我们大家聚在一起，只要有一两个人很讨厌，整个情绪就破坏掉了。所以学佛修心的人，必须从他的心里、从他的思维上彻底改变自己。如果还带着一种人生杂念，他永远得不到法喜。因为他活在世界上就知道说人家，他就知道挑人家的毛病，这个人活在世界上会很累的。你们跟着师父学，学什么？是学着把人家都看成好人。这个世界没有一个坏人，只有因果。如果你们到现在还把这个人看成是坏人，把那个人看成是坏人，师父告诉你，你就是坏人。师父不喜欢你们讲这个不好，讲那个不好。任何话都可以说，但是就有一句话不能说，就是不能说人家坏话。你们现在把耳朵全部竖起来听着：如果谁在你们耳朵边上说这个不好，说那个不好，这个人就是一个不好的人。
When we gather together, even just one or two unpleasant individuals can disrupt the entire atmosphere. This is why those who practise Buddhism and cultivate their minds must completely transform their thoughts and mindset. If someone clings to worldly distractions and scattered thoughts, they will never experience the joy of the Dharma. Living life constantly criticising others and finding fault in people is exhausting. What are you learning by following my guidance? You’re learning to see the goodness in everyone. In this world, there are no inherently bad people—only the law of cause and effect. If, even now, you still view some people as bad, let me tell you—it’s you who is the problem. I don’t like hearing you speak ill of others. Say anything you like, but there’s one thing you must never do: don’t badmouth others. Listen closely: if anyone comes to you, saying this person is bad or that person is bad, you can be certain they are the one with a problem.
作为一个修心的人，一定要善良、勤快。今天师父坐在这里看着你们这么多人，谁在拼命做功德，谁在努力做，师父看得清清楚楚。一个人学佛就是学做人，人成即佛成。佛是什么？就是让你在世间把人做好并像佛菩萨，佛就是教我们做人的导师。你把人做好了，你就是佛。连人都做不好，你修什么心啊？从以后开始尽量改，连自己的家人都不要讲他们的坏话。自己的老公、自己的老婆、自己的孩子，都尽量不要讲他们的坏话。如果实在想讲，讲什么？“哦，很有进步。身上还有一点点毛病，我们帮助他。”学佛要没有架子，学佛就是要放下架子，学佛就是把自己变成一个普通的人。不管你是谁，你到这里来学佛了，我们全部都是一样的。
As you are cultivating your mind, you must be kind and diligent. Sitting here, watching so many of you in the audience, I can clearly see who is working hard to accumulate merit and virtue and who is putting in genuine effort. Practising Buddhism is about learning how to be a good person. When you become a good person, you are on the path to becoming a Buddha. What is a Buddha? A Buddha is someone who teaches us how to live as good people and to act like Buddhas or Bodhisattvas. If you excel at being human, you’re already on the way to becoming a Buddha. But if you can’t even be a good person, what are you cultivating your mind for? Starting now, make an effort to change. Don’t speak negatively about even your own family members—whether it’s your spouse, your children, or anyone else. If you really must comment, say something like, “Oh, they’re improving. They still have a few small flaws, but we’ll help them.” Practising Buddhism means letting go of pride. You must humble yourself and see yourself as an ordinary person. It doesn’t matter who you are—when you come here to learn Buddhism, we are all equals.
你们可以用你们的眼睛来看看，如果是师父的徒弟，现在有几个人叽叽喳喳讲人家坏话的？有不出来做事情的人吗？有不努力弘法的人吗？你们想一想，给人家说好容易，给人家说坏也容易，这就叫修心。师父给你们讲，任何一个地方，吃饭也好、做事也好，就是一个缘分。今天大家能够在一起就是一个缘分。你们在网上也看见了，有一个网友，她的弟媳妇是因为输血得上艾滋病的，爸爸是很辛苦工作的，平时省吃俭用，他拿出了几千块钱去放生，很不容易啊。和我们也是有缘。慈悲心对人很重要，人要有慈悲心啊。你要让人家感觉到，人间处处都是爱。这位网友写的文章很多人看了都流泪，这么多人看了都很难过，让大家产生了慈悲心。
Take a look around you. Among my disciples, how many do you see gossiping or speaking poorly of others? Are there people unwilling to contribute or make an effort to spread the Dharma? Think about it—isn’t it true that it’s easy to receive praise and just as easy to be criticised? This is why we must cultivate the mind. Wherever you are—whether eating, working, or engaging in any activity—everything arises from karmic connections. Our gathering here today is also the result of karmic connections. You may have read online about a person who shared the story of her sister-in-law contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion. Her father worked incredibly hard and lived frugally, yet he still managed to save several thousand dollars to perform life liberation. It wasn’t easy for him, but his compassion created a karmic connection with us. Compassion is essential in human interactions. We must show compassion, making others feel that love exists everywhere in this world. Her article moved many to tears. It evoked sadness but also awakened compassion in us.
师父给你们讲话讲得都很清楚。所有的因一定会造成它的果，所有的果都是有让它形成的因，因果在人间丝毫逃不掉。师父要你们从自我做起。不管是徒弟还是旁听的，还是在东方台做义工的，如果毛病不改，师父就不开心。要彻底地改。谁要是再敢在背后叽叽喳喳的说别人坏话就是没好好修。师父希望你们不要假修。如果你们跟着师父好好修，你们就好好修；如果你们想假修，你们就离开师父。因为这个有报应的，因为修得好的人得到的果报特别大，好了还会更好；你不好好修的话，坏了还会更坏。经常造口业的人会下去的。师父不是跟你们开玩笑。师父不是跟你们讲过吗？很多人口吃是怎么来的？是前世骂人，前世说人家坏话。想想看，这辈子话都讲不清楚，这个果还小吗？你们一定要好好地修。
I have made my point very clear: every cause inevitably leads to its corresponding effect, and every effect arises from a cause. No one can escape the law of cause and effect in the Human Realm. I want you to start with yourself. Whether you are a disciple, attending my Dharma Talk, or volunteering at the Guan Yin Citta Hall in Sydney, if you don’t correct your flaws, I will be displeased. You must make thorough and sincere changes. If anyone continues to gossip or speak ill of others behind their back, they are not practising sincerely. I urge you not to practise superficially. If you are serious about following my guidance to cultivate, then do it properly. If you intend to fake your practice, then leave. Karma is real. Those who cultivate well will receive significant karmic rewards—they will improve and grow. But if you don’t practise sincerely, things will only deteriorate for you. Those who repeatedly commit negative speech karma will descend to the lower realms. This is not a joke. Haven’t I told you before? Many people who stutter in this life are paying for the karma of their past lives—perhaps they insulted others or spoke ill of them. Think about it—being unable to speak clearly in this life, isn’t that a heavy price to pay? You must take your practice seriously.
今天你们都在这里聚在一起，实际上是师父对你们的一种爱。师父也在看你们做功德。很多人很自然地走出来，做很多的事情，非常地努力，师父平常都看在眼里的。很多人都不做功德，师父难道不知道？不要拿佛法来开玩笑，否则最后都不知道自己怎样出事的。正法就是正法。自己的迷惑，自己不做好事，结果是因果如影随形。
Your gathering here today is, in fact, an expression of my care and love for you. I’m also observing how you accumulate merit and virtue. Many of you naturally step forward to take on tasks, working tirelessly, and I see it all. On the other hand, there are those who do nothing to perform meritorious deeds—do you think I don’t notice? Don’t take the Buddha-dharma lightly; otherwise, you won’t even realise when something goes wrong. Right Dharma is Right Dharma. If you remain confused and fail to do good deeds, karma will follow you like a shadow.
要抓紧时间啊！看看现在这个世界的灾难，死的死，伤的伤。你们想想看，中国长江有一千三百万人受灾；看一看，海地死掉二十五万人。要用行动来验证自己的修心，学会勤劳，劳动实际上就是很好地磨炼自己修心的意志。为什么很多庙让人劳动就是这个道理。师父讲得很清楚，哪个徒弟好，师父一定会保护他。这个世界先帮好人，不帮坏人。从自己的嘴巴开始修起，从自己的心开始修起。要知道，你不去比较任何的生活，你才是真正地享受了你的生活。你不去跟人家比较好坏，你就真正地得到了这个生活。你今天可以说，“我住在这么大的房子里，我去跟人家更好的比”，你都不是真正的生活。因为一比会产生贪。所有的一切都是假的、虚幻的。今天可以有这个房子，明天可以卖掉。什么都是假的，只有这颗心是真的。
Time is precious! Look at the disasters happening in the world today—the deaths and injuries. Think about it: in China’s Yangtze River region, 13 million people were affected by floods. In Haiti, 250,000 people died in an earthquake. You must validate your cultivation of mind through your actions. Learn to work diligently—labour is an excellent way to strengthen your will and cultivate your mind. This is why many temples encourage labour—it serves this very purpose. I’ve made it clear: I will protect any disciple who is good. This world helps the good first, not the bad. Start by being mindful of your speech and cultivating your mind. Understand this: when you stop comparing your life to others, that’s when you truly begin to enjoy it. When you stop comparing yourself to others, you truly embrace your life. For example, you might say, “I live in a big house,” but then compare it to someone who has an even bigger one. That’s not truly living, because comparisons only breed greed. Everything is illusory and impermanent. You might have this house today, but you could sell it tomorrow. None of it is real; only your heart is real.
师父对徒弟要求非常严格。你们今天跟着师父只有一条路，那就是好好修、好好学。如果你们自己不好好学，在家里以为他是我的老公，以为她是我的老婆，想说什么就说什么，想做什么就做什么，一定得不到善果。人家在修，你没有修，你就被社会、被自己的佛性淘汰。老在人家身上去找毛病，而别人现在越修越好了，你就不行了。你的老公越修越好了，你自己不修，你自己就被淘汰了。为什么你浑身上下都酸痛啊？为什么他没有啊？为什么这个人生癌症了现在还这么好啊？为什么他死了，而她还活着？这就是修行的因果。一个人连修行修心都不知道，在世界上算不开悟。修心就是为了修行，修行就是为了修心。行为装得再好没有用。要牢牢地记住：好好地修。师父允许你们犯错误，但是你们不改，师父就不喜欢。要记住，你们跟着师父修，师父能让你们好，观世音菩萨会关心你们，你们才不会有灾难。如果不修，你们只能自己跟着命走。
I hold disciples to very strict standards. If you follow my guidance, there is only one path—to cultivate diligently and learn earnestly. If you don’t commit yourself to proper practice and instead behave however you please at home, thinking, “He’s just my husband,” or, “She’s just my wife,” saying and doing whatever you like, you will not reap positive outcomes. If others are practising and you are not, you’ll be left behind—not just by society but by your own Buddha nature. Constantly finding fault in others while they improve through their cultivation will only lead to your own decline. If your husband is improving through cultivation while you are not, you risk being left behind. Why is your body in constant pain while others are not? Why does someone with cancer seem to thrive? Why has one person passed away while someone else continues to live? This is all a manifestation of karma in their spiritual practice. A person who doesn’t understand the importance of cultivating the mind is considered unawakened in this world. Cultivating the mind is for refining your conduct, and refining your conduct is for cultivating the mind. Outward appearances or external behaviour mean nothing if there is no true inner transformation. Remember this well: cultivate diligently. I allow you to make mistakes, but if you refuse to correct them, I won’t be pleased. Keep in mind, if you follow my guidance in your cultivation, I can guide you towards well-being, Guan Yin Bodhisattva will care for you, and you’ll avoid disasters. But if you don’t cultivate, you’ll simply be carried along by fate.
权势等同枷锁，富贵犹如浮云。你今天有权有势了，你等于用枷锁把自己套上了。你有钱了，等这个时间一过，就像浮云一样过去了，什么都没了。今天你们跟着师父好好学佛学法，就会产生一种感恩心。感恩心要从心里发出来。事情不怕多，也不怕少。学佛的人就像菩萨，不管什么事情都抢着做。师父都看在眼里。如果仅仅嘴巴会讲，没用。人的毛病就是一张嘴巴，要修的也是这个嘴巴。要真正好好地修。师父的气场已经是很干净很干净，根本容不得一点脏的东西。所以有脏的东西，师父情愿不要。师父讲一句话：真的东西就要花真的精力去修，用你的真心来修，你才修得好。如果你不用你的真心，你是得不到真正的佛法。如果你修不到内在的这个真谛就等于白修，而且丢掉了世上最纯洁的东西。
Power is like shackles, and wealth is no different from fleeting clouds. When you have power and influence, it’s as though you’ve chained yourself with shackles. When you possess wealth, it’s like a passing cloud—once the moment has passed, it’s gone, leaving you with nothing. If you follow my guidance and practise the Buddha-dharma earnestly, you’ll develop a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude must come sincerely from the heart. Whether the tasks are many or few, it doesn’t matter. A true Buddhist practitioner, like a Bodhisattva, eagerly takes on responsibilities. I can see clearly who genuinely delivers on their actions and who only talks without following through. Talking without action achieves nothing. The root of many problems lies in the tongue, and it is also a key focus of one’s cultivation. Cultivate diligently.
My energy field is incredibly pure—there is no room for even the slightest impurity. If something is unclean, I would rather not have it. Let me tell you this: genuine practice requires genuine effort and true sincerity. Only then will you succeed. If you practise without sincerity, you will not obtain the true Buddha-dharma. Failing to attain your inner essence is equivalent to wasting your practice and losing the most pure and precious things in this world.
在观音堂里你们做的任何事情，天上全部知道。只有不懂的人才不怕，就像不懂法律的人，他不知道会被抓进去一样。你们看见关帝菩萨边上的周仓菩萨吗？周仓菩萨也是护法神。你们看着他的眼睛一分钟，看看你们怕不怕？除非你不做坏事。你做了坏事你一定会怕。所以师父给你们讲，所有的人不许讲人家坏话。你们相互督促，如果谁在人家边上讲不好的话，这个人就是没修。师父给你们徒弟讲得很清楚：要相互爱护，要相互帮助，师父才会真的喜欢你们这些徒弟。
师父给你们讲要严格要求自己。你们要好好地听师父讲佛法，跟着师父好好修。谁都想特别地好好修，一下子改变自己的命运，一下子改变自己的运程。为什么有的人念经就特别灵，而有的人念经就不是很灵？主要是心啊。如果你今天有心就好。
In everything you do at the Guan Yin Hall, the Heavens are fully aware. Only those who don’t understand this would dare act carelessly. It’s like someone ignorant of the law, unaware they could be arrested. Have you seen Zhou Tsang Bodhisattva standing beside Guan Di Bodhisattva? Zhou Tsang Bodhisattva is also a Dharma Protector. Look into his eyes for a full minute—see if you feel fear. Unless you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ll certainly feel afraid if you have. That’s why I remind all of you: do not speak ill of others. You must monitor and guide one another. If anyone speaks negatively about others, it shows they haven’t been practising sincerely. I’ve made it clear to you disciples: you must care for and support one another. Only then will I truly take pride in you as disciples. Strict self-discipline is essential. Listen carefully to my Dharma Talk and follow my guidance in your cultivation. Everyone wants to cultivate well so they can transform their destiny and improve their circumstances immediately. But why do some people find reciting sutras particularly effective while others do not? It all comes down to the heart. If your heart is in the right place, everything else will naturally fall into place.