修行叁秘訣:真、誠、恒
The Secret to Cultivation: Be True, Sincere, and Constant
若不能謙虛忍讓;不肯承認自己的過錯,就會有很多障礙。
If you are not humble, gracious, and willing to admit your mistakes, you will encounter many obstacles.
修行不可各處賣修行,賣廣告;一賣修行,就會著魔。有些修行人是諸佛來護持,有的是菩薩來護持,有的是阿羅漢來護持,有的是天人來護持,有的是鬼神來護持,有的是人來護持。有的則是邪魔鬼怪來護持,因爲他們看你心邪怪僻,就想來與你作伴。一旦有邪知邪見,就生很多魔──貢高我慢心、狂傲心。若不能謙虛忍讓,不肯承認自己的過錯,就會有很多障礙。所以我今天要告訴你們最真實的修行法,修行有叁秘訣:
We should not go around advertising our cultivation. If we sell our cultivation, we may become possessed by demons. Some cultivators are protected by Buddhas, while others are protected by Bodhisattvas, Arhats, gods, ghosts, spirits, or people. Some cultivators are protected by demons and ghosts; such beings draw near to cultivators who have deviant minds. When you embrace deviant views, you may encounter demonic states of arrogance and pride. If you are not humble, gracious, and willing to admit your mistakes, you will encounter many obstacles.
Today I want to tell you about the most honest kind of cultivation. There are three secrets to it:
(一)真:不能虛僞,什麼事都要往真的做。
1. Be true in everything you do; don”t be hypocritical.
(二)誠:要必恭必敬,很誠懇,不懈怠,不馬虎。
2. Always be extremely sincere and respectful; don”t be lazy or negligent.
(叁)恒:恒常不變,恒遠不逾。
3. Be constant, persevering, and steadfast.
凡是一舉一動、一言一行,都要有堅、誠、恒叁心。做什麼事都有這叁心,將來一定會有成就。
In every move you make and every word you say, be true, sincere, and constant. If your mind is true, sincere, and constant, you will certainly succeed at whatever you do.
一九八二年十月廿二日開示
A talk given on October 22, 1982