学佛法的人，一定要把自己自私自利的心消灭殆尽，不让它作怪，扰乱定心。应该将它变成一个为法忘躯的心，只要求得佛法，就是布施自己的身心性命，也在所不惜，绝不退缩。不过，各位要晓得，所谓：

Buddhists should get rid of all selfish and self-benefiting thoughts. Don't let these thoughts act up and disturb your samadhi. Transform them into thoughts of dedicat-ing yourself to the Dharma. You should seek the Dharma, even if it means renouncing your body and mind, or even your life. Realize that:

道高一尺，魔高一丈；
道高一丈，魔在头上。

When the Way grows a foot,
The demons grow ten feet.
When the Way grows ten feet,
The demons are right on top of you.

你越要用真心来修行，越要受考验，就看你认识不认识而已。

The more you wish to cultivate, the more tests you will have. You simply have to recognize them when they come.

若想修道，一定先要把贪心没有了；没有贪心，就不会攀缘。不攀缘，包括不攀金钱，不攀物质；所以一定要没有贪心、瞋心、痴心。若有贪瞋痴这三毒，就会生出很多麻烦来。你们每个人自己不知道自己有什么业障，刚想要认真修行，便发生魔障，所谓：

If you want to cultivate the Way, you cannot be greedy. If you aren't greedy, you won't exploit situations by trying to get money or things. You cannot have any greed, anger, or stupidity. If these three poisons exist in your mind, you'll have a lot of trouble. You don't know what your karmic obstacles are, but as soon as you start cultivating in earnest, those demonic obstacles will appear.

要学好，冤孽找；
要成佛，就受魔。

If you want to learn to be good,
Your offenses will seek you out.
If you want to become a Buddha,
You have to undergo the demons first.

现在三步一拜的果廷刚刚才上路，知道用功办道，把自己找回来；可是他母亲生病，住院开刀。这一开刀不要紧，却把果廷弄得妄想纷飞，在三步一拜的时候，就拜他的妄想。这个考验非常地厉害，如果招架不住，就随境界转了。可是果廷的心在动，身在拜，他用坚强的意志来克服妄想。所以各位想一想，修道不是一件容易的事。果廷自己觉得对于其它的境界，都有把握，可以忍受得住，唯独对这个境界（母亲生病）有点受不住；虽然忍受不了，可是他还是在那儿三步一拜，这就是不随着境界转的表现。

Guo Ting, one of the “Three Steps One Bow” monks, has finally realized that he has to seriously cultivate and find his true self. But when his mother got sick and had to go to the hospital for a minor operation, Guo Ting had all kinds of random thoughts. He started bowing to his idle thoughts. It was an extremely tough test. If he hadn't held out, he would have been turned by that state. However, as Guo Ting's mind was moving and his body was bowing, he used a firm will to subdue those idle thoughts.

Cultivation is not easy. Guo Ting thought he could handle any other state, but he found it unbearable to know that his mother was sick. Although he couldn't bear it, he continued bowing every three steps. This shows that he wasn't turned by that state.

修道人要注意！不可打妄想。妄想是修道人的绊脚石，你有什么妄想，就有什么境界来考验你。所以我常说：

Cultivators should take care not to indulge in idle thoughts. Idle thoughts are stumbling blocks for cultivators. The states that come to test you correspond to the idle thoughts you entertain. So I often say,

一切是考验，看尔怎么办？
觌面若不识，须再从头炼。

Everything is a test to see what you will do.
If you mistake what's before your face,
 you'll have to start anew.

好像男人放不下太太，女人放不下丈夫；父亲放不下儿子，母亲放不下女儿；就在这个地方来考验你，就在这个地方不能修行，所以境界一来，就不容易打破这一关，所谓：

For example, the husband cannot give up his wife, and the wife cannot give up her husband. The father cannot give up his son, and the mother cannot give up her daughter. Just that very attachment is the test, and that's the very point where you fail in cultivation. When a state comes, it's hard to pass the test. As it's said,

修道如登百尺竿，
下来容易上去难。

Cultivating the Way
Is like climbing a hundred-foot pole.
Sliding down is easy,
But going up is hard.

各位想一想！怎么办？若不向前进，就是向后退。向前进，就容易上升善道；向后退，就容易堕落恶道。所以说：“难！难！难！修行一字令人寒，须早起，应晚眠，朝朝夜夜不得闲。”你说难不难？！

All of you think about it! What should you do? If you don't advance, you'll fall behind. If you advance, you can ascend. If you retreat, it's easy to fall. You can ascend to the wholesome paths or fall into the evil paths. There's a saying, “It's hard, hard, hard! The thought of cultivation gives me the chills. I have to get up early and retire late. Morning and night, I can't be idle.” Wouldn't you say it's hard?

一九八三年十月廿五日开示