..续本文上一页道佛──我们的老祖宗在过去修行是不容易的。我们虽然不能一天吃一麻一麦，但也不要贪吃好东西、吃维他命，贪有营养的食物。

　　This is the age of the Dharma”s decline, and we must be true disciples of the Buddha. In the past, our forefather, the Buddha, did not take it easy in his cultivation. Even though we cannot live on one sesame seed and one grain of wheat a day, we should not crave good food either. We should not be greedy for vitamin supplements or rich food.

　　我们这个臭皮囊是四大假合，不是真实的，我们为它做牛、做马、做奴隶做了这么久，造了不知多少罪业；若是仍然看不破、放不下，还是为它做马、做牛，兢兢业业，这真是太没有价值了！所以我们要返本还原，学佛修行，明白人生是痛苦的；证果成佛，这才是真正的快乐。

　　This body is a stinking skin bag; it is only a false combination of the four elements. We have been slaves to our bodies long enough; we have committed too many offenses on its behalf. If we still can”t see through the body and put it down, and we continue to slave and toil for it, we”re really wasting our time. Therefore, we should understand that life is full of suffering, and then we should study Buddhism in order to return to the source. Only by realizing sagehood and becoming a Buddha can we find true happiness.

　　所以值此佛诞纪念日，我们应该效法于佛，应以佛身为己身，佛行为己行，佛心为己心，佛愿为己愿，佛志为己志，要咬起牙来忍苦耐劳，学佛那种不怕艰难困苦的精神。若能如此，每个人都是成佛有份，很快就能了生脱死。

　　Today is the Buddha”s birthday, and we should learn to be like the Buddha. We should take the Buddha”s body as our own body, the Buddha”s conduct as our own conduct, the Buddha”s mind as our own mind, the Buddha”s vows as our own vows, and the Buddha”s will as our own will. We should bear the toil and hardship, and emulate the Buddha”s indomitable spirit. Anyone who can be this way has a chance to become a Buddha, and will quickly be able to end birth and death.

　　佛为求一切智，不惜生命抖擞精神来修行，我们怎可不劳而获就想成佛？既然出家了，如果再不认真去修行，那怎么能对得起佛、菩萨和过去的祖先呢？若一天到晚贪心不除，争心不去，求名求利心也放不下，自私自利心更大，这样怎么能对得起佛，及我们过去的父母祖先？所以我们不应只为自己着想，也应该为他们着想，要打起精神来修行，不要等过了今天，无常鬼不知何时就来了，到那时想多活几天也办不到了。所以，

　　In his quest for perfect wisdom, the Buddha dedicated his life to vigorous cultivation. How can we expect to achieve Buddhahood without exerting any effort at all

　　 Having left the home-life, if we don”t cultivate seriously, how can we face the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and our ancestors

　　 If we are greedy and contentious, pursue fame and profit, and become more and more selfish, how can we face our parents and ancestors

　　 We should be considerate towards others, and not just care about ourselves. We must muster our spirits and cultivate. We can”t put it off until tomorrow, for who knows when the ghost of impermanence will arrive

　　 When he comes, we may want to live for a few more days, but it won”t be possible.

　　莫待老来方学道，

　　孤坟多是少年人。

　　Don”t wait until you”re old to cultivate the Way.

　　The lonely graves are filled with young people.

　　在这世界上，生了又死，死了又生，做得不好，就做畜生。一失人身，万劫难复，所以不要自己骗自己，为自己做辩护律师，自己不修行而认为有一天佛会帮助我成佛。要知道即使像阿难是佛的堂弟，佛也不能给他三昧，他还是要自己努力修行。

　　In this world, we are born and we die, and after dying we are born again. If we don”t live virtuously, we may be reborn as animals. Once we lose the human body, we may not recover it for ten thousand eons. Don”t fool yourself into thinking you don”t need to cultivate because the Buddha can help you attain Buddhahood. Take a lesson from Ananda: He was the Buddha”s cousin, but the Buddha couldn”t give him samadhi. He still had to diligently apply himself to his own cultivation.

　　所以既然到了万佛圣城，这是选佛场，就要好好读书、修行，到考试时才能考上，不要等考不上了，才来后悔！

　　Since you”ve come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the place where Buddhas are selected, you must study diligently to pass the tests. If you fail to do so, it will be too late for regrets.

　　一九八二年五月一日开示于万佛圣城

　　A talk given on May 1, 1982

　　at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

《佛诞开示 Let Us Emulate the Buddha’s Indomitable Spirit》全文阅读结束。