师父给大家讲，一个人修心一定要知道自己修到什么程度。你们现在都在修心。但是要知道自己修到什么程度了。你们有几个人知道自己现在修到什么程度了？如果你们自己打个分数的话，你们是几分？你们自己算算看。如果你们现在要走的话能不能上天？能不能修到自行圆满？什么叫自行圆满？就是自己修行的行为（行为有心理行为、语言行为和肢体行为）到底是不是圆满？举个简单例子，如果这个人心里圆满的话，那这个人第一不会骂人，第二脑子不会乱想；行为上圆满的话，那这个人一定不会做坏事情，一定不会损人利己，一定是一个有量有度的人，不论做什么事情都是圆满的，也就是在这个佛道上修心。这个就叫自行圆满。但是有几个人能知道自己修得到底怎么样呢？你们想想看，修到现在你们浪费的时间多不多？今天孽障来了，明天灵性来了，你们看看哪天你们太平过？你们经常有烦恼来了，有瞋恨心来了。你们想想你们修没修好？如果现在让你们走的话你们能不能上天？自己算算就可以了。
I want to tell you all that when a person cultivates their mind, they must know exactly what stage they have reached. You are all cultivating your minds right now, but you need to know how far you have actually come. How many of you actually know what stage you are at? If you were to give yourself a score right now, what would it be? Do the math yourself. If you were to pass away this very moment, could you ascend to heaven? Have you achieved perfection through your own cultivation? What does it mean to achieve perfection through one’s own cultivation? It means that your conduct—whether through your thoughts, your speech, or your actions—has become complete and wholesome. Let me give you a simple example. If a person’s mind is truly cultivated, they won’t abuse or scold others, and their mind won’t be running wild with random thoughts. If their actions are cultivated, they will not do harmful things, they will not benefit themselves at the expense of others, and they will conduct themselves with restraint and propriety. Whatever they do will be measured and appropriate; this is what it means to cultivate the mind on the path to Buddhahood. This is what we call achieving perfection through your own cultivation. But how many people genuinely know how well they are actually cultivating? Think about it: up until this point in your cultivation, have you wasted a lot of time? One day karmic obstacles arise; the next day a foreign spirit appears. How many days have you truly been at peace? Afflictions keep arising. Anger and resentment keep surfacing. Think about it—have you really cultivated well? If you were told to leave this world right now, could you make it to heaven? Simply reflect on it and you will know the answer.
一个人修得好坏是和他内在的整体素质有关系。如果一个人修得好，他会对世界上很多事看得穿、想得明。如果你们对这个世界上的事情，只要是生活当中的，你们还有想不明白的、看不穿的，实际上这个就是没修好。被人家讲就讲了，被人家骂就骂了，被人家欺负就欺负了，被人家占便宜就占便宜了……想开了就会开悟。难道你这辈子就没占过人家便宜吗？你只想占人家便宜，你不知道人家也会占你便宜吗？这个就叫境界。所以要自身修到广大圆满。广大是什么？就是我对所有学佛的东西都能接受。圆满是什么？就是心中已经明白了。明白的意思就是完全接受了。当你完全把这些佛理明白地都接收到心里的时候，你是不是圆满了？你碰到什么事情，你就有什么办法对付了；你碰到什么事情，你就能想明白了。你是不是圆满了？
Whether a person cultivates well or poorly is closely related to their overall inner quality. If someone has cultivated well, they will be able to see through many things in this world and understand them clearly. If there are still things in everyday life that you cannot understand or let go of, then in reality, you haven’t cultivated well. If someone criticises you, then let them criticise you. If they scold you, let them scold you; if they bully you, let them bully you; if they take advantage of you, let them take advantage of you. Once you get over it, you will attain awakening.
Have you never taken advantage of someone else in this lifetime? If you only think about taking advantage of others, have you never considered that others may also take advantage of you? This is a matter of spiritual state. Therefore, you must cultivate yourself towards vastness and perfection. What is vastness? It means being able to accept all aspects of Buddhist teachings. What is perfection? It means that you have truly understood them in your heart. To truly understand is to fully accept. When you fully receive all these Buddhist principles into your heart, have you not reached a state of perfection? Whatever situation arises, you will know how to respond. Whatever difficulty you encounter, you will be able to understand it clearly. Is that not perfection?
一个人修心要和宇宙意识完全合一。师父在这里不和你们讲科学，给你们讲什么是“宇宙意识”。这个宇宙的意识就是说这个宇宙冬天冷了，天冷了我就得穿衣服。现在宇宙的意识是下雨了，你是不是应该打伞啊？那你是不是必须要有这个意识啊？现在宇宙意识告诉你：你人不能做出不像人的事情出来；你说话不能说出不像人的话出来。这就叫宇宙意识，而且是顺天而行。明明天气不好，你非要做什么做什么；明明人不应该做这些事情的，你非要去做这些事情，那就是逆宇宙之灵来行自己之道，哪有不被历史潮流碰得头破血流的？举个简单例子：现在年轻人都玩电脑。如果你们不想让青年人用电脑的话，想想看，你是不是会被孩子所唾弃？你必须接受这个现实。这就是宇宙意识，也就是说大自然的意识。人要替天行道，实际上这句话就是要你顺着天来走任何道，你就能走得通。你冬天的时候就得冬天的打扮，夏天的时候你就得夏天的打扮，你做一个人就得有道德的打扮，你做个鬼你就像个鬼……这叫顺应天时。千万不要逆天而行。所以在你的意念当中，如果正念一出来你的整个宇宙意识全都会合二为一。也就是说当你的脑子里想到正念的时候，你脑子里另外的意识就会和宇宙的意识合二为一。举个简单例子，“哎呦，我看今天天气要下雨了，我带把伞吧”。你是不是和宇宙合二为一了？在我们意识中做人要讲道德，不能去害人家啊，那么你在单位里一定做得很好，大家都喜欢你。这就叫用宇宙的意识和人的意识。你的正念和宇宙的正意识是合二为一的。也就是说我们现在拜着观世音菩萨，因为我们心中有慈悲，所以我们就能和观世音菩萨的慈悲合二为一。如果你今天拜观世音菩萨，但你又不懂得慈悲，你说你怎么能够和观世音菩萨的气场接通？所以要完成这个功德，不要忘记啊，人的善念如果和天、地、人合而为一的话，那这个人做出来的就是功德啊。心中想着善良的事、做着善良的行为，这个人才能顺应天时、符合佛道，这个人才能和天合二为一，这个人才能修成功德。
When cultivating the mind, we should strive to become completely aligned with the consciousness of the universe. I am not speaking about science here; I am explaining what I mean by “the consciousness of the universe”. When winter arrives and the weather turns cold, you know you need to put on warm clothes. When it rains, you know you should take an umbrella. Isn’t that a form of awareness? In the same way, the consciousness of the universe tells us that we shouldn’t do things that are subhuman. When we speak, we shouldn’t say things that are completely unbecoming of a human being. This is what it means to align ourselves with the consciousness of the universe and follow the natural order.
If the weather is clearly unsuitable for something, yet you stubbornly insist on doing it anyway, you are acting against the natural order. If there are things that people should not do, yet you insist on doing them, that is going against the spiritual essence of the universe to follow your own reckless path—how could you not end up battered and bruised by the unstoppable tide of reality? Let me give you a simple example: young people nowadays all use computers. If you try to stop them from using computers, think about it—won’t you just be rejected by your own children? You have to accept this reality. This too is part of the consciousness of the universe—the consciousness of nature itself.
There is a saying: “Act on behalf of Heaven.” In reality, this means following the natural order. If you follow it, your path will open before you. In winter, you dress for winter. In summer, you dress for summer. As a human being, you should possess the moral qualities appropriate to a human being. If you act like a ghost, you’ll look like a ghost. This is what it means to act in accordance with the times and circumstances. Never go against the natural order. When right thoughts arise within you, your own consciousness naturally becomes aligned with the consciousness of the universe. In other words, when wholesome thoughts arise in your mind, your other thoughts will harmonise with the universe’s consciousness.
For example, you look outside and think, “It looks like it’s going to rain today. I’d better take an umbrella.” At that moment, are you not already acting in harmony with the universe? Likewise, we understand that as human beings we should be moral and should not harm others. If you live according to this understanding, you will naturally perform well in your workplace, and people will naturally like and respect you. This is what it means to align human awareness with the consciousness of the universe. Your right thoughts become one with the universe’s righteous consciousness. In the same way, when we pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva, we do so with compassion in our hearts. Because we possess compassion, we can become one with Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s compassion. But if you pray to Guan Yin Bodhisattva without understanding compassion, how can you possibly connect with Her energy field? Therefore, if you wish to achieve genuine merit and virtue, never forget this: when a person’s wholesome thoughts become one with Heaven, Earth, and humanity, then whatever they do becomes merit and virtue. Only when a person thinks wholesome thoughts and performs wholesome deeds can they act in accordance with the natural order, accord with the Buddha’s path, become one with Heaven, and successfully cultivate merit and virtue.
一个人在救人的时候有大能量。什么叫大能量？一个人如果有大能量，说明这人功德无量，这个人实际上能够做很多功德，以功增功，以德养德，他一定能够救人的。比如今天你们豁出去救人、度人了，如果这个人被你度上了，你就会有能量。今天你能够做出一些财施、法施、无畏施的事情，说明你还有能量去救人。你这个人就有神通。什么叫神通啊？因为人家做不了的事情你能做好，你就有神通。但是要记住：你只不过是在某一方面有神通，而不能说明你全部有神通。你们每个人都有自己的能力。这些能力对你们来讲不就是你们的神通吗？所以要好好的理解。实际上修行到了佛和菩萨的境界，全部都会有神通的。连鬼都有五通。实际上你们跟师父学佛学法学到最后，你们每个人感应很厉害，或者偶然的看见些什么，或者偶然的耳朵听见音乐，闻到香味啊……实际上这些都是属于神通。这就是修出来的。比如科学家盯着一个事情去研究，他一定能研究出成果出来。你们只要对一个事情不停地去努力、去追求，你们一定能得到更多的人家得不到的东西，这是成正比的。所以一个修心的人如果没有智慧感应、没有神通，实际上他根本就没有修成。比如你修心忙了半天，你有智慧吗？没有。感应有吗？没有。那你修什么心啊？你的智慧必须要对这个世界上很多事物都看得穿。比如你的儿子就这个命，他想找谁是他的事情，关你什么事情啊？如果你是为了孩子的幸福，你要教育他，让他们学佛、懂道理，但你必须让孩子自己去做。同样，你去管住其他人，对人家有所要求，就是你自己不开悟。当你对人家有所要求的时候实际上就是你自己在执著。人家不能按照你要求的去做，你偏要人家做。你说你这个是不是执著？有多少人婆媳关系搞不好，就是因为孩子在谈恋爱的时候妈妈拼命地反对，最后儿子还是娶了她。儿子会把这些情况全都告诉媳妇，媳妇也全部明白了。等到住在一起之后，这个媳妇就不停地恨这个婆婆。这都是你造的因。你喜欢不喜欢跟他喜欢不喜欢是两个概念。所以修行要开悟、要有智慧。
When a person is saving others, they possess great energy. What do I mean by great energy? If a person has great energy, it means their merits and virtues are immeasurable. In reality, this person is able to perform many acts of merit and virtue. They increase merit through merit and nourish virtue through virtue, and they will certainly be able to save others. For example, if today you are willing to give everything you have to save and awaken others, and that person is truly guided by you onto the right path, then you will gain energy. If today you are able to practise giving in the form of material giving, Dharma giving, and fearlessness giving, it shows that you still have the energy to save others. Such a person possesses supranormal powers. What are supranormal powers? When you can do well what others cannot do, that is a kind of supranormal power. But you must remember: you may only possess supranormal power in one particular area. It does not mean you possess all supranormal powers. Every one of you has your own abilities. To you, are these abilities not your own supranormal powers? You must understand this properly.
In reality, once your cultivation reaches the state of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, all supranormal powers will naturally be present. Even ghosts possess the five supranormal powers. In fact, as you practise Buddhism and learn the Dharma with me, by the time you continue cultivating to a certain level, each of you may begin experiencing strong spiritual responses. Perhaps you may occasionally see something, hear celestial music, or catch the fragrance of incense where none is present. In reality, these are all manifestations of supranormal powers cultivated through practice. Take scientists, for example. If a scientist focuses intensely on one thing and keeps researching it, they will certainly produce results. In the same way, if you keep working hard and pursuing one thing with dedication, you will certainly obtain more than what others can obtain. It is directly proportional to your effort. Therefore, if a person who cultivates the mind has no wisdom, no spiritual responses, and no supranormal powers, then in reality, they have not truly succeeded in cultivation. For example, you have been busy cultivating your mind for so long—do you have wisdom? No. Do you have spiritual responses? No. Then what kind of mind are you cultivating?
Your wisdom must enable you to see through many things in this world. For example, if your son’s destiny is what it is, and he wants to be with someone, that is his matter. What does it have to do with you? If you are truly thinking of your child’s happiness, then educate him, guide him to practise Buddhism, and help him understand right from wrong. But you must allow your child to make his own decisions. In the same way, when you try to control other people and expect them to do things your way, it means you yourself have not yet awakened. When you place expectations on others, you are actually the one who is attached. They cannot act according to your expectations, yet you insist that they must. Tell me—is this not attachment? Look at how many mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have strained relationships because the mother strongly opposed the girl when her son was dating. In the end, the son married her anyway. He tells his wife everything that happened, and she sees exactly what went on. Once they start living together, the daughter-in-law continues to resent her mother-in-law. These are the causes you created yourself. Whether you like someone and whether your child likes someone are two completely different things. That is why spiritual cultivation requires awakening and wisdom.
另外，修行要有神通。神通是什么？我能解决任何问题就是神通。比如你今天想要自杀，但因你修心突然之间你产生了神通。什么神通啊？因为我通了啊。有神佛托梦告诉我，我想通了，这就叫神通。你以为是什么？要通灵啊？要鬼上身才叫神通啊？神佛保佑你、告诉你，让你想通了，让你明白了，你一通百通了，你就不会自杀了，就不会想不通了。你对人间什么都看得穿了，你不就是神通吗？人家苦恼，人家烦恼，人家嫉妒，而你没有，你就要比人家活得自在，你不就像神仙一样的吗？你不什么都通了吗？你神清气爽，你有神佛保佑，你就什么都想得通了。你们以为什么是神通啊？实际上神通理解很多，师父在人间用这种方法给你们解释：和神佛接通气场，可以称为神通。菩萨的神通是一个晚上可以跑多少人家的家里，菩萨的神通是马上让你肩膀会好、让你手会好、让你脑子想得开……所以一个修行人如果没有神通，他是修行不诚或者可能还没有入门。师父对你们要求很高，但你们可能还没入门。比如我现在讲你们谁几句，如果你马上执著了，接下来我讲所有的话你就听不进去了，你脑子里就在想这个事情了，这个就叫愚痴。我现在马上把你纠正过来，让你跟着我的思维走，这就是我有神通让你的思维跟着我跑。
In addition, spiritual cultivation requires supranormal powers. What are supranormal powers? If I can resolve any problem, that is a supranormal power. For example, today you may feel like taking your own life, but because you cultivate your mind, you suddenly develop a kind of supranormal power. What kind of power? It means you have understood. You have become clear because you figured it out. A Buddha or Bodhisattva gives you a sign in a dream, you finally get over it and see through the issue—that is what we call supranormal power. What did you think it was? Do you think you have to be a spirit medium or get possessed by a ghost for it to count as supranormal power? A Buddha or Bodhisattva blesses you, guides you, helps you get over it, and makes you understand. Once you clear this one hurdle, you clear them all—so you won’t commit suicide, and you won’t remain stuck anymore. When you can see right through everything in the human world, aren’t you using supranormal powers? While other people are suffering, worrying, and feeling consumed by jealousy, you have none of that. You live far more freely and comfortably than them—aren’t you just like an immortal? Haven’t you cleared every obstacle? Your mind is pure, your spirit is sharp, you have the protection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and you can get over absolutely anything. What did you all think supranormal powers were?
In reality, supranormal powers can be understood in many ways. I am explaining it in a way that can be understood in the Human Realm: connecting with the energy field of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas can be called supranormal power. The supranormal powers of the Bodhisattvas are far greater—allowing them to visit countless households in a single night. A Bodhisattva’s supranormal powers can instantly heal your shoulder, fix your hand, and clear your mind. Therefore, if a cultivator has no supranormal powers at all, either they are not sincere in their cultivation, or perhaps they haven’t even stepped through the door yet. I have very high standards for you all, but you might not have even crossed the threshold. For example, if I criticise one of you right now and you instantly get attached and defensive, you won’t hear a single word I say next. Your mind will be completely stuck looping on that one criticism—this is what we call foolishness. If I can immediately correct you, bring your thoughts back, and guide your thinking to follow my line of thought, then that is my supranormal power—using it to make your mind keep up with me.
还有很多小神通。现在告诉你们小神通是什么意思？比如小神通下杠头。如果你被人家下了杠头实际上这就是小神通。如果他对你不好，他可以用小神通下你杠头，但这是很麻烦的。因为小神通是请求邪灵去帮助他。邪灵能帮助吗？照样能帮助。所以说小鬼难缠。师父让你们敬鬼神而远之，意思就是不要让你们和鬼讲话，要离鬼远一点。经常跟鬼打交道的人，他一定会变成鬼；常跟病人打交道的人，他一定会生病；经常跟菩萨在一起的人，他一定会变成菩萨；经常跟佛能接上气的人，他一定是佛。这就是我们中国人讲的一句话，叫“近朱者赤，近墨者黑”。是一样的道理。师父叫你们天天接近菩萨、天天接近佛，叫你们远离小人、远离邪灵、远离鬼神。明白吗？所以有神通不一定是菩萨。但是，是菩萨他一定有神通。
There are also many lesser supranormal powers. Let me explain what I mean by lesser supranormal powers. For example, some people use lesser supranormal powers to cast spells or place curses on others. If someone has cast a curse on you, that too is a form of lesser supranormal power. If a person harbours ill intentions towards you, they may use these lesser supranormal powers against you. However, this creates a great deal of trouble because such powers rely on the assistance of evil spirits. Can evil spirits help them? Yes, they can. That is why these types of spirits are often so difficult to deal with. I always tell you to respect spirits and deities, but keep your distance from them. That means I don’t want you talking to ghosts; you need to stay far away from them. People who constantly deal with ghosts will eventually become ghosts themselves. People who are always around the sick will inevitably fall ill. But those who constantly surround themselves with Bodhisattvas will definitely become Bodhisattvas, and those who can regularly connect with the Buddha’s energy field will become Buddhas. This is the same principle behind the Chinese saying, “One who stays near vermilion becomes red; one who stays near ink becomes black.” That’s why I am telling you to get close to the Bodhisattvas and the Buddhas every single day, and I am telling you to stay away from vile people, stay away from evil spirits, and keep your distance from ghosts and deities. Do you understand? Therefore, just because someone has supranormal powers does not mean they are a Bodhisattva. But if they are a Bodhisattva, they will definitely possess supranormal powers.
要记住，当一个人有神通的时候说明他想通了，能辨别是非了。实际上有一点神通的人、有感应的人，这个人已经得到护法神的保护了。但是我讲的是正神通，而不是邪神通。正神通是怎么来的？就是通过自己修心，菩萨保佑他的。如果自己定业很大，也不能用神通来改。什么意思啊？就是说如果你前世做了很多很多不好的事情，就算你这辈子有神通了，也改不了你的命。举个简单例子：虽然你现在很有钱，但你也不一定能够改变你自己的身体状况。但是如果你有了钱，你就有了改变你身体状况的条件。很多人连钱都没有，看病都看不起，就不要去谈改变自己身体的状况了。因为他看病都看不起，他的身体怎么会好？至少你们现在跟着师父学，你们想通了能够念经了，你们就通一点了。你们哪怕跟护法神接上气那也是神通啊。所以定业是前世来的，今世也很难改，只有用功德把它慢慢地消除。因为有因果关系。比如说如果想救这个人，菩萨一看这个人的业很重，也没有办法救这个人。今天你们要是不学佛的话，我能救你们吗？你们过去做过很多事情，上辈子做过很多事情，如果你们这辈子还不想改，我能救你们吗？我救不了。只有你们自己在进步，自己想改了，然后师父用佛法教育你们才能帮助你们修改掉你们自己身上的孽障。所以菩萨都改变不了因果，只有靠你们自己啊。
You must remember that when a person possesses genuine supranormal powers, it means they have gained understanding and can distinguish right from wrong. In reality, when someone has even a small degree of supranormal powers or spiritual responses, it means they are already under the protection of Dharma Protectors. However, I am speaking about righteous supranormal powers, not deviant ones. How do righteous supranormal powers arise? They arise through cultivating the mind and receiving the blessings and protection of the Bodhisattvas.
However, if a person’s “fixed karma” is particularly heavy, even supranormal powers cannot change it. What does that mean? If you created a great deal of negative karma in your previous lives, then even if you develop supranormal powers in this lifetime, you still cannot completely alter your destiny. Let me give you a simple example: just because you are incredibly wealthy right now doesn’t mean you can definitely change your physical health. However, if you have money, you at least have the right conditions to start improving your health. Many people don’t even have a dollar to their name and can’t even afford to see a doctor—let alone talk about changing their health conditions. If they can’t even afford a doctor, how is their health ever going to get better? At the very least, now that you are practising Buddhism with me, you’ve managed to clear your minds and can recite sutras, so you’ve become a little more connected. Even if you can just connect with the energy field of the Dharma Protectors, that itself is a kind of supranormal power.
So, fixed karma comes from past lives and is incredibly difficult to alter in this lifetime; you can only use merits and virtues to gradually dissolve it. This is because everything is governed by the law of cause and effect. For instance, if the Bodhisattvas want to save someone, but they find out that this person’s karmic obstacles are too heavy, even the Bodhisattvas have no way to save them. If you all didn’t learn Buddhism today, could I save you? You did so many things in your past, across so many previous lifetimes—if you still don’t want to change in this life, can I save you? I can’t. Only when you yourself are making progress and genuinely want to change, and I then use the Buddha-dharma to guide and educate you, can I help you eliminate the karmic obstacles you carry. Therefore, even the Bodhisattvas do not override the law of cause and effect. In the end, it all relies on you.
很多人想走捷径，以为叫师父给他加持加持就能把身上的孽障和灵性加持掉。这是不行的。师父能做到的，就是我可以直接跟菩萨讲：“请菩萨先原谅他，他会念多少多少张小房子，他会做多少多少功德来弥补他这个缺陷。请观世音菩萨慈悲，先让他留在人间。”我也只能做到这一点，实际上最基本的功课还是靠自己来完成的。就像老师要把一个学生开除了，家长把孩子带过去给老师说：“老师你放心，我一定叫他每天晚上补习功课，叫他功课每天完成。你给他一个月的时间吧。”老师说：“好，我先不开除他。”真的给他一个月时间让他变好。实际上这个家长就相当于师父一样。但是最重要的是他自己功课做不做、学习好不好、成绩上不上得去？还是靠他自己本人。
Many people want to take shortcuts. They think that if they ask me to bless them, their karmic obstacles and spirit-related problems will simply disappear. That is not possible. The most I can do is to speak directly to the Bodhisattva on your behalf: “Please, Bodhisattva, forgive them for now. They will recite a certain number of Little Houses, and they will perform a certain amount of merit and virtue to make up for their shortcomings. May Guan Yin Bodhisattva have compassion and allow them to remain in the human world for the time being.” I can only do that much. In reality, the most fundamental homework must still be completed by you. It is just like a student who is about to be expelled from school. The parents bring the child to the teacher and say, “Teacher, please don’t worry. I will make sure he studies every evening and completes all of his homework. Please give him one month.” The teacher says, “Alright, I won’t expel him just yet.” The teacher gives the student a month to turn things around. In this example, the parent is like me. But the most important question remains: Will the student actually do the work? Will he study properly? Will his grades improve? In the end, it still comes down to the student himself.