Disclaimer: The translations are not official nor endorsed by 2OR, so please just treat it as a ‘fan-based’ translation. The Buddha-Dharma is profound. No matter how you convey it, it won’t be completely perfect. Because the Buddha-Dharma is an experience, it’s an awakening 【佛法深奥无比，怎么写，都不会是究竟圆满。佛法是一种悟】. Please enjoy, and I hope it serves as a good filler until the official English version comes out.
今天给大家讲，我们怎么样找回本来面目，就是怎么样让精气神不要漏，精气神不漏，实际上就是解脱的前提。什么叫解脱？解脱就是这个人能够不把任何事情挂入心怀，解脱首先要懂得定力，定力就是一个人在人间不管碰到什么事情全部要定得下来，即使有天大的事情发生，也要有定力，先稳住自己，才会生出智慧。传统的佛教讲到禅定，就是让你们在家里经常要安静，练习安静就是禅定，碰到任何事情都练习安静，练到最后你就定得下来了，这是一个过程。慧就是智慧，智慧和禅定缺一不可，相互依赖生存。因为一个人定得下来，不代表他有智慧，一个人有点智慧，不代表他有定力，所以，定慧息息相关，我们的身和心能够真正地定下来，才能生出智慧来。
In this chapter, Master expounds on how we can return to our inherent state. That is the state where we don’t experience outflows to our essence, energy and spirit. When there are no outflows to our essence, energy and spirit, in reality, that is the precondition to attaining liberation. What is considered liberation? Liberation is where one no longer have lingering feelings about something. To liberate, one must first know about the power of concentration. The power of concentration is where one remains focused and can keep themselves steady no matter what they encounter. Even if something calamitous occurs, one remains calm and have the power of concentration. That way, they will develop wisdom. In traditional Buddhism, they speak about Zen- concentration. That is training to keep you calm and peaceful regularly. That is Zen-concentration. Regardless of what one encounters, one remains calm, and in the end, one remains in a state of concentration. There is a process to this. Wisdom and Zen-concentration rely on each other to exist, neither can be excluded. Even if one can remain steady, it doesn’t mean that they have wisdom. And if one shows some wisdom, it doesn’t mean that they have the power of concentration. That’s why concentration and wisdom are closely related. When our body and mind can truly concentrate, then wisdom will develop.
一个人怎么样做人，人做得怎么样，实际上就是一个定力。有些人做人一辈子让人家看得起，让人家非常的尊敬你，实际上他就是有定力。看着钱，他没有反应；看见好吃的东西，他根本没有反应；看到人间不管发生什么事情，他都没有反应，实际上这就是定力所为。很多女人看见一个长得帅的男孩子来了，马上舞首弄骚，这就是没有定力。很多男人看见好看的女孩子，马上人都站不住了，这种男人马上被人家看不起，所以，定是很重要的，代表你心里的一个定位。很多人说，你心里的定位是什么？也就是你心里的稳重感。你被人家看不起，就是你心里有一个定位问题。
How should one behave? How should one act? How one’s thoughts develop requires a level of power of concentration. Some people are respected because of the things they did and do. When they are lured with money, they are indifferent. When they are tempted with something delicious, they are also indifferent. They are indifferent towards anything they encounter. That requires a level of power of concentration. Many women begin to feel infatuated when they see a handsome guy. It means they have no power of concentration. Many men start to feel light-headed when they see a beautiful young lady. These men are usually looked down on. That’s why concentration is significant. It represents a person’s disposition. Many people ask what’s your disposition like. What they are asking about is how steady your mind is. When you are looked down on, it indicates that there is a problem with your disposition.
师父要你们学会真正地定下来，当一个人完全定下来的时候，你才能生出智慧。所以解脱不是太容易，但是解脱是必须要有的，六个字：身心定，智慧生。那么这里面讲到身体要定，心要定，很多人的心定下来了，但是身体没有定下来，还有很多人身体定下来了，但是心没有定下来。像你们坐在这里，如果你们现在脑子里还想着其他的乱七八糟的事情，你就是身坐在这里好像定下来了，但是你的心不知道跑到哪里去了。师父对你们有非常严格的要求，否则修到以后有很多人会被淘汰的。师父跟大家讲，就算一个人有定，也要拥有智慧，犹如一只鸟有两个翅膀，一个翅膀是定，一个翅膀是智慧，如果一个人光有定，没有智慧，就像鸟只有一个翅膀一样，很快就会掉下来；如果光有智慧，没有定，这只鸟也会失去平衡摔下来，所以，一个人必须拥有定慧这两样东西，才能解脱。
Master wants you to learn how to concentrate and calm yourself down truly. When you can completely concentrate, then you will develop wisdom. That’s why liberation is difficult, but that is necessary to liberate. ‘When the body and mind are still, wisdom will develop’. Many people’s minds can become still, but their bodies can’t remain still. Also, many people’s bodies can become still, but their minds can’t remain still. Just like when you are sitting in class, your mind is somewhere else thinking of other things. That is akin to your body looking like it is remaining still, but your mind has gone elsewhere. Master has strict demands of you; otherwise, many cultivators will be sifted out. Even if a person can concentrate, they must also possess wisdom, just like how a bird requires a pair of wings. One wing represents concentration, and the other represents wisdom. If a person only has concentration but lacks wisdom, they are like a bird with only one wing, quickly falling. Likewise, if a person only has wisdom but no concentration, it’s like a bird that has lost its balance. That’s why one must possess both concentration and wisdom to liberate themselves.
师父再跟大家详细讲讲“定”。“定”是什么？能够定的人，世界上什么事情都动不了他的心，什么事情他都不怕，这个人就能定得下来。你说这个世界有什么可怕的？婚姻失败，感情破裂，损失财产，孩子离去，所有的一切，因为你的心定了，你知道这一切都是空的，每一个人都得承受，只不过最后的结局不一样，就像每个人都会死的，但是最后的死法不一样。例如人家的孩子跟爸爸妈妈在一起的时间长一点，只不过你的孩子来不及地就走掉了，没有什么可以值得你震惊的，这是缘分，当你懂得这些之后，你的心就定下来了。当你知道自己生病要走的时候，你定得下来，是因为你知道谁都要走的，只不过你的这个时间到了，定下来了，看看怎么把一切善后的事情做做好。很多人的恐惧、忧伤和烦恼是因为没有思想准备，一直以为自己会越来越好，一直以为自己会拥有更多，所以他就失去更多，当一件事情发生的时候，他没有思想准备，他才会崩溃。
Master will now elaborate ‘concentration’ in greater detail. What is concentration? Those who can concentrate will be indifferent and remain steady no matter what they encounter. Nothing can shake their mind, and they’re not afraid of anything. What is there to be fearful of in this world? Failed marriages, breakups, loss of assets, the departure of your children? Your mind becomes steady because you know that everything is empty. Everybody has to forbear with it; it’s just that everybody’s ending is not the same. Just like how we know that everybody will eventually die, but the way they’ll die is different, like how other people’s children stay with them for longer while your child suddenly passes away. Nothing is worth the shock. All of it is karmic affinity. When you know about this, then your mind will become steady. You will calm down when you know that you will pass away from your illness. That’s because you know everybody will eventually die; it’s just that your time has arrived. You calm down and think about what you would want to do before you die. Many people’s fear, depression and affliction develop because they’re mentally unprepared. They thought that their situation would only improve and they would gain even more. That’s why they will lose even more. When something suddenly happens, and one is unprepared for it, one will mentally collapse.
师父跟大家讲，什么事情都不要怕，因为你的心定下来了。心要如如不动，没有一样东西能够吸引你的，因为你到人间来只不过是走一个过程。现在你们大家想一想，你们一定有一样东西可以动你们的心，有的人为名，有的人为利，有的人为孩子，有的人为房子，你们如果想到现在没有一样东西可以让你心动，你就成功了，现在每个人都是这样的，总有一样东西让你的心动。所以，师父说，什么事情都不贪，你的心才能定下来，如果你的心定不下来，你就会对周围的事物分辨不出是非，比方说，人家给你这个利益，你的心一动，你自己马上就是非不分了。人家给你一点钱，叫你说他好，你就会说他好。像台湾的很多选举，有些人给选民一点点好处，叫选民去选他，人们本来对他的印象很不好，因为拿了他的一点好处，就说他是好的。明明一个很正的人，他可以说人家不好，这就是你的心被利益所染，因为你有目的了，你才会做错事情，才会分不清是非，所以一个人不能被利益所困。
Master tells you, don’t be afraid of anything because your mind has concentrated. The mind must be in a state of immovable suchness where nothing could attract you because to you, coming to the Human Realm is just a trip. Think about it; there must be something that could move your mind. Some people are moved by fame, some by wealth, some by their children, some by their property. If you can’t think of anything that could move your mind, then you have succeeded. Nowadays, everybody has at least one thing that could move their mind. That’s why Master advises not to be greedy about anything, and then your mind will concentrate. If your mind can’t concentrate, you won’t distinguish what is right or wrong in any situation. For example, when somebody gives you a return and your mind moves, then you won’t distinguish right and wrong immediately. When somebody gives you some money to praise them, you’ll do it. Like in many elections in Taiwan, some candidates give their citizens some form of benefit, choosing them. Originally, they might have had a negative opinion of the candidate, but they start to praise the candidate after receiving some benefits. It is clear that one of the candidates has a morally upright character, but the citizens begin to criticise them. That’s the result of one’s mind being defiled by gains. Because you have a motive, that’s why you make mistakes and can’t distinguish between right and wrong. That’s why one mustn’t become entrapped by gains.
当一个人的心不定之后，你就不知道自己什么事情该做，什么事情不该做。为了自己的一点利益，可以伤害别人，明明不应该做的事情，你去做了，明明应该做的事情，你不做，所以，心定不下来的人，往往会做错让自己一辈子后悔的事情。不管碰到什么事情，先把心定下来，想一想，我这样做可以吗？我这样做对别人有什么伤害吗？我这样做对得起自己、对得起爸爸妈妈、对得起周围所有的人吗？你在选择一个事情的时候要想到，万一有什么变化，万一出了什么事情，我自己是否会有一种好的心态来解决这些问题，师父要你们成就的是菩萨，而不是要你们单单求菩萨保佑，师父要你们自己保佑自己，每一个人出事都是因为保佑不了自己啊。所以要让自己一辈子不后悔，就不要做错事情，不想做错事情，就要知道什么该做，什么不该做，知道什么该做，什么不该做，你就要分清是非，怎么样能分清是非呢？心要定下来。
When a person’s mind can’t concentrate, they wouldn’t know what they should and shouldn’t be doing. For the sake of some small gains, they could harm others and do things that they shouldn’t do or don’t do things that they should do. That’s why those who can’t concentrate will always be doing things that they will regret later on in life. No matter what you encounter, you must first settle your mind down and think about how should you act. “If I act this way, what harm would I inflict on others? If I do this, would I be able to face myself, my parents and the people around me?” When you are deciding what you should do, you must think about any potential occurrences. If something unexpected occurs, would you be able to resolve it with a positive attitude? Masters wants you to become a Bodhisattva and not simply pray for the Bodhisattvas’ blessings. Master wants you to be able to protect yourself. People only meet with mishaps because they can’t protect themselves. That’s why you mustn’t make mistakes and do regrettable things. If you don’t want to make mistakes, you must know what you should and shouldn’t do. You must be able to distinguish between right and wrong. How do you do that? Your mind must settle down first and concentrate.
有些人有小智慧，是没有用的。你有小聪明，小智慧，头脑很灵活，有时候你会变成聪明犯罪，聪明犯罪是什么呢？就是占人家便宜犯错误，整天打人家主意犯错误。去看看很多高学历的人，对不对？抢银行、撬保险箱、破密码，这些都是聪明人干的，但是这种聪明是不行的，这是犯罪，是用头脑去犯罪，所以小聪明是用头脑犯罪的。因为你有小聪明，你有小智慧，你想出很多东西来投机取巧，结果烦恼跟着你跑。你们想一想，当你想出一个小方法的时候，你觉得解决了问题，最后是不是烦恼越来越多？很多人为了解决一个问题，在家里骗老婆，骗了之后被老婆识破了，是不是烦恼越来越多？所以，还不如实实在在。
Some people are streetwise, but that’s no use. If you are smart and streetwise, sometimes you might use it to commit misdoings like taking advantage of others or trying to scam others. Look at all those highly educated people. Those who rob ranks, break safes, hack into other people’s computers are all highly educated and smart. But this kind of intelligence is indecent. It’s used to commit crimes. Because you are streetwise, you could develop many things to take advantage of by seizing every chance. As a result, afflictions and troubles will follow like a shadow. Think about it, when you think up a brilliant plan, you might feel that you’ve resolved the problem, but doesn’t your afflictions increase in the end? For the sake of resolving a problem, many husbands lie to their wives. But afterwards, their wives see through their lies, so don’t the husbands have more afflictions? That’s why, aren’t you better off being down to earth?
师父说，小智慧是没有定力的，因为一个定得住的人会生出大智慧。动小脑筋的人是小智慧，没有定力就会走错路。一个人一辈子在婚姻上、在感情上、在身体上怎么会不走错路的呢？因为他定得下来。所以念经的时候为什么叫你们要禅定？你去看，能够坐得住的人，他就有定力，一个人坐不稳、站不住，一会儿想这样，一会儿想那样，在观音堂念经十几分钟就出去转一圈，半个小时都待不住，这种人会有定力吗？这种人能修成吗？这种人是不是菩萨啊？坐在哪里，就要像哪里的菩萨，今天我在观音堂，我就坐在观音堂念经，一念一个小时，这才叫有定力啊。如果你人坐在这里，脑子里不停地想，我今天几点钟还有什么事情，我还没有吃饭，我过会儿要怎么样，脑子里一堆念头，这样是修不好的。
Master had said that being streetwise lacks the power of concentration. A person who is capable of concentration will develop great wisdom. People who are witty possesses only minor wisdom. They will walk down the wrong path as they lack the power of concentration. How could somebody not walk down the wrong path with their marriage, relationships and body in their whole life? It’s because they could settle their mind down. That’s why Master tells you to be in zen-concentration when you’re reciting sutras. Take a look, those who could sit still possess the power of concentration. If a person can’t sit or stand still and have to keep fidgeting and moving their bodies around, do you think that person has the power of concentration? Do you think that person could cultivate successfully? Does that person act like a Bodhisattva? When you sit down, you should act like a Bodhisattva. “Here I am at the Guan Yin Temple. I will sit quietly and still reciting sutras.” Then you recite for an hour undistracted. That’s what it means to have the power of concentration. If you sit down and your mind is constantly distracted by other thoughts like what other scheduled tasks you have or what you want to do afterwards, you won’t cultivate well.
师父有很多老弟子也是这样的，定不下来啊，一会儿这样，一会儿那样，坐不住、站不稳，哪来的智慧啊？哪来的修养啊？师父跑出去跟人家社会应酬，人家可以说一个小时，师父可以在边上听一个小时。你们想想看，他说一个小时，吹一个小时，师父可以听着不讲话，最后人家介绍师父的时候，他才知道，哦，原来你就是卢台长，他自己觉得很难为情啊。人为什么要这么夸夸其谈呢？要稳得住，定得住啊，就是心要有智慧。
Master has many old disciples that are like that. They can’t settle down. One moment they are doing this; the next moment, they are doing that. They can’t sit or stand still. Where is their wisdom? Where is their self-cultivation? When Master went to socialise with others, when others could speak for an hour, Master would listen to them quietly for an hour. Think about it, when somebody speaks and boast about themselves for an hour, Master could listen at one side without saying a word. Then finally, when somebody introduces Master to them, that person realises that he’s Master Lu. Then he feels embarrassed. Why must people boast and brag about themselves? You must remain steady and concentrate so that your mind possesses wisdom.