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1975年8月19日星期二晚
這個佛七，今天快圓滿兩天了，相信今天晚間也不會下雨。這兩天每一個人都有眞心。明天不知人還會不會拿出眞心來，這就看下雨不下雨就知道了。我們唸南無阿彌陀佛時候，聽到打磬就要轉板，就唸阿彌陀佛、阿彌陀佛。我看有很多人都不知道。這個唸南無阿彌陀佛走出去的時候，這叫放掌不是這麼，這叫合掌；這樣叫放掌。這個掌要放下來，不是掌托到肚子下邊去，這是不好看的。那麼要怎麼樣呢？要將這個掌放到這個心口這兒——你那個肉心。對著肉心地方，這叫放掌，這麼樣子。你再聽，這打一下磬，這就是要轉板了；轉板就是要大家不唸「南無阿彌陀佛」，就唸「阿彌陀佛、阿彌陀佛、阿彌陀佛」，又要合起掌來。我看很多人也不知道合掌，到這唸「阿彌陀佛」的時候，也不知道合掌，還是這麼樣子的，或者這樣子的，不懂這個規矩。
這個規矩，雖然是不重要，但是也要守；你要是不守，那就不能成方圓，就不能成就我們所願意得到的。好像方才這個果童，他四歲的時候來到廟上，旁的他什麼都不問；他就問為什麼要有規矩？四歲的時候他就問這種問題：「為什麼要有規矩？」當時他那麼小，我看他問這種問題，這一定是個不守規矩的小孩子，一定是很壞的。那麼我說，就因為你不守規矩，所以要有規矩；你如果要守規矩了，那就不需要規矩了。
那麼現在他來到這兒，我相信一定很討厭規矩，因為他願意很隨便的，蹦蹦跳跳、打打鬧鬧。這是他的本性，就像那猴子似的，這兒跳跳，那兒鑽鑽的，有一點那麼的性情。你看看他，這個頭很活動的；那個眼睛也願意看東西。但是他會造Story（故事），如果能繼續往深的研究研究，將來他一定會成一個造story的專家。現在他＋一歲就會造story，等他要大了，更會造了。
們各位要注意他，將來他 story 要滿天飛的。
你們每一個人要是要 Story，他都可以給你造一個。你不要忘了那一條頭髮的故事（編按：本會出版《地藏菩薩本願經淺釋》上有記載）。這是祕密法一般人都不知道。有人想要知道，現在也不要告訴他們。還有，我們每一個人站在拜佛位置的時候，先來的就往前面站，後來的就比較站在後邊一點。不要先來的站到後邊，後來的又站到前邊去了，這是沒有次序。無論到什麼地方都要有次序；有次序就是有次第，有規矩。這樣子才不會亂，才會有一種很好的方法，這一點每一個人都應該注意的。
修行是要天天修行；不是今天修行，明天不修行。守規矩也是一樣的，天天要守規矩；你要是不守規矩，你這就是不合乎佛法的戒律的。這一點每一個人無論到什麼地方都要注意的，不要馬馬虎虎的。
今天白天講的持名唸佛。這個唸佛的法門，老年人也可以唸佛；青年人也可以唸佛；壯年人也可以唸佛：無論任何人，都可以唸佛。有病的人可以唸佛；健康的人更應該唸佛。為什麼呢？有病的人，你病苦這麼重，因為有業障，應該要唸佛來消業障；沒有病的人，乘著你身體健康，正好用唸佛來迴向身體永遠的健康。那麼老年人呢？這個路快要走完了，你應該走一條好路，應該唸佛。青年人，正年輕，前途有無量的光明，你應該唸南無阿彌陀佛，你的前途也有無量的光明。所以這個唸佛法門無論任何人，都應該唸佛的。這個唸佛，行住坐臥都可以唸佛。你行也可以唸佛；住也可以唸佛；坐也可以唸佛；臥也可以唸佛。但是，臥著唸佛，不要出聲唸，要在心裡頭唸；你要出聲唸就不恭敬了，因為你躺著唸佛這是不恭敬的。這一點各位要知道。最忙的人可以唸佛，最閒的人也可以唸佛。
待續
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Tuesday, August 19, 1975 (evening)
The second day of the session has almost passed. 1 believe it won't rain tonight. That means that during the last two days everyone has been sincere. I don't know if you will continue to be sincere tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see whether it rains. While walking and reciting "Na-mo A-mi-to-fo," when you hear the large bell, that is the sign that you are to return to your bowing cushions, and the tempo of the recitation is speeded up. I've noticed that many of you are unaware of this. When you recite, keep your hands in front of your chest; this is called the "palms-lowered position." Don't let your hands hang down by your belly. That does not look nice. They should be right in front of your rib cage, directly below the heart. When you hear the big bell, raise your palms and join them together. Then you no longer recite "Na-mo A-mi-to-fo," but just "A-mi-to-fo." I've noticed a lot of you don't raise your palms at this time, but let your hands hang down or swing at your sides. This is because you don't know about the rules. Although rules are not important, you still have to abide by them. As it is said, "If you don't follow the rules [in Chinese the word for "rules" is made up of the two words "compass and T-square] you can't make circles or squares." That is, if you don't follow the rules you won't attain your goal.
For example, when Guo Tong came to the temple at the age of four, the only question he had was, "Why do there have to be rules?" That was the question he asked at age four. Seeing that he had this question at such a young age, I knew that he was an unruly kid.
I told him, "The rules are there just because you don't follow them. If you abided by the rules, there wouldn't be any need for them." Even now, I think he must still detest the rules. He wants to be free to run around, play, and be rowdy.
That's just his character. He's like a monkey, jumping and crawling all over the place. He is very lively and his eyes are always looking around at everything. But he can really tell stories. If he continues, in the future, he's going to make his mark as a master storyteller. He is only eleven now and he can really make stories up; wait till he grows up—he will be even better at it then. So keep your eye on him. Pretty soon his stories will fly right up into the sky.
If anybody here wants a story, he can make one up for you. Don't forget about that story about a single strand of hair [given in the
The Earth Store Sutra with the Venerable Master Hua's commentary, published by D.R.B.A.]. That's a secret dharma that most people don't know about. Even if people want to know about it, don't tell them right now.
Also, when you stand at your places, those who come first should stand up in front and those who follow should stand behind them in the order that they file in. The first to come should not stand in the back so that those who follow have to shove past to find a place. No matter where you go, you should proceed according to the rules for order in the assembly. Then things won't become confused, but will run smoothly. You should all take note of this.
Cultivation must be done every day. You can't cultivate one day and slack off the next. The same applies to following the rules. You have to follow the rules every day. If you don't, you are not acting in accordance with the precepts of the Buddhadharma. So, wherever you go, take care to observe the regulations and don't be sloppy about it.
"Holding the name Buddha Recitation" can be practiced by both the young and old, and those in the prime of life. It is suitable for everyone. Sick people can recite the Buddha's name. You who are sick suffer from the pains of disease because of karmic obstacles. You should hold the Buddha's name in order to lessen these obstacles. Those who are healthy should take advantage of their health to recite the Buddha's name and dedicate their recitation to insure their perpetual good health. Old people who are approaching the end of the road should follow the good path to the end. They should recite the Buddha's name. Young people whose road ahead is filled with limitless light should recite "Na-mo A-mi-to-fo," to make the light appear. Thus, the Dharma-door of Buddha Recitation is suitable for every type of person. You can chant while walking, standing, sitting, or reclining. However, when reclining you should not recite aloud. Do it silently in your heart. If you recite aloud it is disrespectful. The busiest people can recite the Buddha's name, and people who are the most at leisure can also recite the Buddha's name.
To be continued
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