..续本文上一页minute and every second, because you don”t know which particular instant you might get enlightened. Someone is thinking, “I don”t want to have wisdom; my stupidity is just fine. If I don”t understand anything, so be it!” You are just trying to fool yourself. When it”s time to die, you”ll realize you”ve wasted your whole life, but by that time it”s too late for regret.

　　佛教在这个国家(美国)正是开始的时候，需要有真真实实的修行人，要躬行实践。要专一其心地修行，要改过自新地修行，要破除习气地修行，为旁人的榜样，这样佛教的前途就光明。如果一开始，就没有真正修行人作为模范，没有发大菩提心者，那么，佛教在西方也不会兴盛起来。所以佛教兴衰的责任，要你们青年人负起这个重担。

　　Buddhism is just beginning in this country (United States), and needs to have true cultivators, people who really practice. We must cultivate by concentrating single-mindedly; we must cultivate by changing our faults and renewing ourselves; we must cultivate by smashing through our bad habits and being a good model for others. If we can do that, Buddhism is sure to have a bright future. But if at the start there aren”t any true cultivators who can serve as good models, and no one makes a great resolve for Bodhi, Buddhism will not be able to prosper in the West. So the prosperity or failure of Buddhism is a great burden which all of you young people must bear.

　　现在三步一拜果真(恒实)和果廷(恒朝)这样诚心地修行，给佛教作为开路的先锋。他们在路上三步一拜，不是为自己求福报，而是为世界求和平。两年多以来，忍饥忍渴，忍寒忍热，忍风忍雨，这样地苦修，非一般人所能做到的。他们能忍人所不能忍的，能让人所不能让的，能吃人所不能吃的，能穿人所不能穿的，不管刮风下雨，照拜不误，不管寒暑饥渴，不休息不懈怠，每天照常做早晚课，一时一刻也不躲懒偷安。他们这样地发奋，就想将佛教推行到全世界去，令它发扬光大。这两位行者，如此辛苦，不是图名，不是贪利，而是以发展佛教为己任。这种精神可嘉可勉！

　　Guo Zhen (Heng Sure) and Guo Ting (Heng Chau), who are now sincerely cultivating on a “three steps, one bow” pilgrimage, are the trailblazing pioneers of Buddhism. They take three steps and bow down on the road, not seeking blessings for themselves, but peace for the world. For more than two years, they have endured hunger, thirst, cold, heat, wind and rain. This kind of bitter cultivation is not something most people can do. They endure what others cannot endure, yield what others cannot yield, eat what others cannot eat, and wear what others cannot wear. Even in the wind and rain, they never miss a bow. In spite of the heat, cold, hunger, and thirst, they never stop to rest. Every day they do the morning and evening ceremonies as usual, not allowing themselves to be lax at any moment. The reason they are so energetic is because they wish to spread Buddhism and make it flourish all over the world. These two cultivators are working so arduously, not out of greed for fame or profit, but because they feel personally responsible for propagating Buddhism. Their spirit is truly commendable, and should be encouraged.

　　你们应该向三步一拜二行者看齐，作为借镜。照照自己，反省一下，对佛教有什么贡献？我所行所作是为自己还是为佛教？如果为自己，就应该生大惭愧心，立刻纠正这种不当的行为；若是为佛教，更要努力，再接再厉，推行佛教，维护佛教，要认真发菩提心，无企图行菩萨道，一切为人得安乐作前提，不为自己利益作打算，这才是菩萨的精神。

　　All of you should strive to be like these “three steps, one bow” cultivators. When you see their example, you should ask yourself, "What have I contributed to Buddhism

　　 Do I do everything for my own sake, or for the sake of Buddhism

　　" If everything I do is for my own sake, I ought to be greatly ashamed and immediately correct my improper behavior. If it is for Buddhism, I should work even harder, and make a determined effort to propagate and support Buddhism. I should earnestly make the resolve to seek Bodhi, and practice the Bodhisattva Way without any expectations or desires. In everything I do, I should make the peace and happiness of others my top priority, and not scheme for my own benefit. That”s the true spirit of a Bodhisattva.

　　你们在禅堂里，跑跑坐坐、坐坐跑跑，觉得很辛苦，若和三步一拜他们的辛苦来比较，那是自在多了。关于这一点，要深深地体会，不要当面错过，交臂失之。这两位行者，若是不发菩提心，不行菩萨道，根本就不能坚持拜到底。

　　You are walking and sitting, sitting and walking, and you think it”s very grueling, but it”s much more comfortable than the toil of bowing every three steps. You should deeply realize this, and not let this opportunity go by in vain. If those two cultivators hadn”t made the Bodhi resolve to practice the Bodhisattva Way, they would find it impossible to persist and bow to the very end.

　　你们在禅堂里，不要打妄想，身在禅堂中，心到世界去观光，这样胡思乱想，会影响修道之心。切记！不要把光阴空过，要把握时机，迎接开悟来临！这样的准备，才能对得起自己；否则，一切空谈。

　　While in the Chan Hall, don”t entertain any idle thoughts. If you do, then although your body is in the hall, your mind is out sightseeing in the world. Those reckless and confused thoughts will affect your resolve to cultivate. By all means, don”t waste time. Use your time well and draw closer to enlightenment. If you prepare yourself in this way, you won”t be sorry. But if you don”t, it”s all just empty words.

　　一九七九年八月二十日开示于

　　万佛圣城

　　A talk given on August 20, 1979

　　in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

《克期取证打禅七 Chan Sessions Are for Seeking Enlightenment in a Limited Time》全文阅读结束。