团结一致　维护佛教

Let’s Unite in Support of Buddhism

佛教在西方刚开始，大家必须团结一致来维护佛教；

不可分宗分派，固执门户之见。

Buddhism has just begun in the West, and we must all unite in support of Buddhism,

and not divide ourselves into factions or cling to our prejudices.

我现在觉得以前所做的事情，有很多不对的地方。怎么样不对呢？佛教提倡「无我」，可是我常有个「我」的思想，就因为有这个「我」的存在，所以没有「人」的存在。有己无人，把「人」忘了，就不知道其他人在佛教也做了很多事。所以这是错误的观念，也是令我遗憾之事。

I now realize that I made many mistakes in the past. What kind of mistakes? Buddhism teaches selflessness, but I often harbored the thought of a self. Since I had the thought of a self, I didn’t think of others. Basically, we should forget notions of “self” and “others,” but I thought of myself without considering others. I forgot about others. I didn’t realize that other people had also done many good things in Buddhism. My views were mistaken, and I regret them deeply.

现在佛教在西方刚开始，大家必须共同努力，团结一致来维护佛教，同心协力来推行佛教，不可再意气用事，互相排斥；也不可分宗分派，固执门户之见；更不可以分国籍、种族。不论是大乘、小乘，都要团结起来，躬行实践，令佛教发扬光大。大家要把「我」放下，人我一体，这样佛教的前途是无可限量的。大家要以身作则，为佛教徒做个好榜样，一点一点地感化他人。千万不可恃势凌人，应令人敬其德，而不是畏其势；也不要贡高自大，以为自己比谁都能干。有这种表现，就是我见、我执，我慢、我相都不空。这些都是佛教的障碍物，能令佛教逐渐衰弱，这样的人成为佛教之罪人。

Buddhism has just begun in the West, and everyone must work hard together. Let’s unite in support of Buddhism, and work to spread Buddhism. Let us no longer act emotionally and no longer criticize each other, dividing ourselves into sects and factions and stubbornly clinging to our prejudices. Nor should we make discriminations of race or nationality. Whether we follow the Mahayana or the Theravada tradition, we should unite and practice the teachings, so that we can cause Buddhism to flourish. We must forget our “self” and see ourselves as identical to others. Then Buddhism will have a boundless future! We should personally apply the teachings and set a good example for other Buddhists. Little by little, we can influence others to change. We should never oppress or threaten others with force. Rather, we should win their respect through virtue. We should not become conceited, thinking that we are better than others. Such an attitude only proves that we have not let go of the view of self; we are still attached to and proud of ourselves. If we are like that, we only obstruct and weaken Buddhism; we become offenders within Buddhism.

我们要以复兴佛教为己任，任劳任怨为佛教努力，心甘情愿为佛教献身；没有丝毫企图，没有半点期待，人人若能如此，佛教焉有不复兴之理？

Our responsibility is to revitalize Buddhism and cause it to flourish. We should bear the toil and complaints, work hard for Buddhism, and joyfully devote our lives to Buddhism, without hoping for a reward. If everyone has such an attitude, how can Buddhism not flourish?

我们要抱定这样的宗旨：「旁人的错误，就是自己的错误。」能这样想，就不会有分别心，也不会有歧视心。我常说：

We must hold to the principle that others’ mistakes are just our own. Thinking in this way, we won’t discriminate or be prejudiced against anyone. I often say:

真认自己错，

莫论他人非；

他非即我非，

同体名大悲。

Truly recognize your own faults;

Don’t discuss the faults of others.

Others’ faults are just my own;

Being one with all is called

 great compassion.

大家若能这样做，一定会和平相处，绝对没有勾心斗角的表现，所谓：

If everyone could follow this, we would certainly get along without fighting. As it’s said,

事事都好去，脾气难化了；

真能不生气，就得无价宝。

再若不怨人，事事都能好；

烦恼永不生，冤孽从哪找？

常瞅人不对，自己苦未了。

Everything is easy to deal with,

But a bad temper’s hard to change.

If you can truly not get angry,

You have a priceless jewel.

If you can further hold no grudges

against others,

Everything will turn out well.

If afflictions never arise,

Where can offenses be found?

If you always look for others’ faults,

Your own suffering has not come to an end.

因为我以前常见人不对，所以自己很痛苦；现在我看人对，所以自己很快乐，我的口头禅是：「Everything is okay.」

I used to always notice other people’s faults and it made me miserable. Now I make it a point to notice when people do things right, so I feel very happy. My motto is, “Everything is OK!” Then everything is auspicious and works out well!