Quotations
Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
Quotations - All
1.
We should all make this vow: "We don't want the Dharma to come to an end. Wherever we go, we want the Proper Dharma to exist there."
2.
We should be very scrupulous in translating the Sutras, and we should not casually delete passages.
3.
Listening to the Dharma is an especially good way to increase our good roots and open our wisdom.
4.
An opportunity to listen to the Dharma is worth more than any amount of money you could earn. You all shouldn't think it is a simple matter to be able to come and listen to the Sutras and study the Dharma. You are able to do so only because you have amassed a lot of good roots and virtuous conduct.
5.
A Bodhisattva is simply someone who advances with great vigor. That's all there is to it. There's no other secret.
6.
The ancient sages always blamed themselves. Modern people, however, look for faults in others instead of acknowledging their own faults.
7.
Depressed and melancholy, you roam through the hells.
Happy and smiling, you enjoy eternal youth.
Weeping and woe make a small dark room in the hells.
8.
Patience means: "If people scold me, I can bear it. If they hit me, I can take it. No matter how badly they treat me, I can endure it."
9.
Money is the filthiest thing around. If you stay around it very long, you'll be defiled.
10.
If you wish others to know about your good deeds, they are not truly good deeds.
If you fear others will find out about your bad deeds, those are truly bad deeds.
11.
Through cultivating the Way, you can increase your wisdom, your resolve for Bodhi, the power of your vows, and everything else.
12.
All Good and Wise Advisors, we should not be unfilial disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha. We fellow Buddhists should not stir up trouble among ourselves and try to hurt each other. This is my hope for modern Buddhism.
13.
At all times we should vigorously and courageously advance. We must never retreat or become lazy.
14.
There aren't any problems that can't be solved in Buddhism.
15.
There are no doors to the hells; you yourself make the doors.
16.
Be gentle and agreeable. Avoid a hot temper. Don't be frightened under any circumstances.
17.
Be someone who abides by the rules. If you don't follow the rules, you will have to under go the retribution of being abnormal in the future.
18.
If you have not reached the state of being able to accord with conditions without changing, you must be very careful not to indulge in idle thoughts at any time.
19.
No matter what circumstances or demonic obstacles we encounter, we are determined not to waver in our resolve to study the Buddhadharma. This is the kind of resoluteness and sincerity we must have in studying Buddhism.
20.
Parents are living Buddhas right in your own home, so don't neglect what is near to seek afar.
21.
With this body of yours, you ought to do some work and make a contribution to the world.
22.
Practice of the Way requires perseverance, sincerity, and determination.
23.
The purpose of studying Buddhadharma is to put an end to birth and death.
24.
If we want to make daily progress, we must become more strict with ourselves each day.
25.
We must become more collected and focused by not indulging in discursive thoughts.
26.
When the Buddha spoke Dharma and taught people according to their needs, he was like a physician dispensing the right medicine to each patient. Therefore, one cannot say of any part of his teachings that they are right or wrong per se.
27.
If you avoid praising, criticizing, and bearing grudges against others, your mind will be peaceful and free from greed, anger, and delusion.
28.
If you have no obstacles in your own mind, then outer obstacles will not hinder you or cause you worry.
29.
One may not carelessly scold those who study and practice the Buddha's teachings.
30.
Don't joke about the Dharma, and don't talk about it frivolously.
31.
You should always maintain an attitude of deep respect and make obeisance to the great Bodhisattvas of the ten directions. For every bit of respect you have, you will gain a bit of response. If you are one hundred percent respectful, you will gain the benefit of a response of one hundred percent.
32.
All the various kinds of precepts are aimed at helping people follow the rules. People who follow the rules can help maintain order in society and resolve the problems faced by humankind. Thus, the moral precepts are the basis for world peace.
33.
Students of the Buddhadharma should become more energetic, more earnest, more disciplined, and more intelligent each day.
34.
To obtain genuine wisdom, we must work hard in our practice and be in accord with the rules.
35.
In the future, I hope all of you will look after yourselves and supervise yourselves. With such self-supervision, you will certainly succeed one day.
36.
The Buddha's wisdom and radiance are like the sun, because they shine upon the entire earth, lighting up even the remotest corners of darkness.
37.
Merit is created through deeds that benefit society, such as building temples and repairing bridges and roads. Virtue means having a good conscience and not being ashamed before Heaven or people because one has neither deceived others nor cheated oneself.
38.
What I stress is genuine merit and real practice, not false publicity.
39.
Always be honest and open in your speech and actions. Don't be sneaky or evasive with anyone. A straight mind is the Bodhimanda.
40.
Studying Buddhism is worth more than any amount of money you save up in the bank!
41.
In terms of your Dharma body and wisdom life, the Dharma is far more important than money. Don't take worldly wealth so seriously.
42.
When you study the Dharma, you amass a wealth of Dharma and meritorous virtue. So, don't look lightly upon this and act in a careless manner.
43.
The Dharma is spoken; the Way has to be practiced. In order to derive benefit, you have to actually practice according to the Dharma.
44.
No matter how flourishing the world becomes, when it reaches the height of its glory, it will become dark again. All things in the world, great and small, are pretty much the same; they all go through cycles.
45.
How were we born? We were born from ignorance; we came into the world in a muddled fashion.
46.
Ignorance is the root of afflictions, the root of birth and death, and the root of all troubles and problems.
47.
Because of desires for illusory fame and profit, our minds are constantly being traumatized and afflicted. This is where we differ from the Buddhas.
48.
The reason we haven't obtained a response in our practice of Buddhism is that we have too many doubts.
49.
The only way we can influence people is to set a good example for them and win their respect for our integrity and values.
50.
"The spirits and immortals of old had no special tricks; they were simply happy as could be, and they never worried." This should be the motto of all cultivators.
51.
We should know that nothing in the world comes easily; how can we expect a reward when we haven't put in the work?
52.
In listening to Sutra lectures and reciting Sutras, we must be patient and not grow weary.
53.
If we did not fight, were not greedy, did not seek anything, were not selfish, and did not want to benefit ourselves, we would have no anger.
54.
The proper dharmas are: not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not wanting personal advantages, and not telling lies. These are known as the Six Great Guidelines. No matter what dharma it is, you may use the Six Guidelines as a yardstick to measure, judge, and contemplate it. If it accords with the six rules, it can be called a proper dharma. If it goes against them, it is a deviant dharma.
55.
People have sharp eyes and will see your good points. You don't need to praise yourself.
56.
As human beings, we are close to the demons and far from the Buddhas. We can become a demon king any time we want. If we wish to become a Buddha, however, we must cut through dense thickets of evil views. We have to cast out deviant views and constantly cultivate proper views before we can escape the demons' nets.
57.
In studying the Dharma, we should investigate the principles until we are completely convinced of them, without the slightest doubt in our minds.
世紀末警鐘
宣公上人開示精要
宣公上人開示精要 - 全
1.
人為什麼都是糊裏糊塗的？因為他們一點也不曉得自己從哪裏來，還到哪裏去。每天在鏡子裏所照的形相，不是真正的你呀！假使想知道自己的本來面目，必須迴光返照，反求諸己。世人都被五欲迷住了。每天被財色名食睡的鎖鍊縛得透不過氣來，還心甘情願地做它的奴隸。
2.
我們人的貪心，比天還高，比地還厚，比海也更深，無底的洞，什麼時候也填不滿。
3.
人無道德，就是真正的貧窮。
4.
本有的珍寶，要到哪裏找回來呢？要在《華嚴經》。所謂「不讀《華嚴經》，不知佛之富貴」，《華嚴經》是經中之王。
5.
如果用貪瞋癡三毒來處理事情的話，那麼，就會天昏地暗發生災難。如果用戒定慧來處理事情，天會清、地會寧，發生吉祥，所以說，惡人多的地方，災難就重；善人多的地方，吉祥增加。總而言之，災難或吉祥，都在人為。
6.
人不成佛，就是因為儘在口頭禪上用功夫。
7.
一切法皆是佛法，皆不可得。世界上萬事萬物都在說法，都在講經。我們把每一個人自己那一部經念好了，背熟了，不要錯因果，那是真經真典。
8.
你儘看人家不對，就是自己有苦，你若沒有苦了，見到誰都是佛；見到人人都像佛似的。很簡單，很淺顯，就是你做不到。
9.
人不是為吃飯而活著，人活著應有功於世，有德於民，有利於天下，人應「慈悲代天宣化，忠孝為國救民。」
10.
一日無過可改，即一日無功可進。
11.
煩惱即菩提，就是說你在有煩惱的時候，你要能沒有煩惱了，你能認識了，那就是菩提了。
不要把那個煩惱放下了，然後另找一個菩提。
12.
愛死病，是亡國滅種的一種病，我希望我們中國不要亡國，不要跟西方學這一類的行為。
13.
學佛的人，要節欲，要清心寡欲，不要重欲，這是要緊的，這是健康根本的問題。
14.
你們今天能夠皈依三寶，皆是往昔的大善根，今生才能遇到一起。遇到一起，大家都要發菩提心，不要做佛教中的蟲子，不要做佛教的敗類。有人譭謗佛教，不要和人去辯論，要以實際行動來修行。以修行來證明佛教，不是以口頭禪來讓人相信，要躬行實踐。
15.
世界的戰爭，是由我們心裏小的戰爭引起，所謂「天下興亡，匹夫有責」，不能說這是他們的事，不是我們的事。人人沒有戰爭，世界的戰爭就平息了。
16.
不要把光向外照，要時時刻刻迴光返照，照照自己是個畜生？是個鬼？是個什麼？
17.
什麼是道德呢？就是以利益他人為主，以不妨礙他人為宗旨，也就是內心充滿仁、義、禮、智、信。
18.
我們為什麼與道不相應呢？就因為狂心沒有休息。
19.
所謂好，要從心做起。所謂壞，也要從心做起。
20.
貪瞋癡三毒，比鴉片煙、比酗酒、比最毒的砒霜都厲害。因為這些毒，是毒人有形的東西，譬如毒人身體；而貪瞋癡這三毒，是毒我們每一個人的法身慧命，所以這是最障道的。
21.
修佛法，即是諸惡莫作，眾善奉行。
22.
看破是明白，放下是解脫，解脫是自在。自不在，都是被賊侵犯，被境界轉。
23.
出家人若沒有錢，他還能修行，一有了錢，絕對不修行了，這是我敢保證的。
24.
真正的快樂，是無求的，「到無求處便無憂」。你無所求，這才是真正的快樂，真正自性的穩定、平安。
25.
眾生最大的毛病，便是癡愛，日夜在癡愛中，時刻不能放下。如果把好色之心放在學佛上，時刻不忘學佛，那就很快能成佛。
26.
要把你那些小聰明、小智慧都收起來，不要覺得自己什麼都明白，什麼都懂。如果你覺得什麼都明白，你就是沒有真正明白佛法的人。
27.
在萬佛聖城，誰也不可給人戴高帽，說些諂媚流俗拍馬屁的話。
28.
在道場裏，最醜陋的行為，就是不修行。誰不修行，將來就會墮落。
29.
修行就是要「養拙」，「拙」就是很笨的意思。修行要愈笨愈好，笨得什麼也不知，一點妄想也無。
30.
修行人不要有自己，把自己掉到垃圾堆去，處處為公家著想，要和光，以退為進，樣樣保守，不出風頭。一出風頭，就會有問題。
31.
如果飯菜不清淡，寧可不吃。出家人的責任是弘法，而不是應酬。
32.
在聖城，若師父來城時，你出席聽經，平常卻不來做早晚課，聽經也不隨喜，這就是自私，只來「拿」，不來布施，違背萬佛城基本精神。大家是一體，不能只私人活動，不顧全體大家。
33.
修道的敵人是誰？非魔王，而是自私心。若用自私心，萬事無成。就算有成，也屬虛妄。
34.
用功修道的人，一秒鐘也不可打妄想，所謂「大事未明，如喪考妣。」生死大事沒有了，好像死了父母一樣的悲哀。
35.
佛法深如大海，必須勇猛精進，勤加修習，才能有所成就。
36.
修道要有正知正見，不可顛倒是非。黑白要分清楚，不可魚目混珠，不可濫竽充數，否則，就是邪知邪見，永不成佛。
37.
妄想，明明知道辦不到，為何還要打呢？明明知道是妄想，為何不收拾乾淨？這就是一般人的習氣毛病，明知故犯。說穿了，就是看不破，放不下，執東執西，著男著女，把寶貴光陰浪費掉了。
38.
慈悲源於自性，無須半點矯揉造作，不是故意去討好人，這就落於虛偽。人一天一天長成，慢慢會懂得其理，心裏自然會生出慈悲，不用故意採取什麼行動。故意慈悲，流於諂媚；故意不慈悲，又變成冷淡。太過猶如不及，凡事要行中道，即是無心無念。
39.
學佛不用好高騖遠，只須在日常生活中體會。「平常心是道，直心是道場」，求遠必自近，求高必自低，就在日常一舉一動中，能鍛鍊自己與一般人不同，就是個好的佛教徒。
40.
佛教徒要注意因果，凡事要小心謹慎，不能隨便譭謗他人。