我们出家修道，要时时刻刻摄持身心，不可随便放逸。在道场中修行，一日不进步，就是退步，所谓：

When we leave the home-life to cultivate the Way, we should always keep the body and mind in a concentrated and alert state. We shouldn't carelessly let ourselves become lax. When we cultivate in a monastery, any day on which we fail to advance is considered a day of backsliding. It is said,

一日无过可改，
一日无功可进。

A day on which no faults were corrected
Is a day on which no merit was created.

出家人要严守行住坐卧四大威仪，所谓“行如风，坐如钟，立如松，卧如弓。”行的时候，要像清风徐来，水波不兴；不要像飓风那么凶猛，把海浪刮得有几十丈高。坐的时候，要好像大钟一样地安稳，不要像钟摆那样不稳定，东摇西摆不停止。立的时候，身挺直，头端正，好像大松树一样，耸然独立，谁也不依靠。卧的时候，要吉祥卧，右胁着席，好像弓一样的姿势。出家人对这四大威仪要特别注意。

Left-home people should carry themselves well whether they are walking, standing, sitting, or reclining. Walk like a breeze, sit like a bell, stand like a pine, and recline like a bow. When you walk, be like a gentle breeze that doesn't ripple the water. Don't be like a hurricane that stirs up huge tidal waves. When you sit, sit steadily like a great bell; don't sway back and forth like the bell's clapper. When you stand, stand straight and tall, like a pine tree, not leaning on anything. When you lie down, use the auspicious posture, lying on your right side with your body curved in the shape of a bow. Left-home people should pay close attention to these four modes of deportment.

出家人不能随便乱讲话，该讲话的时候，要郑重其事，侃侃而谈，处处做人的榜样，不可嘻嘻哈哈说些戏论的话，那是不遵守道场的规律。你有嘻嘻哈哈的行为，外人见了，就会批评万佛圣城的出家人，不懂规矩，不守规矩，这样怎能修道？怎么会有成就？不要因为一两个人不守规矩，而破坏万佛圣城的名誉。万佛圣城是世界佛教的明灯，所以在这里的住众一举一动，一言一行，都要特别小心。

Left-home people should not speak recklessly. When it is time to speak, they should speak seriously and clearly, always setting a good example for others to follow. Don't laugh, giggle, or tell jokes, for that shows disrespect for the rules of the Way-place. If visitors see you laughing and giggling, they will criticize the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, saying that the left-home people here don't follow the rules. How can you cultivate if you act like that? How can you achieve anything? We shouldn't let one or two people who don't follow the rules ruin the reputation of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The City is a bright lamp for Buddhism throughout the world. Therefore, its residents should be especially careful in everything they say and do.

出家修道，要时刻自己管理自己，不可尽打妄想。无论是好的妄想或是坏的妄想，都要收拾干净，所谓“一念不生”，到了这种境界，便与道相应，就会有好消息了。如果尽打一些无益的妄想，身虽然在寂静处，可是心在闹市中，这样怎能用功修道？怎能有所成就呢？这是混光阴，而不是修道；真正修行的人，绝对没有妄想。妄想就是障碍，障碍你不能进步，令你容易生退道心。

After we leave the home-life, we should constantly be mindful of ourselves and not indulge in random thoughts. We should get rid of all random thoughts, whether they are good or bad. When you reach the state where not a single thought arises, you will mesh with the Way and good news will arrive! However, if you indulge in useless random thoughts, then even though you are in a quiet place, your mind is still in the noisy city. How can you succeed in your practice? You're only wasting time. True cultivators don't indulge in random thoughts, for such thoughts impede their practice and cause them to want to retreat.

无论是出家人或者在家人，没有必要的事情，不可以互相串寮。你到我的寮房舂壳子，我到你的寮房讲是非，这样把大好的光阴都空过了。你自己不修行也罢，但是不能障碍他人修行，否则将来必定堕到无间地狱，永远不能翻身。

既然发心修道，就要专一其心，对光阴要特别爱惜，所谓：

Whether you are left-home people or laypeople, you should not go into each other's rooms unless it is absolutely necessary. If you go into people's rooms to chat and gossip, you are wasting precious time. Even if you yourself don't want to cultivate, you shouldn't hinder other people in their cultivation. If you do, you will fall into the relentless hells forever. Since you have resolved to cultivate, you should concentrate and cherish your time.

一寸光阴一寸金，
寸金难买寸光阴。

An inch of time
Is worth an ounce of gold,
But an ounce of gold
Can hardly buy an inch of time.

又说：

失落寸金容易得，
光阴过去难再寻。

If you lose an ounce of gold,
You can easily replace it,
But once the time has passed,
It's difficult to get it back again.

各位！要爱惜光阴，尤其修道人，分秒必争，不可浪费。因为不知在哪一秒钟，就是我们开悟的时机。

Each of you should cherish your time well. Cultivators in particular should make good use of each moment and not let the time go to waste. You don't know in which second you will have the chance to become enlightened.

吃饭的时候不可以讲话。我们天天在念供养的时候，说得明明白白：“散心杂话，信施难消。”既然这样地念，为什么不守这个规矩？所谓“无规矩不以成方圆”，不守规矩，怎能有智慧？怎么会开悟呢？孔老夫子曾经说过：

When we are eating, we shouldn't talk. The meal offering chant we recite every day says very clearly, “A scattered mind and confused talk make the offerings of the faithful hard to digest.” Since you recite it, why don't you follow this rule? It is said, “Without a compass and a T-square, you can't make circles and squares.” If you don't follow the rules, how can you obtain wisdom? How can you become enlightened? Confucius said,

食不言，寝不语。

When it's time to eat,
 one shouldn't talk.
When it's time to sleep,
one shouldn't speak.

我们在斋堂用饭的时候，没有喧哗声，只有吃饭声。这样，不但合乎规矩，而且也合乎卫生，因为细嚼慢咽容易消化，对身心也都是有益处的。

When we are having our meal in the dining hall, there is no clamor of voices, but only the sounds of eating. This not only accords with the rules, but it also aids our digestion. If we chew our food well and swallow it slowly, it will be easy to digest and will be beneficial to both body and mind.