..續本文上一頁化愈多。好像米中生蟲子，從無情而生有情；佛性能自無化有，化出一切衆生、人類，也是同一個道理。

　　The myriad phenomena fundamentally come from the Buddha-nature, coming into being and returning to nothingness, in an endless series of births and transformations, ever increasing in number like bugs born in rice, which is a case of something insentient producing something sentient. By the same principle, the Buddha-nature can transform nothing into something, producing all living beings and humankind.

　　若說是猴子變的，這個理論完全不成立。你看，每一個國家的人民面目各不同，有黑、黃、白、紅種人，他們都是什麼變的？說來說去找不出一個頭緒。若歸佛性：自無化有，自有化無，化化無窮，生生不息，這理論則可以講得通，但很少人有智慧達到這個水平。

　　The theory that humans evolved from apes is totally groundless. You can see that the people of different countries have different appearances--there are black, yellow, white, and red-skinned people. What did they evolve from

　　 You can talk about it this way and that, but you”ll never find an answer. If we return to the Buddha-nature--which can transform nothing into something, and something into nothing, in endless births and transformations --this is a theory which can explain it, but few people have the wisdom to reach that level of understanding.

　　人是自無化有，一切衆生亦複如是。修道呢？就是要自有化無，返本還原，回到本有的佛性，你說這有何用？那你做人又有何用？返回本有的佛性，就能早成佛道。佛性是長存的，就算一切衆生都死光了，可是佛性仍然永不磨滅。爲什麼我要說這個？因爲今天是地藏誕，地藏菩薩的願力催促我講些真實做人處事的根本道理。也就是「自無化有，自有化無」。你若不相信，那爲什麼米裏會生蟲？人在世上也好像蟲子一樣，只不過他的知覺性、靈性多一些；可是和佛比起來，就差得太遠啰！相形之下，就像人和蟲子相比是一樣的。

　　People came into being from nothingness, and all other living beings are that way, too. Cultivation is just turning existence into nothingness, returning to the origin, and going back to the inherent Buddha-nature. "What use is that

　　" you ask. Well, what use is your being a person

　　 If you can return to your inherent Buddha-nature, you will quickly be able to accomplish the Buddha Way. The Buddha-nature exists eternally. Even if all living beings die, the Buddha-nature will never perish. Why am I talking about this

　　 It”s because today is the anniversary of Earth Treasury Bodhisattva, and his vows urge me to speak some truly fundamental principles about being a person and handling affairs, that is, about the principle of "nothing turning into something, and something turning into nothing." If you don”t believe that principle, then how do you explain bugs being born in rice

　　 People in the world are also like bugs, except that they have a higher level of perceptive ability and a soul. But they are still a long way from the Buddha. Comparing people to the Buddha is just like comparing bugs to people.

　　你要是懂了，就可以修行。修行要像秤一樣平衡，平平靜靜的，于自性裏一點波浪也沒有。你若真懂佛法，我可以與你說佛法，研究如何修道。若是沒有真懂，還在名利中搞問題，財、色、名、食、睡，什麼都放不下，那我如何與你說真佛法與修道呢？各位要猛省！猛省！

　　If you understand this, then you will be able to cultivate. In cultivation, you must be as steady as a balance, calm and peaceful, with no waves in your own nature. If you truly understand Buddhism, then I can discuss the Buddhadharma with you, and together we can investigate how to cultivate. If you do not truly understand, and you are still involved in seeking name and gain, and you cannot put down wealth, sex, fame, food and sleep--you can”t put anything down--then how can I tell you about the true Buddhadharma and cultivation of the Way

　　 All of you should wake up and be alert!

　　一九八二年九月十叁日開示

　　A talk given on September 13, 1982

《佛性：是一切衆生的本源 The Buddha-nature: the Original Source of All Living Beings》全文閱讀結束。