各位！修道若是不能改過，就等於沒有修道；學佛法不能知過必改，等於沒有學佛法。所謂：

If we cannot change our faults, we aren't really cultivating the Way. If we are aware of our faults but don't change them, we aren't really studying the Buddhadharma.

行年五十，而知四十九之非。

When one turns fifty, one is aware of the errors of the past forty-nine years.

知道以前所行所作有不對的地方，凡是有這種感覺的人，就是有智慧，將來的前途也是無量光明。若是不知以前之非，這個人就要糊塗一輩子，終日圖虛名，被客塵所迷，這種人多麼可憐！

To be wise is to recognize one's past mistakes, and to realize that the future holds limitless possibilities. People who do not recognize their errors will be muddled to the end of their lives. People who crave illusory fame and seek after external things are pitiful indeed!

我們不要把佛性寄託在四大假合的物質上，只知求享受，不知修真道。為什麼棄真逐妄？為什麼捨本求末？都是因為不知道反省，有了過錯也不肯改。因為不認識自己的自性是清淨無染，沒有一切的塵垢，所以對自性沒有絲毫的把握，於是同流合污，將自性染污了，把本有的智慧也埋沒了，這樣就更難明心見性了。

We shouldn't neglect our Buddha-nature and pay so much attention to material things. We shouldn't crave enjoyment and forget to cultivate. Why do we discard the true to chase after the false? Why do we ignore the root and seek out the branches? It's because we don't know how to examine ourselves, and because we don't want to change our faults. Unaware that our own natures are pure and pristine, we wallow in the mire, defiling our natures and burying our wisdom. Then it becomes even harder for us to understand our minds and see our natures.

我們住在萬佛聖城，要把心中的黑暗除掉，令自性的光明現出來，用正大光明來處理事情，不用手段來壓迫人。我們要謹記

At the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, we should expel the darkness from our minds so our own natures can shine forth. We should do things with a proper, bright, and all-encompassing mind. We should never manipulate or oppress other people. We should always remember:

是道則進，非道則退；
擇善而從，不善而改。

Go forward along the Way;
Retreat from what is not the Way.
Follow what is good;
Change what is evil.

能這樣，一定能達到賢聖的地位。

If this is how we are, we will surely become sages and worthy ones.