修行做事不要有所求

In Cultivation and Work, Don't Seek Rewards

以贪心来做好事；以好胜心来做好事，都是种子不净。

做出来的事，不一定是好事。

If you do a good deed out of greed or competitiveness, the seed is impure,

and the deed may actually turn out not to be a good deed.

天下本无事，

庸人自扰之。

Ultimately there is nothing happening

in the world,

But fools make trouble for themselves.

我们人觉得自己在做好事，其实不一定是好事。为什么？因为种子不清净。你以贪心来做好事，这就叫种子不净；你以好胜心来做好事，这也是种子不净。那要怎么办呢？就要行所无事。做什么事，都是我们的本份，不要向外驰求，不要有所求。我们每天所作所为，都应该行所无事，所谓：

We may think we are doing a good deed, but in reality, it may not be a good deed. Why not? Because the seed is impure. If you do a good deed out of greed, you've planted an impure seed. To do a good deed with a competitive motive is also to plant an impure seed. What should you do, then? You should act as if nothing were being done. No matter what we do, we should do it as our duty, and not seek for something outside of ourselves; we shouldn't seek to get anything out of it. In carrying out our daily activities, we should always act them as if nothing were being done. It is said,

本来无一物，

何处惹尘埃？

Ultimately there is nothing at all;

Where can the dust alight?

见事省事出世界，

见事迷事堕沉沦。

If you recognize what you see,

you can transcend the world;

If you are confused by what you see,

you will sink and drown.

人在世上，颠倒想不易除去。若能除去，则远离颠倒梦想，就能证得究竟涅槃，空也不空，色也不色，那就是本地风光，本有家乡。可是我们人都背觉合尘，不识本地风光，只知颠颠倒倒，东奔西忙地求名求利，等到名成利就的时候，就呜呼哀哉，胡为尚飨了。这不是「天下本无事，庸人自扰之。」是什么？

When we live in this world, it is difficult for us to get rid of our deluded ideas. If we can get rid of them, we will “leave distorted dream-thinking behind” and realize the ultimate state of Nirvana. Emptiness is not emptiness, and form is not form: This is the scenery of our native land, our inherent hometown. However, we have all turned our backs on enlightenment and have embraced defilement, so we do not recognize the scenery of our native land. Instead, we are totally deluded, and we rush madly from east to west in pursuit of fame and profit. When we finally succeed in obtaining fame and profit, death comes, and all we can do is enjoy the offerings made to the deceased! This just proves that: “Ultimately there is nothing happening in the world, but fools make trouble for themselves.”