修道修心篇

Dao and heart cultivation

修道人辛苦一点也要认命，做的多，了愿的多。所以修道、办道的人要无怨无悔。

A devoted cultivator should understand that hardship is part of life.  The more you do the more you fulfill your vows, therefore, people who cultivate Dao and who propagate Dao should have no complaints nor regrets.

修道要把握时机，现在不修，过了就没了。该做的时候，要又快又准，把它抓起来，这就是道，因为这个时候，你心无旁骛。

To cultivate Dao you need to seize the opportunity.  If you miss the moment, you will not have a second chance.  When the opportunity comes,  grasp it  quickly and accurately.  This is Dao, because at this moment, nothing else is distracting your attention.

自己的发心跟体悟，才是最重要的。想要有智慧，就必须去经历、去改善。好比一件事情来了，怎么样去处理才会圆满，才会顺畅，这都是在运用智慧。学道也是一样，学了道，就要知行合一，才能发挥最大的力量。

Pledging the heart and realizing the truth are the most important aspects of cultivating Dao.  Wisdom is gained through experiences and improvements.  For instance, when something comes up, how to deal with it smoothly requires wisdom.  So is learning Dao, for knowing and practicing goes hand in hand. Put what you learn to the best use then you can maximize the benefit.

希望徒儿们都是见道成道，今天有觉得不圆满的地方，尽心去做，从小圆满成就大圆满，从小地方做起，从推功揽过中去圆满，而不是只看一个小地方就去批评毁谤，这只会把事情愈弄愈乱。

I, Holy Teacher, expect all you disciples to do this: when you encounter incompletion or imperfection (deviations from Dao), do your best to make it complete and perfect (conform to Dao). Start from achieving small completions; ending in big perfections.  Start from little things, and strive for perfection with this principle, “Praise others’ merits but humble your own. Admit your own faults instead of criticizing others’.”  Do not slander or criticize when you see only a small part of the whole picture.  That will only lead to trouble and make things worse. This is “helping others to accomplish Dao when you see it”.

老天降道不是教你们画符念咒，也不是教你们一些奇奇怪怪的事情，而是直接

了当就跟你们说每个人都是佛祖。自性就在本身，肉眼看不到，但是徒儿们不妨仔细考核历代古圣先贤及五大教主，那一个不是从日常生活当中修成的呢？所以不要架空自己，知道吗？什么叫做不要架空自己？修道要任劳任怨，不要跟别人多做比较，自己能做就做，老天不会亏待你的，等到水到渠成，自然就会有人肯定你。什么都没有做，空说了一大堆，把自己架空了，没有脚踏实地，没有真实的付出，就没有办法得到肯定。

Almighty God allows the propagation of Dao not for people to learn conjurations, theurgy, or some strange and mystifying things.  Propagation of Dao is allowed so that everyone can be exhorted directly and bluntly that “you are Buddha”. Self-nature is within the physical body; it is invisible.  My disciples, do your own thorough research and you’ll find out that the past sages, saints, and the founders of the world’s five largest religions all realized perfection by fulfilling their daily responsibilities.  Do not be a figurehead. What is being a figurehead?  If you talk a lot and do nothing at all, that’s being a figurehead.  Cultivation is to fulfill one's duties faithfully, without complaint.  Do not compare yourself with others.  Do the things you can do.  Heaven is fair; God will not treat you with less than what you deserve.  When it is ripe for execution, others will affirm you.  Unless you stand on solid ground, and really make an effort, you will not get any affirmation.

情绪是会动的，如何让初发心能够常保不变呢？如果要使我们的信念常住，就必须过不断的实践，不断的去做、去实行，在不断的实行中，或许会遇到挫折，会遇到失败，也许或许会得到成就感。但是如果你一旦跌倒了，没有一蹶不振的话，你的信念将因此而更加坚定，这就是「常住无间」，知道吗？所以为什么圣贤要说知行合一？只知不做终归虚谈，而只做不想则太过鲁莽。当你有一个信念、有一个善念，要如何去达到它呢？那不是三天两头的事，必须透过不断的实行，终其一生，直到盖棺论定，方能够论成就。

Emotions are capricious.  How do you make your germinating heart remain constant?  If you want to hold on to faith, you have to carry it out and practice it constantly.  Through constant practice, you may encounter frustration, failure, or maybe a sense of success.  However, if you get up after falling, your faith will become stronger and firmer; this is “maintaining constancy and persistency”.  Do you understand this?  Why would sages preach: Knowledge and action should always go hand in hand?  Knowing without doing is in vain.  Doing without planning is too reckless.  When you have a belief, a kind thought, how can you fulfill it?  It cannot be accomplished in two or three days.  It takes constant practices through out one’s life.  Not until the lid is laid on one’s coffin, can one’s achievements be evaluated!

人间、地狱都不是你们的归属，我们是有使命而来的，不要妄自菲薄。替老天担担当，代天宣化是我们的本份，为什么？天生地养的嘛！天地恩，父母恩最大。

Neither the earth nor the underworld is your home.  You come to the earthly world with a mission. Do not belittle or underestimate yourself.  It is our responsibility to propagate Dao on behalf of Heaven. Why?  Because we were born by Heaven and nurtured by earth; the grace of Heaven and earth and the grace of our parents are the greatest.

修道就是要改正不好的念头，回复本来就有的良知良能、本来就知道的道德观。

Cultivation is to correct evil thoughts, and recover the inherent conscience and the intrinsic ethics already in you.

本来就知道孝顺父母、友爱兄弟姊妹，本来就知道要报恩了愿。孝顺父母要在平常无所求的时候去做，那才是真孝顺。

You all know to love, honor and respect your parents, and love your brothers and sisters. You know to repay grace and favors, and to fulfill vows.  Loving and honoring parents should be done naturally, without any expectations.  That is true filial piety.

人的本份就是要对自己负责，你做的每一件事情都会攸关众生、攸关自己以及周遭的人。今天你进了佛门，学习的是道，道在那里？道在日常生活之中，那么自己就要以身示道，自己去实行，那才有价值。

Everyone’s personal responsibility is to be responsible to oneself.  Everything you do has an effect on all sentient beings, yourself, and everyone around you.  Today, you are here in the temple to learn Dao, but where is Dao?  Dao is in your daily life.  You should act in accordance with Dao and set an example of Dao, devotedly practicing it yourself, and then it is worthwhile.

了解自己，就应该诚于中，形于外，别人看你就是一尊佛，那现在这个世界就是天堂了。也因为你的心境，环境才会营造未来的天堂，不用去西方找佛陀，也不用去西方找琉璃世界。既然做一个人就要好好把本份做好，不要好高骛远去强求成佛，到处去跟人家学参禅、打坐、通灵，这些都是不需要的。在心里用最合乎自然修行的方式就可以成佛了，因为那是慈悲心的显现。学佛要用最自然、最诚敬的心，所以用最简单的方式办最不平凡的事情，即是白阳的殊胜。

As you come to know yourself better, you will show your true sincerity in your expressions and behaviors.  Then, people will see you as a buddha, and the world will be a paradise. The environment will become heavenly because of your attitude.  You don’t need to wait to see Buddha or a heavenly world in your after life. Being a human, you need to fulfill your basic duties.  Being a human you should be practical, and try not to reach beyond your grasp and impersonate a buddha.  You do not need to follow others in learning Zen, meditation or conjuration; these are not necessary, they are not the proper ways to cultivate.  You can achieve buddhahood by cultivating yourself with what you feel  most natural, because it is the emergence of merciful heart.  Thus, just use the most natural and sincere heart in learning to be a buddha.  The remarkable glory of White Sun Era is the use of the simplest methods to perform the most extraordinary things.

修得好也要讲得好，口、心、行要合一，这样才像是修道人。修道最重要是要明理。

A cultivator needs to cultivate adequately as well as to express Dao effectively.  To be a cultivator, your words, your heart, and your deeds have to be consistent.  The most important thing in cultivation is to be clear about the principles.

遇到每一个瓶颈，都是成长的时候。不要每天都只看到表面的自己而已，修道要深入，做人也要深入，做人不能只做表面，这样别人也会以表面来对你们。

Every bottleneck is an ideal time for growth.  Do not just pay attention to your superficies everyday.  To cultivate, you have to go deeper.  Being a person you cannot just take care of the facade, you need to be deeper.  Otherwise, people will also treat you superficially.

修道可别只重视好看、好吃、舒服，要吃得苦中苦，方为人上人。

When you cultivate Dao, do not just pay attention to what is beautiful, delicious and comfortable.  Endure hardship and suffering, then you will be the best of best.

行道在于公心一片，在安于自己的本份。行此道要无怨无悔、无始无终，休息后再出发，要保证自己真正下功夫，让世界多一份祥和。希望在这么紧急，这么动乱的时势中，徒儿们能个个定下心来，真正的静下来、诚下来，诚于自己，诚于人，诚于物，诚于你自己的本份，面对自己的心，诚于中，然后形于外。

Be selfless when you practice Dao; be contented to play your role.  You need to practice Dao without complaints, without regrets, without a starting point or a finish line.  Start again after resting; be sure that you really put in an effort to help this world become more harmonious and peaceful.  Hope that in this time of great urgency and chaos, you disciples can settle down your heart and truly calm down your mind and be sincere.  Be sincere to yourself, to people, to all objects and to your duties.  Face your own heart, be sincere inside and reflect your sincerity on your behavior and expression.

做什么事情都一样，不要一直等明天，要把握今天、把握现在、把握当下，这才是真的，才是永恒。

Whatever you do, do not wait until tomorrow.  Seize today, seize the moment, seize this instant; then it is true and eternal.

把它当成自己该做的，就不会做得心不甘情不愿。就像吃饭吃得那么高兴，把修道当吃饭，当做在享受一顿美食，那便巴不得天天享受到。所以一念之差，天渊之别啊！

Regard things as what you would naturally do, then you will do them willingly and cheerfully, just like enjoying your meals.  Regard cultivation as having meals, think of it as enjoying a delicious meal.  Then you would want to experience it everyday.  That is why one different thought makes a world of difference.

在最恰当的时候做最恰当的事，就是修道。因为我们不可能没事找事做，总是遇事、见事、办事。人世间的事情办好，就是天上事情办好。

Cultivation of Dao is to do the most appropriate thing at the most appropriate time, because we would not be doing something when there is nothing to do.  It’s always when something comes up, you face it, and deal with it.  If you have done things well on earth, then you have taken good care of affairs in the heaven.

修道没有止境的时候，休息是内心的休息，不是脚步的休息、脚步的淡然，脚步要积极，可是心境要淡泊。办事需要众志成城，可是，不要为自己来争功夺名，办事的时候要无所为而为，上天自然给你力量无穷，有所为而为就总是力不从心。所以要传灯，传这个慧命，传这个千年的灯塔，指引着众生一直走下去。

There’s no end in Dao cultivation, resting is the repose of the weary mind, not the repose of your footsteps, or slow down.  Be lively in your stride, but tranquil in heart, not being bothered by fame or wealth.  When people work together, unite everyone’s will to form a stronghold. Then, target a common goal; do not pursue fame or individual glory.  When you do things, do it naturally, you should not expect any rewards; Heaven will certainly support you with unlimited power.  If you expect any reward, you are not doing it naturally, and you will feel powerless to achieve your goal.  So pass on this torch!  Carry on the torch of this wisdom.  Let the light of this millennial beacon shine on, guiding all sentient beings to go on forever and ever.

修道不是在佛堂修道，不是在人前修道，而是在你独处的时候，在你面对每一件事情的时候，那才是修道。

Cultivation is not in the Temples, not in front of people, but when you are by yourself, and when you are facing each and everything. That’s cultivation.

天上果位人间定，但若是为果位而有所打算，就不是果位了。因为心有所动就不是道了。

Heavenly posts are determined in this earthly world. However, if you are striving for the reward of a heavenly post, then it is not a heavenly post anymore, because as your heart is stirred, it is not Dao anymore.

选择适合自己的路。每个人皆有本身具足的能力，既是本身所有，就不用再去找，更不要掉进漩涡。因为本来就没有漩涡，又何须跳出。

Choose the path that is suitable for you.  Everyone has her/his complete innate potential.  Since it is already in you, you don’t need to search for it externally. Avoid the fall into the whirlpool.  Since there is no whirlpool existing, you will never fall in one. Therefore, you don’t have to jump out of it.

好道的人就要厚道，厚道的人，就要常常去厨房学道，不要常常坐在里面学舒服的道，而要去做那些打杂的道。

As one fond of Dao, he should be honest, kind and magnanimous.  Such a person should always go to kitchen to learn Dao.  Learn Dao from doing chores. Do not sit in comfortable environment and learn “cozy Dao”.

修道是时时刻刻，是没有中断的。休息了，就浪费了光阴。要对自己的生命负责，把爱心拿出来。其实你们都是老师的化身，是小济公，不要济私，济私就多烦恼。

Cultivate Dao every hour, every minute. Do it constantly.  Resting is a waste of time.  Be responsible to your own life, show your love.  Actually, you are all Holy Teacher’s incarnations.  You are all little Ji-Gongs (help and serve the public), do not ji-si (help and serve self. Ji-si will cost you countless worries.

过新年要讲好话，要注意留点口德，说好话、办好事，当下就是天堂。

As the New Year comes, watch the “virtue of speaking”.  Say good words, do good deeds; at that moment it is heaven.

平常要以谁为师？没看到为师，也不知道为师在哪里，你要以谁为师？要以天地良心为师，以你的良心来做事、讲话，差错就少。

In your everyday life, who should be your teacher?  You cannot see Holy Teacher, and you do not know where Holy Teacher is, so who should you learn from?  Let the Heaven bestowed and earth nurtured “conscience” be your teacher.  Conduct yourself. Work and speak with conscience, then you will not have many faults.

修道是当下的事，当下即修行。

Cultivation should be done here and now. You should cultivate now, right here.

人往往在逆境中才能成长，往往是在历练中才能茁庄。你有几分能力，老天就给你几分去办，所以不要轻视自己。

Usually people grow in adversity, suffering and experiences make them stronger..  Heaven give assignments to you according to your ability; so don’t belittle yourself.

自私之心不可有。放眼望去尽是宽广，莫要让狭隘障住自己。多听、多想、多做，不要太多话。

You shouldn’t have a selfish heart.  As you look out, what a vast and broad sight.  Don’t let a narrow and constricted mind limit yourself.  Listen, deliberate and perform more, don’t talk too much.

做事不要太尽，留一点后路；气不要太强，留一点精力；才能不要太显，留得以后发挥，精益求精，刚柔并进，莫在强中强出头。

Don’t push things to the limit; leave some room for reconciliation if needed. Don’t be too forceful, save some energy. Don’t show off all of your abilities, save some for later.  Continue to refine even if you are the finest; blend toughness with tenderness, strength with gentleness, and rigidity with flexibility. Don’t try to stick out your head among the strong.

以德报怨，莫枉费承受的恩德，既然承受的多，就要了愿的多，不要去想任何麻烦的问题，心静一切空，空了有何烦恼？

Repay good for evil.  Don’t let the grace you received be in vain.  The more you receive, the more you should fulfill your vows.  Let go of your troublesome problems; as your heart is tranquil, everything is ”calm”.  After everything settles down in calm, will there still be any worry?

功在暗处得，莫在表面图虚名。守住自己的愿，多做少说；注意自己的身体，莫要逞强，珍惜自己的生命。

Merits are earned without others knowing, don’t seek the superficial fame.  Guard your vows well, do more and talk less.  Take care of your health, do not flaunt your strength, and cherish your own life.

修炼功夫，既麻烦又苦，但只要有心，只要有诚意，都可以突破的。事在人为，你跟上天要什么，上天就给你什么。坚持自己的信念，不要轻易改变。

Cultivation is troublesome and hard.  As long as you have the heart and sincerity you can break through. People make things happen.  Whatever you ask from Heaven, Heaven will give you just that.  Hold strong to your faith, and don’t change easily.

常常要求自己在最简单的事情上，用最多的功夫，以后做大事就不难。

Ask yourself to put the most effort into the simplest thing; then the big things will not be difficult.

修道很简单，第一、将不好的习惯改掉；第二、舍己为人，不求回报；第三、虽遭受人情冷暖，仍然热情澎湃，济世救人，如此方为圣贤仙佛的脚步。

Cultivation is simple: First, discard your bad habits.  Second, give yourself to others not anticipating anything in return.  Third, disregarding the coldness of reality, passionately keep salvaging people and serving the public.  These are the footsteps of sages, saints and Buddhas.

你们辛苦是应该的，是上天给你机会，有机会才有得辛苦，要感谢。无所求之求是大求，无所为之为是大为。

You’re supposed to be toilsome, because it’s an opportunity given by Heaven; Where there is toil, there is opportunity, so be grateful.  Requesting for nothing is the Great Request.  An act without secular purpose is the Great Act.

修道就是先改变自己，而且不要先入为主。要先观察、先体悟、还要先参与，你才可以下定论。

To cultivate Dao you need to change yourself first and not to make any prejudgments. Observe first then understand and comprehend. Then you have to  participate before making any conclusions.

人人都是佛堂，把你的佛堂带出去，让每个人看到你都像看到佛堂一样，那么的优雅、那么的宁静。所以，你的心要当一个大佛堂，容纳每个人，行到那里就开示到那里，那么，你就是在世活佛。

Every person is a temple; bring the temple with you wherever you go. As people look at you, it is like seeing a temple, so graceful and so serene.  Therefore, your heart should be a grand Temple, which can accommodate everyone.  Share the Truth everywhere you are, then you are a living Buddha.

修道需要诚心加菩萨心加耐心加喜舍心加无为心加天心加智慧心。

Cultivation needs a combination of sincerity, patience, wisdom and the heart of bodhisattva, sharing, not-expecting rewards, and heaven.

现在修道最大的障碍是只想问别人，不问自己。为什么为师要你们更上一层楼？先了解自己、明白自己，先问自己做了吗？付出了吗？再来问别人。凡事不能只往外看，而要往内回光。自性佛一明，幻就能够灭，自性佛不明，你就被幻所迷。

The biggest obstacle in cultivation now is; people only place demands on others and not on themselves.  Why is Holy Teacher asking you to step up to the next level?  Know yourself first, be completely clear about yourself.  Before asking others, ask yourself first whether you have done, given and devoted.  You cannot just look outward, you need to reflect and scrutinize on yourself.  As the self Buddha-Nature is awakened, illusions will be extinguished; you’ll be confused in illusions, if the self Buddha-Nature is not awakened.

从此刻起，每天早晨、睡觉前，念三遍「济公、济公、济公」，希望你们都能够持之以恒，你们口中、心中所念的济公并非为师一个济公，并非只是这个人相而已。形相是会毁灭的，但是如何以道来净化情，就得靠这个形、这个相，来分辨理路、分辨情理，把我们心中的人情、心中的爱化为道情，化为大爱。

From now on, every morning after you get up and every night before you go to bed, recite: "Ji-Gong, Ji-Gong, Ji-Gong(help the public)."  I expect you all to do this perseveringly.  As you recite "Ji-Gong", it is not merely the name and image of Holy Teacher in your mouth and heart.  Forms and images will perish, but how to purify sentiments with Dao, through the forms and images to clarify principles ; to distinguish senses from sensibilities.  And transcend our affections, sensibilities, and favoritism into the love of Dao, the great love.

所谓修道、办道，要当仁不让，要当机立断，当下即是道。

Cultivation and propagation of Dao is to “yield to no one when it’s righteous” and to make judgment before the opportunity disappears.  Dao is to seize the moment.

修道不要把它当作是一种压力，而要把它当作是一种本份。假如把修道当做是一种压力，那会修得很痛苦。

Don't take cultivation as a pressure but part of your role, your personal responsibility. Otherwise, you will cultivate painfully.

希望你们秉持着这片无憾无悔的心，踏上这条返乡归路，让你们的眼泪为众生而流，把你们的欢笑奉献给众生，把拥有的一切通通回馈，这就是你们的本份、使命。

Hope you all maintain a heart without any regrets or remorse. Set out your homecoming journey.  Shed your tears for the sentient beings; dedicate your laughter to the public.  Return the favors to sentient beings with everything you have.  This is your personal responsibility and mission.

要当仙佛并不难，只要觉得现在在行仙佛菩萨的道，那就是仙佛。只要把菩提心发出来，那么佛堂里的每个人都是仙佛。

It's not difficult to become a buddha.  As long as you are practicing and following the principles of buddhas and bodhisattva you are a buddha as well.  As long as you show the Bodhi Heart all of you here in the Temple right now are a buddhas.

修道之六到：心到、手到、眼到、口到、耳到、脚到。

There are six principles for cultivation: concentration of the heart, utilization of the hands, focus of  the eyes, articulation of the mouth, listening of the ears, and exercise of the feet.

以慈悲喜舍之心化贪图，以平常无为之心化起伏，以质朴简单之心化虚浮，以踏实认真之心化疏忽。

Eliminate greed with a heart of mercy and sharing. Eliminate ups and downs with an ordinary and peaceful heart.  Eliminate vanity with a simple heart.  Eliminate carelessness with a sincere and earnest heart.

要认理而行。现在修道、办道不可以再盲从了，要守戒、持戒，把经典当成鞭策的力量，把同修同好当成是志同道合提携的道友，不要太重形象，在末后的时候，愈重形象，就执着愈多。

Cultivation should be based on truth.  As you cultivate and propagate, don’t blindly follow others.  You have to hold and follow the Dao’s disciplines, use scriptures and sutras as the driving force, consider fellow cultivators as friends of Dao, share the same aspirations and help each other on the path of Dao.  Don't dwell on forms and appearances.  In this age, the more you stress the forms, the more you will be attached to them unnecessarily.

对自己负责，只要每一个人把自己的本份做好，其实就都是一个大作为。把自己做好再推展到外面去，这就是大作为。大作为就是要突破自己，本来所不能做的，开始尝试去做；本来不能为的，尝试去为。

Be responsible to yourself.  As long as everyone takes good care of his personal responsibilities, then it is considered a great achievement.  After taking care of your own responsibilities you expand outside. This is a great achievement.  Great achievement is to break through oneself, start trying to do what you couldn’t do, and try to achieve what you were unable to achieve.

修法不被法困，修心不住心。修法当下悟道而超越言语，那就是法。

Cultivate according to the dharma and teachings, but don’t be confined by them.  Purify your heart but don’t get stuck on it.  As you cultivate you suddenly become enlightened. At that moment, the enlightenment is beyond language; that is Dharma.

所谓「重圣轻凡」，回家把家照顾好也是重圣轻凡。所谓「凡」就是欲望，「圣」是无所不在，「凡」却是只存在你的私心。所以说万法由心生，不简单之处是在于如何拿捏，不要以为在道场才算「圣」，所以可以说「无处不圣，何处不凡」。

"Prioritize holy affairs over worldly matters."  Taking good care of one's family is also to "prioritize holy affairs over worldly matters."   "Worldly matters" are personal desires.  "Holy affairs" lie in everything, everywhere.  "Worldly matters" exist only in selfish desires.  All personal opinions originate from the heart, but the difficulty lies in how to differentiate one from another.  Holy affairs do not only exist in Dao society; everything anywhere can be holy or worldly.

修办这条路是没有终点的。了愿要再来，来了还要再来，知苦了苦而已。因为人生不过是如此，唯有随喜自在才是真的自在。

There is no end to the path of cultivation and propagation of Dao.   After completing vows, you still need to return again and again.  It is only understanding suffering and terminating it.  That is life.  True ease is only when you can enjoy happiness and disregard the environment around you anytime and anywhere.

心美的人看什么事物都美。凡事得从心境下手，因为心境美，物物皆美。

Everything is beautiful in the eyes of a person who has a beautiful heart.  Therefore, beautify your heart before doing anything.  If the state of mind is beautiful, then everything is beautiful.

在日常生活当中，遇见任何事情，记住！用一颗很感恩的心去面对。不管今天问题、困难在那里，不管这事讨厌也好、褒奖也好，都要用一颗感恩的心去面对。

In daily life, when you face something, remember to face it with a grateful heart.  No matter if it is a nuisance or something praiseworthy, you should always face it with a thankful heart.

不要求名、求利，这求名、求利，就会被困在当中。即使只求一毛钱，但还是被这一毛钱给困住。欲望愈�