The Real Treasure of Buddhism

佛教的真宝贝！

Why must we suffer in this country? It is because this country has immense blessings. When blessings are great, we have to turn around and suffer a bit. This is because if one does not enjoy one’s blessings, then one is able to bring forth the aspiration to realize Buddhahood. “I must cultivate! If I do not cultivate, this life will be worthless! Having good clothes that I cannot wear, good meals that I cannot partake, a good house that I cannot stay in, I am undergoing intense suffering. I must therefore work hard and transcend birth and death.” The Chan Hall is like a giant furnace; let’s see if you can take it. Let’s see if you can endure a beating. Do not be like modern-day people who resort to violence or run away when someone says something they don’t like.

我们为什么在这个国家要这么苦呢？因为这国家福报太大了，福报太大就要受点苦，要倒过来；因为你不享受，你才能发一种道心「我一定要修行，我要不修行，这样子太没有价值了！放着好衣服不穿，放着好饭不吃，放着好房子不住，我受这么大的苦，这一定要用功的，要了生死的。」禅堂就像一个大冶洪炉似的，看你受得了受不了？看你被人打，能忍不能忍？不是像现在的人，被人说一句也受不了，不行了，甚至要拿刀动枪，也有的就要跑了。

Real cultivators are not afraid of being scolded or beaten. There is a saying, “Not retreating when beaten or scolded, one is a real treasure in Buddhism.” The cultivator practicing patience should have this quality. “Others may be most unkind to me but I have to endure it. They are actually helping me perfect the paramita of patience.” If you have this proper view, then you will be able to cultivate. Otherwise, once there is a little suffering, you will try to run away. Where can you run? Once you run to the hells, we shall see where else can you go!

真正修道的人不怕打、不怕骂，所谓「打不退骂不退，佛教的真宝贝。」忍辱是修道的人应该具有的条件，「人家就是对我再不好，我都要忍耐，他正是帮助我修道，助我成就忍辱波罗蜜。」你要有这样的看法，那才能修道；不是受点委屈就要跑了，你跑到什么地方去？跑到地狱去，看你还往什么地方跑！