|
出家人五夏以前專精戒律，這個戒律究竟是什麼？總括起來，就是「諸惡不作，眾善奉行。」你能不作諸惡，這就是守戒了；你能眾善奉行，這就是行持戒律了。所以我們出家一回，應該像是還在學校裡似的，每天盡量地來讀經典，和佛所說的每一部經的道理，一時一刻不應該閒著：不要說你還沒有成就道業，應該這樣，就已經成就道業了，證果了，也一天到晚不應該閒著，應該特別努力。這是我們出家人的本分。
你天天不讀經，不學習佛法，這光陰都錯過了。出家人、在家人學習佛法，要把真心放在佛法上邊，不可以就這麼聽聽，聽旁人說一說，自己不管這個事。
五夏以前是要專精戒律的，五夏以後才能參禪打坐，學習佛法，這是出家人的一種最低限度；要學習五年，再加上參禪習坐，十年的工夫，才能夠上一個法師了。不是一出家兩天半，就成了法師了。這要自己知道檢點自己，不可以對誰講話，人家問，「你是誰啊？」「噢！我是某某法師。」這個「法師」，是旁人稱呼的，不是自己稱呼自己是法師。這一點你們各位要知道。
出家人在家人，這都是不容易的，要學佛法就要認真。在洛杉磯還有幾個想要行持佛法的人，所以在家人也天天研究佛法，研究《開示錄》，研究萬佛城一切的經典，這是有這樣的居士。
我在沒有出家以前已經是吃一餐的，出家以後，更是這幾十年都這樣子。那麼有的時候，如果有病痛了，可以改為吃多一點，這是可以的。或者方才我沒說嗎，身體弱的、有病痛的，或者有什麼特殊情形，這可以通權達變？如果沒有，這個是不可改的。
神父牧師，都要讀十二年的書才可以做神父牧師。所以出家人也應該讀十年的書，然後才可以做法師。
|
|
For the first five years after one leaves the home-life, one should concentrate exclusively on the study of precepts. What are the precepts? In summary, they help us to "refrain from evil and practice all good." If you can stop doing evil and practice good deeds instead, you are upholding precepts. Thus, after one leaves the home-life, one is still like a student in school. Everyday, one must try to study the Sutras and the principles spoken by the Buddha, so one won't waste time. Not only should you do this before you realize the Way, do this after realizing the Way. You should work even harder so the time won't pass by in vain. This is the duty of left-home people.
If you don't read Sutras and learn the Buddhadharma everyday, you will waste a lot of time. Whether you are a left-home person or layperson, you should wholeheartedly apply yourself to studying the Buddhadharma. Don't just listen to what others say without paying the slightest attention.
After a left-home person studies the precepts for five years, he or she can investigate Chan, practice meditation, and learn the Buddhadharma. This is the basic requirement for a left-home person. One can become a Dharma Master only after ten years of effort: studying the precepts for the first five years and practicing meditation for another five years. You don't become a Dharma Master after two and a half days. You ought to know how to act. When people ask who you are, don't answer, "Oh, I'm Dharma Master so and so." "Dharma Master" is a title used by other people to address you; you can't call yourself a "Dharma Master." Every one of you should know this.
It's not easy to be a left-home person or layperson. Therefore, you should be earnest in studying the Buddhadharma. There are some people in Los Angeles who want to practice the Buddhadharma. Lay people can also investigate the Buddhadharma, instructional talks, and all the Sutras of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas everyday. We have some laypeople like that.
I started to practice eating one meal a day before I left the home-life. After several decades as a monk, I'm still practicing it. Sometimes when you get sick, you can eat more. That's permissible. If your body is weak or ill or there are other special conditions, you can act accordingly. Otherwise, this rule cannot be changed.
A person has to study for twelve years in order to become a priest or a minister. Similarly, a left-home person must study for a decade to become a Dharma Master.
|
