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佛教徒必須具擇法眼，認清真理，明辨是非；不可人云亦云，同流合污，魚目混珠，以假亂真，將賊作子，自誤誤人，自欺欺人，犯大妄語，墮拔舌獄，永無出期。例如有等修道者，不求明眼善知識，盲修瞎煉，愚不可及。竟至大言不慚，自謂我得上人法；或謂我已開悟；或謂我已證果；或謂我是某某菩薩轉世；或謂我乃齊天大聖下凡。甚至妄言我已成就佛果如此種種，邪知邪見，不勝枚舉。此輩皆魔王子孫，波旬眷屬。驕慢自大，貢高欺人，破壞增團，毀滅佛法。吾等為衛護正法，伸張正義，要抖擻精神，勤修戒定慧，息滅貪瞋癡。則魔王知見及學說，不攻自破矣。
偈曰：
如如不動降魔軍 了了常明照眾心
大公無私修正法 至中勿偏守規箴
驕傲習氣當拂拭 自讚行為要掃清
克己復禮勤策勵 佛教功臣救人群
凡是佛教徒，必須具足擇法眼才能認識什麼是正法？什麼是邪法？正法是佛說；邪法是魔說。淺言之，正法是大公無私；邪法是自私自利。有了擇法的智慧才能有正知正見，無論面對什麼事情，皆認識得清清楚楚，分析得明明白白，要用真理來辨別是和非，判斷善和惡。若是糊裏糊塗，腦筋不清楚，人云亦云，那就是愚癡。人家說什麼，你就信什麼，這樣一點辨別的能力也沒有，專喝人家的口水，那有什麼意思？所以要參禪打坐，有了智慧就有擇法眼，曉得是正法或是邪法。否則同流合污，隨波逐流，人家向地獄跑，你也跟著往地獄跑；人家跳廁所，你也跟著跳廁所，簡直成了人家的影子。多麼可憐！自己一點智慧也沒有，把魚眼睛當珍珠，真假不分，黑白不明；以偽作真，以真認偽，這種行為，令人可笑。
愚癡到這等程度，把賊人當作兒子，殊不料上了大當，家中所有的財寶都被賊人搶走。我們修行人要認清什麼是正法？什麼是邪法？如果把邪法當作正法，如同認賊為子一樣地糟糕。這種行為不但誤害自己，也誤害他人；欺騙自己，也欺騙他人。自己沒有神通硬說有神通；自己沒有開悟竟說開悟，種下這種大妄語的因，將來一定墮落拔舌地獄受果報。凡是打妄語的人，墮在此種地獄永遠沒有脫離的日期。
舉一個例子來說：有這樣一個修行人，不親近明眼善知識，不求其指導而閉門造車，相信自己的知見是正確的。自己盲修瞎煉，得不到要領，結果浪費時間走火入魔，好像盲人騎瞎馬，夜半臨深淵一樣地危險。這種行為太愚癡了，實在可憐。這個修行人不但無慚無愧，反而大言不慚地說：「我得到聖人以心印心的法，將來可以作祖師。」或者這樣說：「我已經開悟，證得大智慧。」或者這樣說：「我已經證果，證得無學位。」或者這樣說：「我是觀音菩薩轉世，或者我是文殊菩薩轉世，甚至是普賢菩薩、地藏菩薩等諸大菩薩轉世，你們知道嗎？」或者這樣地說：「我是齊天大聖降臨人間，你們應向我叩頭。」甚至打妄語說：「我已經成就佛果，證得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提；釋迦牟尼佛是我的師兄，菩提達摩向我頂禮。」一派胡言，令人發笑。前邊所說種種的妄言都是邪知邪見，還有很多不能一一舉出來，現在不過略舉幾個例子而已。
這種人都是魔王的子孫，波旬（魔王）的眷屬。驕慢自大的人，或者貢高欺人的人，就是破壞僧團的敗類，毀滅佛法的叛徒。我們為衛護正法要伸張正義來消滅邪說，打倒異論；要抖擻精神振作起來，勤修戒定慧。修戒的人不會打妄想，更不會自我宣傳到處賣廣告，絕對不誇耀自己有道行令人敬佩，貪圖供養；修定的人黃金當前不動心，美色現前心不動，到這火候時萬事無罣礙，所謂「如如不動，了了常明。」修慧的人智慧光明照耀一切，將無明化為光明。無煩無惱，無苦無憂就得自在，得解脫。這三無漏學修得圓滿時，自然貪瞋癡三毒的火都息滅無餘。這樣就把魔王的邪知邪見和其謬論及詭異之言，不用攻擊，不用諍辯，自然而然被消滅及破壞。
現在用八句偈頌來說明這個道理，略略解釋於下：
「如如不動降魔軍」：魔境來臨時，心能如如不動，視而不見，聽而不聞，到了這種定力堅如金剛的程度，十大魔軍便知難而退。把他們降伏了，他們便不會再來擾亂修道的清淨心。
「了了常明照眾心」：如如不動是定力；了了常明是慧力，其中也包括戒力。戒定慧有連帶的關係；由戒生定，因定發慧，缺一不會圓滿有成就。戒定慧常放光明，照耀眾生之心，令得自在。
「大公無私修正法」：修道人時時反省，捫心自問：有沒有自私心？有沒有貢高心？所行所做是為自己？還是為別人？若是為自己，那就是自私；若是為大家謀 幸福，那就是大公無私。要修沒有自私的正法，不要有驕傲的心，總覺得自己了不起，修行比人強，智慧比人高；有了這種不正當的思想時，那個我慢魔就興風作浪，令你目空一切看不起任何人。這樣一來，就把你拉到魔的世界去，作為魔的眷屬。
「至中勿偏守規箴」：至中就是中道，不過也無不及，恰到好處－－不偏於空，不偏於有；非空非有，便是至中。修道要修中道，不修旁門外道；修道人切記不可錯因果，不可亂講話，不可犯戒律，要守規矩，要勤精進，認真辦道，禁止戲論，嘻嘻哈哈的行為更是要不得。無論修行有什麼成就，可是不守戒律也是枉然，徒勞無功，不過自欺欺人而已。
現在萬佛聖城的僧人，最有修行功夫，最守規矩的人還是三步一拜的兩位行者。他們對誰都不說笑話，不生瞋恨心，也不生自滿心；心平氣和在三步一拜，與世無爭，與人無論，只知為人，不知為己，這種精神實在可嘉。平心而論你們所有的人，不及他們百分之一。你們要學習他們的修行，只知耕耘不問收穫。修道人，最忌諱是諂媚的行為，說些令人歡喜的恭維話。這種行為太卑鄙，令人作三日嘔。諸位有則改之，無則勉之。
「驕傲習氣當拂拭」：要把驕傲自大的不良習氣掃理乾淨，拂拭清潔，不留半點塵垢。所謂「一塵不染」，這時心明如鏡，物來則現，物去則淨，沒有執著。
「自讚行為要掃清」：要把讚歎自己的行為收拾乾淨，大掃除一番，把自滿的垃圾遠遠地拋棄。
「克己復禮勤策勵」：時時鞭策自己，勉勵自己，不可現出特別的樣子，總覺得自己比旁人好，比旁人強。有這種思想的人，根本不如人；克己復禮的人無論在什麼時候也不會自滿，都是謙恭和藹，和平相處。
「佛教功臣救人群」：僧人是社會的教育家，指導眾生改過自新，令其有重新作人的機會；應當做些救世救人的工作，利益人群，這是僧人的責任。如果有這種大無畏的神聖精神，那才是佛教的功臣；若是貢高我慢而不能謙恭和藹的話，不但不能度人，不能影響人，就是自己也度不了，也影響不了。
今把這八句偈頌，淺釋其義理。希望各位迴光返照，反求諸己。我今天所講的話，誰有這種毛病，趕快改過來；若沒有這種毛病，更要努力向前精進。
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Text:
Buddhist disciples must possess the Dharma-selecting eye, so that they can clearly recognize true principles and differentiate right from wrong. You should not parrot whatever others say, following the muddy mainstream and mistaking fish eyes for pearls. You should not mistake falsehoods for the truth, taking a robber for your son. You should not sully yourself and others; you should not cheat yourself and others. If you tell sensational lies, you will fall into the Tongue-plucking Hell and never be able to come out. Cultivators who blindly cultivate and practice, refusing to seek out bright-eyed good knowing advisors, are stupid beyond words. They brag shamelessly, proclaiming, "I have attained the Dharma of superior ones"; "I am already enlightened"; "I have already certified to the fruit"; "I am this or that Bodhisattva reincarnated"; "I am actually a great sage equal to the gods who descended upon the world." They even lie, saying, "I have already accomplished the Buddha fruit," and display countless other instances of such deviant knowledge and deviant views. Such people are all children and grandchildren of the demon king— Papiyan's retinue. They are proud and egotistical, arrogant and deceitful; they are out to ruin the Sangha and destroy the Buddhadharma. To guard and protect the Proper Dharma, we should uphold justice. We must strike up our spirits; vigorously cultivate precepts, samadhi and wisdom; and extinguish greed, hatred and stupidity. Thus, the demon king's knowledge, views, and theories will break down of themselves.
A verse says:
The mind that is thus, thus unmoving, subdues demon armies.
The self-nature that is always bright with understanding
illuminates living beings' minds.
Public-oriented and selfless cultivators
should practice the Proper Dharma.
Remain in the middle instead of going to extremes,
and follow the guidelines.
You should wipe away your arrogance and habits.
Sweep away self-congratulatory behavior.
Restrain yourself and be courteous,
and vigorously urge yourself forward.
So that you can be a meritorious minister of Buddhism
who saves humankind.
Commentary:
Buddhist disciples must be complete with the Dharma-selecting Eye in order to understand what is proper Dharma and what is deviant dharma. Buddhas speak proper Dharma; demons speak deviant dharma. Simply put, proper Dharma is public-oriented and selfless; deviant dharma is selfish and self-serving. Only when you have the wisdom to distinguish the Dharma will you possess proper knowledge and views. Regardless of the situation you face, you will see and understand that circumstance clearly. You should use true principles to differentiate right from wrong, to judge between good and evil. You're stupid when you act muddled and confused, heedlessly repeating whatever everyone else says. If you believe whatever everyone else says, lacking any ability to differentiate, you are just "drinking others' saliva." How is that meaningful? You must investigate dhyana and meditate, because with wisdom comes the Dharma-selecting Eye. That way you will know the difference between proper Dharma and deviant dharma; otherwise you will simply drift with the filthy current and ride the polluted waves. If others rush toward the hells, you run along to the hells too. Others jump into the toilet; you follow suit. You're practically a shadow. How sad! With no wisdom of your own, you mistake fish eyes for pearls. You are incapable of distinguishing between truth and falsehood, black and white, authenticity and inauthenticity. Such behavior is laughable.
When you're stupid to this degree, you mistake a robber for your son. Without your realizing it, the robber steals all your money and jewelry from right under your nose. We cultivators must recognize what is proper Dharma and what is deviant dharma. Mistaking deviant dharma for proper Dharma is as disastrous as embracing a robber as your child. This kind of behavior not only harms yourself, but also harms others. In this fashion, you cheat yourself and others. For instance, you claim that you have spiritual penetrations when you don't have any. Or you dare to say that you have attained enlightenment when in fact you haven't. In planting the causes of such big lies, you will definitely receive the retribution of falling into the Tongue-plucking Hell. All those who lie fall into this type of hell, from which there is no escape.
For example, consider the cultivator who refuses to draw near bright-eyed good advisors. Instead of asking for instructions, he shuts the door and tries to build a vehicle on his own, believing that his knowledge and views are correct. He blindly cultivates and practices alone. Without the benefit of strategic guidance, he wastes his time and enters a demonic state. This is as dangerous as a blind person riding a sightless horse along the ledge of a cliff in the middle of the night. Such foolish behavior is pitiful indeed. Furthermore, this cultivator not only refuses to repent and reform, but he even makes shameless proclamations such as: "I have obtained the mind-seal Dharma of a sage; I will become a patriarch in the future"; "I am already enlightened; I've certified to great wisdom"; "I have already attained the position of non-study"; "I am a reincarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva"; "I am Manjushri Bodhisattva reincarnated." He may even claim to be a reincarnation of Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, Earth Store Bodhisattva, or some other great Bodhisattva, and say, "Did you all know that?" Or he may say, "I am a great sage equal to the gods who has descended on the human realm; you should prostrate to me." He fabricates, "I've already attained the Buddha fruit and certified to annuttara-samyak-sambodhi. Shakyamuni Buddha is my Dharma brother, and Bodhidharma prostrates to me." That's absolute and laughable folly! All the above lies are deviant knowledge and deviant views; there are many such examples, but I've given only a few here.
These people are all children and grandchildren of the demon king; the retinue of Papiyan. Such egomaniacs and arrogant frauds are losers who wreck the Sangha and rebels who destroy the Buddhadharma. To guard and protect the Proper Dharma, we must expand justice, eradicate deviant theories, and knock down heresy. We must strike up our spirits and straighten up, vigorously cultivating precepts, samadhi and wisdom. Those who cultivate precepts won't strike up false thoughts; furthermore, they won't go around promoting themselves. They never praise themselves or show off their cultivation so that others will respect and revere them. Genuine cultivators are not tempted by the sight of gold or beauty. In their state, ten thousand things do not obstruct them. They are said to be "thus, thus unmoving, constantly bright with understanding." People who cultivate wisdom emit a light of wisdom that illuminates every place, turning ignorance into brightness. Without afflictions, worries and bitterness, you attain a sense of ease and liberation. When you perfect these three studies of non-outflow, naturally all three poisonous fires of greed, hatred and stupidity are completely extinguished. Thus, the demon king's deviant knowledge and deviant views, his ridiculous assertions and inexplicable statements will naturally be expelled and destroyed without attacks or arguments.
An eight-line verse further illustrates this principle. I'll briefly explain it below:
The mind that is thus, thus unmoving, subdues demon armies. When demonic states arise, the mind can be thus, thus unmoving (it sees yet does not see; hears yet does not hear). If your concentration is as firm as vajra, then the ten great demon armies will give up and retreat. If you subdue the demons, they will never again disturb your clear and pure mind for cultivation.
The self-nature that is always bright with understanding illuminates living beings' minds. "Thus, thus unmoving" is concentration power; "constantly bright with understanding" is wisdom power, which includes precept power. Precepts and concentration are interrelated. Precepts produce concentration; concentration produces wisdom. Lacking any one of these, one fails to achieve perfection. Precepts, concentration, and wisdom constantly illumine living beings' minds, enabling them to enjoy comfort and ease.
Public-oriented and selfless cultivators should practice the Proper Dharma. A cultivator constantly reflects. One looks into one's heart and asks oneself, "Am I selfish? Am I arrogant? Do I do things for others or only for myself?" If what you do is only for yourself, you're being selfish. If you do things that benefit everyone, then you're being public-minded and selfless. We should cultivate selfless Proper Dharma, not the haughty mind that maintains, "I am so outstanding, I cultivate better than others do; my wisdom is greater than others'." When you have improper thoughts such as these, the demon of arrogance will create all kinds of waves for you, causing you to see everything and everyone as being beneath you. Thus, you are pulled into the demon's world, becoming a member of the demon's retinue.
Remain in the middle instead of going to extremes, and follow the guidelines. To remain in the middle is to practice the Middle Way. This path of moderation is neither excessive nor insufficient; it's just right. The Middle Way leans neither toward emptiness nor toward existence. Existence and non-existence are both absent from this middle ground. To cultivate the Way is to cultivate the Middle Way, not side doors and outside ways. Cultivators must remember not to err in cause and effect, not to speak carelessly, and not to violate the precepts, but rather to follow rules and to be vigorous. You should take the Way seriously and stop kidding around; giggling and laughing are totally unacceptable. No matter what accomplishments you have in cultivation, without keeping to the precepts and Vinaya, you're wasting time and effort cultivating and producing no merit.
As a result, you're merely cheating yourself and others.
Currently, of all the Sanghans at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the two monks engaged in "three steps, one bow" are the most rigorous cultivators and most observant followers of the rules. They don't joke around with anybody; they don't get angry; they are not full of themselves. They calmly and peacefully do their "three steps, one bow" practice. These two have nothing to contend over or debate on with the world; they know only how to work for others, not for themselves. This kind of spirit is truly praiseworthy. It can fairly be said that all of you together don't have even one one-hundredth of their cultivation.
You should emulate their cultivation— to only sow and not to reap. Sycophantic behavior, such as flattery and saying what others like to hear, is the worst kind of behavior for cultivators. Such behavior is despicable; it makes me want to vomit for three days when I see it. All of you who behave this way should correct yourselves. All of you who don't behave this way should continue to regulate yourselves.
You should wipe away your arrogance and habits. You should sweep away and clean up the unwholesome habits of arrogance and egomania, leaving not a speck of dust. When one is "not tainted by a speck of dust," the mind is clear like the mirror. The mirror reflects objects when they appear; the mirror is clear and free of attachment when the objects are gone
Sweep away self-congratulatory behavior. You should clean up your act and do away with self-adulation. Do a major spring-cleaning and toss the garbage of self-satisfaction far, far away.
Restrain yourself and be courteous, and vigorously urge yourself forward. Constantly push yourself and encourage yourself. Do not try to appear special or always think that you are better than everyone else, superior to others. People with that kind of mind set are actually not even on a par with others. Those who restrain themselves with courtesy are never full of themselves. They're invariably modest and kind, getting along well with others.
So that you can be a meritorious minister of Buddhism who saves humankind. Sanghans are the educators in society, guiding living beings to correct and renew themselves, letting them have the chance to become humans again. Sangha members should take on the responsibility of saving the people of the world and benefiting humankind. If you have the great fearless spirit of the sages, then you are a meritorious minister of Buddhism. If you are arrogant and unable to humble yourself to be kind to others, then you will fail to save and influence not only other people, but also yourself.
Today I've given a simple explanation of the principles of this eight-line verse. I hope that everyone will reflect upon himself. If you have the habits that I spoke about today, correct them quickly. If you don't have these habits, you should move forward with added vigor.
The End
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