我们不要受到轮回之苦，轮回是很苦的。师父告诉你们，我们在阳间就可以感受到轮回的苦。我讲给你们听：比如过去这个人胃不好，痛得不得了，结果年轻的时候吃了很多药，他的胃好了。好了之后又不当心了，把过去的全忘记了。又痛的时候，他就想起了过去胃痛的时候，这就是受轮回之苦的一种。一个女人在生孩子的时候痛得不得了，当时她想着自己再也不要生了，“我一个够了，我的命都差一点被这个孩子给玩掉了”。过一阵子之后她又生了，因为她又开始轮回了。我今天犯过的毛病过几天又犯了。监狱里就有很多小偷，就是偷东西抓进去——出来——抓进去——出来，派出所里的人都已经知道他了。只要一抓住这个偷东西的人，他们一查，哦，就是上一次进来的，有的叫“六进六出”。那不叫轮回吗？思维的轮回，人伦的丧尽，所以人现在根本是不能控制自己的。想一想，你们在痛的时候，实际上你们又在轮回了。那么你们的大轮回在哪里呢？你这辈子死亡之后，等你下辈子再投胎的时候，你就不是现在的你了。比如，如果你这辈子不好好地修，你下一辈子再投人的时候你就不叫这个名字，而成了另外一个人了。或者某些人不好好修，等到他明白自己了，看见自己是一匹马的时候，他的意识已经没有了，他就知道“我是一匹马”。看看自己的眼睛，就这么晃来晃去，很可怜的。那个时候所有的话都不要讲了，我给你们两个字——晚了。
We shouldn’t have to suffer the cycle of rebirth (samsara)—it is truly bitter. I’m telling you this: even while we’re alive in this world, we can already taste what samsara is like. Let me give you a few examples. Take someone who once had terrible stomach pain. When he was young, he took a lot of medicine and eventually recovered. But once he got better, he stopped being careful and forgot all about the past. When the pain returned, it instantly reminded him of how it felt before. That’s one flavour of samsara—pain returning in cycles. Or think of a woman in labour. The pain is unbearable, and she vows, “I’m never doing this again; one child is enough—this nearly cost me my life.” Yet, after some time, she has another child, because she’s entered the cycle again.
It’s the same with our habits. I make a mistake today and, a few days later, I make it again. Think about thieves in prison: they steal, get locked up, are released, steal again, and go back in. The police know them by name. They catch a thief, check the records, and say, “Oh, it’s him again—six times in, six times out.” Isn’t that samsara? It’s a cycle of flawed thinking and moral decline, where people can’t control themselves. Whenever you’re in pain, you’re already caught in a cycle.
So, where is the bigger cycle? When you die in this life and are reborn in the next, you won’t be the same person. If you fail to cultivate in this life, when you reborn as a human in the next, you’ll have a different name and a different identity. And some, through failing to cultivate, only realise the truth when they find themselves reborn as, say, a horse. By then, their human consciousness is gone—they only know, “I’m a horse.” Look at those eyes, rolling from side to side—how pitiful. At that point, there’s nothing left to say. Just two words: too late.
如果你们没有师父，你们没有老师，你们怎么学习呢？拿着书本自己看看就明白道理了？这个世界上你们知道要有明师指点啊！我再三给你们讲，不是有“名”的老师，而是要明白道理的老师。大家都在找明师，有多少人见到师父后说“我找到了”。而你们呢？在修吗？我经常把开示的文章放到网上，结果那些网友一看之后就说台长最近对我们很严格，台长肯定看见我们身上很多的孽障、毛病了。实际上这些开示文章可能是之前的开示了。我只要把每次的开示文章一放到网上，佛友们马上跟自己对照起来，都说是说他们自己身上的毛病。其实师父的每一篇文章、每一个给你们的讲解，实际上都是应时的。就像有些水果一样，是四季都适用的。
If you don’t have a teacher—a master—how can you learn? Do you think you can just pick up a book, read it, and grasp the truth on your own? In this world, you need a wise teacher to guide you. I’ve said it time and again: it’s not about a “famous” teacher, but one who truly understands the Dharma. Everyone’s searching for a wise teacher, and many who meet me say, “I’ve found him.” And what about you sitting here—are you truly cultivating? I often post my Dharma talks online, and as soon as some people read them, they say, “Master has been very strict with us lately—he must have seen all the karmic obstacles and faults we carry.” In fact, the talk they’re reading may have been given long ago. Every time I upload a teaching, Buddhist friends immediately reflect and feel it speaks directly to their own shortcomings. In truth, every article and every talk I give is timely. It’s like certain fruits—they’re good for you in all seasons.
所以师父给大家讲，如果你能在人间不受轮回，你就会得到“圣果”。什么叫“圣果”？就是你得到了一个神圣的果实，这个因果是非常神圣的，然后会让你的福德具足。什么叫“福德具足”？你的福气、你的道德和你的德性全部都在增长，叫“福德具足”。然后你才能解脱。如果一个人没有福气，他也得不到解脱。举个简单例子，天天要打工养家糊口，这个人是没福之人。实际上就是福不够，他解不了脱。为什么？因为他没有时间念经，他就消不了自己的孽障。他一边打工，一边身体痛，然后痛了再打工，打了再痛，最后就这么死掉了，因为他没有福气。如果能常出来做功德的人，能够挤出时间来跟师父到布里斯本去弘法，还能跟师父到马来西亚、欧洲去弘法，实际上这就是具足一个福啊。如果现在一个很有钱的人修福的话，我告诉你们，他就会比很多比较贫困的人修得快。为什么？因为他前世有修，他今世才得到这么多的福，所以他修起来就快。同样，经济比较差的人在做功徳方面相对会比较弱。比如做功德，和那些有经济基础的人做功德比较，因为人家布施做得大，真的有福气，他就能够换来功德。这并不是以钱来论的，因为他这个钱也是前世功德累积，听得懂吗？
So let me tell you this: if you can free yourself from samsara while still in the human realm, you will attain the “sacred fruit”. What is the sacred fruit? It is a holy result—a profoundly sacred outcome of karma—that brings you complete blessings and virtue. And what does “complete blessings and virtue” mean? It means your good fortune, your moral conduct, and your inner virtue are all growing to fullness. When blessings and virtue are complete, only then can you truly be liberated.
If a person has no blessings, they can’t attain liberation. Let me give you a simple example: someone who has to work every day just to feed their family is a person lacking in blessings. In truth, it means their blessings aren’t enough, so they can’t be free. Why? Because they have no time to recite sutras, and without recitation, they can’t eliminate their karmic obstacles. They work, they’re in pain, they keep working, the pain worsens, and in the end, they pass away like that—because they lack blessings.
But someone who can regularly make time to do good deeds—who can join me to spread the Dharma in Brisbane, Malaysia, or even Europe—that’s someone with abundant blessings. If a wealthy person cultivates blessings, I’m telling you, they’ll progress faster than many who are less well-off. Why? Because they cultivated in their past life, which is why they have so many blessings now, allowing them to advance in their cultivation more quickly. On the other hand, those with less financial means often find it harder to perform meritorious deeds. For example, when it comes to giving, those who are financially well-off can make greater offerings. They are truly blessed, and in return, they can exchange that for more merit and virtue. This isn’t about judging by money alone—because the very money they have now also comes from the merit and virtue they accumulated in past lives. Do you understand?
受苦的人因为福德不俱全，比如很多人没有道德骂人、打人，有不良的习性，这个就是缺乏他的德。如果缺少德的人，他就不能成为一个学佛的好人。道理很简单，能够拨出时间念经的人就是有福之人，能够不上班（经济上允许）学佛念经的人就是有福之人，因为他们有时间可以念经。就像有一位老妈妈，她一天可以念十几张小房子，人家这个关就过了。如果像你们天天上班打工，没有时间念经，没有时间做功德，就是福气不圆满。如果你们能一边上班一边念经，这也叫有福气。因为有的工作嘴巴里是不能念经的，比如有的工作是卖肉的、卖海鲜的，那也是没有福气。人要有福啊。这个福本身是怎么来的呢？因为是他前世的修为造成他今世有福气。你们不要去嫉恨人家，有经济实力的人就是能做大布施，就能得到更多的功德回报。没有办法。他这个钱怎么来的？是他前世修来的。明白了吗？他为什么有钱？他前世的悟性带来他今世的福德。
People suffer when their blessings and virtues are incomplete. For instance, many lack morality—they swear at others, hit people, or have bad habits. This shows they are lacking in virtue. Without virtue, a person cannot truly be a good Buddhist practitioner. The principle is simple: those who can make time to recite sutras are people with blessings. Those who can afford not to work—or whose finances allow them to focus on studying Buddhism and chanting—are blessed because they have the time to practise. There was an elderly lady who could recite more than ten Little Houses in a single day—she was able to overcome her karmic trial. But if you have to work every day and have no time to recite sutras or do meritorious deeds, your blessings are incomplete. If you can work while also reciting sutras, that too is a sign of blessings—because many jobs don’t allow you to recite while working. For example, if your job involves selling meat or seafood, that too reflects a lack of blessings.
You need blessings. So, where do they come from? From the cultivation you did in past lives, which brings blessings in this one. Don’t envy others. Those with financial means can make greater offerings and, in turn, receive more merit and virtue—that’s just how it is. Where did their money come from? It’s from their past-life cultivation. Understand? Why do they have wealth now? Because the insight they developed in their past life has brought them blessings and virtue in this one.
德是什么呢？一个正常的人，从来不做坏事的人，而且人品很好，这个人就能得到菩萨的加持，就能得到人家的相信，他这人就能学佛。也就是说他有这个德行，他的基础好，他才能成为学佛的一员。有时候你们要救家里人，如果你们家里的人（老婆或老公）整天骂骂咧咧的就是没有德。你找了他（她），第一，你没有德；第二，他（她）没有德，所以就学不了佛；第三，没有钱，没有时间、分不出时间来学佛念经，这也是没有福。
So, what is virtue? It’s when a person lives uprightly—never doing bad deeds—and has good character. Such a person can receive the blessings of the Bodhisattvas, earn the trust of others, and be capable of learning Buddhism. In other words, they have the moral foundation to become a Buddhist practitioner. Sometimes you want to help a family member. But if your spouse is constantly swearing or cursing, that shows a lack of virtue. By marrying them, first—you yourself lacked virtue; second—they lacked virtue; and third—if you have no money, no time, and can’t spare time to study Buddhism and recite sutras—that’s also a lack of blessings.
所以学佛要具足福德。具足福德的人可以挤出自己的时间来做功德。比如我的钱不多，但我可以少一点用，我照样去做功德；我的德不够，我骂人了，我喜欢发脾气了，我尽量不骂人了，我挤出自己的时间慢慢地来修自己的德，你这个人也是属于有福德，但是福德较小，那总比没有福德的人要好啊。你们说人人平等，那么在西方极乐世界依照修行功夫的深浅都分成九品莲花。对不对？那也都是有境界之分的。如果修得好坏都是一样，西方极乐世界就没有等级之分了。修一分，得一分；耕耘一分，得到一分；耕耘十分，得到十分。听得懂吗？一个有福分的人，他已经是有一个很好的基础了。但是在基础上怎么往上修呢？这就靠自己了。明白了吗？所以求解脱的人，必须要具足福德。
That’s why learning Buddhism requires both blessings and virtue. Someone with ample blessings and virtue can make time to do meritorious deeds. For example, even if I don’t have much money, I can choose to spend less and still perform meritorious deeds. If my virtue is lacking—say I curse or lose my temper—I can work on stopping that, making time to slowly cultivate my virtue. Such a person still has blessings and virtue, even if it’s less than others—and that’s far better than having none at all, right? You might say everyone’s equal, but in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, practitioners are divided into nine grades of lotus flowers based on their level of cultivation. Isn’t that true? There are distinctions in spiritual attainment. If everyone’s practice were the same, there would be no such grades in the Pure Land. You reap what you sow: put in a little effort, get a little reward; put in great effort, get great reward. Got it? Someone with blessings already has a strong foundation. But how do you build on that foundation? That’s up to you. Understand? So, if you seek liberation, you must cultivate both blessings and virtue.
在人间烦恼道中，混合而产生了八万四千种疾病。也就是说在我们人间有八万四千种病，所以才会产生八万四千种法门。因为人的烦恼太多了，多得已经数不胜数了；苦得已经苦不堪言了；累得已经累不了生了，已经到了极限了。所以观世音菩萨法门是应运而生，是你有求必应的一个法门。大家明白吗？大家要知道，我们学佛一定是在烦恼道中、在人道当中。人道是烦恼道，混合而产生了八万四千种疾病。也就是说在这个人间会出来八万四千种疾病，这种疾病就会让你身心失调，这种身心失调会折磨你。你需要用什么方法来改变它呢？你必须要有愿力来改变它。听得懂吗？愿力，你们现在谁有愿力呀？你们现在许的什么愿呢？
In this human realm—the realm of afflictions—there arise 84,000 kinds of illnesses. In other words, in our human world there are 84,000 kinds of diseases, and so there are 84,000 Dharma Doors. People’s troubles are countless, their suffering is unbearable, and their exhaustion pushes them to the limit. That’s why Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Dharma Door came into being—it is a practice where every sincere request receives a response. Do you understand? You must realise that practising Buddhism takes place right here in the human realm, the path of afflictions. From this path arise 84,000 kinds of illnesses. These illnesses throw your body and mind out of balance, tormenting you. How do you change that? You need the power of vows to transform it. Understand? Who among you has the power of vows? What vows have you made?
要增福增寿。增福增寿实际上就是增福增德了，因为有德的人才能长寿，有福的人生活才过得安逸。天天还在打工、苦得不得了的人，因为他放不下，为了油盐柴米就是放不下。这也是一种烦恼。你们谁能放得下？我就告诉你们一个事情：有一个人过去找了一份工作，非常的辛苦。他整天就抱着这个工作从早到晚辛苦得不得了，他自己还觉得这是一份好工作，从来不肯舍。台长就劝他，“你永远抱着这个工作，你永远找不到适合你的好工作。你还不如先放弃。你不要着急，根据你自己学的专业你找找看，看能不能找到适合你自己专业的工作”。因为他以前是学化学的，就是研究马路上一块一块有夜光的塑料，而他找的工作是在一家养老院里，每天做得浑身酸痛。其实他是一个高级工程师。就是因为台长的这句话，他毅然地把养老院的那份工作给辞掉了，就在网上不断地学习那些西方化学的东西。结果虽然他没有得到澳洲政府的研究化学的那些证书，但是他进入了一家研究院的化验室。就是因为他甩掉了、他放下了，他才能得到。如果他每一天都在养老院里干，他哪一天才能得到他的东西呢？他现在可牛了，在澳洲一家大公司的研究室里面，专门研究那些化学的东西。很多西方人本来对中国人的研究不是太看得上，虽然原理都是一样。没想到随着他的英文水平不断提高，他跟西方人的融合，人家现在把他当成工程师一样，这就叫成功。因为他舍了，他才能得。
You must increase your blessings and extend your life. Increasing blessings and longevity really means increasing blessings and virtue—because only a virtuous person can live a long life, and only a person with blessings can live in comfort. People who are stuck working endlessly, struggling for the basics—food and shelter—can’t let go; that’s a kind of affliction too. Who among you can truly let go? Let me tell you a story. There was a man who took on a gruelling job, working day and night, utterly exhausted. He thought it was a great job and clung to it, refusing to let go. I advised him, “If you keep holding on to this job, you’ll never find one that truly suits you. Let it go. Don’t rush—look for something that matches your professional training.” He had studied chemistry, specialising in the reflective pavement markers used on roads, but he was working in a nursing home, aching all over from the physical labour. He was a highly skilled engineer. Because of my advice, he resolutely quit the nursing home job and began studying chemistry online. Even though he didn’t have Australian qualifications in chemical research, he landed a job in a research institute’s lab. Because he let go, he was able to gain something better. If he’d stayed stuck in that nursing home job, when would he ever have found his true path? Now he’s thriving, working in the research lab of a major Australian company, specialising in chemical research. Some Westerners initially didn’t rate the research skills of Chinese professionals highly, even though the principles are the same. But as his English improved and he integrated with his Western colleagues, they began treating him as an engineer. That’s success—because he let go, he was able to gain.
今天来了一个开出租车的司机，师父给他说出他身体上很多毛病。我给他讲得很清楚，我说：“如果你再这样开下去的话，你浑身都是病。你的泌尿系统已经出毛病了。”他说：“我们开出租车的司机要憋尿。”我说：“你的胃不好。”他说：“我们出租司机没有一顿饭是正常吃的。”我说：“你睡眠不好。”他说：“我们出租司机早上和晚上都分不清楚的。”我说：“还有一个毛病，你跟女人接触太多。”他说：“因为我们出租司机都是比较随便的。”他还有赌博。就是今天下午来的那位，我给他指明了一条方向。我说：“你从现在开始不能再这样沉沦下去了，你必须给自己定出一个时间，比如半年时间我要转业。我再也不做出租车司机了，要找一份更好的工作。我哪怕开一个咖啡馆或开一个小的超市。”他听了我讲的话之后，从我办公室出去就觉得浑身轻松，他说：“卢台长，我觉得有希望了。”否则他浑身痛，坐在那里坐骨痛。你们知道开车很难过的，有时候腰痛，这个脚就这样一直放着，一天要开多少个小时啊？要开 12 个小时。你想想看，如果不放弃，他怎么能得到今后的前途和身体呢？
Today, a taxi driver came to see me, and I pointed out a number of health issues. I laid it out clearly for him. I said, “If you keep driving like this, your whole body is going to be riddled with problems. Your urinary system is already playing up.” He said, “Yeah, we taxi drivers have to hold it in.” I said, “Your stomach’s not right.” He replied, “We never get a proper meal.” I said, “Your sleep’s off.” He admitted, “We can’t tell morning from night.” Then I said, “One more thing—you’re too involved with women.” He shrugged, “Well, taxi drivers are pretty casual about that.” Plus, he has a gambling problem. This was the man who came this afternoon. I gave him a clear direction forward. I told him, “You can’t keep sinking like this. Set yourself a deadline—say, six months—to change careers. No more taxi driving. Find something better, even if it’s opening a small café or a corner shop.” After hearing me out, he left my office feeling lighter, saying, “Master Lu, I feel like there’s hope now.” Otherwise, he’s in constant pain—sitting there with an aching back and hips. Driving’s tough, you know: back pain, a foot stuck in the same position, driving for hours—sometimes 12 hours a day. Think about it: if he doesn’t let go, how will he secure a better future or better health?
所以教你们要学会放下，放下那些不好的、影响你们生活很肮脏的东西，放下你们脑子里的杂念，放下所有损害你们肌体和灵魂的东西——那就是恶业。不再造恶业的人实际上就等于是放下了。要学会放下，要有福气，要有德行。一个人就是要有德，以德服人。有品德的人才能征服人家，才能让人家服你；如果这个人没有道德，人家是不会服你的。你看看打人的人能打得让人家服吗？还是骂人的人能够让人家服？所以要以德服人，治天下，德高才能望重。你们听到的都是最高境界的东西，都是菩萨的语言。你们要好好学啊。
That’s why I urge you to let go. Let go of the bad stuff—the filthy things that drag your life down. Let go of the clutter in your mind, the things that harm your body and soul—that is unwholesome karma. When you stop creating unwholesome karma, you’ve essentially let go. Learn to let go; cultivate blessings and virtue. A person needs virtue to inspire others. Someone with good character can win people over and earn their respect. But if you lack morals, no one is going to look up to you. Can someone who hits others make people respect them? Or someone who’s always cursing? No. You win people over with virtue. To lead in this world, you need high virtue to earn respect. What you’re hearing is the highest wisdom—the language of the Bodhisattvas. Study it well.