我们要借假修真，效法诸佛菩萨超人的智慧，难思的神通。为什么会有超人的智慧？为什么会有难思的神通？

We have to use the false to facilitate the cultivation of the true. We should follow the example of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who have transcendental wisdom and inconceivable spiritual powers. How did they attain their wisdom and powers?

一言以蔽之，因为诸佛菩萨在因地的时候，处处认真修行，处处谨慎持戒；无论在什么时候，以身作则，行住坐卧具足威仪。对于众生，流血流汗，任劳任怨，绝不向众生表功劳；他所做利益众生的功德事，绝不表露出来，绝不自我宣传，他认为度众生是自己的职责。诸佛菩萨有“施恩不求报，与人不追悔”的思想，有“无缘大慈，同体大悲”的行为，因为这样地修学，才获得超人的智慧，难思的神通。

To put it in a nutshell, when they were on the causal ground, they cultivated seriously and upheld the precepts carefully at all times and in all places. They had perfect deportment while walking, standing, sitting, and reclining, setting an example with their own conduct. They spared no effort for the sake of living beings and took all the work and blame upon themselves. They never showed off or publicized the meritorious deeds they did to benefit living beings; they took rescuing living beings as their personal duty. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas helped living beings without seeking any rewards or feeling any regret. They showed great kindness to those with whom they had no affinities and practiced great compassion by regarding all beings as identical with themselves. Through such cultivation, they attained transcendental wisdom and inconceivable spiritual powers.

我们常常听经，要思考，要消化，才能有所受用；不然的话，听经听多了，就忽略经中所说的道理，甚至把经的义理，置诸脑后，不去研究，不去思惟，只用自己的精灵鬼、伶俐虫做一些个糊涂颠倒事。这样胡作非为，就是对诸佛菩萨不孝顺，对自己祖先、父母、师长不孝顺。那么应当怎么样呢？就是要认真行持佛法，不可以懈怠，不可以放逸；处处要谨慎，时时要小心，要勇猛精进，严守戒律，这是修道人必须遵守的条件。

When listening to Sutra lectures, we have to contemplate and digest what we hear before we can receive the benefit. Otherwise, after having listened to many lectures we'll begin to neglect the doctrines spoken in the Sutras, or even put the principles on the back burner, neither investigating nor contemplating them, only using our worldly intelligence to do muddled things. This kind of foolish behavior is unfilial to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, our ancestors, parents, and teachers. We should earnestly practice and uphold the Buddhadharma, and not be lazy or careless. We must be cautious at all times and places, be vigorous, and strictly uphold the precepts. These are the guidelines cultivators must follow.

有这种不正当的习气毛病，一定要纠正过来，不要有这种毛病不但不改，反而保护它，那就是助纣为虐。殷纣王本来是无道的昏君，若是有人帮助他作恶，那就是助纣为虐。修道中也有殷纣王，谁是殷纣王？就是魔王。魔王看佛法兴盛起来，就感觉不舒服，于是千方百计来破坏佛法，扰乱道场。你有道场他就扰乱你的道场，你没有道场他就扰乱你的身心，令你身不安，心不宁；你的身心颠倒，就不能如法次第地修行，这是直接的破坏法。还有间接的破坏法，譬如利用种种境界来诱惑你，令你没有定力，神魂颠倒，中了他的诡计，失去修道的真心。

If we have improper habits and faults, we must correct them. We cannot cling to our faults, refuse to correct them, even defend them. That would be “helping King Zhou perpetuate evil.” King Zhou was a depraved tyrant during the late Shang dynasty, and evildoers are said to have helped him in his tyranny. The “King Zhou” of cultivation is Mara, the demon king. When the demon king sees the Buddhadharma flourishing, he feels uneasy and does all he can to destroy Buddhism and disrupt its Way-places. If you have a Way-place, he'll come to disturb it. If you don't have a Way-place, then he'll come to disturb your body and mind, making you feel restless and ill at ease, so that you cannot practice the Dharma. This is a case of direct sabotage. There is also indirect sabotage, such as enticing you with all kinds of states that cause you to lose samadhi power, get carried away and fall into his trap, losing the resolve to cultivate.

所以修道人，要心定如须弥山，见到任何境界，都不动心，那魔王对你也就无可奈何，只有弃甲而逃了。

Therefore cultivators should be as calm and steady as Mount Sumeru, remaining unmoved no matter what states they encounter. Then the demon king will be helpless to do anything; he will have to abandon his armor and run away.