师父今天给大家讲，用佛言佛语去攻击证悟的人，在佛法上叫增上慢人。如果一个学佛法的人，他用菩萨的话来攻击一个证悟的人，就是攻击一个开悟的人，在佛法上叫增上慢人。也就是说这个人没有真实修证，没有真正地去修心。增上慢人，就是天天往上走，是有修为的人，然而是一个傲慢的人。增上慢人，表面上看是在修，而实际上却是在往后退。比如，有些人自以为学了点佛法，动不动就给人家翻佛法，请问你修得何道？师承何人？想想看，八万四千法门，你再有道行的人，你能说出多少法门？
Today, I want to highlight that using Buddhist terms to criticise those who have reached enlightenment is referred to as “arrogance” (adhimāna) in Buddhism. If someone uses the words of the Bodhisattva to attack an awakened individual while studying the Buddha-dharma, such behaviour is termed as arrogance in Buddhist teachings. Such an individual hasn’t genuinely engaged in practice or sincerely cultivated their mind. “Arrogance” in this context refers to those who seem to be making progress on their spiritual journey and might even have some spiritual achievements, but display conceit. While they might seem to be practising diligently on the surface, in reality, they are regressing. For example, some might believe that having a bit of knowledge about the Buddha-dharma entitles them to critique it freely. They might ask, “What level of enlightenment have you reached?” or “From whom did you learn?” Think about it: with 84,000 Dharma Doors available, even if you’re highly accomplished in your spiritual practice, how many of these can you articulate?
在网上有一位网友写到：因有人问他心灵法门典出何籍？师承何处？他也一直很疑惑，结果有一天晚上，梦到台长在讲法，他就把这个问题很大声地提了出来，卢台长听到后没有马上回答，而是从旁边出现了一位很慈祥的菩萨告诉他，心灵法门是西方三圣图中那尊观世音菩萨传授的，法门的名字叫心灵法门。大家要明白，要随着天时的变化来修法。有这么多法门，你们要知道哪一个法门是最现实、最灵的，是最适合现在人修行的。师父对徒弟的要求是不二法门，师父对徒弟直接传授很多的气场，如果你们去听其他法门，你的脑子就会转，心灵也会转，这一转可能就会生出烦恼，生业障，所以是永远修不成功的。
There was a post online where a person shared: he was asked about the origins of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and its lineage. This left him puzzled. However, one night, he dreamt I was delivering a Dharma Talk. Eager for answers, he vocally asked this question in the dream. I didn’t respond immediately, but a kind-hearted Bodhisattva appeared, explaining that Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door was passed down by Guan Yin Bodhisattva, as depicted in the painting of the Three Sages of the West.
Everyone should recognise the importance of adapting their practice to the evolving times. Given the multitude of Dharma Doors, it’s essential to identify which is the most relevant, effective, and best suited for people today. I expect my disciples to stay true to a singular “non-dual Dharma Door”, as I directly share a great deal of energy with them. If you delve into other Dharma Doors, your thought processes might become muddled, leading your minds astray. Such deviations can give rise to afflictions, create karmic obstructions and consequently, prevent you from succeeding in your spiritual practice.
一个人学过师父法门之后，不能拿师父教授的佛法去指责人家，也不能拿人家学的佛法来指责师父的法门，否则就叫增上慢人，能明白吗？如果你用佛法去讲这个人不好，你就不是一个真正的修行人。要记住首先不要做慢人，即不要做傲慢之人，你一傲慢，什么事情都不会进步，只会慢慢倒退。慢就是退，人家都在前进，你走得很慢，你说是不是在后退？凡是攻击证悟的人，他是没有自己证悟的语言，也就是说当这个人说人家不好的时候，这个人就是没有开悟，所有说出来的话，都已经是偏的了，明白了吗？不能去乱讲人家，尤其是不能指名道姓地去讲人，千万不能讲，做人和学佛法的道理是一样的。
After learning from Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, one shouldn’t use the Buddhist teachings I’ve shared to criticise others, nor should they use teachings from others to criticise Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. Otherwise, this is seen as exhibiting “arrogance”. Do you understand? If you use the Buddha’s teachings to disparage someone, you aren’t a genuine Buddhist practitioner. Always remember to avoid arrogance. Once you become arrogant, you won’t advance; indeed, you’ll only go backwards. Arrogance leads to regression. While others are moving forward, if you’re lagging in your practice, aren’t you moving backward? Those who criticise the enlightened lack enlightened speech. In other words, when one speaks ill of others, they are not enlightened, making their words biased. Do you grasp this? One should never carelessly badmouth others, especially not specifying their names. Always avoid such words. The principles of being a good person align with those of practising the Buddha-dharma.
十法界，菩萨说的十法界，有六界大家都是知道的，也称为六道，即：天道，阿修罗道，人道，畜生道，饿鬼道和地狱。在整个宇宙空间中，也就是在十法界中，有六界是要轮回的，有四界是不轮回的，这四界也叫四圣道，就是圣人之道，是崇高的，非常证悟的地方。四界就是声闻界、缘觉界、菩萨界和佛界。
The Ten Dharma Realms, as described by the Bodhisattvas, include both the Six Realms and the Four Sagely Realms. The Six Realms are well-known, often referred to as the Six Destinies: Heavenly Realm, Asura Realm, Human Realm, Animal Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm, and Hell Realm. Within the vast expanse of the cosmos, or within these Ten Dharma Realms, beings in the Six Realms undergo the cycle of rebirth. In contrast, the Four Sagely Realms are free from this cycle. These are the realms of those who have achieved enlightenment — esteemed domains of profound understanding. They consist of the Śrāvaka Realm, Pratyekabuddha Realm, Bodhisattva Realm, and Buddha Realm.
很多人问我到了哪一界就不轮回了？师父现在明确地告诉你们，只要超脱六道之后，进入第七道，就不会轮回了。许多人告诉师父：我们现在念小房子把自己的亲人超到天上去了。说的是对的，但是超到天上的哪一层天呢？大部分都是被超度到了欲界天，而欲界天还是在六道轮回，很可怜的，所以一旦不修正法是很不容易超脱轮回的。当一个人到了人间之后，很难超脱六道轮回的，所以不要轻易地做坏事，不要随便乱讲话造口业，不要乱想不该想的事情。
Many people ask, “In which realm does one escape the cycle of rebirth?” I’ll clarify now: once an individual surpasses the Six Realms and enters the seventh, they’re no longer subjected to rebirth. Many have told me, “We’ve recited Little Houses for our departed loved ones, enabling them to ascend to Heaven.” While this is truth, one must ask: to which tier of Heaven do they ascend? The majority are elevated to the Realm of Desire, which is still ensnared within the cycle of rebirth within the Six Destinies, a rather pitiful state. Therefore, without adhering to the correct spiritual practice, transcending this cycle becomes incredibly challenging. Once a person enters the Human Realm, escaping the cycle of rebirth within the Six Destinies becomes quite difficult. Hence, it’s paramount to avoid wrongdoing, refrain from speaking ill and creating verbal karma, and prevent the rise of inappropriate thoughts.
在天界有二种人是可以下来：第一是因缘所逼，也就是说是由业力所为，这些人在六道里面被业力牵着走了，必须投人或投鬼或投畜生。是你的业力，使你造就了你必须投什么，必须在六道里面不停地轮回。另一种就是菩萨，菩萨到人间都是乘愿再来的。有人问师父：菩萨下来后有没有回不去的可能性？有。如果不好好修行修心，或做了什么坏的事情，做了恶的事情，以后就回不去了，就会堕落到六道里轮回中，这就是为什么菩萨还要下来救人，圆成佛果的道理。
In Heaven Realm, there are two types of beings that can descend to the Human Realm. The first type descends due to their karmic force (causes and conditions) compelling them. These individuals are ensnared within the Six Destinies, driven by their own karma, determining whether they reincarnate as human, ghost, or animal. Their karma propels them through endless cycles of rebirth continuously. The second type is the Bodhisattvas, who return to the Human Realm by their own compassionate vows. Some have asked me: “Once a Bodhisattva descends to the Human Realm, is there a chance they may not return to their realm?” The answer is yes. If they fail to maintain diligent practice or commit wrongful deeds, they may fall back into the cycle of the Six Destinies, becoming entrapped in rebirth. This underscores the very reason Bodhisattvas return to guide and awaken sentient beings and attain complete Buddhahood.
大家一定要记住，我们做人一不小心就会掉进沟里，就爬不出来了，就算是爬出来了，但是你的脚已经踩到沟里的污水了，是很难清洗干净的。六道在十法界里面又称为六凡，就是凡人的界，包括天界也叫凡界，只要是有轮回的都是凡界。四圣界，是永离生死的，永远没有生死，不入六道。
As humans, remember that even a slight misstep could land us in a ditch. And even if we manage to crawl out, our feet would have been soiled by the muck. It’s hard to thoroughly cleanse afterwards. The Six Destinies, within the Ten Dharma Realms, are also referred to as the Six Mundane Realms. This is the realm of ordinary beings. Even the Heaven Realm is considered mundane, as any realm subject to cycle of rebirth belongs to this category. The Four Sagely Realms are forever free from the cycle of birth and death, never entering the Six Destinies.
那么很多人问师父到底要带领我们修到哪一层天？师父现在明确地告诉你们，师父要把你们带上去的天是永远不轮回的，永远不轮回的有三个选择：一个是阿弥陀佛的西方极乐世界，一个是声闻缘觉界，一个是菩萨界佛界。要明白当你超脱了六道，就永远脱离了轮回之苦，永远不会再入六道了。
Many have asked, “To which heavenly tier do you aim to guide us?” I can clearly tell you now that the Heavens to which I seek to lead you are those where reincarnation no longer occurs. There are three such choices: Amitabha Buddha’s Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the realms of the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas, and the realms of the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. Understand that once you transcend the Six Destinies, you’re forever freed from the suffering of rebirth and will never re-enter the Six Destinies again.
给大家讲讲声闻法界，就是刚刚超出六道，进入第七道。声闻法界也叫阿罗汉道，修证的是阿罗汉果，是四圣谛的圣果。有关“四圣谛”，师父以前给你们都讲过，今天就不多讲了。四圣谛就是苦谛、集谛、灭谛、道谛。你们如果不想轮回，最起码要修到四圣谛的圣果。
Let’s talk about the Śrāvaka Realm. Positioned just beyond the Six Destinies, it’s the seventh realm. This realm is also termed the Arhat Realm. Those in this realm have realised Arhatship, which is the fruition of the Four Noble Truths. I’ve previously discussed the “Four Noble Truths” with you, so I won’t delve deeper today. They are the Truth of Suffering, the Truth of the Origin of Suffering, the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering, and the Truth of the Path leading to Cessation. If you wish to avoid reincarnation, you should at least aim to realise the fruit of the Four Noble Truths.
缘觉法界，是第八层，缘觉法界也叫辟支佛，辟支佛里面有一个叫缘觉，还有一个叫独觉。独觉是靠自己慢慢修行，是靠前世的善根。因为前世修得不错，今世又继续做好事做善事，学菩萨，才能成为独觉。缘觉，缘是碰到菩萨了，你们有菩萨做你们的师父，做你们的老师，你们跟随这个菩萨有这个缘，所以你们才可以上去。比如，你们读研究生，是不是一定要有一个导师？有了导师就容易学成硕士、博士、教授等。还有一种就是从小学习一直很好，学习很优秀，被导师看中，特别破格提拔拉上来。辟支佛就是缘觉，你们现在最大的福气就是你们可以走缘觉，而不用走独觉，因为独觉靠的是过去，前世所做的很多好事，累积的功德。缘觉就是一定要有一个缘分，然后跟随菩萨修行。缘觉还有一句话叫生在佛的世间，就是这个世间已经转到有佛菩萨的世间，就是有活佛，这里指的是真正的活佛，真正的活佛就是真正开悟的人，真正放得下的人，真正乘愿再来救度众生的活菩萨。
The eighth realm is the Pratyekabuddha Realm, which has two types: the “awakening via conditionality” and the “individually enlightened ones”. The latter achieve enlightenment mainly through their own efforts, backed by the wholesome roots of past lives. Because they practised commendably in past lives and continue doing good deeds in their present one, emulating the Bodhisattvas, they can become the “individually enlightened ones”. As for “awakening via conditionality”, they encounter Bodhisattvas who become their teachers. It’s a karmic condition (connection). For instance, in pursuing postgraduate studies, don’t you need a mentor? With a mentor, achieving master’s, doctoral degrees, or even professorship becomes easier. Another scenario is of a student who excels consistently, impresses mentors, and receives special recognition. Your greatest fortune is the ability to follow this path of awakening via conditionality, rather than that of individual enlightenment, which depends largely on past deeds and accumulated merits and virtues. To achieve awakening via conditionality, one requires a karmic connection and guidance from Bodhisattvas. There’s a saying about awakening via conditionality – “being born in the Buddha’s era”, indicating a world where Buddhas and Bodhisattvas reside. This signifies the presence of “living Buddhas” in this world. Here, a ‘living Buddha’ refers to a genuinely enlightened person, someone who has truly severed attachment, genuinely fulfilling their compassionate vows and seeking to return and awaken sentient beings, a living Bodhisattva.
最后给大家总结一下，地狱道、饿鬼道，饿鬼道的人是很苦的，在饿鬼道的人个个肚子都很大，而嘴巴很小，饿得不得了，但是又吃不进去，就拿一个东西一点点吹进去，所以叫放焰口。在饿鬼道边上的人，称为地神，就是那种很凶的神。
To sum up for everyone, there are realms like the Hell Realm and the Hungry Ghost Realm. Those in the Hungry Ghost Realm suffer immensely. Every being in this realm has a large belly and a tiny mouth. Despite their extreme hunger, they cannot eat. Instead, they are fed by having a small amount of sustenance blown into their mouths. This is why the ceremony for offering food to these hungry ghosts is termed “Feeding the Flaming Mouth”. Those beings beside the hungry ghosts are called Earth Deities, which are very ferocious deities.
在饿鬼道之上是畜生道，畜生道之上是人道。有一种讲法说：在人道与畜生道之间有一个道叫下三阿修罗道，那么上三阿修罗道就是在人道之上，师父看到的阿修罗道大多是在人道之上的上三阿修罗道。阿修罗道是不是灵界？是不是灵体？属不属于鬼？是灵界，但不属于鬼。阿修罗道的人经常和天人打架，如果是下三阿修罗道的能到天上去打架吗？能与仙人打架吗？一般下面的阿修罗是不能上去和天人打斗的。阿修罗道之上是天道，天人有五衰，天福享尽了就会下来，师父曾经给你们讲过天道，今天就不重复讲解了。
Above the Hungry Ghost Realm is the Animal Realm, and above that is the Human Realm. There’s a teaching that says between the Human and Animal Realms exists the Lower Three Asura Realms, and the Upper Three Asura Realms are situated above the Human Realm. Most of the beings from the Asura Realm I’ve encountered belong to the Upper Three Asura Realms. Do the beings in the Asura Realm belong to the spirit world? Do they have spiritual bodies? Are they considered ghosts? They are part of the spirit world but are not ghosts. Beings from the Asura Realm frequently clash with heavenly beings. Can beings from the Lower Three Asura Realms ascend to Heaven and confront these heavenly entities? Generally, the lower Asuras can’t rise to challenge the heavenly beings. Above the Asura Realm is the Heaven Realm. Heavenly beings experience the “Five Signs of Decay”. When their heavenly blessings run out, they fall. I’ve discussed the Heaven Realm before, so there’s no need to go into it again today.
在六道里就这么转，怎么样才能脱离六道不受轮回之苦呢？除非你好好修心修行念经。在六道里面所有的轮回，都是有赖于你的业力所为，你今天轮回到下面去了，是因为你的业力太重了。你今天轮回到上面去了，是因为你的业力轻，做的好事多，恶事少，但是还是在受轮回之苦。有句话说：“跑得了和尚，跑不了庙”。今天你欠债了，不论你跑哪里都能找到你。如同你今天有业障了，你能跑得了吗？你被这个业力牵着，让你上天就上天，让你下地狱就下地狱。
Within the Six Realms, how can one escape and be free from the suffering of the cycle of rebirth? The only way is through sincere cultivation of the mind, consistent practice, and the recitation of Buddhist scriptures. All reincarnations within these Six Realms are driven by one’s karmic force. If you’re reborn in a lower realm, it’s due to your heavy negative karma. On the flip side, if you find yourself in a higher realm, it’s because your good deeds outweigh the bad. However, even so, you remain ensnared in the cycle of rebirth. There’s a saying: “You can run, but you can’t hide.” If you owe a debt today, it will catch up with you no matter where you go. Similarly, if you’re burdened by karmic obstructions, can you evade them? This karma binds you, determining whether you rise to Heaven or plummet to Hell.
你们都知道地狱有十八层，但是你们知道这个地狱是谁造成的吗？是人自己造成的，就像人间的监狱一样，本来这个地方是没有监狱的，因为有了那么多犯罪的人，没有办法，就建造了监狱，犯人越多，建造的监狱就越多。将来十九层、二十层的地狱都会有的，因为人的恶劣、恶性、恶习等罪造成了一定要下地狱，而十八层已经不够了，所以就会有十九、二十层地狱。人心越坏，下去得就越深。大家一定要明白道理，切记：诸恶莫作，众善奉行。
While everyone is aware of the eighteen levels of Hell, have you ever pondered who was responsible for their creation? It was humans, analogous to how prisons came to be in our society. Originally, there were no prisons. However, due to a surge in criminal activity, there arose a need to build them. The more the number of wrongdoers, the more the need for prisons. In the future, there might even be a nineteenth or twentieth level of Hell. This is because the mounting wickedness, malice, and ill habits of humans have necessitated additional layers in Hell. The current eighteen layers might soon prove insufficient, potentially leading to the need for the nineteenth and twentieth layers. The more corrupted a person’s soul, the deeper they sink. Everyone should grasp this concept and always bear in mind: Refrain from all evil, and practise all that is good.
师父要你们理解——明白——开悟。好，下次再讲。
I urge you to comprehend, understand, and achieve enlightenment. We’ll pick up from here next time.