..续本文上一页before it rains.” We should participate in this session every year. Don”t skip a year. Then we will have great affinities with Amitabha Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva. We should recite until we see Amitabha Buddha as our teacher and Guanyin Bodhisattva as our close friend. If we can be the Buddha”s disciple and the Bodhisattva”s friend year after year, month after month, and day after day, we will naturally become old pals. Then when our life is about to end, the Buddha and Bodhisattva will surely come to lead us to the Pure Land in the West. No one should have doubts about it. It is said,

　　Cultivators should be careful not to doubt.

　　Once they doubt, they will be lost.

　　我们听善知识的话，不应该存有半点疑心。譬如善知识说：「修行要下苦功。」你就应该相信。若是你能信得彻底，那么你一定可以明心见性，返本还原。所以我们要常听善知识的开导，他教你「念佛」，你就应该依教来念佛；善知识他叫你「不要任性」，你就不要任性。这就是修道的要诀。

　　When we listen to a Good and Wise Advisor, we should not be the least bit skeptical. For example, if the Good and Wise Advisor says that cultivation requires arduous effort, you should truly believe it. If you believe completely, you will surely be able to understand the mind and see the nature, return to the origin and go back to the source. Therefore, we should always listen to the instructions of a Good and Wise Advisor. If he tells you to recite the Buddha”s name, you should follow the instruction and recite. If he tells you not to be stubborn, then don”t be stubborn. This is the essential secret of cultivation.

　　方才说：「病后始知身是苦」，可是呢？人若是不经过一番的病苦，是绝不肯发心修行的；因为在没病时，他不知痛苦。

　　Earlier we said, “Only after being sick do you realize the body is suffering.” If people don”t go through some pain and suffering, they will not want to cultivate, because they don”t know what pain is if they have never been sick.

　　又有一句话说：「富贵学道难」，若是一个人很富有，那么他样样如意，你叫他如何会想修道呢？所以，贫病都是我们修道的助缘。病来了，也不必忧；贫来了，也不用愁。有一首偈颂这样说：

　　我见他人死，

　　我心热如火；

　　不是热他人，

　　看看轮到我。

　　It”s also said, “It”s hard for the rich and honorable to cultivate.” If a person is wealthy, he can have everything the way he wants, so why should he want to cultivate

　　 So poverty and illnesses are all aiding conditions to our cultivation. When we get sick, there”s no need to be depressed. If we”re poor, there”s no reason to be worried. There”s a verse which goes,

　　When I see someone die,

　　My heart burns like fire.

　　It”s not burning because of him,

　　But because I know it will soon be my turn.

　　自己贫、病，固然应增长修道的心，就是看见别人贫病老死，也要引以为惕。人生有如「长江后浪推前浪」，若能及时发愿往生，则事前有个准备，不至临时手足无措，手忙脚乱了。好像国家若不经过一番变乱，人民都会耽娱爱乐，不晓得爱国卫土。现在的佛教也是如此，现在的人都不谋复兴佛教，所以佛教便显得萎靡。

　　If we are poor or sick ourselves, of course we should quickly resolve to cultivate. If we see others who are poor, sick, aging and dying, we should also take it as a warning. Life is like a succession of waves. If we can make a vow to be reborn, then we will be prepared in advance. We won”t be in a frantic scramble when it comes time to die. It is just like if a country hasn”t passed through times of disorder, the people will indulge in pleasures, and not know that they should be patriotic and defend their country. That”s the situation Buddhism is in right now. Currently no one is working to make Buddhism prosper, so Buddhism seems rather low in spirit.

　　要知道提倡佛教，责任不单单在比丘或比丘尼身上，而是在每一个佛教徒的身上，若是我们每个人都这样引咎自责，那么，还愁佛教不发展吗？现在有些佛教徒以为佛教不及外教时髦，所以不敢对人说自己是个佛教徒，甚至于还附和别人说佛教是迷信的，你说，这样可悲不可悲？譬如九龙的道风山上有一个外道的团体，专门收容那些佛教的比丘及比丘尼，经过他们一番「改造」之后，那些忘本的人竟然毁谤佛教。

　　We should realize that it is not only the Bhikshus and Bhikshunis who are responsible for promoting Buddhism. It is the responsi-bility of every Buddhist. If each and every one of us can take up the responsibility, how can we worry that Buddhism will not thrive

　　But now, there are some Buddhists who think Buddhism is not as fashionable as other religions, so they don”t dare to tell anyone they are Buddhist. In fact, they even agree with others that Buddhism is mere superstition. Isn”t that pathetic

　　 For example, there”s a non-Buddhist group at Daofeng Shan in Jiulung (Hong Kong) which specializes in accepting Buddhist monks and nuns. After they are brainwashed, they forget their roots and actually slander Buddhism.

　　所以真心信佛的人，应宁死不变，提起勇气来，不可因为别人的讥笑或利诱而变志。如果每个人都不忘记自己是个佛教徒，那么佛教复兴是必然的。

　　People who truly believe in Buddhism would rather die than change their faith. We should pluck up our courage, and not let our resolve waver even if others make fun of us or tempt us. If every Buddhist remembers that he is a Buddhist, Buddhism will naturally prosper again.

　　一般的外道虽然目前盛极一时，可是天道循环，物极必反，大家切不可被外表的兴衰而动摇自己的心志啊！真理是不灭的，佛教的复兴全凭大家的努力！

　　Although other religions may experience temporary prosperity, the way of Heaven is a cycle, and when one extreme is reached, things turn around. No one should let their resolve be influenced by superficial signs of prosperity or decline. The truth is never extinguished. The flourishing of Buddhism depends on everyone”s hard work!

　　一九五八年六月十七日上午开示

　　A talk given on the morning of June 17, 1958

《毋临渴而掘井 Dont Wait Till Youre Thirsty to Dig a Well》全文阅读结束。