善巧方便感化魔军

Using Skillful Expedients to Transform Demon Armies

修行要用如如不动的定力，来降伏三千大千世界的魔军；

要用了了常明的智慧，来教化三千大千世界的魔军。

In cultivation, we should use the samadhi power of unmoving thusness to subdue the demon troops in the universe; we should use the wisdom of constant clarity and understanding to teach and transform them.

万佛圣城，是整个宇宙的一个光明城，因为它有光明，所以魔王就恐怖毛竖。在刚建立万佛圣城的开端，所有三千大千世界的天魔外道与魔王的眷属们，都恐怖毛竖、战战兢兢。他们想尽方法制造一种矛盾来破坏万佛圣城。那么万佛圣城中的人，是不是要与他们来敌对呢？不是的，我们只是提高警觉来修行。

The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a bright city in the universe. Its light frightens the demons so that their hair stands on end. When the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas was first established, it was a hair-raising experience for all the heavenly demons, unbelievers, and retinues of the demon kings in the universe, and they were very nervous. They thought of every possible way to create havoc in order to ruin the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Well, do the people at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas want to put up any opposition to them? No, we should just be more alert in our cultivation.

修行要用如如不动的定力，来降伏三千大千世界的魔军；要用了了常明的智慧，来教化三千大千世界的魔军。

In cultivation, we should use the samadhi power of unmoving thusness to subdue the demon troops in the universe; we should use the wisdom of constant clarity and understanding to teach and transform them.

当然，魔军不一定会听教化，但我们要用种种善巧方便来感化魔军，令他们心悦诚服，皈依三宝，发大菩提心，这是万佛圣城每个人的责任。

Of course, the demon troops may not listen to us, but we must employ various skillful and clever expedients to influence them, until they joyfully and sincerely submit, take refuge in the Triple Jewel, and bring forth great Bodhi resolves. This is the responsibility of every person at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

那么今天中午我已经说过：在过去，韦驮菩萨与伽蓝菩萨，常观望着万佛圣城可否建立起来？但现在万佛圣城已经建立得稍具规模，所以护法韦驮菩萨与伽蓝菩萨不应该再懒惰了，不能再敷衍塞责，随随便便令魔王得便。

At noon today, I already talked about how in the past, Weituo Bodhisattva and Qielan Bodhisattva used to look at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to see if it could really establish itself. Now that the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas has already been set up with its basic organization in place, the Dharma-protecting Bodhisattvas, Weituo and Qielan, should not be lazy anymore. They cannot neglect their responsibilities and casually allow demons to do as they please.

护法韦驮菩萨往昔发愿要护持佛教的道场，伽蓝菩萨也是愿力宏深，要护持所有道场，所以现在不要懒惰！要很精进，巡守万佛圣城法界的地方，不令魔王得便。

In the past, Dharma-protecting Bodhisattva Weituo made a vow to guard and support the Way-places of Buddhism. Qielan Bodhisattva also made a deep, far-reaching vow to guard and support all Way-places. Therefore, they should not be lax now! They should vigorously guard the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas so that the demons cannot have their way.

今天是国庆日，我们也建立万佛圣城的城庆。我们人人要循规蹈矩，拥护万佛圣城，做护法的诸天也不能袖手旁观，要特别发大菩提心，拥护华严道场。万佛圣城是华严境界，宣扬华严大法，教化三千大千世界所有的魔军。在过去，魔王常到万佛圣城捣乱，常常破坏万佛圣城的规矩，可是从今天开始，我们要把一切规矩法则都建立起来，令正法更能发扬光大。

Today is the American Independence Day, and we are also commemorating the establishment of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Everyone should abide by the rules and support the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. The Dharma-protecting gods should not just stand by and watch, either; they must bring forth a great resolve to support this Avatamsaka Way-place. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is the Avatamsaka state; it proclaims the great Avatamsaka Dharma to teach and transform all the troops of demons in the universe. In the past, the demon kings often came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to cause trouble, and they frequently transgressed the rules here. Starting today, we are going to firmly establish the regulations and laws, so that the Proper Dharma can flourish even more gloriously.

一九八二年七月四日晚上开示

于万佛圣城

A talk given on the evening of July 4, 1982

at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas