出家修道人要發願，發願是精進修道，發願是警惕自己改過遷善；修道不發願，等於開花不結果的樹，無有是處。若已經發願，最好天天再發一遍，因為「溫故而知新」，記得自己曾經發過什麼樣的願？

After you have left home, you should make vows to spur yourself on in cultivation. Making vows reminds you to correct your faults and strive towards goodness. If you don't make vows, you cannot cultivate; you'll be like a tree that blossoms but doesn't bear fruit.

應該要做什麼事才不會發空願，不會自欺欺人，也不會把所發的願忘記了？過去諸佛菩薩因為認真發願，才證得無上正等正覺的果位；未來諸佛菩薩也是發願，才能證得無上正等正覺的果位。

If you have made vows, you should review them every day, so that you can remember what you ought to be doing. Then your vows will not be in vain. You won't forget them, and you won't be cheating yourself or others. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the past attained supreme enlightenment because they made earnest vows; the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the future will also attain supreme enlightenment as a result of making vows.

佛有大智慧，我們有大愚癡。所以我們要學佛，學佛的大智慧，以佛心為心，以佛願為願，時時學習「慈悲喜捨」四無量心，刻刻修持難忍能忍，難行能行的法門。一切真實，才能感應道交，所以發願這件事，要誠心誠意，不可以有欺騙或貪慕虛榮的行為。這一點，希望大家特別注意！

The Buddha is very wise, while we are extremely stupid. And so we want to learn from the Buddha's great wisdom. We want to take the Buddha's mind as our own, and his vows as our own. We should constantly harbor boundless kindness, compassion, joy, and renunciation—the Four Boundless Qualities. We must endure what is difficult to endure and practice what is hard to practice. If we want to obtain a response, we must be honest in all we do. Our vows have to be sincere and whole-hearted. We cannot cheat people or covet empty glory. I hope everyone takes note of this!

阿彌陀佛因為發四十八大願，才能成就極樂世界，攝受一切眾生，離苦得樂，了生脫死。我們要效法過去諸佛菩薩，趕緊發願，發願才能成就佛果。

As a result of his forty-eight great vows, Amitabha Buddha realized the Land of Ultimate Bliss. He can gather in living beings and enable them to leave suffering, attain bliss, and end birth and death. We should emulate the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the past, and make vows. Only then can we attain Buddhahood.

假如有毛病，要痛改前非，不要文過飾非，覆藏己過，應該坦白在大眾前懺悔，否則這也是罪過。跟著習氣毛病跑，就是背覺合塵；如果改過向善，就是背塵合覺。

發願是防止罪過，懺悔是消滅罪過，所謂「彌天大罪，一懺便消。」從今天開始，我們要重新做人，古德說：

If we have faults, we should earnestly change them and repent in front of the assembly. If we try to cover them up, they become offenses. If we follow along with our faults and bad habits, we turn away from enlightenment and join with defilement. If we change our faults and strive to be good, we turn away from defilement and join with enlightenment. By making vows, we can avoid offenses and mistakes. By repenting, we can eradicate our offenses and mistakes. It is said, "Great offenses which fill the skies are eradicated in a single repentance." Starting today, we should become new people. An ancient virtuous one said:

從前種種，譬如昨日死；
以後種種，譬如今日生。

Regard the events of the past
 as if you had died yesterday.
Regard the events of the future
 as if you were born today.

發願與懺悔，雖然名詞不同，可是涵義是大同小異的。

Making vows and repenting are actually very similar in meaning.

若能把習氣毛病改掉，就是勇於改過，勇於認錯，勇於面對現實，經得起考驗，不會被境界所轉。不要「我見」太深，不要「我相」太重，要曉得我們的圓明覺性，是光明磊落的，所謂「圓陀陀，光灼灼」，什麼習氣毛病也沒有！

If we can bravely correct our faults, admit our mistakes, and face reality, we will pass the test and not be influenced by circumstances. We should not be too deeply attached to our opinions and our ego. We should realize that our enlightened nature is true, perfect, and radiant, devoid of faults and bad habits.

一九八三年九月十九日開示