..續本文上一頁ly find unendurable. For instance, maybe you don”t want to put up with a scolding, but if someone scolds you, you should be happy about it. Perhaps you don”t want to be beaten, but if someone beats you, you should be even happier. Perhaps you don”t wish to die, because life is very precious. However, if someone wants to kill you, you should think, "This death can deliver me from the karmic obstacles of this life. He is truly my wise teacher." So all of you should appreciate the Buddhadharma from the opposite side; learn to flip it over. Cultivating the Way is, in fact, cultivating from the reverse. How do we flip it over
It is simply a matter of learning to like what you dislike. You shouldn”t, however, pass on to other people the things that you don”t like.
你要是和一般人一樣，看不破，放不下，我、法二執不空，有我、人、衆生、壽者四相，那麼麻煩就現出來了。若能退一步想，任何事自然海闊天空。我們學佛法，不要往高深的地方去學，所謂「平常心是道，直心是道場。」我們要用直心來修行。
If you”re like ordinary people who cannot see through or renounce things, if you have not emptied out attachments to self and to dharmas, and if you have the marks of self, others, living beings, and a life span, then you”ll have lots of trouble. If you can step back and consider things calmly, then no matter what happens, you”ll always be able to put things in perspective and take them in stride. As we study Buddhism, we shouldn”t go looking for its truths in lofty and profound places. There is a saying, "The ordinary mind is the Way; the straight mind is the place of cultivation." We should have a straightforward attitude as we cultivate the Way.
你念觀世音菩薩，不要存一種貪心，不要說：「我念觀世音菩薩，會發財。」這是辦不到的。你要是沒有貪心，反而會得到；一旦有這個貪心，反而得不到。你念觀世音菩薩，也不需要向外宣傳說：「我到某某地方打過觀音七，你沒有打過，你不如我。」不要打這種妄想，不貪名，不貪利，也不貪享受。
As we recite the name of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, we shouldn”t cling to greedy notions. Don”t say, "I hope that by reciting Guanyin Bodhisattva”s name, I can strike it rich." That”s impossible! You might get rich if you don”t have any greed, but as soon as you become greedy, you won”t attain any wealth. Also, there”s no need to publicize the fact that you”re reciting Guanyin Bodhisattva”s name. Don”t say to others, "I”m better than you, because I joined a Guanyin Recitation Session at such and such a place, and you didn”t." Don”t have such vain thoughts. Don”t crave fame or benefits, and don”t be greedy for luxuries or pleasure.
念觀世音菩薩，就要平平常常地念，不要企求一切。不要像有人念觀世音菩薩，說：「我沒有兒子，要求觀音菩薩給我兒子。」有人又要求個女兒。有的男孩子，念觀世音菩薩是爲求得一個美麗的女孩子。有的女孩子，就爲求得一個男朋友，這是不可以的。念觀世音菩薩，應該把這些肮髒的念頭去除，不要有貪瞋癡的心。譬如：天天穿衣，不要管它好不好，只求其不冷就可以了；天天吃飯，也不要有一種貪美味的思想。要是有這種妄想，那你就沒有用真心念觀世音菩薩。要是真心念觀世音菩薩，怎麼還會想吃好的、穿好的？早已經把什麼都忘了。什麼都忘了，才能和觀世音菩薩合而爲一。
Recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva”s name with an ordinary attitude. Don”t scheme or hope for rewards. Don”t be like the people who recite the Bodhisattva”s name while thinking, "I don”t have a son yet. I hope Guanyin Bodhisattva will bring me a son." Other people seek daughters. Some boys recite the name of Guanshiyin Bodhi-sattva hoping to attract a pretty girlfriend. Some girls seek a boyfriend. That”s not allowed! When we recite Guanshiyin Bodhi-sattva”s name, we should sweep away all such dirty thoughts. Purge thoughts of greed, anger, and stupidity. For example, we should pay no attention to whether the clothes we wear are pretty or not. If they protect us from the cold, that”s enough. We shouldn”t view our daily food like a gourmet who loves delicacies. If you have such vain thoughts, then you haven”t recited Guanyin Bodhisattva”s name with a true mind. If you held Guanshiyin Bodhisattva”s name with a true mind, how could you possibly care about eating tasty food or wearing pretty clothes
You would”ve forgotten all that long ago. The only way to become one with Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is to forget everything else.
我們每位衆生的心裏，都有一位觀世音菩薩。你現在所念的，是念自己心裏的觀音菩薩。有人說：「我向心裏找，怎麼連個心都沒有？」如果你連個心也沒有，那就不要念觀世音菩薩了，因爲那就是觀世音菩薩。觀世音菩薩就是沒有心，他不打一切妄想，沒有貪瞋癡。他也不計劃今天要穿好的衣服，或吃一點好的東西，享受一點好的供養。他是一切無著，一切不求。他所做的是度衆生，他願一切衆生離苦得樂，了生脫死，成佛道，而無所求于衆生。他希望衆生能真正明白佛法，沒有貪瞋癡。
There”s a Guanshiyin Bodhisattva inside the mind of every living being. As we recite and recollect Guanyin Bodhisattva, we”re sim-ply recollecting the Guanyin Bodhisattva inside our minds. Some-one may say, "I”m looking inside for my mind; why can”t I find it
" If you truly have no mind, then you don”t need to recite Guanyin Bodhisattva”s name, because just that is Guanyin Bodhisattva. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva doesn”t have a mind. He doesn”t indulge in any idle thoughts, and he is totally free of greed, hatred, and stupidity. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva doesn”t think, "Today I”ll wear some pretty clothes, eat some delicious food, or enjoy some special offerings." He has no attachments and seeks nothing whatsoever. What he does is rescue living beings. He wants all living beings to leave suffering, attain bliss, end their birth and death, and accom-plish Buddhahood, yet he seeks nothing from living beings. He hopes that living beings will be able to truly understand the Buddhadharma and become free of greed, anger, and stupidity.
我們念觀世音，不要一天到晚打妄想：「早上沒有吃東西，晚上又沒有茶喝，這太苦了！受不了，快跑！」這真是沒有出息的修行人！
As we recite Guanshiyin Bodhisattva”s name, we shouldn”t be indulging in idle thoughts all day long. We shouldn”t say, "I didn”t eat anything at all this morning, and tonight there won”t be any tea to drink. This is too much suffering! I can”t take it, I”m going to run away!" Someone who cultivates with that attitude is worthless.
一九七六年觀音七叁月十六日開示
A talk given on March 16, 1976, during
a Guanyin Recitation Session
《觀音菩薩與我們是兄弟 Guanyin Bodhisattva is Our Brother》全文閱讀結束。