希望就很小的，为什么？因为有烦恼，容易把佛法就烧光了。烦恼是属火的，能烧毁一切，这种大火灾，就是用前面所讲的大雨，也不能消灭它。

Anyone without a temper and with a mature level of patience is eligible to become an abbot. Those with bad tempers don't have much of a chance, because their afflictions would probably completely burn up the Buddhadharma. Afflictions belong to the element of fire and can burn up everything. Such a disasterous fire cannot be extinguished even by the big rainstorm mentioned earlier.

今天我对你们所说的话是很重要的，将来选住持的时候，切记要考虑这个人的品行学识如何？凡是做住持的人，必须有广泛的善缘，能与人同甘共苦，相处融洽，使大众都不讨厌他，人人尊敬他。无论比丘、比丘尼、优婆塞、优婆夷，大家都认为这个人不错，有道心，肯修行，并且有领导的能力，这样的人才可以做住持。

What I'm telling you today is very important. When you elect an abbot in the future, you should carefully consider the character and education of each candidate. In order to be an abbot, a person should have affinities with a wide range of people and get along well with everyone. He should share the bitter toil as well as the sweet rewards; then no one will dislike him, and everyone will respect him. If all the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, and Upasikas feel that a certain person is pretty good, that he is intent on cultivating the Way and would make a good leader, then he can be an abbot.

一九七八年一月二十日