研究&期刊

及時行孝
Fulfill Filial Piety in Time

為師送給徒兒們的那份祝福，希望每個徒兒都能夠健健康康、平平安安。不要忘記為師說的話：把「人道」行出來，把你的「孝道」行出來，孝道是去做，而不是用說的。好好告訴自己，回去之後，你該怎麼做，不要像過去的日子裡，恍恍惚惚地過，以後、未來也是如此，這不是很可惜？
As your Holy Teacher, I want to convey to you my best wishes, wishing all of you health, peace and harmony. But the point is that, don’t forget what I said to you: Practice “humanity” and play your role of life completely. Fulfill filial duties to your parents and not just in words but in real action. Tell yourself what to do and what not to do, now and forever! Try not to make the same mistake living absent-mindedly forgetting what you should do. All right?

「口體之養」大家都知道，孝順父母，你有錢要讓父母親住好、穿好、用好都容易，可是你能夠永遠存著那「誠敬」的心嗎？能有那「和顏悅色」的臉嗎？那就要真的修道，就好比你在道場裡，求了道，聽了道理，知道「道」的殊勝寶貴，但是你不去行、不去做，那麼這些功夫還不是你的。你在道場久了，而你沒有真正地去脾氣、改毛病，那麼經典、仙佛說的話，你還只是聽聽罷了！要真的修，修到家，懂不懂？
Everyone knows they should support their parents by “providing them with food and shelter.” However, while having money to provide them with food, clothes, and all the accommodations, can you always keep a “sincere and respectful” heart to them? Can you always treat them with “kind and pleasant countenance?” Words are not enough. It is like you have received Tao and often listen to the Tao lectures, you have understood the preciousness of Tao. However, without fully implementing it by breaking your bad habits and refining ill tempers, all the saints’ and sages’ teachings would be external knowledge to you, which you just learn and forget. So you must really put it into practice and incorporate it in your life. Understand?

「孝心」還要有孝行，不是口裡說說，回去又做另外一套，那就不是踏實的，那就不是真正的修道人。每個徒兒都是為師的心肝寶貝，每個都是人才，不要看輕自己，別人能夠成功，你為什麼不能？別人能夠孝順父母，你為什麼不能？一定要記得，「近朱者赤，近墨者黑」，在道場耳濡目染，你能夠學到聖賢仙佛的心法，這些道理、這些經典，就是要用於你日常生活上，好好地修、好好地實踐出來。
With a “filial heart” you need to do filial deeds too. To say is one thing; to do is quite another. A real Tao cultivator should be solid and down-to-earth. You are all my dear disciples. You are all talents and have great potentials. Don’t underestimate yourself. When you see people succeed, ask yourself why you cannot. Seeing them fulfill filial piety, ask yourself why you cannot. Remember, “One who mixes with vermilion will turn red; one who touches pitch shall be defiled therewith.” Good companions bring good influence and bad companions bring bad. In our Tao society, you are imperceptibly influenced by the holy teachings. It is good influence. Eventually you will be able to hold communion with saints and sages. But what you must do now is cultivate and practice Tao in your daily life.

真的把孝道落實在每處家庭當中，在家庭中能夠真的把孝行出來，兄友弟恭，都能夠做得非常好，何來的爭端？何來的戰爭呢？所以，時時刻刻要反省自己，我做得夠不夠？我這麼做合理嗎？還是我這麼做會讓父母親「漏氣」（台語）？要記住，我們所做的事，要讓父母能夠真的以我為榮。
Filial piety must be practiced in every household and everyone must fulfill filial duties to their parents. This way, all the brothers and sisters will likewise be respectful to each other too. If so, will there be any conflicts or wars? Therefore, constantly introspect your behavior and examine whether it is reasonable or not. Ask yourself whether your behavior has humiliated your parents. You must make sure anything you do can make your parents really proud of you.

徒兒們！你志在聖賢，必定可以成聖賢、你志在成為品學兼優的好學生，必定可以拿獎狀。記得！好好地把它做出來，而不是聽一聽，左耳一進，右耳就出，求了道就得要真的落實修道。
Disciples! If you aim to be a saint and sage, you will be one. If you aim to be a student excellent in character and learning, you will get a certificate of merit. Put in your effort and make it a reality, not just listen and forget. Now you have received the Tao, you really should put it into action.

我們孝順並不是賺很多錢給父母花，才叫作孝順，有很多人都說：我經濟不好，要趕快去賺錢，買冰箱、電視、冷氣、房子，才能讓我的爸媽生活富裕，所以，等我錢賺夠了再來孝順；但是，你要記住一句話，可能你錢賺到了，你父母親也不在人間了，那你孝順來得及嗎？你的電視，他們也看不了了。所以，要把握時間，盡我們微薄之力，能夠做多少，就盡量的去做。
You need not have a lot of money to fulfill filial piety. Some say they are in a poor financial situation and that they must work night and day in order to make enough money to buy a refrigerator, TV, air-conditioner, and house for their parents. They think they can only fulfill filial piety when they are rich. But they never know that, by the time they get rich and can afford a TV, maybe their parents will have passed away and cannot watch the TV they bought. Therefore, just here and now, devote what you have to your parents.

為師講「學道」，你們如果能夠學道，你的功夫才是真的功夫，「不好的」我們可以承受，這就是你的功夫，好好回去把孝道行出來，沒有父母，你們今天怎麼可以坐在這裡？等到有一天，你明白了，想孝敬父母、父母親走了的時候、你要對何人盡孝啊？徒兒，真的！記住為師的話、不要讓為師日夜替你操心，好好記住為師的話。
As your Holy Teacher I keep reminding you to “learn Tao” truthfully and diligently, so all the “obstacle and frustration” you will learn to grin and bear it willingly. At this moment, you must be grateful to your parents, for they make your learning Tao become real. Fulfill filial duties in time and don’t wait until it is too late, when your parents pass away and you miss the chance to fulfill your duties. My dear disciples, keep my words in mind. Don’t make me worry about you. Really keep my words in mind!