he ultimate point turns bad.  Evil, once it reaches an extreme, turns good.  A person who is poor to the bitter extreme of poverty can suddenly strike it rich, while rich people can lose every penny overnight.  Once born, we are tiny infants, but we grow up, grow old, get sick, and die. That's the cycle of creation and destruction rolling on in the world. It is a natural process of progressive, cyclical change.  A process of progressive, cyclical change.  A process of metabolism, and transformation. 

我們若能徹底了悟這種自然規律，就不會對發財的事那麼熱衷了。而且在財物失去的時候，也能用以下兩句話來看待事情：

君子安貧守道，小人唯利是圖。

If we recognize the state, then getting rich won't especially appeal to us any longer. And if we should lose our wealth, then we will see things according to the proverb:

    The superior person, even in poverty, maintains his integrity.
    The petty person stops at nothing to strike it rich.


所以，在這麼一個不正常的時代中，我們不要隨波逐流，而忘了我們身為人的意義在哪裏。我們一定要切記──人來這個世界的根本意義是什麼？

So it is most important in this day and age of insanity not to go crazy, and not to forget what it means to be a person.  We must keep in mind the original purpose and appearance of human beings.

說到人生的意義，老實說，萬佛聖城的「六大宗旨」，是我一生中所做的最有價值的事。

When speaking of the meaning of human life, I can say frankly, that the most beneficial things I have run across in my entire life are the Six Guidelines of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

第一條是「不爭」，這個標準可不是單方面的。我跟誰都不作戰；不管你批評我什麼，我一律毫無保留地接受。你想叫我什麼都可以，小貓？好，我就是小貓。叫我是狗？沒關係，我就是狗。隨便你想讓我當什麼，我就是什麼。你看我是佛？我就是佛；你看我是菩薩？我就是菩薩。「一切唯心造」，我就是你心念的投射。

The first of these is "not fighting."  This rule applies unilaterally.  I will not contend with anybody.  No matter what criticism you give me.  I will accept it without reservation.  Call me what you will.  A small cat?  Fine, I'm a cat.  Call me a dog?  Okay, I'm a dog.  However you perceive me in your mind, that's what I am.  Do you see me as a Buddha?  I'm a Buddha.  Do you see me as a Bodhisattva?  That's what I am.  "Everything is made from the mind alone."  I am whatever you conceive me to be.
　

我自己這兒呢？對於怎麼當一個人，我是有自己的原則和看法的，什麼原則、看法呢？就是不管對方是誰，我都不和他爭。憑你歡喜怎樣稱呼我，我都可以接受，反正我絕不和人爭。

For my own part, I have my goals and purposes for being a person.  What are they?  Simply not contending with people, no matter who it is.  You may call me what you please, and I will wear that label.  I will acknowledge the name.  That will be who I am.  I won't contend with you.

第二條是「不貪」，屬於你的東西，我不想要；然而任何屬於我的東西，你若想要，我都可以割捨出去。通常人總是希望別人布施給自己，可是我這個和尚，對於這種布施不感興趣。這樣的態度不對，我們應該避免。

The second rule is "no