修心就是修正自己的行为，就是修正自己的心理行为和你所做的行为。但是行为以心理行为最重要，因为任何的语言行为和肢体行为都是由心理行为产生的。心理行为可以控制你的语言行为和你的肢体行为。如果你脑子里不去想下流的东西，你就做不出下流的行为；你的脑子里不去想那些下流的黄色的笑话，你就不会讲出下流黄色的笑话。师父警告你们：所有的我的弟子绝对不能讲荤笑话，想都不能去想！有时候人家说的一个音相同或一个话相似，如果你马上就去想到那些下流的事情，实际上你已经犯罪了，你已经破戒了。因为人家一句话而你想到下流的事情上，实际上你就是肮脏的灵魂，你已经犯罪了。所以青年团的学佛人我也是警告他们：如果人家讲错一句话你把它往深里想，你把它想得下流了，实际上你就是犯戒。我告诉你们笑都不能笑，想都不能想，这才叫干净。修行就是修正自己的恶习。我们身上有多少恶习啊，我们要不要修正？什么叫恶习？比如好吃懒做。你们这些女孩子，哪个不是好吃懒做啊？一个个懒得不得了，尤其是女孩子更应该干净，在观音堂里吃东西碗要抢着洗，地要抢着扫，要弄得干干净净。谁是你们的阿姨啊？谁是你们的奴隶啊？一个女孩子“懒——馋——贪——变”那绝对是个规律。先是很懒的；第二嘴巴很馋，什么都要吃；第三开始贪了，什么都要；最后这个女孩子一定会变掉。谁要啊？谁要娶这种媳妇啊？所以一定要明白，你们的恶习一定要改正。
Cultivating the mind means correcting your own behaviour. It means correcting both your mental conduct and your outward actions. However, mental conduct is the most important of all, because every action of speech and every physical action originates from the mind. Mental conduct governs both your speech and your behaviour.
If your mind does not dwell on vulgar thoughts, you will not engage in vulgar behaviour. If you do not think about dirty jokes, you will not tell dirty jokes. I want to warn all of you: my disciples must never tell dirty jokes. You should not even entertain such thoughts. Sometimes, if someone else says a word that sounds similar or a phrase that is somewhat related, and you instantly let your mind jump to those indecent things, in reality, you have already committed an offense; you have already broken a precept. Why? Just because of a word someone else said, you let your thoughts wander into the gutter—in reality, that means your soul is impure, and you have already committed an offense. I give the same warning to the young Buddhist practitioners in our Youth Group. If someone says a word wrong and you over-analyse it, spinning it into something indecent, in reality, you have broken a precept. I am telling you: do not even laugh about it, and do not even think about it. That is what it means to be truly pure.
Cultivation is about correcting your bad habits. How many bad habits do we have? Shouldn’t we correct them? What are bad habits? For example, being lazy and indulging your cravings. Many young people today are both lazy and overly indulgent. Young women in particular should learn to be neat, diligent, and tidy. At the Guan Yin Hall, you should be competing to wash the dishes, competing to sweep the floor, and making sure everything is kept spotless. Who do you think is supposed to serve you? Who do you think is your servant? There is a pattern I often see: laziness, craving, greed, and then degeneration. First comes laziness. Then comes craving—wanting to eat everything. Next comes greed—wanting everything for yourself. In the end, the person changes for the worse. Tell me, who would want such a daughter-in-law? That is why you must understand that your bad habits have to be corrected.
修行就是要持戒、忍辱。什么是持戒？就是坚决不做不好的事情。忍辱是什么？就是人家骂我了，我就不骂他。你们现在几个青年人能做到这样？何况人家讲对了还不卖帐，还要找出千条理由万条理由。你们知道吗？你们越解释别人在边上越看不起你们。真正有修养的人，人家讲你，你不讲话。比如当两个人为某一件事争吵的时候，其中一个解释了半天。你们说有什么好解释的？实际上两个人都是错的。因为这个世界上你看不出谁是对的谁是错的，其实两个人都差不多。不争吵的人永远胜利，争吵的人永远是失败的。所以这些青年团的孩子你们一定要好好修。我告诉你们，你们真的不如你们老一辈的女士。老一辈的人在家里个个都很勤快，而现在的年轻人有几个在家里肯做事情的啊？被子都懒得叠，像样不像样？
Cultivation means upholding the precepts and practising forbearance. What does it mean to uphold the precepts? It means firmly refusing to do what is wrong. What is forbearance? It means that when someone insults me, I do not insult them in return. How many young people today can actually do that? What’s more, even when someone is right in criticising them, they still refuse to accept it and come up with countless excuses. Do you know something? The more you try to explain yourself, the more others look down on you.
A truly well-cultivated person does not feel the need to argue. When two people are arguing, one of them may spend ages trying to explain themselves. But what is there to explain? In reality, both sides are usually at fault. In this world, it is often difficult to say who is completely right and who is completely wrong. Most of the time, both parties share some responsibility. The one who refuses to argue wins forever; the one who argues always loses. That is why I tell the young members of our Buddhist community that you must cultivate yourselves properly. To be honest, many of you are not even as diligent as the older generation. People from the older generation were hardworking at home. How many young people are willing to do any chores at home? You’re too lazy to even make your own beds—is that proper?
要精进，要学会布施。什么叫布施？就是不断地给人家东西，有什么东西给什么东西。你今天给得出，你就是个富翁。你今天再有钱，你不肯给人家，你就是个穷光蛋。你今天什么都布施，你永远都是个富翁。这就叫道理。只知道拿进不知道拿出的人，他永远是个穷人。什么东西都不肯拿出，什么东西都往家里拿，观音堂的苹果也挑好的往家里拿，为什么不能想到让大家吃到好苹果呢？过去观音堂请下来的苹果，好的全被拿光，“年纪大”的苹果全被留在那里了。为什么不想想让人家吃好一点、你吃差一点的呢？你们好好想想吧，配不配做师父的徒弟啊？配不配做师父的弟子啊？你们看看师父，这么好的茶叶师父不舍得吃，什么高山茶、龙井茶等，我就这么一大包一大包的往人家那儿送啊。人家感恩你啊。等到你有事需要帮助的时候，人家就主动帮助你了。实际上我给他的时候我从来不要什么回报的。比如你今天要不是好好地修行，这一次环境局要罚你一百万的款，师父怎么能帮到你呢？你这不就是靠平时吗？如果你临时去求人家，人家谁理你啊？你们要好好学啊。
You must be diligent in your cultivation, and you must learn to practise giving. What is giving? It means constantly giving to others whatever you can. If you are able to give today, then you are a wealthy person. You may have plenty of money, but if you are unwilling to give anything to others, then you are truly poor. If you are willing to give in all circumstances, then you will always be rich. This is the absolute truth. Those who only know how to take in and never give out will always remain poor. Some people refuse to give away anything. Everything is taken home for themselves. Even when selecting apples at the Guan Yin Hall, they cherry-pick the best ones to take home. Why not think about letting everyone else enjoy the good apples instead? In the past, after apples had been offered to the Bodhisattvas and later distributed, all the best apples would disappear first, leaving only the “aged” and bruised ones behind. Why not think about letting others have the better apples while you take the less attractive ones?
You all need to reflect deeply on this—are you even fit to be my disciples? Look at me. When people give me excellent tea—High Mountain Tea, Longjing Tea, and all sorts of premium varieties—I rarely keep it for myself. Instead, I just pack them up in massive bundles and give them away to people. People are grateful when you treat them this way. Then, when you genuinely need help one day, others will naturally be willing to help you. In reality, when I give to others, I never expect anything in return. For example, suppose you were facing a million-dollar fine from the authorities. If you had not been cultivating properly all along, how could I possibly help you at that moment? Isn’t everything built upon what you have done in the past? If you only start seeking help when trouble arrives, who would even bother with you? Learn well.
要布施，要有智慧，要住心。什么叫“住心”？就是把你的心停下来不要去乱想，把幻念全部忘掉。住心就是把你的心停住了。如果你今天心停不下来，眼睛就“哗啦哗啦”乱看；如果你心能定得下来，眼睛就直愣愣地盯住人家看。你们吹牛的时候、动坏脑筋的时候，以为师父是看不见的，你们是在骗自己，你们只能骗你们相互之间。人的眼神瞬息万变，师父不看图腾都看得出。当一个人有恨心的时候，他的眼神出来的光都不一样。你们知道吗？眼神有四十八种光。不要以为骗骗人家，能骗得了吗？最后骗的是你们自己啊。把人家当傻瓜的人自己永远是最傻的人。要忍辱啊，你们不能忍耐的人、不能在背后帮助人家的人，你们就不是菩萨。好好想想，你们差得远了。你们天天学的好像是菩萨，你们做了些什么？你们的用心是不是菩萨？
You must practise giving. You must develop wisdom. And you must learn to settle your mind. What does it mean to “settle your mind”? It means to bring your mind to a complete halt so it stops running wild, and to completely forget all your illusory thoughts. Settling your mind means stabilising it. If your mind cannot settle down, your eyes will constantly dart around looking at everything. But when your mind is steady, your gaze naturally becomes focused. When you are bragging or entertaining improper thoughts, you think I cannot see it. In reality, you are only deceiving yourselves. At best, you can fool one another. A person’s eyes reveal everything. Their expression changes from one moment to the next. Even without reading a person’s Totem, I can often tell what is going on inside them. When someone harbours hatred, even the light in their eyes is different. Do you know that there are forty-eight different kinds of light reflected through a person’s eyes? Don’t think you can deceive others. In the end, the person you deceive most is yourself. Those who treat others as fools are often the biggest fools of all.
You must learn to practise forbearance. If you cannot endure hardship, if you cannot quietly help others behind the scenes, then you are not acting like a Bodhisattva. Reflect on it deeply. You still have a long way to go. Every day you look like you are learning to be a Bodhisattva, but what have you actually done? Is your intention truly that of a Bodhisattva?
要调护自己的心。一定要让心定下来，叫住心。心定不下来你就没有住心。也就是说你的心在不停地想各种各样的事情，你的心就住不下来。持戒，守住智慧，清心寡欲。清心是什么意思？就是心要干净。寡欲是什么？寡就是少的意思。欲是什么？欲望。就是让自己的欲望越来越少。你们在座的人我给你们半分钟时间。你们现在脑子里有几件事情？你们有多少欲望？比方说最好让我儿子考上，我最好换件新衣服，我最好能够把这间房子卖掉，最好我老公能够怎么样，最好我女儿能听话，我身体最好不要有事等等，这些都是属于欲望。现在给你们半分钟想想，你们至少超过五个念头。你们的欲望太多了！要寡欲。什么叫寡欲？就是欲望少一点，没有欲望。师父的座右铭是“无欲自然心如水”。师父讲给你们听我的心得：当人有欲望的时候，或者有什么想法的时候，或有不开心的时候，要马上想起这句话，他就没有任何的欲望了。因为想到“无欲自然心如水”，心如水一样平静，有什么欲望？你不要有欲望，你就什么都没了。你烦恼不就是欲望来的吗？如果你欲望没了哪来的烦恼啊？所以心定神清。心定下来这个人神才会清。如果一个人心定不下来，他的脸就怪怪的。你们去看好了，人家说：“哎呀，忙三忙四的。哎呦，怎么样怎么样……”你看他的脸就怪怪的。如果一个人很端庄，心一定定得下来。“哦，是吗？哦，没事的”，很稳得住自己的。他的脸会很干净，他的心是清净的。所以要记住：当一个人有正的见解的时候他才能拥有这个世界。比方说我正确地认识了这个事情，我知道这个正见，我才能得到和拥有它。如果这个事情不应该你得到的，而你用邪见去想，最后就得不到。所以要有正见才能得到和拥有。
You must learn to regulate and protect your mind. You must allow your mind to settle down. This is what is meant by settling the mind. If your mind cannot settle, then you have not truly achieved it. In other words, if your mind is constantly occupied by one thought after another, it will never be able to come to rest.
You must uphold the precepts, safeguard your wisdom, and keep your mind pure while reducing your desires. What does it mean to keep your mind pure? It means keeping it clean. And what does it mean to reduce your desires? It means having fewer wants and fewer cravings. Let me give all of you thirty seconds. Right now, how many thoughts are running through your minds? How many desires do you have? Perhaps you are thinking, “I hope my son passes his exams.” “I’d love to buy some new clothes.” “I wish I could sell this house.” “I wish my husband would do this.” “I hope my daughter listens to me.” “I hope nothing goes wrong with my health.” All of these are desires. Take thirty seconds and think about it. Most of you probably have more than five desires running through your minds right now. You have too many desires. You must reduce your desires. What does it mean to reduce desire? It means wanting less and less until there is no desire at all. My personal motto is: “When there is no desire, the mind naturally becomes as still as water.” Let me share my personal insight with you: Whenever a person has strong desires, becomes attached to an idea, or feels unhappy, the moment they recall this phrase, all their desires instantly vanish. Why? Because when you think of “When there is no desire, the mind naturally becomes as still as water,” your mind becomes completely tranquil—what desire could possibly remain? Doesn’t your affliction come entirely from desire? If your desires are gone, where on earth would affliction come from?
That is why when the mind is settled, the spirit becomes clear. Only when the mind is calm can a person’s spirit be clear and refreshed. If a person’s mind is unsettled, it shows on their face. Watch carefully and you will see it. They are constantly rushing about, worrying about this and worrying about that. Their expression always looks strained and unsettled. But when a person is composed and dignified, it is because their mind has settled down. They remain calm. They say, “Oh, is that so? That’s alright.” They are able to steady themselves. Their face appears clear and peaceful because their mind is pure. Therefore, you must remember this: only when a person possesses right views can they truly possess this world. For example, if I understand a matter correctly and hold this right view, only then can I obtain and possess it. If something is not meant for you to have, yet you approach it with wrong views, you will not obtain it in the end. That is why you must have right views to truly attain and possess things.
要制服散乱的心，要制服自己放逸的初心。什么叫放逸？就是放纵，非常逍遥自在的。为什么要制服自己放逸的初心？因为每个人都有惰心，每个人都希望睡觉多睡一会儿，对不对？比如你昨天晚上3点钟睡觉，睡到第二天中午11点钟，八个小时的睡眠应该差不多了吧。师父的意思是说，因为你心里有一个“哎呀，晚上很累了，早上我一定要多睡一会儿”，这个就是你的放逸，想让自己多舒服一点，想让自己少受一点痛苦。知道吗？这个也是不好的。什么叫学佛？什么叫苦修行啊？如果你们在庙里的话，晨钟暮鼓啊。早晨一起来就开始做到晚上，念经啊、修心啊、扫地啊、劈柴啊、担水啊等等，而且平时非常非常地严格。你们做得到吗？做不到的。你们是碰到被子就不想起来，碰到吃的嘴就停不下来，碰到好看的眼睛就定不下来。你去看好了，眼睛左转右转的人他一定会拿人家东西的。学佛的人目不斜视，心无邪念，行无邪为。你们做得到吗？比如今天来一个稍微打扮漂亮一点的人，如果是女的进来，男的都看；男的进来，女的都看。那是修不好的。而且女人不能未语先笑，就是还没有说话之前先笑。我指的是不认识的人。这种未语先笑的女人都是属于犯淫的。你们听到过没有啊？如果看见一个不认识的男士，你先“嘿嘿”地笑，然后再讲话，就叫未语先笑。所以要制服一切累世的习气。因为有的人的习性是这辈子来的，而有的人的习性是上辈子带来的。比如一个小孩生出来脾气大得不得了，一不顺心奶吃不到了，马上“哇哇”哭个不停；还有些小孩子想要什么东西得不到时就踢板凳砸东西，哭啊叫啊，躺在地板上，脾气大得不得了，这就是累世积累的东西，一定要改正。学佛修心就是改掉你过去不好的习气。
You must learn to subdue your scattered mind and overcome the tendency to indulge yourself. What does it mean to indulge yourself? It means becoming self-indulgent, always seeking comfort and taking life too easily. Why must we overcome this tendency? Because every one of us has a lazy side. Everyone wants to sleep a little longer, don’t they? For example, suppose you went to bed at three o’clock in the morning and slept until eleven the next day. Eight hours of sleep should be enough, shouldn’t it? What I mean is this: when you think to yourself, “I was so tired last night. I’ll sleep in a bit longer this morning,” that is already a form of self-indulgence. You are trying to make yourself more comfortable and avoid a little hardship. Do you understand? This too is not a good thing.
What does it mean to practise Buddhism? What does diligent cultivation in hardship mean? If you lived in a temple, you would hear the morning bell and evening drum. From the moment you got up in the morning until nightfall, you would be reciting sutras, cultivating your mind, sweeping the grounds, chopping firewood, carrying water, and performing all kinds of duties. Life would be extremely disciplined and demanding. Could you do that? Most of you couldn’t. The moment you touch a warm blanket, you don’t want to get up. The moment you start eating, you don’t want to stop. The moment you see something attractive, your eyes start wandering. Go see for yourselves—people whose eyes are always darting from side to side are bound to take things from others. A true Buddhist practitioner looks straight ahead, harbours no improper thoughts, and engages in no improper conduct. Can you all manage that? For instance, if someone walks in today who is slightly dressed up—if it’s a woman, all the men look; if it’s a man, all the women look. You can never cultivate well that way. Furthermore, a woman should not giggle before she speaks. That is, if she sees a man that she doesn’t know, she giggles first before talking. Mind you, I am referring to people she does not know. This kind of behaviour stems from a lustful inclination. Have you heard of this? Therefore, you must overcome all the habitual tendencies accumulated over countless lifetimes. Some habits are developed in this lifetime, while others are carried over from previous lives. For example, some children are born with terrible tempers. The moment they don’t get what they want, they burst into tears. Some children kick furniture, throw things around, scream, cry, and roll on the floor whenever they are denied something. Their tempers are completely out of control. These tendencies have been accumulated over many lifetimes, and they must be corrected. Practising Buddhism and cultivating the mind is about eliminating these bad habits and tendencies that you have carried with you for so long.
师父刚才给大家讲了放逸。就是不要觉得我好累我就不起来，这就是放逸。比如到晚上太冷了，明明想小便了他不愿意起来，好了，得尿毒症了；明明上班的时间到了，应该起床了，“哎呀，不想起，再睡一会儿”，好了，这就叫做放逸；该念经了，“哎呀，我晚一点再念吧”，放逸了。师父在做节目看图腾的时候，两个小时我累不累啊？我有时候累得不得了，就自己拿手掐自己的肉、打我自己、掐脖子。你们知道吗？晚上太晚睡，太辛苦，但做节目我不能睡觉啊，这两个小时我不能睡啊。咬咬牙才能修成佛啊。哪一个菩萨是放逸自己而修成的？要不去想，要住心一处，什么事情不要去想得太多。住心一处什么意思？就是把心放在一个地方，就是学佛做好人要住心一处。
Just now I spoke about self-indulgence. It means giving in whenever you feel tired or uncomfortable. For example, it is cold at night and you need to use the bathroom, but you can’t be bothered getting out of bed. Eventually you make yourself sick or even end up with uremia. Or it is time to get up for work, but you think, “I’ll just sleep a little longer.” That is self-indulgence. Or perhaps it is time to recite sutras, but you think, “I’ll do it later.” That too is self-indulgence. When I host my radio programs and perform Totem readings, do you think I don’t get tired? Sometimes I become exhausted. There are occasions when I pinch myself or squeeze my own neck just to stay awake. You know? Some nights I sleep very little and work very hard. But when I am hosting the program, I cannot sleep. I cannot afford to doze off during those two hours. You must grit your teeth and persevere if you wish to attain Buddhahood. Which Bodhisattva became accomplished by indulging themselves? That is why you must not allow your mind to wander. Settle your mind in one place and stop thinking about too many things. What does it mean to settle your mind in one place? It means anchoring your mind firmly in one single place. To practise Buddhism well and be a truly good person, you must settle your mind in one place.
要看破念头。这句话非常重要。什么叫看破念头？你一个念头来了不一定是好事情啊。比如我要去杀人，这个人坏得不得了，我恨死他了，我要去报复他……这个就是念头来了。你怎么样把这个念头看破呢？看破就是说，“哎呀，他现在这么害我，如果我写封信告他，被他知道了还会反过来害我。冤冤相报何时了啊”。你把这个事情看破了，把这个念头看破了，就不会去做了。一定要看破念头。今天这个念头来了不知道是好是坏，要先把它看破。比方说一个念头来了：“我这个身体痛得不得了，我还不如死了呢”。再一想，“我不能这么自私，我学习观世音菩萨法门，观世音菩萨一定会救我的，我就好好地学”。看破了吧？接下来就不会死了，不会有磨难，不会有灾难了。比如今天他对我好得不得了，突然间他对我不好了。看破自己的念头：“哎，本身就是一个缘分了，有就有了，没有就算了”。难过什么？你损失什么了？人家跟你交朋友了蛮开心，人家不跟你交朋友了你得到清净。你不就想开了吗？
You must learn to see through your thoughts. This is extremely important. What does it mean to see through a thought? Just because a thought arises does not mean it is a good one. For example, a thought may arise: “I want to kill that person. He has treated me terribly. I hate him. I want revenge.” A thought has appeared. How do you see through it? To see through it means recognising it for what it is. You think to yourself: “If I report him or try to retaliate, he may only come back and hurt me even more. When will this cycle of revenge ever end?” Once you see through the situation and see through the thought itself, you will no longer act on it. That is why you must learn to see through your thoughts. Whenever a thought arises, whether it appears good or bad, you should first see through it.
For example, a thought may arise: “This pain is unbearable. I’d be better off dead.” Then you reflect further: “I cannot be so selfish. I practise Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Dharma Door. Guan Yin Bodhisattva will certainly help me. I should continue cultivating diligently.” Haven’t you seen through the thought? Once you do, you will not end your life, you won’t suffer these tribulations, and you won’t face disaster. Or perhaps someone has always treated you wonderfully, but suddenly they no longer do. You see through your own thoughts and tell yourself: “This was simply a karmic affinity. If it’s there, it’s there; if it’s gone, so be it.” What is there to be upset about? What have you really lost? When someone wants to be your friend, you enjoy the friendship. When they no longer wish to be your friend, you gain peace and quiet. Seeing it this way, haven’t you just got over it then?
看破才能放下。把念头看破才能放下，叫悟后修为。就是等你开悟了、明白了之后，你才会得到真正的修为啊，你才能得到通过真正的修行得到的行为啊。因为你想明白了，你才是真修；如果没有想明白你是假修，得不到真行为。就像我们过去在单位里，领导让他做个事情，但是他不愿意做。做的时候他没有开悟，心中想不明白啊。他一边做一边难过，一边做一边不愿意好好做，很快就被领导看出来了，接下来得到处分，你得不偿失啊。如果这个领导跟你谈得很清楚，“这个事情是暂时的，你先做，然后我们还会有调动”。你照样能做得很好。这就叫悟后。就是开悟之后你才能得到真正的好的行为。
Only by seeing through something can you let it go. When you see through your thoughts, you are able to let them go. This is what is meant by cultivating after awakening. In other words, only after you have awakened and truly understood can you develop genuine spiritual attainment. Only then can your actions reflect true cultivation. Because once you have understood, your cultivation becomes real. If you have not understood, then your cultivation is superficial, and genuine transformation cannot take place. It is just like what often happened in workplaces. A manager assigns someone a task, but the person doesn’t want to do it. Because they don’t understand the reason behind it, they carry resentment in their heart. They do the work unwillingly and half-heartedly. Before long, the manager notices their attitude, and eventually they face disciplinary action—they end up losing more than they gained. But suppose the manager explains clearly: “This arrangement is only temporary. Do this for now, and there will be other opportunities later.” Then the person can happily do the job and do it well. This is what is meant by cultivating after awakening. Only after understanding can your actions become genuinely wholesome and beneficial.
要有悟境。因为你想明白了，你就会有这个境界。比如你洪先生如果不修心的话，今天在家也只是抱抱孙子、看看电视，时间就这么晃过去了。但学佛念经就不同，你有这么多的朋友。今天你到哪里人家都知道你是东方商场的总经理，你到哪里大家都跟你打招呼，你去参加新闻发布会大家都对你很好。这种生活环境你要有感恩心的。因为你们信佛，你们得到人家尊敬。你们是佛子，你们在救度众生，人家才对你们尊敬。否则人家谁理你啊？所以一定要记住：要有悟境。什么叫悟境？就是觉悟的境界。师父跟你们讲的这些你们自己必须要明白，你们就会越修得好。如果你们不明白还以为自己吃亏，以为自己觉得怎么样怎么样。我告诉你，就是没有悟境，就是修不好。
You must also develop an awakened state of mind. Once you truly understand, such a state naturally arises. For example, Mr Hong, if you weren’t cultivating your mind, what would your life be like? You would probably spend your days at home holding your grandchildren and watching television as the years quietly slipped by. But practising Buddhism and reciting sutras is different. You have many Dharma friends. Wherever you go, people know who you are. They greet you warmly. When you attend public events, people treat you with respect.
You should be grateful for this environment. It is because you believe in Buddhism that people respect you. It is because you are a disciple of the Buddha and are helping to awaken sentient beings that others show you respect. Otherwise, who would ever bother with you? Therefore, you must remember to develop an awakened state of mind. What is an awakened state? It is the state that arises from genuine understanding and awakening. You must completely understand everything I teach you, and then the more you cultivate, the better you will become. But if you fail to understand and still think you are losing out, or keep dwelling on how you feel about this or that, then I can tell you this: you have not yet developed an awakened state of mind, and you haven’t cultivated well.