度人的注意事项与禁忌
Things to be aware of when propagating Buddhism and what’s considered Forbidden
九、度人中关于敛财的问题
The subject of Embezzlement in Propagation activities
Original Chinese link: http://www.xlfmwz.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=75177
1. 精彩问答摘录
台长开示怎样算集资、敛财（2014 年 6 月 6 日《玄艺问答》）
Master Lu explains what’s considered as fundraising and embezzlement
男听众：东方台包括师父一贯主张我们不集资、不敛财，要爱国爱民。有的同修就不明白怎么样算集资，怎么样算敛财。有的时候还认为自己发心是正的，是在做功德，没有问题，会有护法菩萨保佑。请师父开示一下这个问题。
Male enquirer: 2OR and Master typically do not advise us to do fundraising activities nor commit embezzlement. And we must obey the laws of the nation we reside in. There are some fellow practitioners who don’t know what activities are considered fundraising or embezzlement. There are times when they think that their intention is upright and what they’re doing are considered meritorious deeds and so shouldn’t be an issue. They believe that the Dharma protectors and Bodhisattvas will protect them. Master, could you please share your wisdom regarding this matter?
台长答：很简单了，凡是把人家的钱拿来用到不正当的途径，或者就是不应该拿的，你没这个权力拿的，你就是属于敛财。什么叫权力？慈善机构可以拿，你不是慈善机构，你个人拿钱那不是骗钱吗？不合法的。你发票开得出吗？你是慈善机构吗？你跟政府有沟通吗？有没有注册啊？你凭什么拿人家钱啊？你就是买一样再小的东西，人家都可以给你发票啊。你空手问人家拿钱，不叫集资，不叫敛财，叫什么？慈善机构可以捐钱，东方台现在是慈善机构你们知道吗？印书、开法会啊很多，这是慈善机构。慈善机构全部受政府监控的，每一笔帐都清清楚楚的。你们现在自己在外面说我来帮你印书，我来帮你怎么样，这不叫集资吗？而且不如理不如法。叫他可以去问问律师，如果不符合国家的政策，你就叫犯法、违法。你们自己要遵守当地国家的法律，在中国的一定要遵守国家的法律，明白了吗？好了，如理如法就可以了（好的，感恩师父）
Master: It’s very simple, whenever you use an improper approach to take other people’s money, or you take it in an unlawful or rightful manner, it counts as embezzlement. What entities are considered to have the right to do so? Charitable organisations are allowed to do so. If you are not a charitable organisation and you take other people’s money as an individual, doesn’t it count as swindling? It’s not lawful. Could you give other people receipts? Are you a charitable organisation? Have you communicated with a regulatory body? Are you registered? What right do you have to take people’s money? Even if you bought a trivial thing, the seller would give you a receipt. If you ask other people for money empty-handed, if it’s not considered fundraising or embezzlement, what do you call it? Charitable organisations can donate. Do you know that 2OR is a charity organisation? The printing of books and the financing of Dharma conventions are all part of the expenses of a charity organisation. All charity organisations are regulated by the government; every income and expenditure must be clear. If you are telling others that you are printing books and ask for financial aid, isn’t that considered fundraising? It is unlawful and inappropriate. You could ask local lawyers. If it violates national laws, then it’s illegal. You must abide by the laws of the country you reside in, you understand? Ok, if it’s legal, then it’s fine. (Ok, I’m grateful Master).
弘法度人与销售工作挂钩绝对不可以（2012 年 9 月 2日《玄艺问答》）
When propagating Buddhism to others, you mustn’t harbour any intentions to sell
女听众：台长，我前一段在弘法度人中犯了一个非常严重的错误，因为我是做 sales[销售的，原来在弘法度人的时候，我老是不由自主地想把同修变成我的客户，老是觉得我弘法中有私心杂念。
Female enquirer: Master, recently, when I was propagating Buddhism, I committed a serious mistake. Because I work in sales, I wasn’t aware that when I was propagating the Dharma to others, I would unconsciously think about converting fellow practitioners into a customer. And I felt that it made my action of propagation impure.
台长答：非常不好！（是啊，是啊，从马来西亚回来后，我就知道了，第三天我就辞职了）你要记住啊，有些时候，你不能借着观世音菩萨的能量来做自己的事情的，明白了吗？要为公啊，不能为私啊，为私的话会倒霉的！功德没有，还有漏。为什么，明白吗？因为把观世音菩萨的佛子，变成了你自己私心的一个棋子（是）要好好改了，绝对要公啊，带一点点私啊，他是不可能会好的。就像一个人一样，什么叫功德？功德就是对人家好，完全没有回报的叫功德，如果你只要心中有想回报，你说人家现在这个社会上，谁看不出来啊？对不对啊？（对。我原来做销售工作，老是想着，哎呀，如果能向我这些同修们也销售产品……老是想把这个度人和销售工作挂挂钩）不可以的，绝对不可以的。我可以告诉你，如果在度人当中带着自己私心，完全有漏，而且一点效果都没有。如果你要做工作，跟弘法没有太大的关系，你可以做，千万不要……过去就叫“假公济私”，你听得懂吗？（是）
Master: That is very bad! (Yes, I realised after I returned from Malaysia. On the 3rd day, I quitted my job). You must take note; there are times when you mustn’t use Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s energy for your personal things, you understand? It must be for the good of others; there mustn’t be a shred of selfishness. If you do, then you’ll encounter misfortune! You won’t accumulate merit-virtues, and instead, there will be outflows. Why’s that? It’s because Buddhists of Guan Yin Bodhisattva and changed into a selfish ‘chess-piece’. (Yes). You must properly change; the act must be absolutely selfless. If there’s even a hint of selfishness, it won’t be good. What is considered meritorious deeds? Deeds are considered meritorious when you completely act for the sake of others for no reciprocation in return. If you’re always thinking of reciprocation, who wouldn’t realise it in today’s society? Am I right? (Yes, originally I was in sales, and I kept thinking that if I could sell a product to my fellow practitioners… I kept relating propagation with selling). That’s absolutely not acceptable. I can tell you, if you harbour selfish thoughts when you propagate, there are outflows, and there is absolutely no benefit. If you are working and it’s unrelated to the propagation of the Dharma, then you can do so. Otherwise, you must never promote one’s private interests under the guise of serving the public. Do you understand? (Yes).
刊登广告度人不允许集资（2014 年 10 月 10 日《玄艺问答》）
When advertising to propagate Buddhism to others, fundraising is unacceptable
女听众：师父，现在在网络度人可以度很多很多人，那现在我们在网络刊登要付费的广告，可以跟要发心的同修们集资来刊登吗？
Female enquirer: Master, currently you could easily propagate the Dharma to a lot of people online. We want to promote and advertise our propagation website online, could I ask other interested fellow practitioners to raise funds to advertise?
台长答：不许集资。如果你自己要登，你自己花钱，功德无量。如果你集资就是不行，听得懂吗？（OK。如果有同修知道我在刊登心灵法门的广告，他来问我说他要参与，我们可以让他参与吗？）可以，他做他的，你做你的，加在一起就可以了，不能把人家的钱拿到你手上来。比方说，你现在在准备做广告度人，你可以问他“你愿意吗？”但是你不能拿他一分钱，如果愿意的话，就是到时候四五个人大家一起去付钱。问题就是说，你不能说“你把你的钱给我，我来帮你付”，不可以这样。（OK，明白）
Master: You mustn’t raise funds. If you want to advertise and you use your own money, then your merit-virtues are boundless. If you raise funds, that’s unacceptable, you understand? (Ok. If fellow practitioners see that I’m advertising Guan Yin Citta and they want to get involved, can we let them do so?) You can, he does his promotion, and you do yours, so in aggregate terms, it’s fine. But the money must not move from their hands to yours. For example, if you are prepared to advertise to propagate, you could ask the fellow practitioner, “Are you willing to be involved?” But you must take a single penny from them. If they’re willing, then at the time of paying, all 4 or 5 of you pay together. The issue is that you mustn’t say, “You can hand me the money, and I’ll pay for you.” That is unacceptable. (Ok, I understand).
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