..續本文上一頁道佛──我們的老祖宗在過去修行是不容易的。我們雖然不能一天吃一麻一麥，但也不要貪吃好東西、吃維他命，貪有營養的食物。

　　This is the age of the Dharma”s decline, and we must be true disciples of the Buddha. In the past, our forefather, the Buddha, did not take it easy in his cultivation. Even though we cannot live on one sesame seed and one grain of wheat a day, we should not crave good food either. We should not be greedy for vitamin supplements or rich food.

　　我們這個臭皮囊是四大假合，不是真實的，我們爲它做牛、做馬、做奴隸做了這麼久，造了不知多少罪業；若是仍然看不破、放不下，還是爲它做馬、做牛，兢兢業業，這真是太沒有價值了！所以我們要返本還原，學佛修行，明白人生是痛苦的；證果成佛，這才是真正的快樂。

　　This body is a stinking skin bag; it is only a false combination of the four elements. We have been slaves to our bodies long enough; we have committed too many offenses on its behalf. If we still can”t see through the body and put it down, and we continue to slave and toil for it, we”re really wasting our time. Therefore, we should understand that life is full of suffering, and then we should study Buddhism in order to return to the source. Only by realizing sagehood and becoming a Buddha can we find true happiness.

　　所以值此佛誕紀念日，我們應該效法于佛，應以佛身爲己身，佛行爲己行，佛心爲己心，佛願爲己願，佛志爲己志，要咬起牙來忍苦耐勞，學佛那種不怕艱難困苦的精神。若能如此，每個人都是成佛有份，很快就能了生脫死。

　　Today is the Buddha”s birthday, and we should learn to be like the Buddha. We should take the Buddha”s body as our own body, the Buddha”s conduct as our own conduct, the Buddha”s mind as our own mind, the Buddha”s vows as our own vows, and the Buddha”s will as our own will. We should bear the toil and hardship, and emulate the Buddha”s indomitable spirit. Anyone who can be this way has a chance to become a Buddha, and will quickly be able to end birth and death.

　　佛爲求一切智，不惜生命抖擻精神來修行，我們怎可不勞而獲就想成佛？既然出家了，如果再不認真去修行，那怎麼能對得起佛、菩薩和過去的祖先呢？若一天到晚貪心不除，爭心不去，求名求利心也放不下，自私自利心更大，這樣怎麼能對得起佛，及我們過去的父母祖先？所以我們不應只爲自己著想，也應該爲他們著想，要打起精神來修行，不要等過了今天，無常鬼不知何時就來了，到那時想多活幾天也辦不到了。所以，

　　In his quest for perfect wisdom, the Buddha dedicated his life to vigorous cultivation. How can we expect to achieve Buddhahood without exerting any effort at all

　　 Having left the home-life, if we don”t cultivate seriously, how can we face the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and our ancestors

　　 If we are greedy and contentious, pursue fame and profit, and become more and more selfish, how can we face our parents and ancestors

　　 We should be considerate towards others, and not just care about ourselves. We must muster our spirits and cultivate. We can”t put it off until tomorrow, for who knows when the ghost of impermanence will arrive

　　 When he comes, we may want to live for a few more days, but it won”t be possible.

　　莫待老來方學道，

　　孤墳多是少年人。

　　Don”t wait until you”re old to cultivate the Way.

　　The lonely graves are filled with young people.

　　在這世界上，生了又死，死了又生，做得不好，就做畜生。一失人身，萬劫難複，所以不要自己騙自己，爲自己做辯護律師，自己不修行而認爲有一天佛會幫助我成佛。要知道即使像阿難是佛的堂弟，佛也不能給他叁昧，他還是要自己努力修行。

　　In this world, we are born and we die, and after dying we are born again. If we don”t live virtuously, we may be reborn as animals. Once we lose the human body, we may not recover it for ten thousand eons. Don”t fool yourself into thinking you don”t need to cultivate because the Buddha can help you attain Buddhahood. Take a lesson from Ananda: He was the Buddha”s cousin, but the Buddha couldn”t give him samadhi. He still had to diligently apply himself to his own cultivation.

　　所以既然到了萬佛聖城，這是選佛場，就要好好讀書、修行，到考試時才能考上，不要等考不上了，才來後悔！

　　Since you”ve come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the place where Buddhas are selected, you must study diligently to pass the tests. If you fail to do so, it will be too late for regrets.

　　一九八二年五月一日開示于萬佛聖城

　　A talk given on May 1, 1982

　　at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

《佛誕開示 Let Us Emulate the Buddha’s Indomitable Spirit》全文閱讀結束。