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弟子：各位同修善知識，一個道場一定要有一個大眾可以共同互相遵守的一個方法，這是僧團生活的一個方式。這對我們來說是個絕大的保障。不過在這個中間，或許有很多個別的差異，或者是大家在實踐上，時間上有種種的困難。或許有些地方我們也不知道怎麼樣做得如法，做得讓大家能夠更安心在這個道場上辦道。所以在這個地方，弟子要提出來幾個我們在平常遇到的一些困難，然後請示上人以及各位同修善知識，希望我們所定出來的方法，都是大家很歡喜奉行的。這樣子師父交代下來的規矩，我們才能夠做得很久遠，而不是好像三天兩頭的，一個禮拜、兩個禮拜，過去之後就不了了之。
因為我們常常是這樣子，那實在是非常辜負師父的一片苦心。而且這樣子呢，變得大家在一個團體裡面有種種不同的方式。那對於個人或團體來說，都不是一個好的現象。所以剛剛上人提到說，我們早課、晚課，一定要排班。
上人：就是念《華嚴經》也一定要參加，不參加不行的，八百年也不行的。這都是在道場裡混亂攪鬧道場的。公家有事情你就不隨喜，你自己私人任何的事情也不行的。這太不要臉了。我罵你們，你們要想一想，我為什麼要罵你？我是不是很歡喜罵人？我是最不高興罵人的，我最痛心的。我罵你們，你們知道我眼淚往什麼地方淌？你們還那麼不要臉，無慚無愧的，說「挨我罵，越罵越好。」你說多不要臉！你不往地獄裡跑，你往什麼地方去？
還有，有的人就公然就拿我的名字來壓迫大家。誰一講話就說是我說的。你要是合理，為什麼要我說的？誰說的都是一樣的道理，為什麼一定要說師父說的？你拿師父來壓迫一般的人，這就是毛澤東的主義，毛澤東的信徒。佛教不是不講道理的，不是「一言堂」的。就我說的什麼話，也不是金科玉律的。你們動不動就拿我的名，把我搬出來，來欺騙其他的人，這完全都是道場裡的賊。
弟子：早上和晚上上殿、排班，因為上人交代過要提早十分鐘上殿，目前我們是這個方式集合，大家一起，除了香燈師和傍晚打大鐘大鼓的兩位同修之外，這樣是四位，那其他的人，是不是都應該排班？因為這段時間，或許會有幾位同修，他們會在大殿打坐，那打坐的話，……。
上人：那不可以的。你要到大殿打坐，得要到排班出去之後，散了之後，你願意幹什麼，幹什麼。不可以那麼隨便，我願意幹什麼就幹什麼，這就叫出眾。
弟子：如果有同修，有時候是生病的，或者是長期的這種病。
上人：長期病不可以的，長期病就要去住醫院去，要自己給錢。這樣病病的，我這兒不是養病寮。真正有病的才可以；這裝病、長期病那是不行。還要分年紀的關係，你年紀輕輕一天到晚病病的，這是不可以的。為什麼人家不病，單你就病，你什麼意思？
弟子：那或許在這個地方，還有一個通融，就是有些同修，他如果是當時身體不舒服。
上人：真要有病，可以的。
弟子：他可以走在後面慢一點，可是跟大家一起走，這樣子。
上人：哎！他要有病的，譬如腿有問題的，這可以的，就不走都可以的。那你要是真有問題，不是裝病的。我看很多都是裝病，不是真正有病的。共產黨叫你跪玻璃，你什麼病都沒有了。
弟子：還有我們現在早上拜願，就是五點到六點做完早課的那個時間，絕大部分的女眾，我們都是留下來拜佛的，除了讀中學的沙彌尼，她們用這個時間做功課。可是還是有同修，幾乎每天都不來拜的。
請問上人，這拜願是不是大眾的功課？應該大家一起拜？如果有特別的事情呢？
上人：如果有特別的事情要告假。自己私人的事情都不算的。這是公事，你在這兒吃，在這兒住，要隨喜這兒的功課。
弟子：還有早上用齋的時候，因為現在有的同修，早上也是用早餐的，是不是應該跟廚房配合？什麼時間大家一起去吃飯，一起結齋，而不是七點多了，自己跑去吃。
上人：自己跑去不行的，都要一起去。要吃飯的一起去，單獨的誰也不伺候。過了時間誰也不可以的。
待續
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Disciple: All fellow cultivators and good and wise advisors, everyone in a Way-place must agree to and maintain a policy on the Sangha's way of life. That is the best insurance policy for us. Nonetheless, individual differences occur, difficulties exist in application and timing, and we are oblivious to how to accord with the Dharma in several areas so that everyone may peacefully cultivate in this Way-place. Therefore, I would like to raise some difficulties that we typically encounter and ask the Venerable Master, all fellow cultivators and good and wise advisors to instruct us. I hope that everyone will willingly follow the rules we establish. In this way, the laws that the Venerable Master devise will sustain over a long period of time rather than disappearing after two or three days, a week or two weeks.
We have often let our thoughtful teacher down with these habits. Furthermore, we develop different styles in a group, which negatively affect the individual and the collective. Consequently, the Venerable Master mentioned earlier that we must line up for the morning and evening ceremonies.
The Venerable Master: You must participate in reciting the Flower Adornment Sutra too. You can't refuse to participate, even if you've been around for 800 years. You're just stirring up trouble within the Bodhimanda. Since you don't acquiesce to the group, you can't do any of your personal business either. This is much too embarrassing.
Why don't you think about why I am scolding you? Do I enjoy scolding people? I am the least in favor of reproach- ing people because it disheartens me. Do you know that I choke back my tears when 1 admonish you? Yet you're still shameless, uttering, "The more the Master scolds me, the better." Can you lose more face than that? Where will you head if not the hells?
Furthermore, some people openly use my name to oppress everyone, claiming whatever is said as what the Master said. If it is reasonable, why do you need to declare that I said it? Why do you insist that the Master said it though the same principle applies regardless of the speaker? You're emulating Mao Zedong's disciple when you name the teacher to oppress people. Buddhism is concerned with principles. This is no "One Word Hall". My words are not Venerable Master's Dharma Rain carved in stone. You don't need to mention my name constantly to mislead others, approximating criminals in a monastic community.
Disciple: Since the Venerable Master has instructed that we line up ten minutes earlier for the morning and evening ceremonies, we currently convene everybody except for the incense master and the two people who hit the great drum and bell at dusk. Should the rest of the group still line up? Some fellow cultivators may be meditating in the large hall. If they're meditating. . .
The Venerable Master: They can't do that. If you want to meditate in the large hall, you must line up and go until the group is dispersed. Only then can you do whatever you want. You can't be so lax as to do whatever you want. That would be an example of standing out from the crowd.
Disciple: What if there are fellow cultivators who are ill at times, or who have chronic diseases?
The Venerable Master: You can't deal with chronic diseases here. Go and stay at a hospital in that case and pay for yourself. This is no care unit. It's okay for those who are really sick; but those who pretend to be sick on a protracted basis will not do. This also depends on one's age. If you're young yet unwell all the time, that's impermissible. How come others are healthy while you're the only who is unhealthy? What does that mean?
Disciple: So there may be exceptions if some practitioners really experience physical discomfort.
The Venerable Master: It's okay if they're really sick.
Disciple: He can follow along slowly; but he still walks along.
The Venerable Master: [sighs] If he has problems with his legs, for instance, then it's okay to not walk-as long as it's a genuine infirmity and not a pre- tense. I see lots of people who fake illnesses though they're not really sick. If the Communists told you to kneel on broken glass, all your ailments would disappear.
Disciple: Also, we have Universal Bowing from five to six o'clock in the morning, the hour right after Morning Ceremony. Most of the women stay to bow to the Buddhas except for the Shramanerikas [novice nuns] who are in high school and use this time to do homework. However, there are fellow cultivators who essentially never bow.
Venerable Master, is Universal Bowing a part of the entire assembly's work? Should everyone bow together? What if there are special cases?
The Venerable Master: If there are special activities, you must ask for leave. Personal business doesn't count. This is public business. If you eat here and live here, you must go along with the schedule here.
Disciple: Also, some cultivators eat breakfast in the morning. Should they coordinate with the kitchen? What time should everyone eat and conclude that meal? That way they don't run off to eat after seven o'clock or so.
The Venerable Master: You can't go alone. You must go and eat together. No one will serve you if you go alone or are late.
To be continued
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