Research

Holy Teacher Ji-Gong Living Buddha's Merciful Revelations

October 5, 2002

Pu-Ti Zen Temple, Da-Tun District, Taichong Tao Society, Fa-Yi Chong-De

快樂非是錢多多，知足的人出苦囚。

Happiness is not measured by money; contentment lies in the escape from hardship.

但用真心來生活，閤家幸福何其多。

Live every moment with a sincere heart; immeasurable happiness will fill your whole family.

身是苦海救生舟，禮義干櫓握在手。

Our bodies are our life-saving rafts in the sea of suffering; propriety and righteousness are our oars.

穩掌舵兒不蹉跎，天時地利人和佑。

Steadily steer your boat with a firm hand; time, place, and people will all be auspicious.

                說到錢，一個個就眉開眼笑；講到道，就個個都是苦瓜臉。想要有求必應而來的？還是要了解自己生命本體重要而來的？快樂非是錢多多，知足的人出苦囚。在座的每一個人來自不同的地方、不同的家庭，出自不同的因緣，聚合在一起，結了這個大善緣。

                Everyone tends to smile when talking about money, but put on a sour expression when talking about Tao. Are you here asking to have your requests answered? Or are you here to gain understanding of the essence of your own life? Happiness is not measured by money; contentment lies in the escape from hardship. Each one of you comes from a different place, a different family, and different karma too. Gathering here, however, we are forming this great collective good karma.

                聽了一天的課了，講師講得怎麼樣？口若懸河，還是天花亂墜？（口若懸河）他們一個一個講的，都是出自於心裡有所得，跟你們一起分享的。他們拿真心出來，跟你們一起分享他們了解的生命本體。可是每個人體悟有深有淺，體悟到，你不一定做得到；好比你今天知道，你不一定會去做。道就是在你的心，就是本體啊！

                At the end of a full day of classes, we might ask ourselves whether the lecturers have done a good job? Did they speak eloquently, or extravagantly? (Eloquently!) Each and every lecturer just speaks from the heart, sharing what they comprehend and have experienced. Despite the lecturers’ different depths of understanding, they speak with true and sincere heart, and they share what they know about the essence of life. You may not be able to practice everything that you understand of Tao. Acting out Tao is more difficult than knowing Tao. But knowing and having Tao in your heart is already the essence!

                學道要抱著一個觀念，必須要有所得回去。什麼有所得？想不想快樂？所以，快樂非是錢多多啊！荷包滿滿的，你就快樂？（不一定）只是滿足自己物質上享受，短暫的快樂，因為你的荷包扁了，它就消失了，你就因此而煩惱了。所以，「知足的人出苦囚，但用真心來生活。」

                While you are here to learn Tao, you should keep your mind open to gaining whatever wisdom you can take home at the end of the day. So what is the gain? Do you not wish for happiness? Happiness does not mean having more and more money. Are you happy when your purse or wallet is full of cash? (Not necessarily!) Money can only satisfy your material appetite. That kind of happiness is transient: when your wallet or purse is empty, then that happiness is also gone, and worry about the empty purse follows. Truly contented people are the ones who have escaped from their concerns and hardships about money and other worldly cares. Therefore, contented people are the ones who are not distracted by worldly cares, but rather live every moment fully, with a sincere heart.

                這裡是人間，那你們是不是凡人？不是啊！你們都是不平凡的人，不平凡的人要不要受責難啊？不能說笑喔！要成大器，要做個不平凡的人，要給自己要求。

                This is the mortal world, so are you ordinary mortals? No, you are all extraordinary! To be extraordinary is to be different. So it is inevitable that you must endure trials and tribulations. This is a serious issue. Being extraordinary and becoming great sets you apart on a path that presents special trials and tribulations. You must be tough enough to stay your course through all kinds of turbulence.

                再苦、再酸，都要站得好好的，因為你們都要當標竿模範，當個表率。一家之主要不要當個表率？（要）後面是不是很多隻眼睛在看你？（是）現在你又掛上修道之名，不只家裡，左右鄰居一起看你。為什麼？因為你掛著修道之名。

                No matter how difficult and how tiring your days, and how stiff your muscles get, you have to stand firm and upright, because you are holding up the standard and presenting a good role model to be emulated by your peers and your juniors. If you are head of a household, do you need to set a good example? (Yes.) Aren’t there many pairs of eyes looking at you? (Yes.) You are a Tao cultivator, not only in your own family, your neighbors are also watching you. Why? Because they are curious and eager to see what differences they can now that you are identified as a Tao cultivator.

                做仙做佛，好不好做啊？今天叫你們坐在這裡，有沒有約束感？不能蹺腳，不能蹺二郎腿，還不可以大聲講話。所以，看仙佛菩薩祂有這樣的成就，坐在那邊給人家拜，不是沒有原因的。

                Is it easy to be an immortal, a Buddha? As you sit here today, do you feel restricted? You must maintain decorum here in the Holy Temple. You cannot cross your legs, or sprawl out and stretch your legs, or speak too loudly. Think about what Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have achieved, in addition to their virtues and good deeds. You can begin to see clearly why they deserve the adoration and worship they receive now.

                初入佛門，要學的很多，若做人無禮、不知禮，就無以立。你不知立足在哪裡，不知你的手足應該擺在哪裡。所以，知禮的人站得多英挺啊！

                As a Tao novitiate, you have so much to learn, not the least of which is learning about manners and decorum. A person with poor manners will be unwelcome in many places. Such a person will often feel uneasy in a crowd or an unfamiliar social setting. When he compares himself with others, he may find that he does not even know how to stand, or how to rest his arms. A wise and adept person, on the other hand, knows his or her manners and always stands solemn and dignified!

                求得越少，你成就越大。你求在利益眾生的身上，你就有福了！你放眼望去都是好朋友啊！要不然怎入一家門呢？

                The less you ask in return for your service, the greater will be your success. Only when your bidding is for the benefit of sentient beings and not for yourself, will you truly be blessed. Just look around you. All you see are friends! They are here for you! That’s why we are making a great big happy Tao family here.

                你要過得自在、過得好、過得快樂、過得幸福，別人要不要？所以，這個是尊重的社會，這才叫做環保。你尊重他，你就會多一份愛惜。

                You always wish to be carefree, to have a happy and blessed life. What about others? Don’t they also want the same things? Our Tao society is based on mutual respect -- respecting others’ rights. This is what eco-friendly truly means! The more you respect others, the more you will cherish what you have.

                修道、辦道，一定要掛有修道之名，你才要修道辦道嗎？平常你就要存好心了啊！是要發掘你的自心，自己反省自己。所以，平常你們都很好心，你的引保師才會渡你修道，進入道場，求道儀式是不是「身家清白、品行端正」？是不是？（是）

                On the path of cultivating and propagating Tao, do you really need an honorific title or a badge of merit before you carry forward? No, what you really need is to maintain a kind heart every day! Investigate within, probe your own heart, constantly introspect and examine your inward life. It is actually because you have a good soul and a kind heart, that your Introducer and Guarantor brought you here to receive Tao and joined this Tao community. During the Tao-Receiving Ceremony, didn’t you affirm that you would ‘have a pure and clear background, and be a righteous person’ Did you? (Yes.)

                你們不要認形象為師。記住啊！不要認形象為師，你們要認理為師。以後你要多多聽聽自己的聲音。什麼聲音啊？真人的聲音。

                Don’t idolize images as your Holy Teacher. Please bear in mind: a physical image of Holy Teacher is only a symbol, it is not your Teacher! You need to follow the reasons, principles and rationales based upon Truth, which will be your true Teacher. From now on, listen more to your own voice. What kind of voice? The voice from your True-Self.

                你知不知道，你們來也是佈施。佈施什麼？你們一個微笑，是不是佈施？開口講話，可要三思而後行；一切好話、肯定別人的話，都是佈施。

                Think about it, just coming here to the Holy Temple is a kind of contribution or donation. Why? Don’t you think your smiles can be a contribution to the good mood and comfort of others? So before you speak, shouldn’t you think thrice to ensure that your words will be good ones that give assurance and ease to others? That will be the contribution of your words in addition to the content of the message that your words convey.

                今天「至善」為什麼多加個「THE」，不只是名詞，而是特定的名詞。其實真、善、美，講來講去，是不是「心」？特定在「心」哦！所以，心不夠真、不夠善、不夠美啊！你就夠不上個「THE」。今天為師多加個「THE」，THE TRUE、THE GOOD、THE BEATIFUL，送給你們。

                How come “THE GOOD” has a “THE” in the front? The word “GOOD” is not a noun; with “THE” it has become a collective noun. To be true, to be good, and to be beautiful simply originate in one’s heart, don’t they? So if, in your heart, you are not true enough, not kind enough, or not beautiful enough, you wouldn’t deserve to have “THE.” So today, as your Holy Teacher, I add this “THE,” making it THE TRUE, THE GOOD, THE BEAUTIFUL. This is a gift, a reminder from me for you to be kind enough, good enough, and beautiful enough!

                很簡單的兩個字「至善」，一生秉持的這樣走就沒有錯；如果秉持這樣走，超越自己，你就會不斷的提昇。不考不成器，不考就看不出你們的真心。

                The two words THE GOOD are very simple. Make them your principle and make them your lifelong commitment. Then you will never go wrong. You will continually grow and advance. All the tests, trials and tribulations you encounter will only serve to make you ready. An uncut gem does not sparkle. Only through the tests, trials and tribulations, will your true heart be manifested.

                你們不是要求平安嗎？是想要個平安符嗎？心裡面動盪不安，一直在要求別人，會平嗎？你會安嗎？心不安，社會安嗎？聽清楚喔！心不安，身體會安嗎？

                Are you not seeking for safety? Isn’t everyone hoping for an amulet that protects one’s safety? Can you obtain a peaceful mind if your heart keeps being troubled, or you seek safety by always demanding it from others? Can you feel at ease in this way? Furthermore, without everybody obtaining a peaceful mind, how could society live in peace? With a troubled mind, can you keep a healthy body?

                今天因為應一句話「三曹普渡」，一日為師，終身為父，所以為師我沒有一班法會請假的。你們班班法會很想請假，你一請假，耽誤了多少千千萬萬的眾生啊！因為你一個沒有來，你的光芒、你的愛心，減弱多少。

                Today we are all helping to achieve the ‘Salvation of the Three Worlds’. Once a teacher, always a teacher. As your Holy Teacher, therefore, I’m your father-figure for life. That’s why I, your Teacher, would never be absent from any Tao seminar, even if you sometimes like to ask for a day off. Keep in mind that, if you are absent, you are impeding thousands and millions of sentient beings. The light and love radiated from the Tao seminar would be greatly diminished because of your absence.

                你們是來做什麼？不斷不斷地洗心滌慮，不斷不斷地護持，不斷不斷地增加自己的智慧，讓自己清明啊！你都清明了，你還會一直執著在外面嗎？希望你們超越自己。

                You have to understand why you are here: to constantly cleanse and purify your mind, constantly protect and support Tao community, and constantly increase your own wisdom and achievement, so that you can more and more keep a clear and tranquil mind. When you are blessed with clarity and tranquility, will you still cling to the material world? As your Holy Teacher, I hope you can really let go of the material world and follow the path of ever-increasing wisdom and achievement.

                你們要先把根留住，你的根是什麼？是不是每個人的生命本體？若是不懂生命本體，你還會知道根要留住嗎？根是不是要澆水、滋潤、施肥？這些用什麼來澆水、施肥、滋潤它？怎麼用？平常你要不斷不斷地反省自己，不斷不斷地讓每一個當下都要回歸到自己的本位；隨時歸零，你才能夠不斷不斷地超越自己。你看到清清楚楚的自己，七情六慾淡了嗎？還是一直在慾望裡面追逐，不斷不斷的輪迴？這叫生死苦海啊！所以，為師一來，我做了「身是苦海救生舟」，你這個肉體，你要把它變成「救生舟」，而不是「輪迴舟」。超越自己，就是戰勝自己的情緒變化。記住：心要平，才會安，身心靈皆安。

                The most important thing for you to do is to hold on to your root. What is your root? Isn’t it the essence of your life? If you don’t know the essence of life, would you know to hold on to your root? So, doesn’t a root need watering, nourishing and fertilizing? How do you apply the concept? Isn’t it like you constantly introspect, constantly return your attention to your own helm at each and every moment. Reset yourself at any moment and start anew. That is how you can constantly exceed yourself. So now, can you clearly examine yourself and see whether your emotions and desires have diminished? Or are you still endlessly chasing in a fog of desire, continuously trapped in the cycle of reincarnation? O, this is called the sea of suffering! That is why Holy Teacher made it clear that ‘The physical body is a life-saving raft in this sea of sufferings.’ Convert your body it into a ‘life-saving boat’ and not a ‘transmigration boat’. To elevate yourself is to triumph over your emotional changes. Pay attention to this: a calm heart leads to peace; then your body, mind and soul will be peaceful.

                不要因為時局的動盪不安，心也跟著動盪不安；先穩住自己的腳步，先知止。止於何處？能夠知止就不殆。知足呢？知足的人就不辱。你知道止於何處，你就不會遇到危險，你就不殆。知足呢？你就不會受辱。

                Don’t be affected by the turbulence and current events of society; otherwise your heart will follow in the turmoil of wax and wane, ebbs and flows. So first of all, you have to steady your steps and know where the limits are. If you know when to stop, you will not put yourself in danger. Besides, you have to pursue contentment. People who are content will not be disgraced. Because you know when to stop, you will not become complacent or inattentive and run into jeopardy. Practice contentment; you will not be humiliated.

                「笑」難嗎？「做人」才難。做人難，所以要笑笑的做人。因為你快樂也一天過，難過也一天過，如果為師我選擇，我一定選擇笑笑地快樂過。（摘錄自〈至善〉聖訓）

                ‘Being human’ is rather difficult, since one must face many difficult situations in life. But is it difficult to ‘smile?’ Difficult as it seems to be human, why don’t you keep smiling while you are being human? You can choose to pass each day happily, or just suffer through the same day. The choice is up to you. If it were my decision, I would definitely choose to live happily, laugh, smile and be merry for each and every day. (An excerpt from the Holy Revelation Zhi-Shan)