..續本文上一頁麼萬佛城的沙彌、沙彌尼、比丘、比丘尼，都是天天搭著衣的，可是現在還有幾個是沒有脫衣，其余去打禅七的，多數都是不搭衣了，所以這是令我沒有面目回萬佛城的一個最要緊的地方。
我現在對你們大家講這個來龍去脈，前因後果。啊！你們大家想一想，我這麼多年的心血，來一個人，給我改一改，來一個人改一改；來十個人，就改十樣；來二十個人，改二十樣；來一百個人，改一百樣。萬佛城統統也沒有多少，就是吃一餐、搭衣，平時都搭衣。還有，說人坐單、持銀錢戒，這都不是普遍的。坐單也不是普遍的，持銀錢戒也不是普遍的。居然啊！有這個本來修行說八風吹不動，現在我不知道這是哪一股風，就把這些個人都給吹遍了！
你們各位居士想一想，我在美國這兒，這有什麼用呢！沒有用了！所以這個話，我啊！和你們講這話的時候，我心裏很沈痛，因爲我是一個很小氣的人，沒有那麼大量，見不得人不守規矩，見不得人不守諾言。既然跟著我出家，當時發願說，答應我可以吃一餐，爲什麼這麼幾十年過後，就會改了。那我現在還活著，就這樣子；那我死了以後，不知變成什麼樣子了，我痛心也就是這個。現在告訴你們各位，我在如果有必要回萬佛城的時候，我現在做一個假面具，預備戴假面具回去給我這些個徒弟看看，看看我原來是戴假面具，若不戴假面具，沒有真面目回去了。
Venerable Master: "If left-home people do not wear the kashaya sash, it is the same as their going back to lay-life. Because Buddhism in China has always been corrupt, I came overseas to proclaim that left-home people should eat one meal a day and wear the sash in accord with the Buddha”s teaching. At the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, we observed these rules of eating one meal and wearing the sash. Yet during this Chan Session you went so far as to not wear the sash, and to eat three meals a day. I have taught you for so long, yet you were turned by the first state that came along. Are you alive or dead
What kind of guts do you have, that you have been turned around and around like this
If you recognized the true spirit of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, you would rather die than change. ”So you want me to not wear my sash
Tell me to die, but don”t tell me to not wear my sash! Tell me to die, but don”t tell me to not eat one meal a day--with that kind of solid samadhi power, that kind of faith, you are a true member of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Once I recognize my goal, I won”t waver from it even if I have to die. Even if by entering the Chan Hall without my sash, I could get enlightened as soon as I sat down, I wouldn”t dare do it! Now that the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas has become this way, I”m never going back."
(Ven. Master”s lecture at Gold Wheel Monastery 1/23/1993).
In Cultivation, We Should Hold To Our Principles
In cultivation, we should hold fast to our principles, and not forget them. In studying Buddhism, we should also hold to our principles, for they are our goal. Once we recognize our goal clearly, we must advance with vigor and courage, and not retreat. Speaking of this, I remember when I first left home, I thought, "Left-home people are so numerous. Do they all understand the Buddha-dharma
Do they all have a goal
When I investigated into this, I found that a great many left people had no wish to cultivate or to end birth and death, and didn”t have much of a goal at all. They were just passing the time, "eating and waiting for death." Left-home people of this sort do nothing but add to the debts and burdens of Buddhism. They do not benefit Buddhism in any way.
I further discovered that Chinese Buddhism does not even realize what Buddhism is all about. The Buddha expounded the Sutras and proclaimed the Dharma all for the sake of letting future generations understand the Buddha”s teaching. How should Buddhist disciples propagate the Buddha”s teaching
As I thought about this, I observed that Buddhism never planted its roots deeply in China. Buddhism in China is actually rootless, and thus it has not stood firm in the face of tests and oppression. Why is it rootless
Because it failed to recognize the foundation. What is the foundation of Buddhism
The foundation of Buddhism is education! Education must start with the youngest children, instilling them with the knowledge, the wisdom, and the way of thinking of Buddhism. Then, at the very least, a child is raised to be a truly noble and fine citizen of the country and world. With a foundation for his thought and goals to guide his conduct, such a person will be able to vastly propagate Buddhism. …
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