..續本文上一頁before it rains.” We should participate in this session every year. Don”t skip a year. Then we will have great affinities with Amitabha Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva. We should recite until we see Amitabha Buddha as our teacher and Guanyin Bodhisattva as our close friend. If we can be the Buddha”s disciple and the Bodhisattva”s friend year after year, month after month, and day after day, we will naturally become old pals. Then when our life is about to end, the Buddha and Bodhisattva will surely come to lead us to the Pure Land in the West. No one should have doubts about it. It is said,

　　Cultivators should be careful not to doubt.

　　Once they doubt, they will be lost.

　　我們聽善知識的話，不應該存有半點疑心。譬如善知識說：「修行要下苦功。」你就應該相信。若是你能信得徹底，那麼你一定可以明心見性，返本還原。所以我們要常聽善知識的開導，他教你「念佛」，你就應該依教來念佛；善知識他叫你「不要任性」，你就不要任性。這就是修道的要訣。

　　When we listen to a Good and Wise Advisor, we should not be the least bit skeptical. For example, if the Good and Wise Advisor says that cultivation requires arduous effort, you should truly believe it. If you believe completely, you will surely be able to understand the mind and see the nature, return to the origin and go back to the source. Therefore, we should always listen to the instructions of a Good and Wise Advisor. If he tells you to recite the Buddha”s name, you should follow the instruction and recite. If he tells you not to be stubborn, then don”t be stubborn. This is the essential secret of cultivation.

　　方才說：「病後始知身是苦」，可是呢？人若是不經過一番的病苦，是絕不肯發心修行的；因爲在沒病時，他不知痛苦。

　　Earlier we said, “Only after being sick do you realize the body is suffering.” If people don”t go through some pain and suffering, they will not want to cultivate, because they don”t know what pain is if they have never been sick.

　　又有一句話說：「富貴學道難」，若是一個人很富有，那麼他樣樣如意，你叫他如何會想修道呢？所以，貧病都是我們修道的助緣。病來了，也不必憂；貧來了，也不用愁。有一首偈頌這樣說：

　　我見他人死，

　　我心熱如火；

　　不是熱他人，

　　看看輪到我。

　　It”s also said, “It”s hard for the rich and honorable to cultivate.” If a person is wealthy, he can have everything the way he wants, so why should he want to cultivate

　　 So poverty and illnesses are all aiding conditions to our cultivation. When we get sick, there”s no need to be depressed. If we”re poor, there”s no reason to be worried. There”s a verse which goes,

　　When I see someone die,

　　My heart burns like fire.

　　It”s not burning because of him,

　　But because I know it will soon be my turn.

　　自己貧、病，固然應增長修道的心，就是看見別人貧病老死，也要引以爲惕。人生有如「長江後浪推前浪」，若能及時發願往生，則事前有個准備，不至臨時手足無措，手忙腳亂了。好像國家若不經過一番變亂，人民都會耽娛愛樂，不曉得愛國衛土。現在的佛教也是如此，現在的人都不謀複興佛教，所以佛教便顯得萎靡。

　　If we are poor or sick ourselves, of course we should quickly resolve to cultivate. If we see others who are poor, sick, aging and dying, we should also take it as a warning. Life is like a succession of waves. If we can make a vow to be reborn, then we will be prepared in advance. We won”t be in a frantic scramble when it comes time to die. It is just like if a country hasn”t passed through times of disorder, the people will indulge in pleasures, and not know that they should be patriotic and defend their country. That”s the situation Buddhism is in right now. Currently no one is working to make Buddhism prosper, so Buddhism seems rather low in spirit.

　　要知道提倡佛教，責任不單單在比丘或比丘尼身上，而是在每一個佛教徒的身上，若是我們每個人都這樣引咎自責，那麼，還愁佛教不發展嗎？現在有些佛教徒以爲佛教不及外教時髦，所以不敢對人說自己是個佛教徒，甚至于還附和別人說佛教是迷信的，你說，這樣可悲不可悲？譬如九龍的道風山上有一個外道的團體，專門收容那些佛教的比丘及比丘尼，經過他們一番「改造」之後，那些忘本的人竟然毀謗佛教。

　　We should realize that it is not only the Bhikshus and Bhikshunis who are responsible for promoting Buddhism. It is the responsi-bility of every Buddhist. If each and every one of us can take up the responsibility, how can we worry that Buddhism will not thrive

　　But now, there are some Buddhists who think Buddhism is not as fashionable as other religions, so they don”t dare to tell anyone they are Buddhist. In fact, they even agree with others that Buddhism is mere superstition. Isn”t that pathetic

　　 For example, there”s a non-Buddhist group at Daofeng Shan in Jiulung (Hong Kong) which specializes in accepting Buddhist monks and nuns. After they are brainwashed, they forget their roots and actually slander Buddhism.

　　所以真心信佛的人，應甯死不變，提起勇氣來，不可因爲別人的譏笑或利誘而變志。如果每個人都不忘記自己是個佛教徒，那麼佛教複興是必然的。

　　People who truly believe in Buddhism would rather die than change their faith. We should pluck up our courage, and not let our resolve waver even if others make fun of us or tempt us. If every Buddhist remembers that he is a Buddhist, Buddhism will naturally prosper again.

　　一般的外道雖然目前盛極一時，可是天道循環，物極必反，大家切不可被外表的興衰而動搖自己的心志啊！真理是不滅的，佛教的複興全憑大家的努力！

　　Although other religions may experience temporary prosperity, the way of Heaven is a cycle, and when one extreme is reached, things turn around. No one should let their resolve be influenced by superficial signs of prosperity or decline. The truth is never extinguished. The flourishing of Buddhism depends on everyone”s hard work!

　　一九五八年六月十七日上午開示

　　A talk given on the morning of June 17, 1958

《毋臨渴而掘井 Dont Wait Till Youre Thirsty to Dig a Well》全文閱讀結束。