森然萬境，何事非持

《資持》云：「森然萬境，何事非持，若不先發，行自何生。故知受前預須委學，今時昧教，誰復知之？」
翻譯成白話就是：「在無量無邊的境界中，有哪一個不是持戒的境？受戒如果不先知道由情無情境感發戒體，那麼戒行要從何生起呢？所以應當知道，受戒前必須預先詳細地學習發戒、持戒的教理。現在的人大多昧於教理，有誰還知道那些教理呢？」

Under highly diverse circumstances, where can't we observe precepts? If precept receivers do not understand the essence of precepts must be attained through the sentient and the insentient beings, how could they observe the precepts? Before receiving precepts, we shall learn carefully the doctrines of attaining and observing them. While most people nowadays are ignorant about those doctrines, who would still understand them well enough?

[師父法語] 2019/7/31

教育是人類升沈的樞紐。【日常師父法語】

Education is the pivot to the rise and fall of mankind. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/30

◎儒家的仁是推己及人，佛法的悲是捨己為人。【日常師父法語】

The kindness in Confucianism is to love others like loving ourselves while the compassion in Buddha’s teaching is to sacrifice ourselves to protect others. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/29

◎對法要具有大希求心，如果沒有的話就會這個也放不下，那個也放不下。【日常師父法語】

You must be diligent in Dharma. If not, there will be lots of things that you just cannot let go. – Master Jih Chang

佛法無人傳

佛法無人傳，雖慧亦難了，猶如暗中寶，無燈不能見。

Without being taught by a wise teacher, even people of great intelligence won't understand – it is like a jewel in the dark that no one can see without light.

[師父法語] 2019/7/28

◎好的不容易學；壞的倒很容易學。那怕用一個不好的字也會在心中留下一個惡劣的種子。【日常師父法語】

It is not easy to learn good things but very easy to learn bad things. Even the utterance of one single bad word will plant an evil seed in our mind. – Master Jih Chang

佛法在世間，不離世間覺

《六祖壇經》云：「佛法在世間，不離世間覺，離世覓菩提，猶如求兔角。」

The Buddha Dharma exists for the world. Apart from this world, there is no enlightenment. To seek bodhi elsewhere, is as futile as looking for horns on a rabbit.

[師父法語] 2019/7/27

◎真正的目標不在把事情做好，而是在做事的過程中提升自己。【日常師父法語】

The true purpose is not to do things well, but to elevate ourselves in the process of working. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/26

◎不是在業已感果的果上去改，而是感果的境上去改。【日常師父法語】

Do not try to change the results that have been attained with past karmas, but the conditions in which such results are attained instead. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/25

◎境無好壞，一樣是業感。【日常師父法語】

There is no absolute good or bad circumstance. Everything comes from karma. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/24

◎所謂「隱惡揚善」，以佛法來說，自己的惡要發露，別人的惡要遮蓋。【日常師父法語】

The so-called “concealing the faults and praising the virtues”, in Buddhist term, means to expose your own faults and conceal the fault of others.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/23

◎真正照著《廣論》上去做的，一點都不假。剛開始去做時，比較難一點，漸漸去做，就比較容易了。我跟「他」相應時，加持就到了。【日常師父法語】

When we do in accordance with the Lamrim Chenmo, we see everything written in it is real. It is more difficult when we just get started. Then it will gradually become easier as we keep going. When I am associated with Him, the assistance will come upon me. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法] 2019/7/21

◎作觀功念恩的時候，不一定要整天地看。只要想著主要的一件事。如對我的家人，我能不能去觀功念恩。我對社會上的人，能不能觀功念恩。對其他的朋友，我能不能觀功念恩。透過此，我能不能察覺到，我現在造的是什麼業。就是我眼前一時還沒有辦法改過來，至少有一點，當我去觀察它時，這心情和以前不太一樣。以前做完了事情，覺得理所當然。現在做完了，自己心裡覺得我有點不對。這不對的心，就是好現象。造的惡業，從現在開始，就漸漸地減輕了。假定我能追悔，能皈依的話，很快地慢慢地就能消失了。【日常師父法語】

When observing merits and appreciating kindness, we do not have to keep looking all day. We just focus on the primary things. For example, can I observe merits and appreciate kindness of my family? Can I do this to other people in the society? Or Can I do this to my other friends? With such approach, can I be aware of what kind of karma I am creating? Even if I cannot change it immediately, at least I can observe it with different mentality. When I did something in the past, I used to take it for granted. Now in the same case, I feel somewhat uneasy with it. Such uneasiness is actually a good sign. From now on, I can alleviate the problem little by little. If I can repent and take refuge, it will gradually disappear.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/20

◎我們念皈依、學皈依，依照《廣論》所謂的次第，需要依靠善知識，依靠善知識後，要思惟暇滿，思惟暇滿後，要思惟暇滿的體性如何，暇滿義大及暇滿難得，暇滿義大難得很容易消失，便念死無常，無常的三種因相，九個細則，三個決定等，死後怕墮入三惡道苦，所以需要皈依，不但怕三惡道苦，還要曉得三寶有救護我們的力量，這樣的思惟，就產生皈依二因，由於二因的推動，就會生起皈依。《廣論》這樣說，《略論釋》的馬車教授也是這樣說，我們的腦筋也是這樣想。【日常師父法語】

To recite and learn refuge taking in accordance with the sequential order in Lamrim Chenmo, we need to rely on the Guru. After relying on the Guru, we shall contemplate leisure and opportunity. After contemplating leisure and opportunity, we shall contemplate the essential nature of them. Since we realize the importance of leisure and opportunity and how easy it is to lose them, we have the mindfulness of death and impermanence, as well as their three causes, nine detailed rules and three certainties. We fear to be reborn in the three miserable realms after death so we need to take refuge. We shall not only fear the suffering in the three miserable realms but also realize that the three treasures have the capability to rescue us. Such way of thinking creates the two causes of refuge. Driven by the two causes, we give rise to refuge taking. It is said in Lamrim Chenmo, as well as in the dmar khrid in Commentary on The Medium Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. And we do think so as well. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/19

◎皈依的心，我拿一個譬喻來說明，就像是人被毒蛇咬到，必須趕快找專門治蛇毒的藥來急救一樣，你們就用這種心去揣摩，好像自己得了必死之症，曉得有這麼一個人可以救護，你就會很急切的求助。【日常師父法語】

The heart of taking refuge, for example, is like the case when someone is bitten by a venomous snake and needs immediate cure with the antidote for the venom. It is also like having a fatal disease and knowing there is such a person to come to rescue. Then you ask for his help eagerly.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/18

◎我們學習佛法，第一個要學的是皈依，就是說，信得過理論後要真正的實踐，那時候跨進的第一步是皈依，跨進去之後，為什麼要學？因為要解決痛苦，而解決痛苦的真正方法是皈依！全心全意的皈投依靠。【日常師父法語】

The very first thing we need to learn in Buddha Dharma is to take refuge. This means, taking refuge is the first step of practice after believing in the theory. After stepping in, you have to think: why are we learning? It is because we want to eliminate sufferings and the true antidote for sufferings is to take refuge. You must take refuge and rely on the Guru wholeheartedly. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/17

◎供養的內涵，要求離苦得樂，重要的兩件事「淨罪」、「集資」，如考試要準備兩樣東西：一我程度、智慧夠不夠。二考進學校後我沒有錢，如何讀書。佛究竟圓滿時「福」、「慧」兩足尊，這兩樣達到最高標準。【日常師父法語】

The essence of offering is to escape suffering and obtain happiness. The two most important things are to “clean sins” and “collect merits”. It is just like two primary considerations for the entrance exam: First, am I intelligent and wise enough to pass the test? Second, do I have enough budget for education once I get admitted? When the Buddha achieves the perfect completion, both His “bliss” and “wisdom” will reach the highest standard and be supreme among all two-legged beings. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/16

◎造業是一生一生積累的，積了無始到了今天，我們怎麼可能一口氣把它拿乾淨？同樣的，做功德也是一分一分地做。【日常師父法語】

Creating karmas is an accumulative process that goes on lifetime after lifetime, from beginningless time to the present. How could we cancel them out once and for all? Likewise, merit-making also needs to be done little by little.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/15

◎我們學佛的人，不要做世間的怪人，這不可以。我們不但不能傷害別人，而且要儘量去幫助別人。如果連周圍的父母、夫婦、子女都沒辦法幫忙，那算什麼呢？【日常師父法語】

As practitioners of Buddha’s teaching, we shall not become “weird people” in the world. That won’t work. We should not only refrain from harming others but also do our best to help them. If we cannot even help parents, spouses, children around us, what is so good about Buddha’s teaching? – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/14

◎就算別人真的有錯，自己心裡嘀咕了半天，對我的價值到底是什麼，這是我們要了解的。對我們的價值，就是我們造了惡業，因為，我看了別人的過失，所以起了瞋心。【日常師父法語】

Even if people do have faults, what is the value of constantly complaining in mind? We really have to understand this. Its “value” for us is to make us create evil karma since we give rise to anger by observing people’s faults.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/13

◎一個掉在水裡，眼看就要淹死的人，遠遠的看到一個救生圈，救生圈的繩子，拉著一條大船，大船到極樂世界去。我們用這種心情去求救，真正信賴的心，就是需要皈依。【日常師父法語】

A man who is getting drowned sees a life buoy far away. The life buoy is tied to a large ship which is sailing toward realm of ultimate bliss. We call for help with such mentality. The true mind of reliance is to take refuge. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/12

◎對境的時候，每個人有自己的習慣，有自己的想法，平常我們對我們的想法，總覺得天經地義，應該如此，想想看，真應該如此嗎？【日常師父法語】

Everyone has his or her own habits and conceptions under all different circumstances. We normally take our conceptions on ourselves for granted. Think twice. Is it supposed to be like this? -- Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/11

◎我們現在做增上生，因是什麼呢？樂因漸漸地增加，這是增上！苦因漸漸地減少，這是增上，那麼因在哪裡呢？在書本上面呢？還是什麼呢？因是我們造的業，是我們對境的心理狀態，仔細檢點，這個心是想心所或是行心所呢？【日常師父法語】

What are the causes of our present high status as humans? There are more and more causes of happiness, which is superior. There are fewer and fewer causes of suffering, which is also superior. And what are the causes? They are written in the books? Or what else? The causes are the karmas we create and our mentalities under all circumstances. Think about it carefully. Are the mental factors of thought or mental factors of action?  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/10

◎你要真正深入的話，要學的東西主要的始終有一個目的－指出煩惱的行相，讓你瞭解去淨化煩惱，這樣的一步一步走上去。知見與行持兩樣同時並進，暸解以後，馬上淨化煩惱，粗猛煩惱調伏以後，才能辨明法理。【日常師父法語】

If you are going deep into Buddhism, the main purpose of learning has always been – to point out the characteristics of afflictions, to know to eliminate afflictions, and thus to elevate yourself step by step. Conceptions should go side by side with practice. After understanding the conceptions, afflictions can be eliminated instantly. Only when the fierce afflictions are disciplined, you can truly understand the conceptions of Dharma.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/9

◎要改變習氣，的確有很多的困難，往往前面覺得很好，真正開始走的時候卻又覺得有困難而退了心。【日常師父法語】

To change our habituated tendencies is indeed very difficult. It may appear easier in the beginning. Yet when we really go on the path, we may encounter some hardships and retreat. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/8

◎當對境時，我是觀功念恩呢？還是觀過念怨呢？是增上積集功德呢？還是增上罪業呢？還是浪費我們的暇滿人身呢？【日常師父法語】

When facing hostile circumstances, shall I observe the mercy and kindness of people or see their faults and complain? Shall I accumulate more collections of merits or collections of sins? Or waste our human form of leisure? – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/7

◎看見了心相以後，你才有機會慢慢地淨化它。【日常師父法語】

You can gradually purify your mind only when you see the characteristics of it. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/6

◎修學佛法必須要有一個概念－－恆提慚愧心，摒除憍慢心。【日常師父法語】

To learn Buddha’s teaching, one concept is essential – Always keep repentance in mind and eliminate your pride. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/5

◎粗猛煩惱調伏了以後，才能真正深入經藏，……這戒的真正用意是調伏煩惱。【日常師父法語】

You can only go deep into the learning of scriptures after disciplining the fierce afflictions. The true purpose of precepts is to discipline our afflictions.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/4

◎讀誦經典，佛名要注意，不要增長隨口溜過去之惡習！正因為你忙，更不可讓它溜過去，正因為你了解暇滿難得，更不可輕易溜過！【日常師父法語】

Take heed when reciting scriptures and names of Buddhas and be sure not to develop the bad habit of speaking causally. Just because you are busy, you should let it go unmindfully even less. Since you realize how precious the human form of leisure can be, you just cannot let it go easily.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/3

◎為什麼現在想不起來的原因在哪裡？－第一個是器過－這是煩惱相等等，在業的過程當中是什麼呢？就是我們現在的現行心識。【日常師父法語】

Why can’t we give rise to [what we learned]? The first reason is our “faults of a vessel”, which are characteristics of afflictions. What is it in the process of creating karmas? It is our active minds at the moment.  – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/7/2

◎懺悔真正的重要－要知道你錯在哪哩，那個時候你才知道追悔，才能一心皈投依靠。【日常師父法語】

The importance of repentance is to let you know where you go wrong. Then you will know to regret and take refuge wholeheartedly.

[師父法語] 2019/7/1

◎因要積累下去，不可因循耽誤一生，現在也脫不了身，你若做得到一步一步去改，力量一定會現前，要確知我改了一點又改了一點。【日常師父法語】

We must keep accumulating good causes and must not let our habitual behaviors delay the progress in this life so much that we could hardly get rid of them. If you can make that change step by step, the power will surely arise. You must make sure that you do change little by little. – Master Jih Chang

[師父法語] 2019/6/30

◎人生苦短，非常有限，你在知見上面轉的話，轉到哪一年才能透脫出來，你要好好珍惜，把握住重點啊！【日常師父法語】

Life is so short and limited. If your thoughts remain susceptible to your own conceptions, it takes forever to transcend all these. You must cherish what you have and get hold of what really matters. – Master Jih Chang