什么是佛法
What is Buddhadharma?
修道，就是要「倒过来」。
Cultivating the Way simply means to “turn ourselves around.”
什么叫佛法？佛法，就是世间法；不过是世间人所不愿意行的法。世间人忙忙碌碌、奔奔波波，出发点无非是自私，是为了保护自己的生命财产。而佛法，是大公无私，是为了利益他人。学佛法，一举一动都要为他人着想，把自我看轻了，舍己为人，不令他人生烦恼，这就是佛法。一般人往往对于这一点认识不清楚，所以在佛教里争争吵吵、烦烦恼恼、是是非非，跟一般世俗人没有两样，甚至于有过之而无不及。一边学佛，一边造罪业；一边立功，一边损德。这样，对佛教不但没有利益，反而有大害。这就是佛所说的：「狮子身中虫，自食狮子肉。」
What is Buddhadharma? Buddhadharma is simply worldly dharma, but it's a variety of worldly dharma that most people are unwilling to use. Worldly people are always busy running here and there, constantly hurried and agitated. The source of all this activity is invariably selfishness, motivated by a concern to protect one's life and possessions. Buddhadharma, on the other hand, is unselfish and public-spirited, and springs from a wish to benefit others. As we learn the Buddhadharma, our every action gradually comes to include in its scope a concern for others. The ego gradually loses its importance. We should give up our own interests in service to others, and avoid bringing affliction to others. These are the hallmarks of Buddhadharma. But most people fail to clearly understand these basic ideas. As a result, within Buddhist circles we find struggle and contention, troubles and hassles, quarrels and strife. We find an atmosphere not at all different from that of ordinary people. Sometimes the relationships within Buddhist groups don't even measure up to the standards of ordinary social conduct. Such people study Buddhism on the one hand and create offenses on the other. They do good deeds, and in the next breath destroy the merit and virtue they've earned. Instead of advancing the cause of Buddhism, such behavior actually harms it. The Buddha referred to such people as “parasites on the lion, feeding off the lion's flesh.”
身为佛弟子，在佛教里这么自私自利，看不破，放不下，怎会与佛法有所相应？学佛的人要：
真认自己错，
莫论他人非；
他非即我非，
同体名大悲。
We Buddhist disciples cannot expect any results from our cultivation if we're selfish and profiteering, unable to put things down and see through our attachments. The motto of Buddhists must be:
Truly recognize your own faults,
And don't discuss others' wrongs.
Others' wrongs are just my own:
Being of one substance with all things is called Great Compassion.
要彻底了解佛教的真理，自己必须先要修忍辱、布施，才能有所成就。必须要「翻过来」，这也就是与世俗的人有所不同，不要同流合污。修道，就是要「倒过来」，这是什么意思呢？就是「好事给他人，坏事与自己。」舍弃小我，完成大我。
If we want to thoroughly understand the truths of Buddhism, then we must first cultivate patience and giving. Then we can come to accomplishment. We must turn ourselves around and be different from ordinary people. We can no longer flow along with the turbid currents of the world. Cultivating the Way simply means to “turn ourselves around.” What is that? It means to “give desirable situations and benefits to other people, while absorbing the unfavorable situations ourselves.” We renounce the petty self in order to bring to perfection the greater self.
你们皈依我的人，都是我身上的血和肉。无论把哪一块肉割去，都是很痛的。无论哪一个地方流血，元气都会受损伤的，所以你们要互相团结。为了要使佛教发扬光大，就要吃人所不愿意吃的亏，受人所不能受的侮辱。心量要放大，行为要真实。如果不向真的去做，佛菩萨是知道的，我们不能欺骗佛菩萨。大家要检讨己过，痛改前非，真正认识自己以往的颠倒和不合理的作风。要老老实实，忘记自己，而为整个佛教、整个社会服务。
All disciples who have taken refuge with me are like the flesh and blood of my own body. No matter which piece of flesh is severed from my body, it hurts me just the same. No matter where I bleed, the wound injures my constitution. Because of this, all of you must unite together. To make Buddhism expand and flourish, you must take a loss in places where most people are unable to sustain a loss. You must endure the insults that ordinary people find unendurable. Expand the measure of your minds, and be true in your actions. When you're not trying to be true, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are aware of it. No one can cheat them. Each of you should examine your own faults and earnestly remedy the flaws in your character. Truly recognize where in the past you've been upside-down and where your behavior has departed from principle. Be honest, forget about yourself, and work for the sake of all of Buddhism and all of society.
本来在世界上，无论哪一个团体，哪一个社会，都是错综复杂，互相勾心斗角。在金山圣寺、万佛圣城、金轮圣寺，以及隶属法界佛教总会的所有道场，都要把这种情形改善。当然，不能马上改得很圆满，可是也要一步一步做去，改到最圆满、最彻底、最究竟的地步。然后，还要念兹在兹保存这种良好的行为、志愿，去推展佛教，令佛教发扬光大。这是每个佛弟子应有的责任。佛教若不兴旺，乃是因为我本人没有尽到责任。不要把责任推诿到他人身上。若能这样，不久的将来，佛教一定能发扬光大，推行到世界每一个角落！
No matter where you look in the world, every organization and every society has its own complications and power struggles. At Gold Mountain Monastery, Gold Wheel Monastery, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and the other Way-places that belong to the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, we must correct these faults. Naturally we can't expect perfection immediately, but we can hope to improve step by step. We can change things until we reach the ultimate point of perfection. Then in thought after thought, we must preserve this wholesome behavior and maintain our resolve and purpose as we go about disseminating Buddhism, so that its light spreads far and wide. All disciples of the Buddha share this responsibility equally. We must think, “If Buddhism fails to flourish, I haven't fulfilled my responsibility.” Don't pass your duty to others. If we can shoulder our responsibility in this way, then in the near future, Buddhism will certainly expand and spread to every corner of the world!
身为佛弟子，天天求佛庇佑，不外求佛帮助我，或者助我发财，或者助我升官，或者助我开智慧──只知道求佛帮助自己，但没有想想我们对佛教有什么贡献？是不是拿出真心来？就在这个地方我们要常常回光返照。
皈依时发菩萨四宏誓愿：
As Buddhist disciples, do we seek the Buddhas' aid every day? Do we pray that the Buddha will help us get rich, help us rise to power, or help us develop wisdom? Are we concerned only with personal advantages? Do we forget all about making a contribution to Buddhism? Have we brought forth a genuine resolve or not? Right at this point we must reflect inwardly. When we took refuge with the Triple Jewel, we made the four vast vows of Bodhisattvas:
(一)众生无边誓愿度。问问自己：「我度了众生吗？」若度了，不妨再多度一点；若没有度，就要赶快发心度众生。
1. Living beings are numberless, I vow to save them all. Ask yourself, “Have I saved any living beings?” If so, then why not save a few more? And if not, then all the more reason to quickly resolve to rescue living beings.
(二)烦恼无尽誓愿断。烦恼是无穷无尽的，但要把它反过来，化为菩提。反过来没有？若还没有，就快点把它反过来。
2. Afflictions are infinite, I vow to cut them off. There is a limitless quantity of afflictions, but we must reverse them, transform them into Bodhi. “Have I reversed them?” If not, then quickly turn them over right away!
(三)法门无量誓愿学。自我检讨：有没有学佛法？有没有为佛教出点力？是不是学了死死板板的佛法，不懂得活用，一日曝之，十日寒之？
3. Dharma-doors are measureless, I vow to learn them all. Ask yourself, “Have I learned any of the Buddhadharma? Have I brought forth the slightest bit of strength for Buddhism? Have I been too rigid and inflexible in my study of the teachings? Isn't it the case that my study of Dharma-doors is off and on?”
(四)佛道无上誓愿成。天下没有比佛道更超脱、更究竟的法门。我有没有真正发愿去成佛？不但是自己成佛，还要度一切众生成佛！
4. The Buddha's Way is supreme, I vow to realize it. There is no dharma on earth that surpasses the Buddha's Way, nor one that is more ultimate. Have I really made a resolve to accomplish Buddhahood? What's more, we shouldn't resolve to accomplish Buddhahood for ourselves alone, but to take all living beings across to Buddhahood.
且看，释迦牟尼佛往昔「三只修福慧，百劫种相好。」为半句偈而舍生命，这种精神是多么伟大！为法之诚，多么高超！大家要效法这种精神。洛杉矶的金轮圣寺，我每个月来一次，差不多有三、四年了。我觉得你们每个人没有从佛法得到真正的利益，没有真正体会到佛法伟大的精神。还是把自己画到佛法的外边去，未能深入。
In the past, Shakyamuni Buddha “cultivated blessings and wisdom for three great innumerable eons, and developed the fine features and hallmarks for one hundred eons.” He gave up his life for half a verse of Dharma. How great his spirit was! His sincerity in seeking the Dharma was truly noble. We should all imitate his model of vigor. I come to Gold Wheel Monastery in Los Angeles once a month, and have done so for nearly four years. I feel that none of you has gained any genuine benefit from the Dharma. You haven't truly experienced the greatness of the Buddhadharma's spirit. Instead you have placed yourselves outside the Buddhadharma, without being able to deeply enter it.
要想佛教兴盛，首先要从自己身上做起，要献出真心，为佛教牺牲、努力，不要在小圈子里混。应以法界为体，虚空为用，「应无所住而生其心」，每个人果真能这样，那么佛教就会发达。
Our attitude should be, “If Buddhism is going to flourish, then it must begin with my own person.” What we need are true hearts, endowed with a genuine spirit of devotion to the Buddhadharma. Work hard and break free of the small circles that you've drawn around yourselves. Take the entire Dharma Realm as your own body! Let all of empty space be your field of action! This means, “bring forth thoughts that linger nowhere.” If every person would really do this, then Buddhism could truly flourish in this country.
