佛法在行不在說

　　The Buddhadharma Is in Practice, Not in Talking

　　道德是爲人的根本，有了道德，我們才能立得住腳。

　　It”s because the Way and virtue are a person”s foundation.

　　Once we have the Way and virtue, we can stand on our own feet.

　　光陰似箭，日月如梭，江河之水後浪推前浪，韶華易逝，世上青年逐老年，這樣隨之逐之，漸漸又歸于老死朽滅，無蹤無影，足見一切無常。

　　Time is like an arrow; the days and months fly by like a shuttlecock. The waves in the river follow one after another. Glory fades quickly. In the world, youth is followed by old age. In this way, we gradually return to the decay and extinction of old age and death, leaving no trace or shadow. Clearly, everything is impermanent.

　　正因爲一切都是無常，所以我們應該趕快找一個歸宿。在座各位，總算幸運，找來找去，終于信佛了。信佛，能令我們得「常樂我淨」──究竟之樂；所以我們應信佛。可是，也並不是說只是「信」便可以了，也要依法修行，若是只信而不修行，有如說食數寶，于自己本身了無益處。所以古人說：

　　道是要行的，

　　不行則要道何用？

　　德是要修的，

　　不修則德從何來？

　　Since everything is impermanent, we should quickly find a refuge. All of you can count yourselves lucky, for you have searched around and finally come to believe in the Buddha. Faith in the Buddha enables us to attain the ultimate happiness of permanence, joy, true self, and purity. Therefore we should believe in the Buddha. But it”s not enough to say that we believe. We also have to cultivate according to the Dharma. If youbelieve but don”t cultivate, it”s like talking about food without eating it, or counting the wealth of others─it doesn”t benefit you in the least. So the ancients said:

　　The Way must be practiced. If it is not

　　practiced, what use is the Way

　　Virtue must be cultivated. If it is not cultivated,

　　from where does virtue come

　　所以，我們應該躬行實踐，常把「生死」二字挂在眉梢，把「道德」二字放在腳下。這一句話看起來很難懂，爲什麼說應該把「道德」二字放在腳下呢？因爲，道德二字是爲人的根本，好像樹在眉梢，把「道德」二字放在腳下。這一句話看起來很難懂，爲什麼說應該把「道德」二字放在腳下呢？因爲，道德二字是爲人的根本，好像樹木的根一樣，所以有了道德，我們才能立得住腳；反之，腳下無根，那麼則無處可立，進退維谷，不能有所作爲了。若是我們能把這二字實踐了，那麼，人格更可以立得住，而一切亦自然可以成功了，所以說：「道德二字，是做人的根本。」《論語》上說：「君子務本，本立而道生。」務本才能生出道，這是古有明訓的。

　　We should personally practice, always hanging the words “birth” and “death” on our brows, and putting the words “Way” and “virtue” beneath our feet. Maybe that”s hard to understand─ why should we put the words “Way” and “virtue” under our feet

　　 Because the Way and virtue are a person”s foundation. They are to us what roots are to a tree. Once we have the Way and virtue, we can stand on our own feet. But with no base under our feet, we have no place to stand. We are in a fix, unable to advance or retreat, and we cannot accomplish anything. If we can actually practice these two things, then we can establish a good character and naturally be successful in whatever we do. So it”s said, “The Way and virtue are the foundation of being a person.” The Analects of Confucius also say, “The superior person attends to the root. When the root is established, the Way comes forth.” Only when the fundamentals are tended to can the Way come forth. This is wise advice from the ancients.

　　正如剛才所說，日子是似箭般在不知不覺間過去了，過去的且讓它過去，可是來者可追，對于未來，我們應立下宗旨，不讓它糊裏胡塗地度過。

　　As mentioned earlier, the days pass as swiftly as an arrow, but we don”t notice it. As for the days gone by, just let them go. Only the future is worth pursuing. We should set guidelines for the future, so we won”t let the time pass in a muddle.

　　西樂園一向的宗旨是提倡「淨土法門」，主張大家精進念佛。所以每年的六月十九日和十一月十七日(中國陰曆)，都照例地舉行觀音及阿彌陀佛七的念佛法會，可是呢？大家不可以就「照例參加」，馬馬虎虎地敷衍一下就算了，應該一年比一年精進，念茲在茲，在這七天裏頭，在在處處、時時刻刻我們都要勤念菩薩的名號，不可以懈怠。

　　Western Bliss Garden Monastery has always promoted the Pure Land Dharma-door and exhorts everyone to vigorously recite the Buddha”s name. Every year, on the nineteenth of the sixth lunar month and the seventeenth of the eleventh lunar month, we will continue as usual to hold Dharma Sessions for reciting the names of Guanyin Bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha. However, everyone should certainly not just casually “attend as usual,” not taking it seriously and letting it pass lightly. Rather, each year we should be more vigorous…

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