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編按：本月24日萬佛聖城慶祝觀音菩薩出家法會，並舉行剃度大典；僧團又增新血，可喜！可賀！本刊歡喜之餘，準備編輯「上人規矩開示集錦」，抽出上人歷年來教誨弟子們有關規矩的開示，彙編成集，英譯後陸續刊出，以方便新弟子們修行有所遵循；老弟子亦可溫故知新。以下僅為其中一小節，先行刊出，與讀者共勉。
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……我們共同來研究佛法，要知道一點就做一點，不要知道不去做去；你知道不去做去，就莫如不知道。你不知道，你不修行，那是因為不知道；你知道佛法了，就必須要修行，必須要腳踏實地實實在在地去修行，就像走一步就有一個腳印。走一步就有一個腳印，這叫腳踏實地向前去修行。修行最要緊的要利人，就是幫助人，不要幫助自己，要把自己忘了。好像一舉一動都是來幫助人，不要管自己，這就是去修行。
最要緊的要怎麼樣呢？要不要有妒嫉心，不要有障礙心，不要有煩惱。這煩惱一定要斷除；你要不斷除煩惱，生死不會了的。所謂「斷除煩惱」就是叫你變——煩惱變成菩提。菩提就是生長智慧而不愚癡；煩惱就是常常愚癡而沒有智慧。我們為一點小小的事情，不要生煩惱，不要有一種妒嫉障礙，這是最要緊的。所以我們天天研究佛法，要行持佛法。所謂「說得好，說得妙，你不實行，就沒有道」；你說得再好，說得再妙，你不老老實實去修行用功，你不會得到的。
我們現在這兒有幾個人，剛剛都要開悟的樣子，可是就要修這種利益人的 心，把自已忘了他。有的人就想說：「誰？」反正不 是你！因為你問了；你要不問或者就是你。你這一 問，就知道不是你了。因為要是你，你怎麼會問呢 ？你想一想，我講這個道理很合乎邏輯的。你不要 問是誰；你要問，就問你自己在什麼時候可以開悟 ？什麼時候可以生大智慧？你問問自己。你不要問 是誰？我也不問是誰，就是要實實在在去修行。
修行，先要忍，什麼都要忍。這個忍，我告訴你們－－忍窮，越窮越好。窮嗎？我忍著它，沒有錢最乾淨了。貧道、貧道，修道就要窮，一有錢就有麻煩了；一有錢就不會修行了，所以要窮。忍窮，還要忍飢－－沒有飯吃嗎？明天就有了。今天沒有不要緊，這就要忍。沒有衣服穿，也要忍：凍也要忍。風也要忍，雨也要忍；耐風、耐雨、耐飢耐寒，這都是修道人所應該有的。什麼都不怕。
最難嗎？我才要做呢！最苦嗎？我才要修呢！要和這個苦來鬥爭，要和這個困難來鬥爭，要打破這一關，把這關打破了，這就成功了；要不打破這一關呢？那你就不會成功。所以你們每一個人都應該知道，光說沒有用，要去做去。你說一丈，不如行一尺；你行一尺比說了一丈還好得多。所以我現在希望人人都要注重實行，不要注重口頭禪。
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Editor's Note: On the 24th of October, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas held a head-shaving ceremony for novice monks and nuns. Congratulations to the Sangha for its new blood.
Vajra Bodhi Sea plans to compile the Venerable Master's instructions to his disciples on observing regulations that he gave over the years. These directions will guide the new disciples while providing an opportunity for the more senior disciples to familiarize themselves with this material. Below is a sample of the publications to come. May these words encourage every one of us.
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...As we study the Buddhadharma, we should apply what we know. If we refuse to practice the bit of dharma we understand, then we are essentially ignorant. Ignorant, you are uninformed and refuse to put knowledge into practice. Once you understand the Buddhadharma, you must apply it. You should cultivate one firm step at a time so that you leave behind an imprint for every step; as you do so, you soundly and solidly advance in your practice.
It's crucial to benefit others in your cultivation. In other words, you should help people, not help yourself. You ought to forget yourself. To cultivate is simply to aid others in your every move and every act, overlooking yourself.
What's the most critical part of cultivation? Avoid jealousy, obstructive tendencies and afflictions. You must sever afflictions; otherwise, you will not be liberated from birth and death. When I say, "sever afflictions," I mean that you should change —convert misery into Bodhi. When you generate wisdom rather than stupidity, you exhibit Bodhi. Conversely, when you are foolish rather than wise, you worry. The key to learning and upholding the Buddhadharma is not to agonize over minutia, but to possess no jealousy or obstructive tendencies. Thus, we must apply the Buddha-dharma as we study it daily. You may articulate flawlessly, you may speak fantastically, but without practice, there is no path. Regardless of how eloquent you are, you cannot obtain the Way without honest action.
We have a few people here who appear to be on the verge of enlightenment. They need to cultivate this path of benefiting others and forgetting themselves, however. Someone wants to know, "Who are they?" Since you asked this question, it certainly is not you! It might have been you if you didn't ask. However, because you did ask, we know it's not
you. If you were about to become enlightened, why would you have this question? Think about it, this is quite logical. Don't ask me who they are, but ask yourself when you'll become enlightened. When will your great wisdom appear? Ask yourself. Don't wonder about these people. I don't speculate who these individuals are; I just cultivate honestly.
To cultivate you must first be patient. You have to be patient with everything. Let me tell you, you should withstand poverty--the poorer you are the better. Indigence? I will endure impoverishment because being penniless is being pure. The destitute way is the path for cultivators. Trouble follows at the heel of money. Once you have money you won't cultivate. That's why you ought to be broke.
You shall bear not only poverty, but hunger too. No food to eat? There'll be provisions tomorrow. It's okay that there's none today as long as you are patient. You must be patient when you have no clothes. You must be patient when you are cold. You must be patient with wind and rain. Cultivators should be able to endure everything and fear nothing.
Is that the most difficult? Well, I will want to do that!
Is that the most bitter? Well, I will want to cultivate that! I must battle against suffering and difficulty. Once you break through this impasse, you will have succeeded. If you cannot cross this threshold, you will have failed. Therefore, all of you should know, all talk and no action is useless. It's better to walk a foot than to speak ten feet. I hope every one of you will focus on action and not just talk.
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