Disclaimer: My translations are not official nor endorsed by 2OR, so please just treat it as a ‘fan-based’ translation based on my understanding of his teachings. 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】. I am not an enlightened being like Master Lu, but I will treat his teachings with my utmost respect and do my best to convey and translate it to the best of my (limited) abilities for my friends and people who can’t read Chinese. Please enjoy, and I hope it serves as a good filler until the official English version comes out.
想要使你变一个人，就要学会调节自己的心情，把一个不好的事情调节成一个开心的事情。今天这个事情我不开心了，因为我自己的老公不好好修，不懂这个因，他才有这个果，我希望他通过这个事情吸取教训，以后再也不要这样了，我希望他如果能够活下来的话，彻底地变一个人，不要再为这些事情去烦恼了。人的毛病就是这样，过一阵子好了，好了伤疤忘了痛。现在很多同修打电话给台长说，“台长啊，我现在才知道你救人为什么那么困难。”
If you want to start changing your character, you must first learn how to adjust your frame of mind and learn how to adjust from pessimism to optimism. For example, you are unhappy about an incident, and the reason is that your husband didn’t properly cultivate. He didn’t understand that he has to be careful of sowing karmic causes, and that’s why he’s now suffering from the consequences. So you adjust your sour mood by saying that you wish that he could pull himself through and completely change himself afterwards and not be afflicted by that incident again. Every person’s shortcoming is like that; after a while, they’ll forget about the tragic mistakes they made and repeat it. Many people call Master and say, “Master, now I know why it’s so difficult trying to save others.”
要记住，我们要调节自己的心情，要修忍辱般若蜜。“般若蜜”是什么？就是智慧。就是要把自己忍辱的智慧修出来。我为什么要忍辱？因为我是在消自己的孽障。为什么要忍辱？因为我过去生中欠人家太多。为什么觉得忍辱？我不要忍辱，因为我该还给人家的，我都还给人家了，还人家的时候很难过，贪人家钱的时候很容易，所以还人家债的时候就要学会忍辱，这是因为你在偿还自己过去生中的债务，就像还房子的贷款一样，还钱的时候很难过，不要去想，因为你借钱的时候已经种下了这个因，这就叫忍辱般若蜜。要能够想通这个事情，我忍辱的最关键在什么地方，我把它想明白了，这就叫忍辱般若蜜；想不明白，就是没有智慧。
Take note; we must learn to adjust our frame of mind; we must cultivate ‘paramita of forbearance’. What is this ‘paramita’? It means wisdom. In other words, we must cultivate the wisdom of forbearance. Why should we forbear? It’s because we want to eliminate our karmic obstacles. Why should we forbear? It’s because we karmically owe the person a lot from the previous life. Why should you feel like you’re forbearing? You shouldn’t; you should feel obliged to repay your karmic debts. When you’re repaying karmic debts, it’s natural to feel upset. It’s easy when you’re trying to take advantage of others, that’s why you must learn to forbear when repaying karmic debts. Just like when you’re paying back your mortgage, you would feel upset. But you shouldn’t be thinking like this. That’s because when you borrowed money, you have already sowed this karmic seed. That’s ‘paramita of forbearance’. You must learn to clear your mind about this matter. The key to forbear is to clarify your mind, that’s paramita of forbearance. If you’re stubborn about the issue, it means you lack wisdom.
要想到，我们今天在社会上、在人间所有的一切，都会慢慢地过去的。就如同恒河沙数一样，因为我们的烦恼叫无尽的烦恼，是没有尽头的，这个烦恼没有了，那个烦恼又来了。想到自己，我们的烦恼犹如沙滩上的脚印一样，今天你走过去了，一个海浪过来，把你在沙滩上的脚印就淹没了，有什么了不起的？这么多的苦都过来了，还怕什么？我们过去多苦啊。你们很多年龄大的人，还经历过战争年代呢，这条老命都不是过来了吗？
You must realise that everything that happens and exists now will gradually become the past. Just like the innumerous number of sand in the Ganges, our afflictions are unlimited. There’s no limit. When this affliction is gone, another appears. Think about your experiences, aren’t your afflictions like footprints on sand? When a wave comes, all the footprints on the sand gets washed away, what’s the big deal about it? You’ve already overcome so many hardships to get to where you are now, what’s there to be afraid of? Haven’t you endured a lot when you were young? Like many of you elderly readers, you might have even experienced war before, aren’t you still living now?
很多人都是从难民船上过来的，当时很多船直接就翻了，这就叫投奔怒海，这条命上了船就不知道生死去向，可怜吗？命都捡不回来了。到了澳大利亚念经了学佛了，还怕什么？因为你没有学好才怕，因为你没有真心实意地把自己所讲的誓言用在你自己的生活当中。自修自得，弘法利生，我不管你是谁，我做我的，我只要好好地做我的功德，不是为自己吗？
Many people came (to Australia) in refugee transport ships. At the time, many ships sank. Those people had no choice but to gamble their lives on the rough sea; they didn’t even know whether they would make it or not, aren’t they pitiful? Lots of people lost their lives. Those who arrived in Australia and finally started to recite sutras and learn Buddhism, what is there to be afraid of? It’s because you haven’t learnt properly, that’s why you’re afraid. It’s because you have not wholeheartedly applied what you learnt in your daily lives. You gain from self-cultivation. When you propagate the Dharma to benefit others, and no matter who tells you to stop, you do your own thing and properly commit meritorious deeds, in the end, aren’t you doing it for yourself?
要记住，心量宽广的人，心脏不会生毛病；心量狭窄的人，心脏容易梗塞。心要像大海一样地宽广，要用智慧来每天冲洗自己，用你的智慧来冲洗你自己心中的污垢，但是你的智慧在哪里啊？你的智慧就像肥皂一样，你有没有肥皂啊？用智慧来冲洗自己，然后就会给自己的灵魂带来清净。因为你开悟了，因为你想问题想到了很多关节，比如，人总是要走的，真走的时候，我也要到观世音菩萨那里去，如果我能够留下来，我一定彻底地改变自己，好好地修心。人生总有一死，哪有不死的，你想明白了，你就能沉着冷静地对待这件事情。你们弘法的人是重于泰山的，为自己而活着的人死不足惜。
Take note, those who are tolerant will not suffer from any ailments with their heart. Those who are intolerable will feel that their hearts are blocked. One’s mind must be as broad as the ocean and cleanse themselves of the defilements daily with wisdom. Where is your wisdom? Your wisdom is like a bar of soap; you should use it to cleanse your mind and soul regularly. It’s because you’re awakened, you’re very meticulous to the details when you think of a problem. For example, we will inevitably die one day, but when you do die, you must think of going to where Guan Yin Bodhisattva is. So when you’re still alive, you must think of completely reforming yourself and properly cultivate your mind. Life will inevitably end, who doesn’t? One your mind is clear, then you could remain calm when you have to deal with something. Those who propagate the Dharma bear heavy responsibilities, those who live only for themselves die without meaning.
要记住，菩萨救人也是看缘分的，这个人跟菩萨缘分深，就是说他跟着菩萨弘法的事情多，弘法利生，他才能得到菩萨更多的加持。要明白，一定要让自己的灵魂清净，也就是说，人要稳得下来，拜师要学大慈悲，要学大智慧。你们拜师就是要有大智慧，就是拜了这个师父之后，我要越来越聪明，越来越有智慧，什么事情都能够想得通，什么事情都肯付出，这才算有了大智慧。如果拜师之后，人都不见了，他一定不能得到师父的加持。举个例子给你们听听，拜师了，就相当于给你们戴了一顶帽子，这个帽子一戴，最多戴一年。人家经常到这个地方来换帽子，而他不来了，他就没有帽子了，他这顶帽子就破了、就烂了、就扔了，所以，他到后来还是要被日晒雨淋，遮不住风雨，但人家的帽子经常在换。
Take note; Bodhisattvas also depend on karmic affinity in saving others. If the person has a deep karmic affinity with the Bodhisattva, in other words, that person has followed that Bodhisattva and has done a lot of propagation to benefit others; then they will receive even more blessings from the Bodhisattva. You must understand, you must make sure your spirit is pure. In other words, you must be able to settle down; when you become a disciple, you must learn great compassion and great wisdom. You must aspire to become more intelligent and wise, and could think things clearly and willing to give. That can be considered as great wisdom. If after you become a disciple, you disappear, then you won’t receive Master’s blessings. Here’s an example, after you’ve become a disciple, it’s like giving you a cap, where this cap could only be worn for a year. People usually go to a place to renew their caps, but you don’t come to renew it. Then your cap would be worn out until you throw it away. In the end, this cap can’t protect you from the wind and rain, while others regularly renew their caps.
拜师要拜出智慧来，要拜出慈悲心，而且要守住戒律。今天师父明明跟我说了，不能做这个事情，我就坚决不能做。师父说的，我们这条命是捡来的，我就好好地修心念经，我就不要再管家里的事情了，我没有办法管了，因为我一管的话，我会没命的。一定要守住戒律，想看的不能看，想做的不能做，想用的不能用。举个简单例子，你们现在在座的这么多人，如果在马路上看见50块钱掉在你们的脚底下，你们会怎么样？可能一半的人会把这个钱捡起来的，因为这是别人掉的。实际上，你把这个钱捡起来不算犯罪，但是从境界上讲，你的境界已经不是高尚的境界了。
When you become a disciple, you must also aspire to observe the precepts. “If Master had clearly said that something mustn’t be done, then I will be firm not to do. Master once said that my life was spared, so I must properly cultivate my mind and recite sutras. I won’t care what happens, nor could I manage it. If I do, I might lose my life. I must observe the precepts. I mustn’t watch what I want to watch; I mustn’t do what I want to do. I mustn’t use what I want to use.” For example, for many of you here, if you walked on the road and saw a 50 dollar note landed beside your feet, what would you do? Maybe half of you would pick it up, as it was lost by somebody else. In reality, it’s not a crime if you picked it up, but from the perspective of one’s level of spirituality, it means your level of spirituality is low.
要学会自我尊重，经常讲人家的人，就是不尊重自己，你老讲人家不好，就是不尊重自己，因为接下来人家就会骂你，讲你不好了。而且骂人的人，讲人家不好的人，自己就很俗。不能歪曲事实，也就是说，真的事情就是一二三四讲出来，讲出来没有关系，错了也没有关系，因为是事实，你不犯罪。如果你歪曲事实，就算你讲得天花乱坠，你已经犯罪了。我今天想讲他不好，把他歪曲了半天，最后还跟人家说是为了人家好。骂人家不好，最后还说为人家好，你说这个人和直接跟人家说毛病的人哪个好啊？还有对师父一定要尊敬，智慧的人就接受师父的批评，不聪明的人、不听师父的话就是找苦吃。
You must learn to have some self-respect. When you badmouth others, it’s a sign of disrespecting yourself, because what follows is that you’ll get scolded and badmouthed. Also, when you scold and badmouth others, you look very primitive. You mustn’t distort the truth, in other words, if everything you said were accurate accounts, it doesn’t matter if you say it, even if you were wrong. That’s because it’s the truth, so you won’t be incriminating yourself. If you distort the truth and make a bubbly account, then that’s wrongdoing. Let’s say a person wanted to badmouth somebody, so they slandered. Afterwards, the person explained that they did it for the victim’s sake. If you compare this person with somebody who directly points out other people’s flaws, who’s better? Also, one must respect their masters. Wise people will accept the criticisms of their master, while those who are not won’t listen, and they’ll suffer in the end.
世界上一切不可得，这是宇宙的真理。世界上所有的东西都是不可得的，没有了就没有了，有也是暂时的，你能够保证一辈子拥有吗？就算我们今天去救一些病人了，活个几年，又不学佛念经，接着又是一个灾、一个难，救不了的，总有一天要走掉的，最重要的是要自修，这个基础是最重要的。我们的心一定要干净，我们在生活中要经常做些小闭关。闭关就是把自己的脑子掏空，不要去想任何事情，从早到晚就念经，让自己清净一下，什么都不想，哪怕一个小时闭关都是好的，把房门一关，坐在里面念经，这就叫闭关，把自己的脑子掏空。
Everything in this world can’t be attained; that’s the truth of this universe. When it’s gone, it’s gone. Even when you have it, it’s only temporary. Could you guarantee that you can possess something for a whole lifetime? Even if we saved a critically-ill person, and they live for a few more years, and they don’t practise Buddhism nor recite sutras, then when they encounter a calamity, they can’t be saved, and they will one day pass away. What’s most important is self-cultivation, this foundation is most important. Our mind must be pure; in our daily lives, we must isolate ourselves briefly from the outside world and meditate. These meditational isolations are for us to empty our minds and not thinking about anything, only focusing on reciting sutras, so that we can feel peaceful and relaxed. Even if it’s for one hour, it’s still good. Close the door shut, and sit inside the room just reciting sutras, that’s called meditational isolation, it’s to empty our mind.
实际上闭关就是把自己所有在人间的杂念、杂想全部忘记，一分钟、五分钟、十分钟、半小时……。在念经的时候，脑子里就想着观世音菩萨，这就叫闭关。而且不能交谈，不能接电话，什么都忘记；每念一遍经文，要停顿一下，把自己掏空，脑子里都是空，过一会儿再开始念经，什么都不想。必须要修炼这个思维，如果修炼这个意念能够成功的话，到时有大灾难来的时候，脑子一静，马上想观世音菩萨，这个事情马上解决了，观世音菩萨马上进入你的身体，帮你消灾解难。如果杂念太多，因为你的心里已经塞满了肮脏的东西，你根本没有精力、心力和位置去让观世音菩萨驻足在你心中。
In reality, meditational isolation is to completely put aside all distracting thoughts that we have for one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, half an hour etc. When you’re reciting sutras, you’re only thinking about Guan Yin Bodhisattva, that’s meditational isolation. Also you mustn’t talk, nor take phone calls, you must put aside and forget about everything. Every time you recite a sutra, stop briefly and empty the mind. Then continue reciting another, you don’t think about anything. You must cultivate and train this thought process. If you’re successful at doing this, then when a calamity comes, your mind can concentrate and immediately invoke Guan Yin Bodhisattva to resolve it. Guan Yin Bodhisattva will enter into your body and help you resolve it. If your mind is too distracted, because your mind is filled with contaminants, you wouldn’t have the energy nor concentration to invoke Guan Yin Bodhisattva to enter into your mind.
