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.
学佛人修行的目标有两种，一种是远期目标，另一种是近期目标。那么，修行的远期目标是什么？是为了成佛。近期目标又是什么？是为了我们在人间能够消业障、增福慧。近期目标就是要把握好自己的这个人生，马上消掉身上的业障，然后要增加自己的福德和智慧。
Cultivating Buddhists have two kinds of goal, which are long-term or short-term. Then, what is the long-term goal of cultivation? It’s for attaining Buddhahood. What is the short-term goal? It’s for helping us eliminate karmic obstructions and increase our worldly blessings and wisdom. It’s about taking back control of our life.
一个人学佛怎么样才不会走偏呢？首先要学得自在，就是自己学佛后能够觉得很开心、自在。自由的人才会自在，所以叫自由自在。因为你不自在了，所以你不自由了，你的心就会被某一样东西卡住。要记住，有很多人越修越不自在，修到后来脚不知道怎么放，话不知道怎么讲，觉得自己左被别人看，右被别人说。当一个人修到不自在的时候，心里就会有一种怪怪的念头出来，什么念头呢？“我为什么要修啊？我这是为谁修啊？我修心为什么到现在还烦恼？”实际上，这就叫横生枝节、想不通。
How does a Buddhist practise Buddhism without deviating? First, one must learn to feel unrestrained. They must enjoy practising it to feel unrestrained. Otherwise, you won’t feel free, and your mind would feel hindered. Take note; many people feel mentally shackled the longer they cultivate until a point where they don’t know where to place their feet or how they should speak. They feel as though they are being gossiped behind their back or being viewed with disdain. When their cultivation leads to a feeling of restraint, then their mind will gradually develop weird thoughts. What are these thoughts? “Why should I cultivate? Whose sake am I cultivating for? Why do I still have afflictions after cultivating?” In reality, they are sprouting out issues for themselves. It indicates that their mind is mentally obstructed.
修行的人修到后来想不通，横生枝节，如果今天想不通这个事情，明天想不通那个事情，你的思维就会出现障碍，就不能控制好自己的想法。反之，能够控制好自己的想法的人，一定修得正。因为他觉得这个无所谓，那个无所谓，“他在修，我也在修，没有关系的，我修得不好，他会原谅我，他修得不好，我会原谅他，这个无所谓的，本身就是在修行”，好了，这样你就会越修越自在。
When cultivators do that, and they can’t think right today and can’t think right tomorrow, it means they can’t control their thoughts. On the contrary, those who can control their thoughts could cultivate right. It’s because they feel indifferent about everything, “He’s cultivating, I’m also cultivating. If I cultivate badly, he will forgive me. If he cultivates badly, I will forgive him. It doesn’t matter; I’m cultivating anyway.” That way, you will feel free when cultivating.
如果你经常这样想不通，你的思维就会受到阻碍，你慢慢地就会有障碍。什么叫障碍呢？障碍比阻碍要大很多。比方说，孩子的思维有阻碍，最多是一点点想不通而已；如果这个孩子是智障，思维障碍，就算残疾了吧？等到你的思维有障碍之后，你最后就会魔思不断，就是乱七八糟的思想都出来了。魔是什么？就是想不通。魔是黑暗的，而佛是光明的，所以，暗中一直想不通，心里一直难过，又不肯讲出来，就叫魔思不断，这样就会扰乱你们正常的修心环境，一定会让你们的心里不舒服。
If you regularly have hindered thoughts, your thoughts will develop more mental obstacles. Mental obstacles are more serious than hindered thoughts. For example, if a child was mentally hindered, then the most they have are clouded thoughts. But if a child was mentally blocked, then aren’t they considered disable? When your thoughts are blocked, then you will continually have dark thoughts and begin to become misguided. If one continually have dark thoughts, they would feel depressed, yet they don’t wish to speak it out. That way, it will disrupt their normal mental state of cultivation, and it would make them feel uncomfortable.
当你觉得自己修不好，自己怎么越修越烦恼的时候，实际上，你的修心环境已经被扰乱了。你到观音堂来，不想看见这个人，也不想看见那个人，你觉得这个人是假的，那个人也是假的，好了，你心中的环境就被扰乱了，接下来你的心中就会有很多的魔障出现。师父经常跟你们讲，看人像菩萨，心中有佛；看人像魔，心中有魔。所以，看谁都看着顺眼的人，那是菩萨；看谁都看不顺眼的人，那就是心中有魔。学佛人不要看别人不顺眼，一定要咬牙好好地学佛。
When you start to feel that you’re not cultivating will and you’re developing more afflictions, in reality, it means that your mental state of cultivation is being disrupted. An example of this is when you visit the Guan Yin Temple, and you don’t want to see anybody because you think they’re fake. Inner demons would fester your mind. Master regular tells others that if you see people as Bodhisattvas and are pleasing to the eye, then the Buddha resides in your mind. If you see people as demons or unpleasant, then the demon resides in your mind. Buddhists mustn’t view others as unpleasant. You must grit your teeth and continue to practise Buddhism properly.
学佛人要戒掉三毒。三毒是什么？就是贪、瞋、痴。这三毒很厉害，贪心害死人，恨心害死人，愚痴心害死人。很多人因为想不通，然后做了一件愚痴的事情，最后一辈子被关进监狱里。很多人就是看着别人有钱，他自己心里难过，“为什么自己没钱？”好了，他就去贩毒，抓起来就被枪毙了，一生就结束了。所以人要懂得，一定要去掉贪、瞋、痴三毒。
Buddhists must kick the habit of developing the three poisons. What are the three poisons? They are greed, hatred and delusion. They are very powerful, and any one of them could ruin a person. It’s because somebody can’t think clearly about things that they do foolish things and end up in jail for the rest of their lives. When people see others are wealthier than them, they feel upset. “Why don’t I have money?” So some of them may end up selling drugs, then get caught and executed. Their life then ends. That’s why you must get rid of greed, hatred and delusion.
要学会戒、定、慧，这叫“三学”。学戒律看上去比较难，实际上并不是最难的，学“慧”是最难的。能够严守戒律的人，戒得了自己不发脾气，不去恨人家，不去看不起别人，这个人慢慢地就会有定力。如果你定不下来，就是因为你还没有戒好。你没有智慧生出来，就是因为你根本没有守戒，而且你的瞋念会很多。一个能够定下来的人，再怎么样被别人讲，他照样笑嘻嘻，再怎么样被别人骂，他也是善待，没有压力。有什么压力啊？天塌下来啦？经常想一想，人生如梦，就是这点时间，为什么还要被这些人间的五欲六尘压得喘不过气来呢？
You must learn the ‘three teachings’ of observing precepts, concentration and developing wisdom. Observing precepts seem difficult at first, but it’s not compared to developing wisdom. Those who could observe precepts strictly, like not losing temper, not hating others, and not looking at others with disdain, would gradually develop concentration power. If you can’t concentrate, it means you haven’t observed precepts well. You can’t develop wisdom because you haven’t observed precepts, and you are filled with thoughts of hate. A person who could concentrate can smile no matter how much they are gossiped about or scolded. They would react kindly and feel no stress about it. “What’s there to be stressed about? Is the sky falling? Life is like a dream. I only have this much time in my life. Why should I make myself feel exhausted about these worldly desires and worldly defilements?”
学戒，首先要懂得身口意不违背本性：嘴巴不骂人，身体上没有不好的行为，脑子里没有对别人不好的意念。学定，要不离自性本性。什么叫自性本性？就是不管碰到什么事情，你只要用你的良心、本性定下来看一看、说一说，那你一定就会得到本性的安定。一个人怎么样能够得到本性的安定呢？首先要换位思考，替别人着想。当你恨这个人的时候，当你想不通的时候，你首先要想到：“他这么痛苦，如果是我呢？我会不会这么痛苦呢？也会”，“他这么难过、烦恼，如果是我呢？我也会这么烦”。这个就是不违背你的本性去理解别人。因为你把什么事情都想明白了，你用自己的本性来处理所有人间的事情，你的本性就会定下来。学佛人不管碰到什么事情，都要用良心本性来做自己的护卫。
First, to observe precepts, you must learn that one’s body, speech, and mind mustn’t go against one’s inherent nature. Your mouth shouldn’t be used for scolding, your body mustn’t do anything unwholesome, and your mind mustn’t develop unwholesome thoughts. Practising concentration is about remaining in the same mental state as one’s self-nature and inherent nature. What are they? It means that no matter what you encounter, you must calm down and use your conscience and inherent nature to react to it. Then you would definitely feel peace. To put it plainly, you must empathise with others and put yourself in their shoes. When you start to hate others or when your thoughts start to become clouded, you should think, “If I was him, would I feel the same way? Yes.” That way, you will understand them without going against your inherent nature. Because you are using your inherent nature to deal with everything that happens, that’s why it can stay steady. No matter what Buddhists encounter, they must use their conscience and inherent nature as their guard.
随顺得慧，这点很重要。什么叫随顺得慧？因为你什么事情都顺着别人，什么事情都不跟别人拧着干，什么事情都无所谓，你的智慧就来了，你就不会跟别人去闹，不会跟别人去吵。你看打官司、闹离婚，跟家里搞来搞去就是不顺了，他顺不了别人，所以他没有智慧，才会把家搞得一团糟，所以他才愚痴。一个人越是愚痴，就越是恨，恨了之后，就会更加愚痴。大家要明白这些道理，把很多事情放开，你就会想得明白。把别人都当傻瓜的人，自己一定是最傻的。所以，一个人要随顺得慧，“随顺”就是什么事情都要随缘，顺着这个事情的发展去做，那么你一定会有智慧。比方说，你们的老板喜欢这么做，你就跟着他这么做，接下来你就有智慧了。为什么？跟老板拧着干的人都被老板赶出去了，你却留了下来，老板知道你理解他，老板就用你，你各方面都好了，这难道不是一种智慧吗？很多事情要随顺得慧。
Act wisely by acting in accordance with conditions is very important. What does it mean? It means going things according to the will of others, don’t go against them, be indifferent, and your wisdom will develop. Then you won’t conflict with others. Look at those who are embroiled in litigation, marital and domestic disputes. It’s because they are not willing to be agreeable and always fighting; that’s why the outcome is a mess. People like them are foolish and lacks wisdom. The more foolish one is, the more hate they develop, which intensifies their foolishness. Everybody must understand these principles. Learn to let go and think broadly and clearly. Those who think others are stupid are stupid themselves. That’s why one must act wisely by acting in accordance with conditions. For example, if your boss likes doing something, you should do the same. Then it means you are wise. Why is that? It’s because those who go against the boss will be fired, but you remain. The boss knows you understand him, so he decides to let you stay. Isn’t this a kind of wisdom? That’s why one must act wisely by acting in accordance with conditions.
世间的法律再多，也约束不了想不犯法的人。佛法戒律再多，也约束不了一心想学佛向善之人。佛法戒律多不多？多。怕学的人跑了，但是也约束不了真正想学佛的人。一个人有信心一定要学佛，再难也会学佛，这才叫道理。向善的人就不怕戒律。我今天学佛了，戒律再多我不怕，因为我想修心，我想学菩萨，学菩萨就要把人间不好的习气全部去掉，所以，再多的规矩、再多的戒律，我都不怕。比丘尼有300多条戒律，比丘有200多条戒律，师父现在对你们大概只有几十条戒律：坐要有坐相，笑声不要太响，眼睛不要乱看，耳朵不要乱听，脑子不要乱想等。不就这点事情吗？叫你们要尊敬师长，叫你们一心学佛多念经，就这点戒律。要懂得，再多的戒律也约束不了我们一心向善的学佛之人。
No matter how many laws there are in this world, they still can’t restrain those who want to commit crimes. No matter how many precepts there are in the Buddha-Dharma, they still can’t restain those who want to learn Buddhism and become wholesome. Are there many precepts? Very. Those who are afraid of learning have fled, but it still can’t restrain those who truly want to learn and practise Buddhism. If a person has enough confidence to practise Buddhism, they would still practise it no matter how difficult it is. That’s the principle. People who want to be wholesome are unafraid of the precepts. “I am learning Buddhism now. No matter how many precepts there are, I’m not afraid. That’s because I want to cultivate my mind. I want to learn from the Bodhisattvas. To do so, I must get rid of all my bad habitual behaviours. That’s why no matter how many rules and precepts there are, I’m not afraid.” Buddhist monks have over 200 precepts to observe. Master only have around a dozen precepts that he wants you to observe. Like sit properly when you sit, don’t laugh too loudly, don’t look at things that shouldn’t be looked at, don’t listen to things that shouldn't be heard, don’t think about things that shouldn’t be thought etc. Isn’t that all there is? Also, you should treat your seniors with respect, and you should be single-minded when practising Buddhism and recite more sutras. These are all precepts. No matter how many precepts there are, you must understand it can never restrain those who truly want to be wholesome and practise Buddhism.