學佛法的人，一定要把自己自私自利的心消滅殆盡，不讓它作怪，擾亂定心。應該將它變成一個為法忘軀的心，只要求得佛法，就是布施自己的身心性命，也在所不惜，絕不退縮。不過，各位要曉得，所謂：

Buddhists should get rid of all selfish and self-benefiting thoughts. Don't let these thoughts act up and disturb your samadhi. Transform them into thoughts of dedicat-ing yourself to the Dharma. You should seek the Dharma, even if it means renouncing your body and mind, or even your life. Realize that:

道高一尺，魔高一丈；
道高一丈，魔在頭上。

When the Way grows a foot,
The demons grow ten feet.
When the Way grows ten feet,
The demons are right on top of you.

你越要用真心來修行，越要受考驗，就看你認識不認識而已。

The more you wish to cultivate, the more tests you will have. You simply have to recognize them when they come.

若想修道，一定先要把貪心沒有了；沒有貪心，就不會攀緣。不攀緣，包括不攀金錢，不攀物質；所以一定要沒有貪心、瞋心、癡心。若有貪瞋癡這三毒，就會生出很多麻煩來。你們每個人自己不知道自己有什麼業障，剛想要認真修行，便發生魔障，所謂：

If you want to cultivate the Way, you cannot be greedy. If you aren't greedy, you won't exploit situations by trying to get money or things. You cannot have any greed, anger, or stupidity. If these three poisons exist in your mind, you'll have a lot of trouble. You don't know what your karmic obstacles are, but as soon as you start cultivating in earnest, those demonic obstacles will appear.

要學好，冤孽找；
要成佛，就受魔。

If you want to learn to be good,
Your offenses will seek you out.
If you want to become a Buddha,
You have to undergo the demons first.

現在三步一拜的果廷剛剛才上路，知道用功辦道，把自己找回來；可是他母親生病，住院開刀。這一開刀不要緊，卻把果廷弄得妄想紛飛，在三步一拜的時候，就拜他的妄想。這個考驗非常地厲害，如果招架不住，就隨境界轉了。可是果廷的心在動，身在拜，他用堅強的意志來克服妄想。所以各位想一想，修道不是一件容易的事。果廷自己覺得對於其他的境界，都有把握，可以忍受得住，唯獨對這個境界（母親生病）有點受不住；雖然忍受不了，可是他還是在那兒三步一拜，這就是不隨著境界轉的表現。

Guo Ting, one of the “Three Steps One Bow” monks, has finally realized that he has to seriously cultivate and find his true self. But when his mother got sick and had to go to the hospital for a minor operation, Guo Ting had all kinds of random thoughts. He started bowing to his idle thoughts. It was an extremely tough test. If he hadn't held out, he would have been turned by that state. However, as Guo Ting's mind was moving and his body was bowing, he used a firm will to subdue those idle thoughts.

Cultivation is not easy. Guo Ting thought he could handle any other state, but he found it unbearable to know that his mother was sick. Although he couldn't bear it, he continued bowing every three steps. This shows that he wasn't turned by that state.

修道人要注意！不可打妄想。妄想是修道人的絆腳石，你有什麼妄想，就有什麼境界來考驗你。所以我常說：

Cultivators should take care not to indulge in idle thoughts. Idle thoughts are stumbling blocks for cultivators. The states that come to test you correspond to the idle thoughts you entertain. So I often say,

一切是考驗，看爾怎麼辦？
覿面若不識，須再從頭煉。

Everything is a test to see what you will do.
If you mistake what's before your face,
 you'll have to start anew.

好像男人放不下太太，女人放不下丈夫；父親放不下兒子，母親放不下女兒；就在這個地方來考驗你，就在這個地方不能修行，所以境界一來，就不容易打破這一關，所謂：

For example, the husband cannot give up his wife, and the wife cannot give up her husband. The father cannot give up his son, and the mother cannot give up her daughter. Just that very attachment is the test, and that's the very point where you fail in cultivation. When a state comes, it's hard to pass the test. As it's said,

修道如登百尺竿，
下來容易上去難。

Cultivating the Way
Is like climbing a hundred-foot pole.
Sliding down is easy,
But going up is hard.

各位想一想！怎麼辦？若不向前進，就是向後退。向前進，就容易上升善道；向後退，就容易墮落惡道。所以說：「難！難！難！修行一字令人寒，須早起，應晚眠，朝朝夜夜不得閑。」你說難不難？！

All of you think about it! What should you do? If you don't advance, you'll fall behind. If you advance, you can ascend. If you retreat, it's easy to fall. You can ascend to the wholesome paths or fall into the evil paths. There's a saying, “It's hard, hard, hard! The thought of cultivation gives me the chills. I have to get up early and retire late. Morning and night, I can't be idle.” Wouldn't you say it's hard?

一九八三年十月廿五日開示