談到蓮花化身，不是那麼容易的，要修很多的人所不能修的苦行，要有八種的因緣，才能得到蓮花化身。
第一種：你不要說是小事情，就甚至於你把生命丟了，把生命沒有了，也不講他人的過錯。甚至於我要是能講他人的過錯，我一辯解說：「啊！那事情不是我做的，他是錯了，不怪我。」這樣這個生命就可以保存住了；要不這樣辯一下子呢！頭就沒有了，就死了！這樣，也不說他人的過錯。這是失掉自己的生命，也不說他人的過錯。這是第一種的因綠，才能得到蓮花化身。
你們想一想你們誰能做得到？有人要你的生命，如果你不向他解釋一下，生命就沒有了；解釋一下，這個生命就可以有了。怎麼樣解釋？就說：「哎！這個事情，是他的罪過；他叫我這麼做的，他叫我這麼說的嘛！要不是他，我不會的。啊！這不怪我。」哦！那麼就沒有罪了，但是他也不講，甚至於就把自己的生命沒有了，也不說他人的過失。
你們各位想一想，一天到晚講人家的是非，那就不會得到蓮花化身去了。不過以前你們講的是非我都不管的，只要我教過你們之後，你們以後不講了。你們以前所犯的罪業，我給你們證明就說沒有了，以後不犯就可以；以後再犯，那我就不證明了，這是第一。
第二種的原因，皈依三寶。變化人來叫你皈依三寶；不單叫人皈依三寶，而且叫一切畜生都皈依三寶，行菩薩道，這是第二種的原因。
第三種安置一切，把一切——無論什麼，都安置到什麼地方呢？安置到菩提心裡邊，把一切都放到菩提心裡邊，來幫助你發菩提心。這所謂一切——一切的善事，安放到菩提心裡邊，這是第三的原因。
第四，精修梵行，不染梵行；不染梵行就是清淨行——不貪、不瞋、不癡；修得一點貪心也沒有了。你不要想：「哦！聽經的時候沒有貪心了；不聽經的時候貪心又出來了。」或者甚至於聽經這個時候，我一講說不要有貪心，你聽不懂，說：「啊！真是的，講這個道理！我最歡喜貪心了。為什麼要沒有貪心？」就發脾氣了；一發脾氣，以後就不聽經了，睡覺好過聽經，就這樣。你看精修梵行，就是微細微細處都不要生貪心，不要見了人一供養了一堆garbage垃圾；或者是在垃圾裡要找黃金，要找金子，找珠寶，不要那麼樣子。這第四，精修梵行，梵行不染。
第五，你猜是怎麼蓮花化身？你要造佛形像，把那個佛像安坐在蓮華座上。這也可以得到蓮華化身。
第六種是什麼來的？有人記得嗎？你們要有人記得，就告訴我；要沒有人記得我就講。
我自己一出來，就是能除眾生的憂惱。這件事情他不能解決問題了，他憂愁得不得了。怎麼辦？你想法子幫他解決了；但是你解決了，你不要說是：「啊！要謝謝我，我幫你解決這個問題了！」不要這樣子。要幫人解決問題好像沒有那麼回事似的，這第六。
第七，與貢高人——對於這貢高的人，願意first，願意第一的人，你應該對他謙下一點。對一個貢高人，你常能謙下，所以你叫恆謙。你要記得，對誰也不要貢高；你要有貢高心，那你就不能蓮花化身，這第七。
第八，不惱他人——不令他人生煩惱。尤其美國人，你用很嚴厲的語氣叫他做這個，做那個，不要說普通人，或者朋友方面，或者兄弟方面，甚至在夫婦方面，美國人都不聽你指揮的。
所以我問果許，我說妳是不是要結婚？「啊！不，不。」我問為什麼妳不願意結婚？她說不願意這個。這麼年輕的小女孩，都討厭這個，所以你們不能以為「我是first（第一）的，我叫你做這做那。」不可以的。
待續
甚麼是道德呢？就是以利益他人為主，不妨礙人；也就是內心充滿仁、義、禮、智、信。
上人法語 |
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It's not that easy to be reborn transformationally from a lotus. You have to cultivate a lot of ascetic practices that others can't cultivate. There are eight causes and conditions for being born that way.
Eight Causes and Conditions for Birth in a Lotus
1. One would rather give up one's life than speak about the faults of others. Let's say you were in a position where you were going to get your head chopped off, and, if you simply said, "It's not my fault! So and so did it, not me; they told me to do it. It wasn't my idea.... etc..." you could escape. You still wouldn't say it. If you would rather lose your life than talk about others' faults, then you have fulfilled the first condition for being born in a lotus.
Can any of you do this? If you gossip all day long, how can you be born in a lotus? Hah! I don't care if you gossiped before. That doesn't count as long as you don't gossip anymore; now that I have taught you not to, I will certify that your past offenses don't count, as long as you reform in the future. It won't hold if you do it again, though.
2. One teaches people to take refuge with the Triple Jewel. Not only do you influence people to take refuge and practice the Bodhisattva Path, but even animals.
3. One brings it all back to the Bodhi heart. All your good deeds should be dedicated to bringing forth the Bodhi heart.
4. One practices undefiled Brahma conduct. Brahma conduct is pure conduct. It means being without greed, hatred, or stupidity. This means you get rid of your greed forever. You can't think you're doing okay because you are not greedy during lectures, and then get greedy as soon as you leave the lecture hall! Perhaps even while the lecture is in progress you are thinking, "Arrgh!! What nonsense! I like being greedy! Why do we have to keep hearing about that!" Then you get angry and then you don't listen anymore. You take a nap instead. See? Pure Brahma conduct means not having even the most subtle forms of greed. If someone leaves a bag of garbage around, you can't go looking through it for gold pieces! That's worthless!
5. One makes Buddha images and places them on lotus pedestals. That's another cause for being born transformationally from a lotus.
6. One dispels the troubles of living beings.Living beings are always worrying. "What am I going to do? I can't solve my problems!!" So you think of a solution for them. But you can't expect a lot of gratitude; you must do it and forget it, that's all.
7. One is humble towards arrogant people. People who are arrogant are always fighting to be number one. Toward such people you should be humble and compliant. Remember, you shouldn't be arrogant toward anyone, or else you can't be born transformationally from a lotus.
8. One does not give trouble to others. Don't cause people to get afflicted. You can't order people around and tell them what to do! Especially in America! Not to mention ordinary people, you can't even tell your friends, brothers or sisters, or spouse what to do. In America, people aren't into taking orders from anyone. So when I asked Guo Hsu whether she wanted to get married, she said, "No way!" And it was because she didn't want to be bossed around. None of you should think you are number one and can tell others what to do. It won't work.
To be continued
What is morality? It is defined as making it a priority to benefit others, making it a goal not to obstruct others, and being filled with humaneness, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.
The Venerable Master
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