修行三秘诀：真、诚、恒

The Secret to Cultivation: Be True, Sincere, and Constant

若不能谦虚忍让；不肯承认自己的过错，就会有很多障碍。

If you are not humble, gracious, and willing to admit your mistakes, you will encounter many obstacles.

修行不可各处卖修行，卖广告；一卖修行，就会着魔。有些修行人是诸佛来护持，有的是菩萨来护持，有的是阿罗汉来护持，有的是天人来护持，有的是鬼神来护持，有的是人来护持。有的则是邪魔鬼怪来护持，因为他们看你心邪怪僻，就想来与你作伴。一旦有邪知邪见，就生很多魔──贡高我慢心、狂傲心。若不能谦虚忍让，不肯承认自己的过错，就会有很多障碍。所以我今天要告诉你们最真实的修行法，修行有三秘诀：

We should not go around advertising our cultivation. If we sell our cultivation, we may become possessed by demons. Some cultivators are protected by Buddhas, while others are protected by Bodhisattvas, Arhats, gods, ghosts, spirits, or people. Some cultivators are protected by demons and ghosts; such beings draw near to cultivators who have deviant minds. When you embrace deviant views, you may encounter demonic states of arrogance and pride. If you are not humble, gracious, and willing to admit your mistakes, you will encounter many obstacles.

Today I want to tell you about the most honest kind of cultivation. There are three secrets to it:

(一)真：不能虚伪，什么事都要往真的做。

1. Be true in everything you do; don't be hypocritical.

(二)诚：要必恭必敬，很诚恳，不懈怠，不马虎。

2. Always be extremely sincere and respectful; don't be lazy or negligent.

(三)恒：恒常不变，恒远不逾。

3. Be constant, persevering, and steadfast.

凡是一举一动、一言一行，都要有坚、诚、恒三心。做什么事都有这三心，将来一定会有成就。

In every move you make and every word you say, be true, sincere, and constant. If your mind is true, sincere, and constant, you will certainly succeed at whatever you do.

一九八二年十月廿二日开示

A talk given on October 22, 1982