《楞嚴經》是照妖鏡
The Shurangama Sutra Is a Demon-spotting Mirror
◎一九八八年十一月九日 開示於臺灣高雄元亨寺
A talk given on November 9, 1988, at Yuan Heng Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
南無薩怛他
蘇伽多耶
阿羅訶帝
三藐三菩陀寫
南無薩怛他
佛陀俱胝瑟尼釤
南無薩婆
勃陀勃地
薩多鞞弊
南無薩多南
三藐三菩陀俱知南
娑舍囉婆迦
僧伽喃
南無盧雞阿羅漢多喃
南無蘇盧多波那喃
南無娑羯唎陀伽彌喃
南無盧雞三藐伽多喃
三藐伽波囉
底波多那喃
南無提婆離瑟赧
南無悉陀耶
毗地耶
陀囉離瑟赧
舍波奴
揭囉訶
娑訶娑囉摩他喃
南無跋囉訶摩尼
南無因陀囉耶
NA MO SA DAN TUO
SU QIE DUO YE
E LA HE DI
SAN MIAO SAN PU TUO XIE
NA MO SA DAN TUO
FO TUO JU ZHI SHAI NI SHAN
NA MO SA PO
BO TUO BO DI
SA DUO PI BI
NA MO SA DUO NAN
SAN MIAO SAN PU TUO JU ZHI NAN
SUO SHE LA PO JIA
SENG QIE NAN
NA MO LU JI E LUO HAN DUO NAN
NA MO SU LU DUO BO NUO NAN
NA MO SUO JIE LI TUO QIE MI NAN
NA MO LU JI SAN MIAO QIE DUO NAN
SAN MIAO QIE BO LA
DI BO DUO NUO NAN
NA MO TI PO LI SHAI NAN
NA MO XI TUO YE
PI DI YE
TUO LA LI SHAI NAN
SHE PO NU
JIE LA HE
SUO HE SUO LA MO TUO NAN
NA MO BA LA HE MO NI
NA MO YIN TUO LA YE
方才讀的這一遍，這是〈楞嚴咒〉的前邊二十八句，這二十八句是教我們「皈依盡虛空遍法界，一切諸佛、一切菩薩、一切聲聞、緣覺、一切諸天」。那麼最後那個「南無因陀囉耶」，這一句就是我們中國人所說的玉皇大帝。所以不懂佛法的人，他說：「玉皇大帝那是道教的，我們不要拜他。」他不知道這玉皇大帝就是這個帝釋天；可是我們做佛的弟子，也要恭敬他，也要來攝受他。在〈楞嚴咒〉這前一段，這也是護持三寶的一段，所以念上這一段咒的時候，一切的妖魔鬼怪他都要退避三舍；不止退避三舍，他要退到他所不能退的那個地方去。
What I just recited was the first twenty-eight lines of the Shurangama Mantra. These twenty-eight lines tell us to take refuge in all the Buddhas, all the Bodhisattvas, all the Hearers, all Those Enlightened by Conditions, and all the gods throughout empty space and the Dharma Realm. The last line, "Na mo yin tuo la ye," refers to what Chinese people call the Jade Emperor. Those who do not understand the Buddhadharma say, "The Jade Emperor belongs to Daoism. We shouldn't bow to him." They don't realize that the Jade Emperor is just Lord Shakra. As Buddhist disciples, we should also respect him and gather him in. This first section of the Shurangama Mantra is the section for protecting and supporting the Triple Jewel. Therefore, when this section is recited, all the demons, goblins, ghosts, and other strange creatures flee far away. They retreat as far as they can go.
所以我們在佛教裏頭，如果有一個人能在這個世界上念〈楞嚴咒〉，這妖魔鬼怪他都不敢公然出現於世；如果一個人也沒有了，也沒有人會背〈楞嚴咒〉了，這時候妖魔鬼怪他們都出現於世了。他們在這個世界上為非作歹，一般人也不認識他們了。現在因為有人會念〈楞嚴咒〉，所以妖魔鬼怪他不敢公然出現於世。你念這一段咒文，有四句話可以來表達這段咒文的意思。這四句話說的：
Therefore, in Buddhism it is said that if there is even one person in the world who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, then the demons, goblins, ghosts, and all the other weird creatures will not dare to openly show themselves in the world. If not even one person can recite the Shurangama Mantra from memory, then at that point all the demons, goblins, ghosts, and all the other weird creatures will appear in the world. They will wreak havoc, but no one will recognize them. Right now, since there are still people who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, the demons, goblins, ghosts, and all the other weird creatures don't dare to openly show themselves in the world. There is a verse which expresses the meaning of this section of mantra.
千朵紅蓮護住身，
坐駒騎著墨麒麟，
萬魔一見往遠躲，
濟公法師有妙音。
A thousand red lotuses protect one's body.
As one sits astride a black unicorn.
Seeing this, the myriad demons go away to hide.
Dharma Master Ji Gong had this wonderful sound.
「千朵紅蓮護住身」：我們佛教都知道這個蓮華，有千朵紅蓮來護持你這個身。
「坐駒騎著墨麒麟」：你一念這個咒，你這個持咒的人是坐到一個麒麟的身上。
「萬魔一見往遠躲」：他都跑了，不敢面對這種大威德的相。我們人人都知道佛教裏頭有一位濟公，當初濟公就是專用這一段咒文的，所以說「濟公法師有妙音」。這是這一段咒文大概的意思，那麼至於要詳細說呢，這個〈楞嚴咒〉是妙不可言的。所以說：
奧妙無窮實難猜，
金剛密語本性來；
楞嚴咒裏有靈妙，
五眼六通道凡開。
A thousand red lotuses protect one's body. A thousand red lotuses come to protect your body.
As one sits astride a black unicorn. When you recite the mantra, you are sitting astride a unicorn.
Seeing this, the myriad demons go away to hide. They all flee, because they are afraid to face such awesome virtue. We all know about the character Ji Gong in Buddhism. In his time, Ji Gong used this section of mantra, so the verse says, Dharma Master Ji Gong had this wonderful sound. This verse gives the general meaning of this section of mantra text. If we were to go into detail, the Shurangama Mantra is wonderful beyond words. Thus it is also said:
The esoteric wonder is inexhaustible.
It is truly difficult to fathom.
The secret words of Vajra come from
the inherent nature.
The Shurangama Mantra contains
miraculous wonders.
Cultivators and ordinary people can open
the Five Eyes and Six Penetrations.
「奧妙無窮實難猜」：〈楞嚴咒〉非常奧妙，它這個變化也是不可思議，很不容易測度的。「金剛密語本性來」：這個金剛密語，〈楞嚴咒〉是密中之密，這是金剛來護持這個咒。本性來，它是從自己那個佛性生出來的。「楞嚴咒裏有靈妙」：這個〈楞嚴咒〉也叫做靈文，因為他特別靈，特別有力量，所以說「楞嚴咒裏有靈妙」。「五眼六通道凡開」：你若能常持〈楞嚴咒〉，專心一致，心不旁騖，你可以得到五眼六通，可以有不可思議那種的境界來變化莫測的，所以不是一般凡夫俗子可能知道的。因為這個，所以希望大家都能讀誦《楞嚴經》，背誦〈楞嚴咒〉。
The esoteric wonder is inexhaustible. It is truly difficult to fathom. The Shurangama Mantra is extremely wonderful, and its transformations are inconceivable. It is very difficult to fathom. The secret words of Vajra come from the inherent nature. The secret words of Vajra, the Shurangama Mantra, is the secret within the secret. It is Vajra that supports and protects this mantra, which comes from our own Buddha-nature. The Shurangama Mantra contains miraculous wonders. The Shurangama Mantra is also known as a magical text. It is very miraculous and especially potent. That's why it is said, "The Shurangama Mantra contains miraculous wonders." Cultivators and ordinary people can open the Five Eyes and Six Penetrations. If you constantly recite the Shurangama Mantra with single-minded concentration, not thinking of anything else, you can attain the Five Eyes and the Six Penetrations. You can experience inconceivable states and transformations which are beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Therefore, I hope everyone will study and recite the Shurangama Sutra, and recite the Shurangama Mantra from memory.
一般的學者說：《楞嚴經》是假的，不是佛說的，又有什麼考證，又有什麼地方記載。這都是他怕《楞嚴經》，沒有辦法來應付《楞嚴經》這個道理。《楞嚴經》中他們所最怕的，就是〈四種清淨明誨〉。這〈四種清淨明誨〉是照妖鏡，把所有妖魔鬼怪都給照現原形了；還有那個〈五十陰魔〉把天魔外道他們的骨頭都給看穿了，把他們妖怪的這種相貌都給認識了。哪一位能讀誦，能把《楞嚴經》背得出來，那是真正佛的弟子。
Most scholars say the Shurangama Sutra is false and claim that it was not spoken by the Buddha. They say they have various pieces of evidence and documents to support it. This is all because they fear the Shurangama Sutra and have no way to deal with the principles in the Shurangama Sutra. What they fear most in the Shurangama Sutra are the Four Clear Instructions on Purity. The Four Clear Instructions on Purity serve as a demon-spotting mirror. All the demons, goblins, ghosts, and weird creatures are reflected in their true form. Furthermore, the section on the Fifty Skandha-demons exposes the celestial demons and externalists to the bone, enabling people to recognize their demonic appearance. Anyone who can memorize the Shurangama Sutra is a true disciple of the Buddha.
《楞嚴經》在佛法末法的時候是先斷滅的。為什麼它斷滅？就因為這一些個學者啊，又是什麼教授啊，甚至於出家人，都說它是假的。那麼他們這種的言論，久而久之，被人以訛傳訛，就認為他們所說的是對的，所以就認為《楞嚴經》是假的了，連佛教徒也認為它是假的，久而久之，這個經就沒有了。所謂經典斷滅也就是這樣子，大家不學習，它就沒有了，就這樣斷滅了。
In the declining period of the Buddha-dharma, the first Sutra to disappear will be the Shurangama Sutra. Why will it disappear? Because these so-called scholars, professors, and even left-home people all claim it is false. Over time, their theory will become widespread, and people will all believe what they say and take the Shurangama Sutra to be false. Even Buddhist disciples will consider it false, and after a while the Sutra will disappear. That is how the Sutras become extinct. People no longer study them, so they disappear.
《楞嚴經》裏〈四種清淨明誨〉說得非常地正確，非常地肯定，就說這個殺、盜、淫、妄，所以一般學者、教授就怕這〈四種清淨明誨〉，他們就想得到不明白的那個誨，這個明誨他們就很怕很怕的。因為如果說《楞嚴經》是真的，他們就沒有立足之地了，他那種又抽煙、又喝酒、又玩女人，就立不住了，被人家都認識他了。所以你看看，《楞嚴經》裏所講的道理，是非常正確的，非常有邏輯學的，再沒有比這個說得更清楚了。《楞嚴經》全部經，就是一部照妖鏡，所以這照妖鏡一懸起來，這個妖魔鬼怪都膽顫心驚。
In the Shurangama Sutra, the Four Clear Instructions on Purity which explain killing, stealing, lust, and lying, are absolutely accurate and definite. That's why those scholars and professors fear the Four Clear Instructions on Purity. They only want to listen to muddled instructions and are terribly afraid of the Clear Instructions. If they admitted that the Shurangama Sutra is true, they would have no ground to stand upon. They would not be able to defend their smoking, drinking, and womanizing, for everyone would know them for what they are. The principles of the Shurangama Sutra are extremely accurate, extremely logical, and as clear as can be. That is why the entire Shurangama Sutra is a demon-spotting mirror. When this demon-spotting mirror is hung up, the demons, goblins, ghosts, and weird creatures are frightened out of their wits.
我方才所說的話，所解釋的《楞嚴經》和〈楞嚴咒〉這個道理，如果不合乎佛的心、不合乎經的意，如果《楞嚴經》是假的，我願意永遠永遠在地獄裏，再不到世上來見所有的人。我雖然是一個很愚癡的人，可是也不會笨得願意到地獄去，不再出來。各位由這一點，應該深信這個《楞嚴經》和〈楞嚴咒〉。
If what I have just said about the Shurangama Sutra and Shurangama Mantra does not accord with the Buddhas' mind and the Sutra's meaning, and if the Shurangama Sutra is really false, I am willing to stay forever in the hells and never come out to see the people in the world. Although I am a stupid person, I am not so foolish that I would want to go to the hells and never come out. For that reason, you should all deeply believe in the Shurangama Sutra and Shurangama Mantra.
我方才所說的我的願力是這樣子，如果不合乎佛心，我願意下地獄。那麼我現在所說的話，也請十方盡虛空遍法界無盡無盡常住佛法僧三寶，在默默中證明，令一切眾生早成佛道。
What I have just said is my vow. If what I said does not accord with the Buddhas' mind, I am willing to go to the hells. I now request the infinite, endless, eternally dwelling Buddhas, Dharma, and San-gha--the Triple Jewel in the ten directions throughout empty space and the Dharma Realm--to silently certify what I have said and to enable all living beings to quickly realize the Buddha Way.
我再請十方菩薩摩訶薩、十方聲聞緣覺諸聖人、賢聖僧，再請一切護法諸天，光明會上，所有護法放光加被，令所有一切眾生都離苦得樂，了生脫死。
I also request the Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas in the ten directions, the Sound Hearers and Those Enlightened by Conditions in the ten directions, all the Worthies and Sages in the Sangha, and all the Dharma-protecting gods of the Radiant Assembly, to emit light and shine upon all living beings, enabling them to leave suffering, attain bliss, and be liberated from birth and death.
我再請求各位善知識，如果我說的有不合乎佛法的地方，希望明以教我，我雖不敏，請嘗試之。我是一個很愚癡的人，所見的也不圓滿，所以我講的有不圓滿的地方，希望無論出家人、在家人，不吝指導，明以教我，我當叩頭頂禮，盡形壽而感謝。
I also pray that all of you Good and Wise Advisors will instruct me if I have said something that disagrees with the Buddha-dharma. Although I am not intelligent, I hope you will try to teach me. Since I am a very stupid person with limited views, my words are far from perfect. Whether you are a left-home person or a layperson, I hope you will kindly teach me. I shall bow in respect and be grateful all my life.
所以有人讀誦《楞嚴經》，要我盡形壽供養這樣的修道人，我也願意的。因為「正法興，楞嚴興；正法滅，是楞嚴滅。」由這個各位應該知道，這個《楞嚴經》在佛教裏是多麼重要的。
If there is anyone who recites the Shurangama Sutra, I am willing to serve and make offerings to such a cultivator all my life. When the Proper Dharma prospers, the Shurangama prospers. When the Proper Dharma declines, the Shurangama becomes extinct. From this, you should all realize how important the Shurangama Sutra is in Buddhism.
「開慧的楞嚴，成佛的法華，教化眾生的是華嚴。」因為這個，我在美國，頭一次由西雅圖華盛頓大學來了三十幾位大學的學生，我開講《楞嚴經》。第一個暑假班是九十六天，那麼我給這些個大學生講《楞嚴經》，中間只有禮拜六放半天假，放半天香，其餘的時間都是講經說法，他們也都寫筆記。那麼一開始，一天講一次，由他們去研究。過了半個月，我算一算這個《楞嚴經》的篇幅和日期，恐怕講不完，所以就增加一天講兩次。又過一個時期，還是講不完，就一天講三次，那麼最後有半個多月，一天講四次。
"The Shurangama is for opening wisdom. The Dharma Flower is for becoming a Buddha. The Avatamsaka is for teaching living beings." Therefore, in America I started out by lecturing on the Shurangama Sutra to a group of over thirty students from the University of Washington in Seattle. During the ninety-six days of summer vacation, I lectured on the Shurangama Sutra to those college students. During that time, there was only a half day's break on Saturdays. Aside from that, I lectured on the Sutra every day, and they all took notes. In the beginning, I lectured once a day, and then they studied on their own. After half a month, I assessed the time and the length of the Shurangama Sutra. Fearing that I might not finish in time, I began lecturing twice a day. After a while, I calculated again and decided that I still would not be able to finish, so I started lecturing three times a day. Finally, in the last half month or more, I lectured four times a day.
在這個「暑假楞嚴講修班」的期間，我一個人，給他們講經也是我，做飯也是我，做菜也是我，燒茶也是我，那麼買菜一切一切都是我，那時候四十八單執事，我一個人兼而行之，就這樣子。那麼這些個學生我本來可以叫他們輪流來做事情，但是我怕耽誤他們的功課，耽誤他們研究經典的時間，所以誰我也不用，那時候不敢說行菩薩道，但是因為有人要學《楞嚴經》，我願意盡形壽來供養這樣的人，所以在九十六天中，把《楞嚴經》講完了。講完之後，這是在美國一般人認識佛教的一個開始。
During the Summer Shurangama Study and Cultivation Session, not only did I lecture on the Sutra, I also cooked the meals, made tea, and did the grocery shopping and everything else for them. You could say I single-handedly took on all the monastic chores. Of course, I could have asked the students to take turns working, but I did not want to interfere with their cultivation and study of the Sutra. So I didn't let a single person help. Although I dare not say I was practicing the Bodhisattva Way, if people wanted to study the Shurangama Sutra, I was willing to dedicate my life to serve and support them. After ninety-six days, I finished lecturing the Shurangama Sutra. With the end of this lecture, people in America were beginning to give recognition to Buddhism.
講完《楞嚴經》，有五個人就出家了，在那年正月初一的時候，我曾經對一切的信眾說過，「今年美國的佛教會開五朵蓮華，這五朵蓮華將來就是把佛教傳到西方去。」這是那時候說的話。
At the end of the Shurangama Sutra lecture series, five people left the home-life. On New Year's Day, I said to the assembly, "This year, five lotuses will bloom in American Buddhism. In the future, these five lotuses will spread Buddhism in the West." That's what I said then.
那麼在這個「暑假楞嚴講修班」畢業之後，就有五個美國人要出家，我就派他們到臺灣海會寺去受戒，遇著臺灣的善知識，就告訴這五個人，說：「現在末法時代了，沒有人在修行了，你們還吃一餐哪，被你師父給騙了！」我這些個美國徒弟，一聽這個話，「哦！原來我們是被師父騙了，那我們怎麼辦呢？」這個善知識就說：「吃飯嘛！喝酒嘛！吃肉嘛！」這五個人對佛教就生了懷疑了，「怎麼我師父教我們吃一餐，他們叫我們早晚都應該吃飯的，這是怎麼搞的？這裏頭一定有問題？」心裏就活活動動地就要吃飯，於是乎他們自己就開會，說：「我們回去問清楚再吃飯！」他們又告訴那個臺灣的善知識說：「我們是坐單的。」臺灣有一些個人就告訴他們說：「坐單！那是佛住世的時候，有人坐單；現在佛都不在世了，你們坐什麼單哪？唉！真是美國人被中國人騙了。」
After they graduated from the Summer Shurangama Lecture and Practice Session, five Americans left the home-life. I sent them to Hai Hui (Sea-like Assembly) Monastery in Taiwan to receive the precepts. The Good and Wise Advisors in Taiwan told them, "Now it is the Dharma-Ending Age. No one cultivates anymore. You're still eating one meal a day? You've been cheated by your teacher." When my American disciples heard this, they thought, "Oh, so we've been cheated by our teacher. What should we do?" The Good and Wise Advisors said, "Well, go ahead and eat. Drink wine and eat meat." The five people started to have doubts about Buddhism. "How come our teacher taught us to eat one meal a day, and now they tell us we should eat in the morning and evening as well? What's going on? There must be something wrong here." Their minds were swayed, and they wanted to start eating more meals, but they had a meeting and decided to go back and make sure before they did that. They also told the Good and Wise Advisors in Taiwan that they slept sitting up. Some people in Taiwan told them, "You sleep sitting up? People did that when the Buddha was in the world. Now the Buddha isn't around anymore, so why do you do it? It's really a case of Americans being cheated by the Chinese."
這麼樣一來，怎麼樣呢？回去就調皮了，說：「人家臺灣人都吃三餐，我們不應該吃一餐。」就和我搗蛋了。又說…，唉！總而言之，我也不記得這麼多了。結果搞了三個月之後，這才沒有懷疑了。
What happened then? When they returned, they got mischievous. They said, "In Taiwan, everyone eats three meals a day. We shouldn't eat just one meal." They acted naughty with me. They said more, but I don't remember that much. It took more than three months before their doubts were resolved.
那麼當時臺灣就有人說：「這個宣化法師在美國，收了一些個邪皮（嬉皮），他因為到金門公園去，那兒很多邪皮，宣化法師就到那兒去打坐，一打坐，這些邪皮看著很奇怪的，就去和他談話，那麼宣化法師就叫他們去廟上看看，到廟上一看，和他們邪皮過的生活差不多，於是乎就都出家了。」
At that time, some people in Taiwan would say, "Dharma Master Hsuan Hua has taken some hippies as disciples in America. There are many hippies hanging out in Golden Gate Park, and Dharma Master Hsuan Hua goes there to meditate. When the hippies see him meditating, they are curious and go up to talk to him. Then Dharma Master Hsuan Hua tells them to go visit the temple. They go to the temple and find that the lifestyle there is pretty similar to their hippie lifestyle, so they all leave the home-life."
臺灣又有一個謠言，說：「你知道嗎？宣化法師在美國，和一班邪皮在一起吸毒啊！那個邪皮吃LSD（迷幻藥）、吸大麻，一粒LSD一吃，就惚惚悠悠的，好像到了極樂國似的，這個宣化法師他吃十幾粒，都不動彈，也不這麼惚惚悠悠到極樂世界去。所以這些邪皮都佩服了，於是乎就跟他出家。你們不要相信他！」
There is another rumor in Taiwan: "You know what? Dharma Master Hsuan Hua takes drugs with the hippies in America. The hippies take LSD and marijuana. They can get high on just one capsule of LSD and feel as carefree as if they were in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. But Dharma Master Hsuan Hua can take more than ten capsules without being affected in the least. He doesn't get high or feel as carefree as if he were in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. That's why all those hippies admire him and left the home-life under him. Don't believe in him."
那麼說來說去，邪皮也好，不邪皮也好，大家誰用功修行誰就好，誰不用功修行誰就不好。不是邪皮，你若不修行也不好；若是邪皮，你若能修行也一樣好。所以佛教裏頭，不是口頭禪所說的，要有真實的功夫，要有真實的受用，你不要在口頭上說：「我得了定了！我有三昧！我有四昧！」那個人又創出個五昧來。
You can talk back and forth, but whether they are hippies or not does not matter. He who works hard in cultivation is good. He who does not work hard in cultivation is not good. If he is not a hippie, but he does not cultivate, that is not good. If he is a hippie and he cultivates, that is just as good. Therefore, in Buddhism, mere talking about cultivation doesn't count. There must be real practice and real benefit. Don't just say, "I have concentration. I have this samadhi or that samadhi." And another person also comes up with another kind of samadhi.
現在我想起幾句話來，和大家說一說，我說：
Now I will tell everyone about some lines that I thought of:
口頭說三昧，
我對你不對；
日久現原形，
搞得滿身罪。
Paying lip service to samadhi,
They say, "I am right and you are wrong."
In time, their original appearance is revealed,
And they are covered with offenses.
這是說的這個盡用口頭禪，把佛教當兒戲，來隨便亂講亂說，也不負因果的責任。誰下拔舌地獄呢？就是這一類人。將來下拔舌地獄，那時候把舌頭給拔出來，他不會說話了，那時候他說不出話，心裏想：「唉呀！我真糟糕！我若知道這麼樣子，我就不應該開那種玩笑。」
This is saying that people just pay lip service to Buddhism and treat it as child's play. They talk carelessly without taking responsibility for the cause and effect. Who will fall into the hell of Ripping Out Tongues? Precisely that kind of people. When they get there, their tongues will be ripped out and they cannot talk anymore. In their minds they will think, "What a mess I'm in. If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have fooled around like that."
總是口頭三昧，總說：「我對，我自己對！你什麼都不對！」你對，我也說你不對；你不對，我也說你不對。這是「我對你不對！」，你說這有公理沒有？什麼事情都是「我對你不對！」。「日久現原形」：時間一久了，「路遙知馬力，日久見人心」，日久那個原形畢露了。「搞得滿身罪」：滿身都是罪業，入了拔舌地獄還不知道。
They always paid lip service to samadhi, saying, "I'm right. You're wrong about everything. Even if you were right, I'd say you were wrong. And if you're wrong, I also say you're wrong." Would you say that is just? In everything, they say "I am right and you are wrong." "In time, their original appearance is revealed."
After a long distance, one will know a horse's stamina.
After a long time, one will see a person's heart.
In time, their true form is uncovered. "And they are covered with offenses." Their bodies are covered by offensive karma. They enter the Hell of Ripping Out Tongues without even realizing it.
說：「法師，你不要罵人哪，講法罵什麼人！」唉！我這不是罵人哪！我罵人？我天天都向那個蚊蟲、螞蟻叩頭，我怎麼敢罵人，不過我不能不說真理，真理是如此！
"Dharma Master, don't scold people. As you speak the Dharma, why are you scolding people?" you ask. I am not scolding anyone. I bow to the ants and mosquitoes every day; how would I dare to scold people? But I cannot refrain from telling the truth. The truth is just like that.
我再告訴你們各位，我有今天，就是這些個說我不對的人，來教我的，來幫助我的。所以這些個說我不對的人、毀謗我的人，都是我的善知識。他們都是我的師父，我的師父都是口頭禪的，我現在所以會說口頭禪，也就因為學我師父的。
Let me tell you, it's just those people that criticize me who have taught and helped me, making me the way I am today. So the people who criticize and slander me are all my Good and Wise Advisors. They are all my teachers. My teachers all pay lip service to Chan. The reason I know how to do it is because I learned it from my teachers.
我有這麼幾句話，我說：「眾人是我師」：眾人都是我的師父，不論哪一個，你是有血氣的，我都要照你們學習。你們有好的，我就學好的；有壞的，我就學壞的；我要學得全身都是武藝，十八般兵刃件件精通，所以到比起武來，這絕招很多。「我是眾人師」：我也是大家的師父。「時常師自己」：時常我還要以自己作為師父，自己也時常給人家作師父，所以大家互相提攜，互相向這個菩提道路上勇猛精進，不要在娑婆世界這麼打算盤，來爭你強我勝的。我們看誰先走到極樂世界去！
I have another verse which begins: "All people are my teachers." Everyone is my teacher. As long as you have blood and breath, I want to learn from you. If you are good, I learn the good. If you are bad, I learn the bad. I want to learn until I am a martial arts expert, skilled in all weapons. That way, when I am challenged to a fight, I will have many winning moves. "I am a teacher for all people." I am also everyone's teacher. "I always teach myself." I am very often a teacher for myself. I am also constantly a teacher for others. That way, everyone can encourage one another to vigorously advance on the Bodhi Way. Let's not linger in the Saha world, scheming and calculating about wins and losses. Let's see who will reach the Land of Ultimate Bliss first!
有人說：「法師你盡強辭奪理，罵人還不承認！你承認嗎？你罵人你若承認，你就不會罵人的。對嗎？」可是罵人的人，是「仰天自唾，還岔己身」。那麼要喜歡被人罵，罵人給人加肥料呢！你那土地不肥沃，要上一點肥料，令你那五穀就長得茂盛了，你那果實也堅固了。
Someone says, "Dharma Master, you keep arguing and refusing to admit that you are scolding people. Do you admit it? If you admit that you are scolding people, then you won't scold them anymore. Right?" But the one who scolds people is like "one who spits up into the skies, and gets the spit back on his own face." We should like being scolded, because when people scold us, they are giving us fertilizer. Our fields are not fertile, so they need to be fertilized. Then our crops will be abundant and our fruits will thrive.
說：「法師！你方才說眾人是你的師父，那有好人，有壞人，都是你師父，你也學好，也學壞？」你這是誤會了，所謂「眾人是我師」，善者，是我的法師，我就效法他；惡者，是我的戒師，我自己不要學他那樣子，所以眾人都是我的師父。「時常師自己」，自己要常常提高警覺，不要做錯了，不要用那個無明去做事，要用那個智慧。要用光明智慧來處理一切的問題，不要用那個愚癡、無明處理事情。人要把這個境界轉過來，那個境界不要轉我們人，我們再要「勿以善小而不為，勿以惡小而為之」。不要說，善很小的，我不要做了；那惡事很小的，我要做，做了也不要緊；譬如吃齋，吃個雞蛋沒有關係。沒有關係？將來你去作雞的時候，就知道那關係是從吃雞蛋那兒來的。就這一點點小的問題，你弄不清楚，這叫「善惡夾雜，果報不爽」，不是很好玩的！
"Dharma Master, you just said that all people are your teachers. But there are good people and bad people, and if you take them all as teachers, you will learn to be both good and bad," you object. You have misunderstood. When I say "All people are my teachers," I mean that good people teach me how I should be, and I learn to be like them. Bad people teach me how I should not be, and I learn to not be like them. That's why all people are my teachers. "I always teach myself." We ourselves must always be alert and not make mistakes, not act in ignorance. We should use bright wisdom in handling all matters instead of using stupidity and ignorance to take care of things. We must turn states around, rather than being turned by states. "Do not fail to perform a good deed, thinking it is trivial. Do not perform an evil deed, thinking it is insignificant." Don't think, "That good deed is trivial. I'm not going to do it. That bad deed is really minor. I'll go ahead and do it. It doesn't matter." For example, you think, "I'm vegetarian, but it won't matter if I eat an egg." But in the future when you are reborn as a chicken, you will know that it was because you ate chicken eggs. If you are not clear in these small matters, then you are "mixing good and evil, and the retribution will not be off." It's not fun at all.
今天我又發狂了，也不知道講什麼，我若講的有得罪各位的，請你來打我一頓、罵我一頓，我都很歡喜的！
I've gone kind of crazy today, and I don't really know what I am saying. If I have offended you, please come up and give me a beating or scolding. I would be very delighted.