修行人要用最诚恳的心来发愿，时时要依照自己所发的愿去行。并不是发愿之后，不到五分钟，就忘得一乾二净，这等于没有发愿一样。要弄清楚发愿是为了什么？不是徒具形式，当做例行公事，那就大错特错，违背了自己发愿的原则。

A cultivator should use his/her sincerest mind to make vows. One's vows should be maintained at all times. If one forgets one's vows less than five minutes after making them, it's the same as not making them at all. We need to be very certain about why we made vows, and not treat vows like some sort of routine, made just for the sake of appearances. That would be completely wrong and would go against the principle of making vows.

凡是发愿的人，每天要把自己的发愿文诵一遍，提醒自己、鞭策自己，要做到至善至美的程度，这样才不辜负自己发愿的初衷。

People who make vows should recite their vows every day in order to remind themselves and to spur themselves on to accomplish perfection, so that their initial resolve in making vows doesn't go to waste.

诸佛菩萨就因为认真发愿，依愿实行，所以证得无上正等正觉的果位。我们如果将每一条愿文，都往真实的方向做去，没有丝毫的虚伪，那么我们也会成佛，也会成菩萨的。

Bodhisattvas certify to the fruition of unsurpassed right enlightenment because they make vows very sincerely and actually practice according to them. If we truly practice every one of our vows without the slightest falseness, we will become Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

佛是大智慧者，我们是大愚痴人；我们若想学大智慧，必须以佛心为己心，以佛愿为己愿，时时都是慈悲喜舍，难忍能忍，难行能行，一切往真实处做去，才能得到真正的感应。所以我们对发愿这件事情要特别注意！

The Buddha is a greatly wise one, and we are greatly deluded ones. We want to learn great wisdom, so we must take the Buddha's mind as our own mind and take the Buddha's vows as our own vows. We should always practice kindness, compassion, joy, and giving; endure what is difficult to endure; do what is difficult to do; and do whatever is true and real. Then we will obtain true responses. Therefore we should pay special attention to making vows.

阿弥陀佛因为发四十八大愿，成就极乐世界，摄受一切众生。我们应该效法过去诸佛、菩萨、圣人的行为，要痛改前非，不要保护自己的短处，不要跟着习气毛病跑，这叫背尘合觉，否则就是背觉合尘。

Amitabha Buddha was able to create the Land of Ultimate Bliss and gather in all living beings because he made forty-eight great vows. We should learn from the conduct of past Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and sages. We should resolve to correct our previous mistakes and not defend our shortcom-ings or let our old habits and faults lead us astray. If we can do this, we would be “uniting with enlightenment and going against the dust.” If not, we'll be “uniting with the dust and going against enlightenment.”

若是能勇于改过，面对现实，接受考验，经得起考验，便有成就。不要我见太深，我相太重。要认识自性是光明磊落的，所谓“圆陀陀，光灼灼，赤裸裸，一丝不挂”的真心。这个真心是什么习气毛病都没有，所以不要把佛性寄托在四大假合的物质上。

If we can courageously correct our mistakes, face reality, accept trials, and be able to endure tests, we will become accomplished. Do not have a deep-rooted view of self or an ingrained “self-image.” We should recognize that the self-nature is bright and open; that's why it is called the “perfect, bright, and pure” true mind. No habits or faults attach to this true mind. So don't compare the Buddha-nature to material objects, which are formed by a false combination of the four elements.

我们为什么离真逐妄？为什么舍本逐末？就因为不认识自己的自性。自性是没有一点的染污，清清净净，好像明镜一样，物来则映，物去则净。

Why do we abandon reality to chase after the false? Why do we neglect the root and seek the branch-tips? Because we don't recognize our own natures. The self-nature is not the least bit defiled. It is pure and clean, like a bright mirror. It reflects objects when they appear, and returns to purity when the objects are gone.

各位！修道人若是不能改过，就等于没有修道。所谓“行年五十，方知四十九之非。”有这种觉悟心的人，就是有智慧的人，将来前途一定不可限量，所谓“前程似锦”。若是不知非，那就糊涂一辈子，只是图虚名、好假好，被客尘所迷，这真是可怜人！

If cultivators cannot correct their errors, it amounts to having no cultivation. There is a saying that, “At the age of fifty, the offenses committed at forty-nine become apparent.” People who have this awareness are people with wisdom, and their future is promising. People who never recognize their own faults end up being muddled all their lives, seeking empty fame and false values, confused by worldly corruption. Such people are pitiful.

现在万佛圣城是光明遍照、万佛护持的道场，希望大家能去除心中的黑暗，用智慧光明来注照它，才能把无明烦恼扫光，这一点一定要特别小心谨慎！

The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a Way-place that is protected by ten thousand Buddhas and illumined by a pervasive bright light. I hope all of you will get rid of the darkness in your minds and use the bright candle of wisdom to illumine within, so that the affliction of igno-rance is swept away. Be especially careful and cautious in this regard.