受法香熏陶能开悟

Permeated by the Fragrance of Dharma, We Can Become Enlightened

有善根的人，天天在道场里被香熏陶；

熏久了，就能和法合而为一，豁然大悟。

People who have good roots are in the Way-place every day, being permeated by incense. Over the course of time, they will become one with the Dharma and will experience sudden enlightenment.

我们在道场里天天学法、行法，天天在这里被香熏陶，久而久之，就能和法合而为一。

As we study and practice the Dharma in the Way-place every day, we are being permeated by incense, and eventually we will become one with the Dharma.

佛法有五分戒香，所谓：戒香、定香、慧香、解脱香、解脱知见香，以这五种香来熏，时间久了，就能开悟。

In Buddhism there are the fivefold fragrances: the fragrance of precepts, the fragrance of samadhi, the fragrance of wisdom, the fragrance of liberation, and the fragrance of the liberation of knowledge and views. After being permeated by these five kinds of fragrances for a long time, we can become enlightened.

刚来的人，觉得格格不入，香是香，我是我，互不相关。但是在这里常熏，不知不觉中便和香气成为一体。古人说：

Newcomers cannot accept this idea. They think that incense is just incense, and they are just themselves, and there's no relation between the two. However, through constant permeation, we become one with the fragrance before we know it. The ancients said,

与善人居，如入芝兰之室，

久而不闻其香；

与不善居，如入鲍鱼之肆，

久而不闻其臭。

Living with good people is like

 being in a house of orchids;

After a while, one no longer smells

 the fragrance.

Living with those who are not good

 is like being in a fish market;

After a while, one no longer smells the stench.

为什么？因为合而为一，成为一体的缘故。

This happens because you become one with them.

有善根的人，在这里熏久了，就能豁然大悟，也就是开悟了。开悟有什么好处呢？开悟了就能把一切理论都明白，不再胡涂了，破了无明，显出智慧。无明好像黑漆桶一样，里边乌黑一片，什么也看不见。开悟时，就露出光明，破了黑暗，一切一切都清清楚楚，洞然悉见。

People who have good roots can experience sudden awakening (enlightenment) after being permeated for a long enough time here. What advantages are there to being enlightened? They will understand all theories and princi-ples, and will no longer be muddled. They will shatter ignorance and reveal their wisdom. Being ignorant is like being in a dark cave where one cannot see anything. Enlightenment is the coming of light, which drives out darkness. It's a state in which one sees everything with perfect clarity.

一九八三年十月十六日开示

A talk given on October 16, 1983