学佛要坚定信心。一个人学佛信心非常重要。如果一个人没有坚强的信心和信念，这个人是学不好佛的。今天学了，明天不学了，你说这个人能学得好佛吗？另外，弘法要得道多助。一个人弘扬佛法要得道多助，你们没有听到过吧？什么叫得道多助？大家都来帮助你，你这个弘法才能成功；如果你偷偷摸摸的，像做秘密工作一样的，你这个法，你怎么弘法？你们想想看，哪有一个人像师父这样弘法的？能够在广播电台里向全世界的人讲佛法，师父讲得多开心啊。这么好的法门，我为什么非要偷偷摸摸的呢？世界名牌大学的考分，不管你是哪个名牌大学，他们的考分难道会秘密的藏起来吗？考分就是放在外面的，大家谁有本事谁就来考。现在这个佛法就是这样，你们只要好好的学佛一定能够去西方极乐及四圣道，就是这个标准。鼓励大家好好学佛法。学佛就是正道，正的东西就能得道多助。不正的东西就是很难发扬光大的，所以要得道多助。一个法门出来得到这么多人的帮助，这实际上就是一个正法；如果这个法门出来得不到大家的承认，这个法门可能就有问题。
Practising Buddhism requires firm faith. Faith is absolutely essential in Buddhist practice. If someone lacks strong faith and conviction, they won’t be able to succeed. Practising one day and giving up the next—how could anyone like that expect to make progress? Moreover, when it comes to spreading the Buddha-dharma, one must uphold righteousness in order to gain support from all sides. You’ve probably heard the saying, “A just cause enjoys abundant support.” It means that when someone genuinely upholds and shares the Dharma, many people will come forward to help—and only then can the Dharma truly flourish. But if you’re doing it in secret, like some kind of covert mission, how can that be considered propagating the Dharma?
Think about it—who shares the Dharma the way I do? I’m able to share Buddhist teachings on radio programs that reach people all over the world. That brings me so much joy! With such a wonderful Dharma Door, why would I need to keep it hidden or spread it in secret? Take the admission scores of the world’s top universities—regardless of which prestigious university it is, their scores are never kept secret. They’re made public so that anyone with the ability can apply. The Dharma is the same. If you practise diligently, you’ll be able to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and the Four Sagely Realms. That’s the benchmark.
So I encourage all of you to truly learn and practise Buddhism. Walking the Buddhist path means walking the right path. And whatever is upright naturally attracts widespread support. But if something is not upright, it will be difficult to promote or sustain. That’s why you must uphold righteousness to gain support from others. When a Dharma Door appears and gains the support of many people, that’s a sign that it is a proper, correct teaching. But if it struggles to earn recognition, then something about it may not be quite right.
师父给大家讲，要在修行中增加自己的福德。因为一个修行的人如果身上的福德不够，也是蛮可怜的。很多人已经接触到师父的法门了，但是他们为什么进步很慢？为什么求什么得不到什么呢？因为他本身的自身的福德不够。也就是说造房子的话，它的根基不好，所以这个房子就造不高。为什么这辈子有钱的人他的福德就比较大呢？没有办法。那是因为他上一辈子做了善事，种了福田，所以他这一辈子就有钱。如果一个很有钱的人跟一个很苦的老百姓一起双修，你看看是谁容易修成？这并不是说菩萨没有平等心。因为这个有钱的人，人家前世就跟你一样在苦修，是苦修出来的，人家是做了那么多功德做出来的，你不能只看他的今世。所以学佛的人要有福德作为基础。在过去，为什么残疾人不能出家呢？就是残疾人不能作比丘、比丘尼。你们听到过吗？因为有残缺的人，也就是说他上辈子可能做了一些不好的事，所以他这辈子就残缺，所以就不能作和尚和尼姑。
I want to remind everyone that in our spiritual practice, we must increase our blessings and virtue. If a practitioner lacks sufficient blessings and virtue, it’s truly unfortunate. Many people have already come across the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door—yet why is it that their progress is slow? Why do their prayers go unanswered? It’s because they don’t have enough blessings and virtue. In other words, it’s like building a house without a solid foundation—you won’t be able to build it very high.
Why is it that people who are wealthy in this life tend to have greater blessings? It’s not by chance. It’s because they accumulated blessings in their past lives by performing wholesome deeds and sowing seeds in the field of merit. That’s why they enjoy wealth in this lifetime. If a wealthy person and someone struggling in hardship were to cultivate together, who would more easily succeed? It’s not that the Bodhisattvas are unfair. Rather, that wealthy person may have suffered just as you did in a past life and earned their current circumstances through diligent practice and by accumulating great merit and virtue. You shouldn’t judge them based only on what you see in this lifetime. So, for anyone practising Buddhism, having blessings and virtue is essential. In the past, you may have heard that people with physical disabilities were not permitted to become ordained monks or nuns. Why? Because it was believed that such impairments were karmic consequences of unwholesome actions in a past life, and as such, they could not become bhikkhus or bhikkhunis. A person must accumulate both blessings and virtue to qualify for learning and practising Buddhism. If someone lacks moral conduct—constantly criticising others and speaking harshly—how can they possibly learn Buddhism well? That’s a lack of virtue.
一个人要积福积德，他才有资格来学佛。如果连德行都没有，嘴巴里开口就骂人，嘴巴里开口就说人家不好的人，这些人能学好佛吗？这就是没德。如果一个人整天痛苦不堪，可怜兮兮的，经济上什么都没有，连一台电脑都买不起的话，他怎么能看见台长的博客呢？这就是他少善缘，就是少缘分。明白吗？告诉你们，人在做，天在看。这个福德全是你做多少得多少留下来的。大家要明白，如果有福德的话，我们就会找到一种无形的助缘力。什么叫助缘力？就是帮助你、成全你这个缘分的力量。比如你这个人本来应该很好的，但是你现在不好了，那怎么办呢？那么你就多做功德，多积福德，积德行善，你就会有一种助缘力，就是帮助你早一点成全你的事情圆满成功。听得懂吗？比如说你想买这个房子，但是你现在买不起，那你就拼命地打工，打工赚了钱之后你的房子就能买得起了，这就是有助缘力。同样在修心方面，你这个心本来是很好的，但是人家不了解你。而你不停地去对人家好，帮助人家，解开这种不好的冤结，然后等到人家理解你了、同意你了，你的这个事情就成功了，你不就是得到了助缘力吗？德很重要，福更重要。福实际上就是由德修来的，而德就是靠着福。福怎么来的？有德的人才会有福啊。有福的人怎么会没有德啊？因为他过去有德，所以他今天才会有福。对不对？所以你们自己要记住，要增加福德。
If someone is always suffering, pitiable, and struggling financially—even unable to afford a computer—how would they ever find my blog? That’s what we call a lack of positive karmic connections—a lack of the right conditions. Do you understand? Let me tell you—whatever we do, the heavens are watching. The blessings and virtue we have are the direct result of the good we’ve done in the past. You must understand this: when we have blessings and virtue, we gain an invisible force of support—what I call “karmic assistance.” This is the force that helps you fulfil your conditions and realise your goals. For example, say you’re meant to do well, but things aren’t going your way. What do you do? You build more merit and virtue—accumulate blessings through good deeds—and this karmic assistance will help you succeed and bring your efforts to fruition sooner. Got it? Suppose you want to buy a house but currently can’t afford it—so you work hard, earn money, and eventually buy it. That is karmic assistance at work. In the same way, your heart may be kind, but others misunderstand you. If you continue to be kind, help others, and sincerely work to resolve negative karmic ties—over time, people will come to understand and accept you. And when that happens, you succeed. Isn’t that also karmic assistance? Virtue is essential—and blessings are even more important. Blessings arise from virtue, and virtue relies on blessings. Where do blessings come from? Only those with virtue will have blessings. And how could someone with blessings not also possess virtue? It’s because they had virtue in the past that they enjoy blessings today. Isn’t that right? So, remember—keep cultivating your blessings and virtue.
我们活在世界上，一切唯心造。世界上任何事情都是由心造成的。今天开心，也是因为你的心想开了；今天不开心，也是因为你的心想不开，你的心才不开心。因为你不开心，才让你的行为不开心，让你的脸才会显露出不高兴的样子；因为你开心了，你才会感受到那是法喜，你的脸也会变成开心。所有的一切围绕着你的心，所以要修心。把你的心修好了，你什么都开心了；你心修不好，你什么都想不开。听得懂吗？要记住，如果我们的心能够清净的话，外邪都不能入侵。如果你这个人心很清净，外面邪门歪道都进不了你的心。为什么很多人心不净啊？比如刚刚学师父的法门才一个多月，开始时蛮好的，过一段时间他的心一不净了，好了，他就不能避开很多邪的东西。如果你自身的心不净的话，就造成你很容易让邪的东西入侵。听得懂吗？告诉大家，要勤修定力。戒定慧里“定”字最重要。如果这个人定不下来，这个人就没有智慧。定力很重要。定力怎么来的？是由“戒”来的。我今天戒掉这个毛病，戒除那个毛病。明明这个事情非常想做，因为有戒律我就是不能做。我看见这个钱不是我的，我就想拿，我守戒就是不能拿。我看见这个女的我很喜欢，我就是克制自己不能去喜欢……这就叫戒。戒了之后，你就会聪慧，你就能定得下来了。明明这个东西大家都不能够拿的，“我去偷好了”。你偷的话，马上就犯戒了；犯戒后你的心就不定，你哪有智慧啊？没有智慧的人，你哪能学佛啊？
In this world, everything is created by the mind. Everything that happens in life arises from the mind. If you’re happy today, it’s because your mind has opened up. If you’re unhappy, it’s because your mind is closed off—and that inner state gives rise to suffering. When you’re unhappy, your actions reflect it, and your face shows displeasure. But when you’re joyful, you experience Dharma bliss, and your face lights up with happiness. Everything revolves around the mind—this is why we must cultivate the mind. When your mind is well-cultivated, everything becomes a source of joy. But if your mind is poorly cultivated, you’ll struggle to see things clearly or let go. Do you understand? Remember: when our minds are pure, external evils cannot invade. If your mind is clean and pure, no crooked or deviant paths can enter your heart. Why do so many people lose that purity of mind? Take someone who has just started learning Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door. For the first month or so, they may do very well—but as time goes on, if their mind becomes impure, they’ll no longer be able to resist harmful influences. When your own mind is impure, you become vulnerable to intrusion by unwholesome energies. Do you understand?
Let me tell you—you must diligently cultivate mental concentration. Among the three pillars of discipline, concentration, and wisdom (śīla, samādhi, and prajñā), the most crucial is “concentration”. If a person cannot remain mentally steady, they will lack wisdom. Concentration is essential. And where does it come from? From discipline. Discipline means refraining from unwholesome behaviours. Even if I strongly desire to do something, discipline reminds me that I must not. For example, I see money that doesn’t belong to me, and I have the urge to take it—but I uphold the precept and do not. Or I feel attracted to someone, but I restrain myself and avoid acting on that desire. That is discipline. And once you uphold discipline, wisdom begins to grow, and your mind naturally becomes calm and focused. Imagine something that everyone knows should not be taken, but you think, “I’ll just steal it.” If you go through with it, you break a precept. Once that happens, your mind becomes unsettled—and how can wisdom arise from that? Without wisdom, how can you truly learn and practise Buddhism?
最后再给你们开示几句。首先你们自己一定要珍惜佛缘。因为这个法门真的是好，而且在末法时期才会有的。如果你错过了，可能一辈子就错过了。这就叫机缘、佛缘，希望大家珍惜。第二，你们有这个缘分拜师，拜了师父之后，不许只要个名声。也就是你们坐在这里的人就算是拜了师父，你们也不一定有其他听众和全世界那么多在学佛的人那么精进，你们不一定比他们好，你们必须努力地精进才能学好佛，才能成就佛菩萨的智慧。师父是要你们学成佛菩萨的智慧。你们要拜的是观世音菩萨，你们现在是皈依观世音菩萨，并不是皈依师父我。我想这一点你们很清楚。要好好地修，好好地学，皈依佛法僧。这个佛法僧是什么呢？佛在心中，法在行中，僧在戒中。皈依的佛就是你自己本性的佛，你找到自己心灵的佛就是你自己的本性。如果你自己本身做得已经像一个佛菩萨了，那就是人成即佛成。就是你人做得像菩萨了，你就是一个菩萨，你还要学谁呀？你还要去拜谁呀？明白了吗？今天师父给你们两个字“珍惜”。师父告诉你们，今天菩萨来了很多，护法神来了很多，就看你们自己怎么用心好好地拜了。要珍惜自己每一个缘分。缘分失去了，恐怕永远就没有了。缘分今天还在，你们就拥有这个机会，能够继续在佛菩萨的慈悲关怀下找到自己的智慧和前程。师父今天祝贺大家成为师父的弟子，不管你们是在什么情况下加入成为师父的弟子，希望你们好自为之。要做对得起师父的事情，对得起观世音菩萨的事情，千万不要做有损佛菩萨的事情。你们今天能够成为师父的弟子，天上的佛菩萨都知道的。你们一定要好好地修，佛菩萨会保佑你们的。谢谢大家！
Let me leave you with a few final words of guidance. First and foremost, you must cherish your connection to Buddhism. This Dharma Door is truly extraordinary, and it only appears in the Age of Dharma Decline. If you miss this Dharma Door, you may miss it for a lifetime. This is what we call an opportunity—a precious affinity with Buddhism. I hope you will treasure it.
Secondly, if you’ve had the karmic affinity to formally take me as your Master, you must not do so just for the title. Simply sitting here as my disciples doesn’t automatically mean you are more diligent than other practitioners around the world, or that you are cultivating better than they are. You must practise diligently and apply sincere effort in order to learn Buddhism well and realise the wisdom of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. My hope is that you attain that wisdom. The one you are taking refuge in is Guan Yin Bodhisattva—you are not taking refuge in me. I believe you all understand this clearly. You must cultivate wholeheartedly, study earnestly, and truly take refuge in the Triple Gem: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. What are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha? The Buddha dwells in your heart; the Dharma is expressed through your actions; and the Sangha is upheld through discipline. Taking refuge in the Buddha means taking refuge in the Buddha within your own inherent nature. When you discover the Buddha in your heart, you have found your true nature. And if your thoughts, speech, and behaviour already reflect those of a Bodhisattva, then that is what is meant by: “when one perfects what it means to be human, Buddhahood is attained.” If you are living as a Bodhisattva, then you are a Bodhisattva—who else would you still need to seek or follow? Got it?
Today, I’ll leave you with one word: “cherish.” I want you to know that many Bodhisattvas have come today, and many Dharma protectors are present—it all depends on how sincerely you pray. Cherish every karmic connection. Once it’s lost, it may be gone forever. But while the connection still exists today, you still have the chance to grow in wisdom and find your spiritual path under the compassionate guidance of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. I congratulate all of you on becoming my disciples today. No matter the circumstances under which you took this step, I hope you will now walk the path with sincerity and dignity. Live up to the expectations of me, your Master, and of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. Never do anything that dishonours the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the heavens are all aware that you’ve become my disciples today. You must cultivate sincerely. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will protect and bless you. Thank you, everyone!