要修行，不能没有福
One Must Have Blessings in Order to Cultivate

朱建和 讲于万佛城大殿2001年10月3日星期三晚
SPOKEN BY JOHN CHU IN THE BUDDHA HALL ON THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2001
无尽根 英译 ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY INEXHAUSTIBLE ROOT

It is not easy to live in a monastery. When you work in a big institute or a big company, what they look for is your talent, your knowledge, your ability, your Ph.D., and your management skill. But in a monastery like our Wayplace, we emphasize virtue, following rules, and benefiting the community. We are here in order to end birth and death and that is why we request the Dharma every night.

我们能到寺庙来工作，学习佛法，是很难得的机会，在世间的机关或公司工作，它们所重视的是你的才干、能力、学问，比如硕士、博士学位，是不是能力很强会办事。但是寺院不一样，佛门重视的是德行，要能严持戒律，遵守规矩，拥护道场，才能进一步自觉觉他，利益众生。我们每晚听经之前先请法，请法文很清楚地指出「了生脱死，离苦得乐」--这正是我们来这里的目的。

Of course the Buddhadharma is not separate from worldly Dharma, but it is not enough just to learn worldly Dharma. Recently someone from the Midwest came here and I asked him, "How long do you plan to stay?" "The longer the better. This is such a fine place." But in order to attain the "fruit" of staying here for longer periods of time there must be a "cause." One must prepare for it. Or your wish might just not be realized.

虽然佛法不离世间法，但是只学世间法还不够，因为世间法不能真正「了生脱死，离苦得乐」。最近有一位刚从美国中西部来圣城的年轻人，我问他：「你希望在此住多久？」「当然越久越好啊！这里样样都很好。」我劝他为了要达到住在道场越久越好这个果，就必须先种这个因；也就是需要先准备坚固的基础，才能在这里住得久。否则的话，只是空谈。

It is said, "Barracks are made of iron and soldiers are like flowing water." Perhaps we can also say, "Temples are made of bricks and the residents are like flowing water." I often see people coming and going; some stay longer and some shorter. Those who stay longer usually have a good foundation for a prolonged stay. Other than following rules, one must offer some service to the temple as a way of making a contribution.

有句话说：「铁打的营房，流水的兵。」也可以说：「砖盖的寺庙，流水的修行人。」道场来来去去的人，有的待得时间长，有的待得短，要能够有住长久一点的基础，除了要遵守道场规矩之外，就是要为大众服务，要对道场有所贡献。

When the Venerable Master was with us he often called the office and asked, "Any newcomers?" We would answer, "There is a so-and-so and he is very capable, but he wants this and that." The Venerable Master would say, "When someone first comes here, before he has made any contributions to the Wayplace, you can just tell him, 'Wait for a while. Be content with what you have for now.'" The Master felt that, "When one comes here, one should first learn the rules and understand the situation. Generally, one should be here for six to twelve months before going to the podium to speak so one will not waste people's time." It is also best that newcomers not talk too much, especially about left-home people. Left-home people should managed their own affairs, and lay people should not gossip about them either openly or covertly. Neither should they gossip about other lay people. In addition to following the rules, one must offer some service to the temple as a way of making a contribution.

上人住世时经常打电话到办公室来，有时垂询：「最近有什么新人来吗？」我们就禀告，「有这么一个人来，他很有能力，但是他要求这个待遇，那个待遇……。」上人答复：「新来的人，对道场还没有实际的贡献，先将就一点，过一段时间再说。」又说：「新来的人要先学规矩，先了解道场的情况；新来圣城还不到半年或者一年以上，没有特别的情况，不能随便上台来报告讲话，避免浪费大家的时间。」除了利益大众，要先修福惜福之外，新来的人能够少说话比较好，特别不要说出家人是非。理想的情况是，出家人事情自己处理，也就是「僧事僧管」；在家人不要面前背后讲出家人的是非。新来的人，除了不要讲僧人的是非之外，也不要讲在家人的是非。

The Venerable Master was not the only person who said this. In the Venerable Master Guangqin's instructional talk, he too says that newcomers should do outdoor work for the Wayplace for two or three years as a form of training. They should first observe before they get involved in doing other things." That will be beneficial for their future practice. In Chinese history, during the Tang Dynasty, when Prime Minister Pei Xiu's son came to Elder Master Weishan's monastery to study the Buddhadharma, he was put to work as water carrier. He carried water for everyone in the Wayplace for three years. Some of us may come from a top-ranking official's family, but if we plan to stay here for longer periods of time, we should work on our foundation for a long term stay The longer you wish to stay here, the better foundation you should build. When the Buddha was in the world he took care of sick monks personally He threaded needles for his blind disciple. Even though the Buddha was already replete with blessings and wisdom, he didn't forgo any opportunities to cultivate blessings.

不只是上人这样地讲，其他道场也是一样。在上广下钦老和尚的开示录中，广老说：「新来的人，先在外坡做两、三年的磨练，为道场做事情，先观察一下，再做其他的事情。」新来寺院的人，先再外坡做二、三年的磨练，这样对他以后的修行有帮助。在中国唐朝时，裴休丞相送儿子到沩山老人的道场出家学佛法。即使是丞相的儿子，在道场头三年也都是整天挑水给大众喝，从来没有机会听一次讲经，或到佛学院上一堂课。也许目前有些人的父母亲是高官，即使这样，也还是要先为道场大众服务；为了要在这里与大众共同熏修，越要打好基础。佛陀住世时，也自己亲身照顾病僧，照顾其他的出家人，为眼盲的弟子穿针。佛陀已经福足慧足了，但是还不舍弃修福报的机会。

When the Venerable Master was young, he left the home-life at Three Conditions Monastery in Manchuria in northeast China, where snow is common in the bitterly cold winters. The monks had to walk through the deep snow to get to the recitation ceremonies in the Buddha Hall. Their cloth shoes would get wet, and of course they felt cold. The Venerable Mater said he would get up earlier, before the morning recitation, and shovel the snow on the path leading to the Buddha Hall. He quietly did this on his own without letting anybody know. He didn't go around telling everyone in order to promote himself. The Buddha was that way and so was the Venerable Master. Quietly they made their contributions. That is how we cultivate blessings, which are like our capital in cultivation. Just as worldly people must have money in order to sustain themselves, cultivators must have blessings in order to cultivate.

上人年轻时在东北三缘寺出家，那边冬天经常下雪，三缘寺的法师们在下雪天的清晨，从寮房踩着厚厚的雪到佛殿，鞋子与脚都湿了，又湿又冷。上人自动自发，每次下雪他就提早一个或半个小时起床，拿铲子将寮房到佛殿地上的积雪，清理得干干净净，让其他法师们走路上殿时比较轻松。他一直这样默默地做，没让人知道，更没敲锣打鼓宣传。佛陀是这样，上人也是这样，默默为大众奉献。这就是培福，也是修行人的本钱。好像世俗人不能没有钱，修行人也是不能没有福。