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我們能到寺廟來工作，學習佛法，是很難得的機會，在世間的機關或公司工作，它們所重視的是你的才幹、能力、學問，比如碩士、博士學位，是不是能力很強會辦事。但是寺院不一樣，佛門重視的是德行，要能嚴持戒律，遵守規矩，擁護道場，才能進一步自覺覺他，利益眾生。我們每晚聽經之前先請法，請法文很清楚地指出「了生脫死，離苦得樂」--這正是我們來這裡的目的。
雖然佛法不離世間法，但是只學世間法還不夠，因為世間法不能真正「了生脫死，離苦得樂」。最近有一位剛從美國中西部來聖城的年輕人，我問他：「你希望在此住多久？」「當然越久越好啊！這裡樣樣都很好。」我勸他為了要達到住在道場越久越好這個果，就必須先種這個因；也就是需要先準備堅固的基礎，才能在這裡住得久。否則的話，只是空談。
有句話說：「鐵打的營房，流水的兵。」也可以說：「磚蓋的寺廟，流水的修行人。」道場來來去去的人，有的待得時間長，有的待得短，要能夠有住長久一點的基礎，除了要遵守道場規矩之外，就是要為大眾服務，要對道場有所貢獻。
上人住世時經常打電話到辦公室來，有時垂詢：「最近有什麼新人來嗎？」我們就稟告，「有這麼一個人來，他很有能力，但是他要求這個待遇，那個待遇……。」上人答覆：「新來的人，對道場還沒有實際的貢獻，先將就一點，過一段時間再說。」又說：「新來的人要先學規矩，先了解道場的情況；新來聖城還不到半年或者一年以上，沒有特別的情況，不能隨便上臺來報告講話，避免浪費大家的時間。」除了利益大眾，要先修福惜福之外，新來的人能夠少說話比較好，特別不要說出家人是非。理想的情況是，出家人事情自己處理，也就是「僧事僧管」；在家人不要面前背後講出家人的是非。新來的人，除了不要講僧人的是非之外，也不要講在家人的是非。
不只是上人這樣地講，其他道場也是一樣。在上廣下欽老和尚的開示錄中，廣老說：「新來的人，先在外坡做兩、三年的磨練，為道場做事情，先觀察一下，再做其他的事情。」新來寺院的人，先再外坡做二、三年的磨練，這樣對他以後的修行有幫助。在中國唐朝時，裴休丞相送兒子到潙山老人的道場出家學佛法。即使是丞相的兒子，在道場頭三年也都是整天挑水給大眾喝，從來沒有機會聽一次講經，或到佛學院上一堂課。也許目前有些人的父母親是高官，即使這樣，也還是要先為道場大眾服務；為了要在這裡與大眾共同熏修，越要打好基礎。佛陀住世時，也自己親身照顧病僧，照顧其他的出家人，為眼盲的弟子穿針。佛陀已經福足慧足了，但是還不捨棄修福報的機會。
上人年輕時在東北三緣寺出家，那邊冬天經常下雪，三緣寺的法師們在下雪天的清晨，從寮房踩著厚厚的雪到佛殿，鞋子與腳都溼了，又溼又冷。上人自動自發，每次下雪他就提早一個或半個小時起床，拿鏟子將寮房到佛殿地上的積雪，清理得乾乾淨淨，讓其他法師們走路上殿時比較輕鬆。他一直這樣默默地做，沒讓人知道，更沒敲鑼打鼓宣傳。佛陀是這樣，上人也是這樣，默默為大眾奉獻。這就是培福，也是修行人的本錢。好像世俗人不能沒有錢，修行人也是不能沒有福。
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It is not easy to live in a monastery. When you work in a big institute or a big company, what they look for is your talent, your knowledge, your ability, your Ph.D., and your management skill. But in a monastery like our Wayplace, we emphasize virtue, following rules, and benefiting the community. We are here in order to end birth and death and that is why we request the Dharma every night.
Of course the Buddhadharma is not separate from worldly Dharma, but it is not enough just to learn worldly Dharma. Recently someone from the Midwest came here and I asked him, "How long do you plan to stay?" "The longer the better. This is such a fine place." But in order to attain the "fruit" of staying here for longer periods of time there must be a "cause." One must prepare for it. Or your wish might just not be realized.
It is said, "Barracks are made of iron and soldiers are like flowing water." Perhaps we can also say, "Temples are made of bricks and the residents are like flowing water." I often see people coming and going; some stay longer and some shorter. Those who stay longer usually have a good foundation for a prolonged stay. Other than following rules, one must offer some service to the temple as a way of making a contribution.
When the Venerable Master was with us he often called the office and asked, "Any newcomers?" We would answer, "There is a so-and-so and he is very capable, but he wants this and that." The Venerable Master would say, "When someone first comes here, before he has made any contributions to the Wayplace, you can just tell him, 'Wait for a while. Be content with what you have for now.'" The Master felt that, "When one comes here, one should first learn the rules and understand the situation. Generally, one should be here for six to twelve months before going to the podium to speak so one will not waste people's time." It is also best that newcomers not talk too much, especially about left-home people. Left-home people should managed their own affairs, and lay people should not gossip about them either openly or covertly. Neither should they gossip about other lay people. In addition to following the rules, one must offer some service to the temple as a way of making a contribution.
The Venerable Master was not the only person who said this. In the Venerable Master Guangqin's instructional talk, he too says that newcomers should do outdoor work for the Wayplace for two or three years as a form of training. They should first observe before they get involved in doing other things." That will be beneficial for their future practice. In Chinese history, during the Tang Dynasty, when Prime Minister Pei Xiu's son came to Elder Master Weishan's monastery to study the Buddhadharma, he was put to work as water carrier. He carried water for everyone in the Wayplace for three years. Some of us may come from a top-ranking official's family, but if we plan to stay here for longer periods of time, we should work on our foundation for a long term stay The longer you wish to stay here, the better foundation you should build. When the Buddha was in the world he took care of sick monks personally He threaded needles for his blind disciple. Even though the Buddha was already replete with blessings and wisdom, he didn't forgo any opportunities to cultivate blessings.
When the Venerable Master was young, he left the home-life at Three Conditions Monastery in Manchuria in northeast China, where snow is common in the bitterly cold winters. The monks had to walk through the deep snow to get to the recitation ceremonies in the Buddha Hall. Their cloth shoes would get wet, and of course they felt cold. The Venerable Mater said he would get up earlier, before the morning recitation, and shovel the snow on the path leading to the Buddha Hall. He quietly did this on his own without letting anybody know. He didn't go around telling everyone in order to promote himself. The Buddha was that way and so was the Venerable Master. Quietly they made their contributions. That is how we cultivate blessings, which are like our capital in cultivation. Just as worldly people must have money in order to sustain themselves, cultivators must have blessings in order to cultivate.
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