 上人：我一到萬佛城了，那時正值人民教徒九百多人自殺的時候，果修妳記得嗎？
弟子：記得。
上人：在什麼地方？在Redwood Valley（紅木谷）的，叫那個 Jim Jones（吉姆•瓊斯），人人都怕我這個人民教。在萬佛城，妳們知道這個情形嗎？
弟子：聽說。
上人：來了十五個牧師和神父，攆我離開萬佛城；說我們美國是天主教，不學佛教。你要弘揚佛法嗎？去到蘇聯去弘揚。你們知這個事情嗎？
弟子：不知道。
種花美化萬佛城
上人：萬佛城，儘量把它美化起來。
弟子：可以改進。
上人：種花是要種，一個牡丹園，一個菊花園。
弟子：現在已經有芍藥。
上人：每一個有一萬尺的地方的樣子，叫他客人來，不願意走，看完這個花也要看那個花；每個月有不同的花開，令人到這來參觀。哪一個地方都可以種花，菊花種矮的，不要種高的，矮的，滿地都菊花。我在香港，有野生的一團黃菊花，有這麼大，圓圓的。那開得真好看！在這邊我種一棵玫瑰花，這玫瑰花長得有這麼高，上面滿滿都是花，有三十多朵。
那植物都會說話的，你不能輕看它們。法國有一個報紙，說有一個人種兩株番茄。他這一株天天見了面就說 「Good morning，番茄先生！」等結番茄的時候，他說 Good morning Good afternoon，Good eveing；早安、午安、晚安，結的超出一倍。你看植物都有知的，能夠有智慧的，不要把植物看輕了。植物看見的，所以一草一木不能隨便摘，一螻一蟻不得傷生，這個戒律要持的。
洗米水澆枯樹
弟子：現在聖城有一些樹，慢慢的好像要乾了，要枯死了。怎麼救這些樹呢？
上人：要乾要死的，就不要它了，它到時候就要死了。你活那麼大年紀，你再想法子救，不容易救的。有法子救當然可以救；沒法子救就沒有辦法。也可以天天給它一點米湯或洗米的水，給它一點營養，讓它能活得更好；不能活呢，盡到自己心了。我們人生事情，就是盡心而已。
小男生在女校上課
弟子：小男生放在女校給女老師教，行不行？
上人：可以嘛！這小幼稚園都可以，不過放到裏面，也叫他們分開一點好。
弟子：在同一個教室上課，但是上洗手間是分開來的，這些孩子知道。
上人：那就好。要把學校辦好了。美國教育破產了，西方，不是單單美國，它沒有教育了。你看現在美國三歲小孩子，居然拿著槍就對著五歲的可以開槍斃了他。
時代偏傍到外國來了
弟子：以後，我們是不是應該比較積極一點，多多給別人一些機會來認識聖城，認識佛教？
上人：當然好。時代，偏傍到外國來了。他們總對我們是陌生的，叫他們認識一下好啊！你們做什麼，只是不違背戒律，都可以的。將來工作都是第二位，我們學習戒律，修行是第一位。
過六十歲就不收出家 沒有這樣的戒律
上人：戒律是活的，不是死的。你知道是合乎佛法，那就是戒律；不合佛法，就不是戒律。好像臺灣現在，過六十歲的就不收出家了，沒有這樣戒律啊！
你會做，不是儘給人家，「哎！你不守戒了。」你先反問自己，對這個戒律怎麼樣？不能儘給人家講的。
弟子：是。
上人：是給自己，是一個鏡子。
走後誦《華嚴經》 骨灰灑虛空
上人：你們現在也都應該長大了，不是做小孩子了，好好的在美國令佛教發揚光大，這是你們每一個人的責任。我就一個人跑到美國來，混了三十多年，一無所成，你們應該把它接續起來。
弟子：會！會！
上人：我現在病了，也不知道會好啊是不好，這都在未知之數。那麼我好了，當然還會來幫你們；要不好，你們自己都要站起來。我的身後事情，很簡單，你們願意聽，七天也可以，七個七天也可以，等火化了把骨灰灑到遍虛空，遍法界去；盡虛空遍法界，都是我的大願，都是我的紀念處，不要另外造。
我穿的衣服，裏面穿的黃色子襯衣；外邊，過冬天要穿棉衣服。夏天呢，不必穿棉衣服，穿單衣服就可以了，也就像我平時那個時候，穿個長衫搭個衣，這就夠了，旁的什麼也不要。我來的時候什麼也沒有，走的時候還是什麼也不要。我就告訴你們，免得有那一天的時候，你們手忙腳亂；這個說這樣子，那個說那樣子，這亂七八糟的，不要的。
弟子：誦什麼經比較好呢？
上人：誦《華嚴經》。
見我沒有用 弘揚佛教那才算
上人：不要儘依賴我了，我一個人，我太孤單了沒有人幫我手，想做什麼事情也做不成。我到美國三十多年，沒有一個真正知音的人，沒有遇到能幫我手的人，都是妒嫉障礙是第一名，最後才講修行。所以，你們考察考察，自古以來沒有說師父給徒弟叩頭的，沒有師父給徒弟跪著請他說法的。沒有！
我是行持真正的佛法。你看，頭年辦水陸，我在大陸上請了七十多位，連出家人在家人一百多位，都是我出錢的，我給飛機票錢。那麼，我要和他們結緣，一人一串念珠，我跪著送給他們。有人和我發脾氣：「你這麼樣對佛教有什麼好處？」我說：「你呀，我說你的智慧是不是比我高？你的學問是不是比我好？你的修行是不是比我年頭多？你對我講這話，那麼對你又有什麼好處？」他沒話講了。
《證道歌》上說：「粉身碎骨未足酬，一句了然超百億」。真要明白佛法才算；你不明白佛法，搞名搞利搞到什麼時候，都沒有用的。
以後不要常常來看我，見我是沒有用的，你把佛教令它發揚光大，那才算。
弟子：是。
上人：我們佛法沒有弘揚開來，要錢幹什麼？你看看，人做什麼壞事，都是因為錢嘛！有了錢，什麼事情都做得出。
弟子：是。
上人：對不對，你們說？
弟子：對。
上人：沒有錢最好，沒有錢這才叫清淨福田僧。這個衣，什麼時候都要搭好，這個三衣缽具，這不能離身的，現在都變成在家人了。
安慈度輪宣化皆是假 我的真名是虛空
這位謝居士，我在香港的時候沒有見過，但是到這美國，他到Waverly（編按：即天后廟街，佛教講堂所在地）那裏找了好幾次。第一次我告訴他，說這個度輪法師死了；第二次又來又問，我還是說死了。我看這個老居士就很…好像很悲傷的。
「喔！他什麼時候死的？」「他死了很久了。」「你是他什麼人啊？你是他的徒弟呀？」我說：「我馬馬虎虎的可以說是他的徒弟，也可以說是他師父；師父徒弟，這是二而不二。」
那麼以後就這位年輕的謝居士來了，說：「這個就是度輪法師」。我說：「這個就不是。」有這麼一個經過。
以後請他到這裏來吃一次飯。這一次又來見一見我，這回認識了，不會不知道哪一位是度輪法師。就好像我告訴那個白聖法師，我說，「我這個卡片上有三個名字，一個安慈，一個度輪，一個宣化，但是這三個名字，哪一個也不是我的真名字。」什麼是我的真名字呢？虛空。我真的名字就是虛空。
這個佛，是和虛空一樣的，所以說，「若人欲知佛境界，當淨其意如虛空。」說假設人想要知道佛的境界，你應該清淨你的意念，像什麼呢？像虛空那樣子。虛空是沒有相貌的，沒有一個邊際，佛的體性和虛空是一樣的。
我沒出家以前，有個假名字，叫什麼？白中一。那時以為，「哦！我是中國第一人了，這個名字很好的。」可是一想，這個名字又有什麼呢？在什麼地方呢？沒有。所以以後就叫活死人––這個活的人已經死了，這還是個假名字。
以後守孝，一般人又稱說這個是「白孝子」，這還是個假名字。那麼，出家的名字叫安慈，以後就度輪，現在又宣化，這統統都是假的。 |
|
Venerable Master: When I first came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, more than nine hundred people from the People's Temple committed suicide at that time. Do you remember, Guo Xiu?
Disciple: Yes, I remember.
Venerable Master: Where did the mass suicide take place? They were led by a man named Jim Jones from Redwood Valley. Because of this, people were afraid of my 'People's Religion.' Did you know about this?
Disciple: I've heard about it.
Venerable Master: Fifteen ministers and priests came, wanting to drive me out of the City. They said, "The United States is a Christian nation; Americans don't want to learn Buddhism. If you want to propagate Buddhism, go to Russia." Were you aware of this?
Disciple: No.
Plant Flowers to Beautify the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Venerable Master: We should try our best to beautify the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
Disciple: We can do a better job.
Venerable Master: We should have a peony garden and a chrysanthemum garden.
Disciple: We have a peony (shao yao) garden already.
Venerable Master: Each garden should be ten thousand square feet. When guests come, they will not want to leave. They will look at one flower after another. We should have different kinds of flowers every month so people can come to visit. Flowers can be planted anywhere. Chrysanthemums should be of the low-growing variety, not the tall variety, so there will be flowers all over the ground. When I was in Hong Kong, I had a patch of wild, yellow chrysanthemums. The blossoms were pretty big, round, and very nice to look at. Here at the City, I have planted a rose bush. It has grown quite tall and has had more than thirty blossoms at once.
Plants can talk, so we should not look down on them. According to a French newspaper, somebody planted two tomato plants. Everyday he would say, "Good morning, Mr. Tomato," to one of them. When the tomatoes formed, the plant he greeted with, "Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening" produced twice the ordinary number of tomatoes. Plants have awareness and intelligence, and we should not scorn them. They are able to see as well. Due to this, we must not casually break a blade of grass or a branch. Nor should we harm a cricket or an ant. We must uphold this precept.
Irrigate Withering Trees with the Water Used to Rinse Rice
Disciple: Some trees at the City are drying up. What can we do to save them?
Venerable Master: If they are about to wither or die, forget about them. When their time is up, they will die. After they live to a certain age, it will be hard to save them no matter what method you use. But there is a way to save them if they are meant to live. We can water them with some rice soup or rice-rinsing-water everyday. We can nourish them so they have a better chance to survive. If they do not live, at least we tried our best. In everything we do, we should just try our best.
Young Boys Studying at the Girls' School
Disciple: Is it okay for female teachers to teach young boys at the Girls' School?
Venerable Master:It is fine for little kids and those in kindergarten. However, it's better to still keep them a little bit separate.
Disciple: They study in the same classroom. But these children know they should use separate restrooms.
Venerable Master: Then it's fine. We need to organize our schools well. Education in the United States has gone bankrupt. Education has been ruined not only in the United States, but in the West in general. In the United States nowadays, it is possible for a three-year-old kid to actually take a gun and shoot a five-year-old.
It Is Time for Other Countries to Flourish Disciple: From now on, should we be more active in giving people more opportunities to know about the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and the Buddhadharma?
Venerable Master: Of course, other countries are now on the rise. They are unfamiliar with us, and it would be good for them to get to know us better. As long as you do not violate the precepts, you can do whatever you want. In the future, our priorities should be studying the precepts and cultivating. Work comes second.
There Is No Precept Prohibiting People Over Sixty from Leaving the Home Life
Venerable Master: The precepts are alive. When you know that something accords with the Buddhadharma, then it is a precept. Things that go against the Dharma are not precepts. For example, nowadays in Taiwan, people over the age of sixty are not allowed to leave home. There is no such precept! If you know how to practice, you won't go around saying, "Hey, you're not holding the precepts!" You should reflect upon yourself, "How am I doing with regard to the precepts?" Don't always talk about others.
Disciple: Yes.
Venerable Master: The precepts are like a mirror for looking at yourself.
After I Am Gone, Recite the Flower Adornment Sutra and Scatter My Ashes in Space
Venerable Master: Now all of you have grown up and are not children any more. You should make the Buddhadharma flourish in the United States. Each and every one of you has this responsibility. I came to America by myself and spent over thirty years here with nothing to show for it. You ought to continue on.
Disciple: We will.
Venerable Master: Now I am sick and do not know whether I will recover. This part of my fate is unknown. If I get well, I will help you; but if my condition worsens, you all need to rely on yourselves. As for what to do after I depart, it is very easy if you are willing to listen. You can hold ceremonies for seven to forty-nine days. After the cremation, scatter my ashes throughout all of space and the Dharma Realm. All of space and the Dharma Realm are where my great vows exist and they serve as my memorial hall. You do not need to build another one.
As for my clothes, I will wear the yellow garment inside. If it is winter, I will wear a padded cotton garment outside. I will wear the single-layered one if it is summer. I will also have my robe and sash on as usual. That is enough; I need nothing else. I came into the world with nothing; when I depart, I don't want anything. I am telling you this so when the time comes, you will not panic and not know what to do, with everyone saying something different. I don't want things to be in disarray.
Disciple: Which sutra should we recite?
Venerable Master: Recite the Flower Adornment Sutra.
What Counts Is Propagating the Buddhadharma; Seeing Me Is Useless
Venerable Master: Do not always depend on me. Since I have been very solitary without anyone to help me, I have not accomplished anything. In the thirty years since I first came to the United States, I have not met anyone who has really understood me or helped me. I have only met people who get jealous first of all, and leave cultivation for last. In all of history, there has never been another teacher who has bowed or knelt to his disciples to request them to speak the Dharma. Never!
I am maintaining the proper Buddhadharma. The first year that we held the Water and Land Ceremony, I invited more than a hundred people from Mainland China, both left-home and lay people. I paid for their plane tickets myself. In order to create a good affinity, I gave each one of them a string of recitation beads. I knelt down to hand the beads to them. Someone got mad at me and said, "How are you helping the Buddhadharma by doing that?" I replied, "Do you have higher wisdom than me? Are you more knowledgeable than I am? Have you practiced more years than I have? What do you gain by talking to me like that?" He was speechless. The Song of Enlightenment says,
Although one's bones and bodies may be crushed to powder,
Still one can't repay the debt in full.
Yet by understanding one sentence,
One transcends a hundred million eons.
What counts is genuine understanding of the Buddhadharma. No matter how long you pursue fame and profit, it's useless if you don't understand the Buddhadharma.
In the future, don't come visit me so often. Seeing me doesn't do any good. What counts is to propagate the Buddhadharma.
Disciple: Yes.
Venerable Master: What do we want money for if we haven't spread the Buddhadharma? You should take a look: every crime is motivated by the desire for money. Once people have money, they will do anything.
Disciple: Yes.
Venerable Master: Wouldn't you say that's true?
Disciple: Yes.
Venerable Master: It is best to do without money. A monk who has no money can be called the "pure field of blessings." Left home people should wear their sashes at all times. They should never leave their three sashes, bowl and sitting cloth. Nowadays, monks and nuns are just like lay people.
An Tse, To Lun, and Hsuan Hua are False; My Real Name is "Space" I never met Upasaka Hsieh in Hong Kong. After I came to the United States, however, he came to Waverly Place to see me a few times. [Editor's Note: Waverly Place was where the Buddhist Lecture Hall was located.] The first time he came, I told him Dharma Master To Lun had passed away. The second time, I still told him that. That elder layman looked quite sad. "Oh, when did he pass away?" he asked. "He has been gone for a long time." "Are you his relative or disciple?" he inquired.
I said, "Casually speaking, I could call myself both his disciple and his teacher; disciple or teacher—it's all the same."
Later on, the younger Upasaka Hsieh [his son] came and said, "This is Dharma Master To Lun." I said, "No, I'm not." That was one incident. Later on, I invited elder Upasaka Hsieh to have a meal with me. Since he was acquainted with me by then, he also knew who Dharma Master To Lun was. I once told Dharma Master Bai Sheng, "There are three names on my business card: An Tse, To Lun, and Hsuan Hua. Yet none of them is my real name." What is my real name? My true name is "Space."
The Buddha is identical to space. There is a saying, "If people want to understand the state of a Buddha, they should make their minds as pure as space." People wishing to understand a Buddha's state need to make their minds as clean and pure as space. Space has no marks and is boundless. A Buddha's substance resembles space.
I had a pseudonym before I left the home life: What was it? Bai Zhong (China) Yi (number one). At that time, I felt, "I am the number one person in China! This is an excellent name." But then I thought, "What is the name for? Where is it? It doesn't exist!" Then I called myself a "Living Corpse"—I am already dead while still alive. That was still a false name.
Later, when I practiced filial piety beside my mother's grave, people called me Filial Son Bai—that was another false name. After I left the home life, I was first called An Tse, then To Lun. Now my name is Hsuan Hua. These names are all unreal. |
