The Real Treasure of Buddhism

　　佛教的真寶貝！

　　Why must we suffer in this country

　　 It is because this country has immense blessings. When blessings are great, we have to turn around and suffer a bit. This is because if one does not enjoy one”s blessings, then one is able to bring forth the aspiration to realize Buddhahood. “I must cultivate! If I do not cultivate, this life will be worthless! Having good clothes that I cannot wear, good meals that I cannot partake, a good house that I cannot stay in, I am undergoing intense suffering. I must therefore work hard and transcend birth and death.” The Chan Hall is like a giant furnace; let”s see if you can take it. Let”s see if you can endure a beating. Do not be like modern-day people who resort to violence or run away when someone says something they don”t like.

　　我們爲什麼在這個國家要這麼苦呢？因爲這國家福報太大了，福報太大就要受點苦，要倒過來；因爲你不享受，你才能發一種道心「我一定要修行，我要不修行，這樣子太沒有價值了！放著好衣服不穿，放著好飯不吃，放著好房子不住，我受這麼大的苦，這一定要用功的，要了生死的。」禅堂就像一個大冶洪爐似的，看你受得了受不了？看你被人打，能忍不能忍？不是像現在的人，被人說一句也受不了，不行了，甚至要拿刀動槍，也有的就要跑了。

　　Real cultivators are not afraid of being scolded or beaten. There is a saying, “Not retreating when beaten or scolded, one is a real treasure in Buddhism.” The cultivator practicing patience should have this quality. “Others may be most unkind to me but I have to endure it. They are actually helping me perfect the paramita of patience.” If you have this proper view, then you will be able to cultivate. Otherwise, once there is a little suffering, you will try to run away. Where can you run

　　 Once you run to the hells, we shall see where else can you go!

　　真正修道的人不怕打、不怕罵，所謂「打不退罵不退，佛教的真寶貝。」忍辱是修道的人應該具有的條件，「人家就是對我再不好，我都要忍耐，他正是幫助我修道，助我成就忍辱波羅蜜。」你要有這樣的看法，那才能修道；不是受點委屈就要跑了，你跑到什麼地方去？跑到地獄去，看你還往什麼地方跑！