弟子：我們現在在廁所都不應該講話的，在大殿更不應該講話，在齋堂吃飯更不應該講話。請問大家是否同意？以後我們上殿的時候以及在齋堂用齋的時候，不管是出家眾或者是學生們，都不應該講話或者談笑。如果有事情要說，應該到戶外去，說完之後再回來。請問這一點是否合理？大家是否同意？

上人：問你們啊！同意不同意？同意的就說同意；不同意的就說不同意。大點聲音，響亮一點，我聽不見。都不同意嗎？不同意的都是誰？你們背後搗亂，這回我不罵了。因為仁用法師來教化我，我不罵了，但是我要打人。這個是給你們大家預備的。你們看見我打那個姓洪的兩姊妹嗎？她來我這兒搗亂，我打她一頓，把她魔障病也給打好了。你們要不怕挨打，你們就發魔氣，我個個都會幫襯你們。

弟子：還有在我們每一次誦戒的時候，或者是晚上聽經的時候，是不是大家都應該按照次序坐？如果是晚來的同修，也應該按照次序，就是挨著前面大眾的位置坐。我們不好自己坐在一個角落裡面，這樣子對點名的同修來說很不方便。我們大家應該設身處地幫大家想一想，有些並不是這麼樣的困難，也不這麼特別的事情，只不過我們把自己應該做的地方，做得合理妥當一點，方便自己也方便別人，這也是一種慈悲。否則點名的同修，他們扭著頭找人，這樣子很辛苦，也讓他們不能安心。這一點大家如果都同意，也覺得是合理，就應該自己勸解自己，照這個方法來做。請問大家對以上這些有沒有什麼意見？如果你有意見，請把你心裡的想法說出，這是大家一個很好的討論機會。如果你覺得有困難，那你又不說，這樣久了，你在心裡會不舒服的。

上人：你在大眾會下要隨眾；不隨眾，這都叫出眾。這兒不能單獨的，不能願意怎麼樣就怎麼樣。你願意自由嘛，你就到旁的地方去，這兒是不可以的。

弟子：我們現在在早課的和晚課的中間，是不去上廁所的。但是並不是說我們來了大殿，大眾已經提早十分鐘在等著做功課了，這時很多同修，如果眞是有特殊的原因，我們大家都可以瞭解，可是不好每一次都一樣。我們早來佛殿的目的是大家靜靜地，肅穆地等著做早晚課，而不是利用這個時間去跑廁所，弄到打三次引磬了，或者只剩下一兩分鐘，或者已經時間到了，才衝出來，這不是我們早來上殿的目的。所以大家把自己的事情，儘量在上早晚課排班之前就做好，我們來到佛殿之後，每一個人在自己的位置上做自己的功課，不好都去廁所，然後匆匆忙忙跑回來，這樣子很不好。

上人：誰一進了大殿，就不准到廁所去了。不是沒做早課的時候，先來的就可以到廁所去，這兒的廁所不侍候人的。

弟子：現在我們的情況，譬如說繞佛或繞去妙語堂聽經，或是在佛殿聽經時，大家都比較守規矩了，就是早晚課以前不去洗手間，可是繞佛還是去洗手間。

上人：這個不可以的。

弟子：師父，如果這個時候有人眞的是需要上洗手間呢？我們不大知道從晚課六點半到九點半這個中間，我們是不是都不應該去上廁所？還是這中間有一個時間；因為有些人很特殊，需要這時間去上洗手間，那我們可不可以有個共同的時間？

上人：也可以有一個共同的時間，不可以自己願意怎麼樣就怎麼樣。

弟子：為什麼我們要這樣提出來呢？請大家必須諒解。

上人：藉題發揮；藉這個來躲懶偷安，這是不可以的。你拍拍自己的良心，你在這兒不守規矩，你怎麼能對得起道場？眞是要尿褲子了，可以的。這什麼事情也是很自然的。你要是能避免不去，就不要去，能憋得住的就憋一陣，不過也不要太厲害了。我說這個，不是說沒有法子憋得住的人，是講有的人藉故跑到那兒開小會啊，講話呀，拉舌扯簸箕的在那兒講是講非，這是不行的。你不能無緣無故藉著水遁就跑了，這是不行的。藉水遁跑了，這怎麼可以的？

弟子：最後一個問題，就是從此以後，如果有人告假的話，弟子可以幫大家收請假單，可是這個請假單是要傳給師父看的。

上人：以後誰要告病假，要向我來告，不向我來告都不准的。因為你們太老實了，也管不好人，包公我要來做。

你那麼自私，以後把自私不要了它。總說自己病病的，什麼叫病？沒有死就沒有病。我現在也有病了，我沒死呢，我有這口氣就說法，不然單吃飯幹什麼？我們在萬佛城住，不是要萬佛城對我們怎麼好。我們每一個人對萬佛城究竟有什麼貢獻？我們是不是進到萬佛城來找便宜來了？我們是不是到萬佛城來貪享受，貪自在來的？我們大家都要迴光返照，問問這個。

（全文完）

Disciple: Right now we shouldn't be talking in the restroom. How much the less should we talk in the Buddha Hall and the dining hall during meals. Does everyone agree? Regardless of whether you're left home people or students, you should refrain from talking or joking during ceremonies or meals at the dining hall. If you have any business, you should discuss it outside then come back. Is that reasonable? Does everyone agree?

The Venerable Master:Ask yourselves. Do you agree or not? If you agree, say you agree; if you disagree, say you disagree. Speak up, I can't hear. You all disagree? Who disagrees? You're stirring up trouble behind my back.

I will not yell at you this time because Dharma Master Ren Yong instructed me to quit scolding. However, I will beat you. This is prepared for you all. You see how I smacked the two Hong sisters? She came here to whip up trouble, so I struck her. Consequently, she was cured from her illness derived from demonic obstacles. Don't be afraid of beatings. Even if you throw a devilish temper tantrum, I will straighten you out.

Disciple:Also, whenever we recite precepts or listen to the evening sutra lectures, shouldn't colleagues who arrive late sit in order, one next to the other together with the rest of the assembly? We shouldn't sit in a corner, making it inconvenient for the fellow cultivator taking attendance. We should stand in that person's shoes and be considerate. Some things are not particularly difficult or special; we should simply take care of our responsibilities more reasonably and appropriately.

Compassion is also about making it more convenient for others and ourselves. Otherwise the attendance-takers must sprain their necks to find people. Not only do they have to work hard, they can't work in peace either. If everyone agrees with this and finds it reasonable, you should encourage yourself to follow this rule. Please express your opinions if you have any. This is a good opportunity for discussion. If you believe this is difficult yet you don't articulate your inner thoughts, you will only be uncomfortable as time goes on.

The Venerable Master:You're breaking from the assembly when you don't cooperate and follow the assembly. This is not the place to act on your own or to do as you please. If you want freedom, you can go elsewhere. It's not okay to act like that here.

Disciple: We do not use the restroom during morning and evening ceremonies now. However, that does not mean we can go to the restroom when we arrive ten minutes early. Though we can understand if fellow cultivators have special circumstances, it shouldn't be that way every time. The reason that we arrive early in the Buddha Hall is to wait silently and solemnly for the morning or evening ceremony. We shouldn't use this time to run to the bathroom and only rush out when the hand-bell has rung thrice, or when there's only one or two minutes left, or when it's already time. This is not the purpose for our early arrival at the Buddha Hall. We must take care of our business before lining up for morning and evening ceremonies to the extent that we can. It's terrible when people go to the restroom while everyone is already in the Buddha Hall and in his or her place for ceremony.

The Venerable Master: Once you enter the Buddha Hall, you cannot go to the bathroom any longer. Just because you come earlier for the morning ceremony doesn't mean that you can go to the bathroom. These restrooms don't wait on people.

Disciple: We all follow rules more closely now, whether it's walking to Wonderful Words Hall to listen to the sutras or listening to the sutras in the Buddha Hall or not going to the restroom before morning and evening ceremonies. However, people do go to the restroom during the circumambulation time.

The Venerable Master: They can't do that.

Disciple: Venerable Master, what if someone really needs to use the restroom at this time? We're not sure if we should avoid the restroom starting with the evening ceremony at six-thirty up until nine-thirty at night. There are special cases of people who need to excuse themselves at this time. Can we designate a time?

The Venerable Master: You may designate a time. People can't do whatever you wish.

Disciple: I hope everyone understands why we raise these issues.

The Venerable Master: You're simply using this topic to expound what you want. You can't use this discussion as an excuse for your laziness and taking cover. You should question your conscience: How will you repay the Bodhimanda if you don't follow the rules here? If you pee in your pants, okay. That is quite natural. If you can avoid the restroom, avoid it. If you can control yourself, control it for a while as long as it is not serious. I am not talking about those who can't hold back. I am referring to individuals who take the opportunity to convene a little meeting, chit-chatting and gossiping. That is prohibited. You can't float away whenever you meet a waterway for no good reason. That is prohibited. How can you just run off that way?

Disciple: Last question. If anyone wants to ask for leave, I can help collect leave slips from everyone starting today. Of course, these forms are for the Venerable Master to see.

The Venerable Master: Whoever wants sick leave must ask me for permission. No leave is allowed if you don't ask me for it. You're all too honest and don't know how to manage people, so I am going to be the judge (Honorable Bao).

You all are so selfish. You should get rid of your selfishness. You are always saying you're sick. What is sickness? If you haven't died, then you aren't sick. Actually I am sick, too, but I haven't died. As long as I have a breath left, I'll speak the Dharma. Otherwise, what's the point of living solely to eat? We do not live at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas hoping to gain something from it. Just what has each of us contributed to the City? Have we come here seeking advantages and hoping to enjoy pleasure and comfort? We should all introspect and ask ourselves these questions.

(The End)