一切有为法，
如梦幻泡影；
如露亦如电，
应作如是观。

All conditioned dharmas
Are like dreams, illusions, bubbles and shadows;
Like dewdrops and lightning flashes.
One should contemplate them in this way.

一切有为法，就是一切有所作为，有表现，有形相的法，也就是世间法。世间一切一切都叫有为法，它的相对就是无为法。无为法不是如梦幻泡影，亦非如露如电。有为法是不究竟、不彻底，是无常的；无为法是无起灭，没有开始，也没有结束，它是无形、无相，无可表法。无为法有很多种，这里说的是无为而无不为，大造大化，这种无为法是很不容易修行，也不易明白的。

Conditioned dharmas refer to dharmas that are acted out, expressed, and have visible form; these are worldly dharmas. All worldly phenomena are called conditioned dharmas. Their opposite is the unconditioned Dharma. The unconditioned Dharma is not like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, a dewdrop, or a lightning flash. Conditioned dharmas aren't ultimate; they don't penetrate to the root of things, and they are impermanent. The uncondi-tioned Dharma, on the other hand, neither comes into being nor ceases to be; it has neither a beginning nor an end. It is devoid of shape or form, and cannot be expressed. There are many varieties of unconditioned Dharma; here we are discussing the type that is unconditioned and yet conditions everything. It gives rise to creative transformations on a vast scale. This type of unconditioned Dharma is very difficult to cultivate and very difficult to understand.

一般人都着住到有为法上，迷恋于世间法，所以从早到晚求名逐利，在飘荡的业海中随波逐浪，一不小心就被业风吹得无影无踪，而不知堕落到哪一道去？世界上人类这么多，但其它畜生类也不少，地狱、饿鬼更多。所以在人道里不容易站得住脚，因为业海浮沈飘荡，就把我们人吹得头昏脑胀，东西南北都分不清。

Ordinary people are attached to conditioned dharmas. They find worldly dharmas fascinating. From morning to night, they pursue fame and fortune, tossed and turned by the waves of karma. Careless for even an instant, they might be blown away without a trace, leaving everyone to wonder what realm of existence they have fallen into. There are so many beings in the human realm, and in the animal realm as well. There are even more beings in the hells, and in the realm of hungry ghosts. Therefore, it's not that easy to get a foothold in the human realm. As we bob up and down in the sea of karma, we are blown about in dizzy confusion.

现在我们地球这个时代是末法时代，所谓“末法”，就是法快没有了，已经到末梢上了。因为人人都忘了根本的法，都在皮毛上追逐，结果愈追愈找不到真理。找不到真理，就想抓一个东西，抓一个假的东西──有为法，而对于无为法根本都不知道，连名词都忘了，所以就成为末法。

The planet is presently in the Dharma-ending Age. The term "Dharma-ending" means that the Dharma's extinction is imminent. The Dharma has already reached its final stages. People have forgotten the fundamental Dharma, and only pursue its more superficial aspects. The more they pursue, the farther they stray from the truth. Unable to find what is true, they end up grasping at what is false: conditioned dharmas. They know nothing about the uncon-ditioned Dharma. They have even forgotten the name. That's why this age has become the Dharma-ending age.

不但佛教是末法，其它的宗教也都往末法路上走。天主教从一九六三年起，有很多传教士都不守规矩，修女、神父、牧师也都变了。佛教也是如此，都跟着时髦时代转，这一转就转到末法时代了。所以我常说：“世界到了末法，所有宗教人士要负全部责任。”

Not only Buddhism, but other religions are declining as well. Starting in 1963, many Catholic priests have failed to abide by their rules. The sisters and fathers changed their style. The same thing has happened in Buddhism. Buddhism changed with the times, and that change ushered in the Dharma-ending Age. Therefore, I have always said that the leaders of all religions should assume full respon-sibility for the decline of religion in the world.

现在社会的教育也走样了，不像以前从事教育的人为教育而教育，想将青年人培养成世界的栋梁。古时候学者们兢兢业业，为研究学问而白首，不会想：“如何能在社会上出风头，做有名的学者或教育家？”他们完全没有这种思想。他们是研究怎样造就栋梁之材，移风易俗，将世界改造，这是古来学者的作风和精神。而现在的学者与教授呢？他们教青年人如何得到好名、利益。

Also, in modern society, education has gone astray. In the past, educators worked to teach the younger generation to become capable and productive citizens of the world. Ancient scholars were cautious and attentive, and devoted themselves completely to the study of knowledge until their hair turned white. They would never have the thought, "How can I get into the limelight and become famous?" They never entertained such thoughts. They studied in order to teach young people to become productive citizens, how to improve the social mores, and how to create a new and better world. That was the style and spirit of the ancient scholars. What about today's scholars and professors? They only teach their students how to become rich and famous.

古来学者是为“明理”，也就是以“格物、致知、诚意、正心、修身、齐家、治国、平天下”八条目，令青年人培养正当的思想，良好的品德。而现在的学者与教授，却鼓励青年人吃迷幻药，鼓励学生吃避孕药，不孝父母，做世界上出乎其类，拔乎其萃的“捣乱份子”。所以社会一天不如一天，所有知名学府的教授应负完全责任。尤其现在电视所播放的都是令人颠倒、往下流的节目。

The scholars of ancient times sought to obtain an under-standing of principles. That is, they wished "to investigate things, extend their knowledge, make their minds sincere, make their hearts proper, cultivate their persons, bring harmony to families, set the country in order, and bring peace to the world." With these eight steps, they fostered proper ideas and good character in young people. Nowadays, however, some scholars and professors actually encourage students to use drugs, take birth control pills, be unfilial to their parents, and become notorious trouble-makers in the world. Society degenerates with each passing day, and the professors at well-known universities should take full responsibility. Moreover, television tends to confuse people and negatively influence them.

由这点看来，人心不古，道德沦亡，这是有原因的。青年人站不住脚，没有定力，这并非一个因素造成的，而是由多种因素造成的，这是很可悲的事。所以凡是宗教、教育人士，要赶快改变这种行为与思想，这样世界浩劫也许有挽回的机会；如果依然这样，而不加改善，世界末日就快要来临了。

From this, we can see that there are reasons why people no longer follow ancient ways, and why moral values have declined. Young people cannot stand on their own and are easily influenced by their surroundings. There are many factors behind this, not just one. This is a great pity. Therefore, all people involved in religion and education should quickly find a way to improve the situation. Only then can we hope to avert an impending world crisis. If we keep on going like this without any improvement, the final days of the world will soon be at hand.

那么有没有挽救的方法呢？有。因为一切唯心造。人心好，世界就好；人心坏，世界就坏，末日就将来到。如果想要没有末法、末日的来临，人人都应该打起精神，在狂风暴雨中从事救人的工作。这并不是说你舍去自己的生命去救人，而是要你将狂风暴雨停止。

Is there any way to avert a crisis? There is. Everything depends upon the human mind. If people have wholesome minds, the world will be wholesome. If people have corrupt minds, the world will be corrupt and doomsday will soon arrive. If we don't want to hasten the decline of the Dharma and the approach of doomsday, then we must rally our spirits and carry out the work of salvation in the midst of the raging storm. This doesn't mean that you have to give up your own life in order to save others. It means you must stop the storm.

各位看看，现在世界上到处都有天灾人祸、水灾、风灾、火灾、战争。因为这些大灾难而死亡的人不算，就拿小灾难来说，飞机失事、火车失事、汽车互撞等等，就不知死了多少人。这种种灾难的发生，都是人心戾气所造成；无有道德所促成的。但是每个人都还不觉悟，不负责任，反而把过错推到他人身上，没有一人回光返照说：“世界不好，是因为我不好。”都没有人这样想，所以世界一天比一天坏，一天不如一天。

Take a look around, and you'll see natural and human calamities－floods, hurricanes, fires, and wars－occurring everywhere. Even if we don't count the casualties from these major disasters, but only consider smaller calamities such as plane crashes, train derailments, and car collisions, the number of casualties is still staggering. These various catastrophes result from violent tempers and lack of virtue. Yet no one has awakened to this. Instead, each blames the other and refuses to take responsibility. There is perhaps not a single person who has reflected upon himself and thought, "The world is not in good shape because I haven't been a good person." And so the situation in the world becomes more deplorable with each passing day. Each day is worse than the previous one.

所幸有个办法能改变，它既不费力，又不花钱。这个办法就是世界上所有人不食众生肉，都吃斋、戒杀、放生，这样世界灾难就会消灭于无形。所以吃斋是很重要的，这些灾难都是因为杀生而结下怨气，这种怨气充满宇宙，才形成种种灾难。人人若能戒杀、放生，不吃一切肉类，则人的暴力思想就会消除。

Fortunately, there is a way to turn this around and it takes neither strength nor money. This method requires that everyone abstain from the flesh of living beings and eat only vegetarian food, and that they free creatures instead of killing them. If this can be done, then all the world's disasters will vanish. Therefore, adopting a vegetarian diet is very important. Calamities occur because the universe is filled with the enmity generated by slaughter. If people can liberate creatures rather than killing them and eating their flesh, these tendencies towards violence will abate.

为什么人那么暴躁、脾气那么大？就因为吃肉。因为吃肉会增加欲念，使人生瞋恨心，没有慈悲心。所以想要世界没有灾难，就要赶快戒杀、放生，不吃众生肉，以便挽回浩劫之将临。

Why are people so explosive and hot-tempered? Because they eat meat. Eating meat increases one's thoughts of lust and makes one angry and uncompassionate. Hence, if we wish the world to be free of calamities, we must quickly stop taking the lives of creatures and eating their flesh. Only then can we avert an impending crisis.

一九八二年六月十三日开示于万佛圣城