..续本文上一页self-nature wants to leave, it cannot go freely. When it wants to return, it cannot return. If it goes out, it cannot come back; when it comes back, it cannot leave again. Is this what you call freedom

　　 Every person”s body is a jail, but you don”t understand this.

　　我们现在坐禅，一进禅堂，就不准出禅堂的门口。谁一出去，香板就往头上、背上打下去，这就是打七。打观音七也是一样不准出禅堂，谁一出去，就要打，因为谁叫你来的！有人说：「我是看到公告，所以才来。」可是公告上面，并没有写来了就可以走。走，可以的，但是要付大家的伙食费，才可以走；否则是不可以走的。为什么呢？因为你一走，旁人看你走，也跟着走了。你也走，他也走，大家都走了，这叫做破坏道场。因为免得你有破坏道场的罪，所以你需要负担大家的伙食费。如果你付不起，那就最好不要走！

　　Therefore, during our Chan session, once you enter the Chan hall, you stay. You”re not allowed to go out of the door whenever you want. Anyone who wants to leave will be hit on the head, shoulders, and back by the proctor”s stick. This is during a Chan Meditation Session. When we hold a Guanyin Recitation Session, it”s also the same way: no one is allowed to leave the hall. Anyone who leaves is in line for a beating, because who told you to come in the first place

　　 You say, "I saw the announcement; that”s what brought me here." Well, the announcement didn”t say that you”re free to leave after you come. Actually, you may leave, but only on the condition that you pay everyone”s food bill for the entire session. Otherwise, you can”t go. Why not

　　 Because as soon as you go, other people will watch you leave and they”ll want to go, too. Once you leave, another person will leave, and then everybody will go. That”s called "destroying the Way-place." So in order to avoid creating the offense of destroying the Way-place, you should pay for everyone”s food. If you can”t afford it, then the best thing would be for you not to go!

　　你们各位都是有缘，才到金山圣寺来。要是没有缘，连金山圣寺的门口也没法子进来。既然是有缘，大家不妨做观音法会上的朋友。大家手拉着手，一起向前开步走。到什么地方呢？到每个人心中想要到的地方。我们每个人都要帮助其他人，为什么我要这样说呢？因为我怕你们走错路。

　　All the people who”ve come to Gold Mountain Monastery for this session have deep affinities with one another. If you didn”t share these affinities, you wouldn”t have entered the door of Gold Mountain Monastery. Since we have these ties, why don”t we become friends within this Guanyin Dharma Session

　　 Let”s all join hands and go forward together. Where are we going

　　 We”re going wherever each of us wants to go. Each one of us should help the others out. Why am I saying this

　　 Because I don”t want you to go down the wrong path.

　　一九七六年观音七三月十五日开示

　　A talk given on March 15, 1976, during

　　a Guanyin Recitation Session

《法法皆通念观音 Penetrate Every Dharma: Recite the Name of Guanyin Bodhisattva》全文阅读结束。