言必信 行必果──仁炟法师朝山前的嘱托 WALK YOUR TALK, FULFILL YOUR PROMISE (A Pre-pilgrimage Talk delivered by Ven. Ren Da before starting off his three-step-one-prostration journey to Jiuhua Mountain in March 2011)
一、 要言必信、行必果 1.Keeping one’s words 言必信、行必果是仁炟一直以来做人的准则。仁炟没有出家之前，家庭教育也是一诺千金，只要做了承诺，就一定要履行，而且履行要有结果。1993年，仁炟为报地藏王菩萨救护之恩发了三个愿： “Walk the talk, keep one’s words” is the code of ethic strictly adhered to by me in my life even before I became a monk. That is my family education and upbringing. I made three vows in 1993 to repay my gratitude to Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha (Earth Store Bodhisattva) for saving my life. The three vows were:
（一）发愿自费印1万册《佛教念诵集》和1万册《地藏菩萨本愿经》、（二）发愿出家、（三）发愿三步一叩朝礼五台山。 (1) To sponsor the printing of 10,000 copies of “A Collection of Buddhist Sutras” and 10,000 copies of “The Sutra of Earth Store Bodhisattva Original Vows”. (2) To become a monk. (3) To perform three-step-one-prostration to Wutai Mountain.
每一个愿，仁炟都不敢忘怀，终于用了十年的时间，三个愿一个一个都圆满了。 The three vows were subsequently fulfilled one after another within 10 years.
这一次三步一叩朝拜九华山，是仁炟在2005年三步一叩朝礼五台山归来不久，寺院建设极其困难，仁炟曾对弟子讲：“如果5年内基本建成博山正觉寺，仁炟就三步一叩朝礼九华山，以报佛恩。” 也希望以此祈请佛力加持，博山正觉寺能够早日建好，希望祖庭早日重辉，弘扬佛法、利乐有情。既然发了愿，就要去 履行自己的诺言。所以5年过去了，机缘成熟，仁炟就三步一叩朝礼九华山，去报佛恩。 In 2005, the construction work on Zhengjue Temple at that time did not progress well. I told my disciples that I would perform three-step-one-prostration to Jiuhua Mountain if the basic structure of Zhengjue Temple could be completed within five years (2005 –2010) to show my gratitude to the Buddha. I also hoped that with the empowerment of Buddhas, the construction of the whole temple project could be completed soon so that sentient beings can benefit from it. Since I made a vow, I must carry it out. Now, the conditions are ripe and I shall fulfill my pledge to perform the three-step-one-prostration to Jiuhua Mountain this year.
这里面有一个信的问题。有的人发了愿，心里会打鼓、怀疑，佛菩萨会不会灵呀，会不会满我的愿呀，会不会加持我呀。 There is a question here. Some people made a vow but were hesitant and wondered whether the Buddha and Bodhisattva would help to make the vow come true or empower the vow-maker in some way.
仁炟对佛菩萨从来都是笃信不疑。大家也能够看得到，正觉寺从一片荒山逐渐成为一片庄严的建筑群。建寺以来，寺院建设都非常艰难，但仁炟从来没有为钱发过愁。正觉寺到今天还没有一笔捐几百万、几千万的大功德主。建寺的善款像流水一样，每每遇到困难，就有信众捐钱，解决了建寺燃眉之急。 善款流水而来，流水而去，寺院也一步一步地崛起着。 I have very strong faith in Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and never worry about the building fund of the temple despite the many obstacles along the way. So far, Zhengjue Temple has not come across any single philanthropist who, in one shot, donated a huge sum of money. However, somehow funds automatically flow in whenever we need it and the temple slowly takes shape day by day.
这5年下来，仁炟对于诸佛菩萨的佑护和加持充满了深深的感激和感恩。真的，如果不是观世音菩萨的呵护，不是诸佛菩萨、龙天护法的加持护佑护，正觉寺的建设不敢想象。目前虽然距离寺院基本建成还有一定的距离，但是正觉寺已经初具规模。很多到正觉寺的人都说，正觉寺的建设日新月异，正觉寺建设得很大气、很庄严。这些都是诸佛菩萨龙天护法的加被护持，这也是广大善信的大力支持的结果。 Over the past 5 years, I am full of gratefulness towards the empowerment of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Without the empowerment of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and devas, the construction works of Zhenjue Temple would never be plain sailing. The basic infrastructure of the temple is still far from target, but it is taking shape slowly. Many people who visited the temple felt its magnificence.
因此，大家要相信佛力的加持不可思议，发愿要至诚，要履行自己的诺言，要相信佛菩萨，诸佛菩萨无时无刻不在呵护着大家，这是仁炟的一个体会。 Therefore, we must believe in the empowerment of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and devas. Our vows must be sincere and we must carry out our vows when we have made them. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will not let us down. This is something I personally experienced.
从正觉寺三步一叩朝礼九华山。有弟子担心仁炟已经70岁了，身体可能吃不消，希望仁炟取消此次朝山。既然发了愿就要言必信、行必果。要履行自己的誓言。因此，2011年农历二月二十一，也是普贤王菩萨的圣诞，仁炟将从博山正觉寺地藏殿起香，三步一叩朝礼九华山。 Many devotees were worried that I am already 70 years old, may not be physically fit to perform the long journey three-step-one-prostration to Jiuhua Mountain and hoped I could abort the pilgrimage plan. However, I must live up to my pledge and have decided to start off my three-step-one-prostration from Zhengjue Temple to Jiuhua Mountain on the 21st day of the 2nd Chinese lunar month in 2011, which is also the birthday of the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
二、朝山的意义 2.The significance of three-step-one-prostration
三步一叩朝山也就是三步一叩礼佛、顶礼三宝。有一个礼佛的偈子：「能礼所礼性空寂，感应道交不思议，吾之道场如帝珠，释迦如来影现中，吾今影现如来前，弟子──头面接足皈命礼。」感恩皈敬三宝，表示敬意的方式很多，有合十问讯礼等，最恭敬的就是头面接足皈命礼。礼佛时，观想自己的头置于佛的脚部，翻上的双掌承接佛足，用最恭敬的身语意表达对佛的虔诚。礼佛也是用最恭敬的身语意来折服自己的我慢，恭敬皈依本师释迦牟尼佛、皈依诸佛菩萨，我们共同的老师，共同的法身父母，跟随他们修行。礼佛可以让我们折服我慢、见贤思齐 、忏除业障、积累功德。所谓“礼佛一拜灭罪河沙”。 能够坚持每日的礼佛，对于我们的修行非常重要，可以让大家迅速忏悔业障、积累福慧资粮。 The act is a way to pay tribute to the Buddha and Triple Gems. There are many ways and methods to pay respect and tribute to the Triple Gems. The most reverent way is to prostrate one’s body on the ground, visualizing that one’s forehead is on the feet of the Buddha and with palms facing upward to receive the feet of the Buddha. Paying respect and tribute to the Buddha is also a way to reduce our arrogance, repent our bad karmas, accumulate merits and to indicate our desire to learn from Buddhas. Prostration is an important practice which we should perform daily.
三、朝山也是仁炟修行的一个组成部分 3.Pilgrimage is part and parcel of cultivation 这次朝礼九华山报佛恩是一个方面，朝山也是仁炟修行的一个组成部分。很多人有不同的修行方法，有不同的入手之处。三步一叩礼佛是很艰难很辛苦，也可以说是一种头陀苦行。但是这个苦行对于仁炟来说，仁炟非常受益。它不但磨练了仁炟的意志，让仁炟在困难、病障、魔障面前都能够去历事练心，磨砺心智。在困难中不断祈求诸佛菩萨的加持，让仁炟能够精进修行、度过障碍 。 The three-step-one-prostration pilgrimage to Jiuhua Mountain is partly to repay my gratitude to the Buddha. It is also part and parcel of my Dharma cultivation. Different people have different ways and methods of practising the Dharma. Three-step-one–prostration is arduous and tiring and can be considered as a type of asceticism. However, such asceticism suits me very well because it helps to polish my determination. Whenever I am in difficulty, falling ill and encountering obstacles, I will pray for the empowerment from Buddhas and Bodhisattvas so that I could be more determined in my Dharma cultivation and to help me to overcome all the setbacks.
不管是三步一叩朝礼五台山还是这次即将三步一叩朝礼九华山，有跟香的弟子护持仁炟的生活、起居，对仁炟的修行给与多方面的护持；而且有广大善信护持、支持博山正觉寺的建设，让仁炟朝山之行无后顾之忧，仁炟非常感恩大家。护法的功德不可思议，感恩大家！ There were, and there will be, attendant followers escorting me during my three-step-one-prostration to Wutai Mountain in 2005 and Jiuhua Mountain this time. They will look after my meals and accommodation. There are also many devotees supporting the construction of the Zhengjue Temple. This helps me to concentrate fully on my three-step-one-prostration pilgrimage. I am grateful to all of you.
仁炟在三步一叩朝礼九华山的路途中，会走一步念一声「南无大愿地藏王菩萨」，叩头时念诵「南无十方三世一切佛法僧三宝」。感恩诸佛菩萨，一心皈投诸佛菩萨，一心忏悔自他的业障，同时把朝山的功德回向国泰民安、正法永驻。回向所有关心支持博山正觉寺的善信，愿大家都能够障碍消除、诸事吉祥、万事如意。 In my journey to Jiuhua Mountain, for every step I will recite the name of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha (Earth Store Bodhisattva); for every prostration I will recite “Paying Homage to All the Triple Gems of Ten Directions and Three Worlds” to show my gratitude to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and to repent the unwholesome karmas of mine and others. I shall transfer the merits of the pilgrimage to the nation and people and pray that the genuine Buddha-dharma will remain in this world forever. I shall also transfer the merits of the pilgrimage to all those who care and support Zhengjue Temple and hope that everyone will be ridden of their bad karmas, be well and happy always.
四、朝山的嘱托 4. My entrustments / instructions （一）请大家一如既往地支持博山正觉寺建设 仁炟浑身是铁，也打不成一根铁钉。在诸佛菩萨的加持下，各位善信大力支持，以及很多不知名的正觉义工，如流通法宝义工、网络义工 、文宣义工、法务义工等很多很多义工，大家都在默默地做事，为正觉寺的建设，用真诚的心，用实际行动支持正觉寺建设。希望大家在以后的日子里，发慈悲心、发菩提心、发长远心、发坚固心，一如既往地支持博山正觉寺建设，把寺院尽快建好， 培养僧才、秉持正法，利济众生，更好地弘扬佛法。 Firstly, please continue to support the construction of Zhengjue Temple as you did in the past. Although I am capable, I could not make a single nail without the support of countless devotees and anonymous volunteers who help in various fields in the construction of Zhengjue Temple. These heroes worked silently and sincerely and with practical actions to support the construction of Zhengjue Temple. I hope that you all will be compassionate enough to continue to provide long-term support so that our temple can be completed to spread the Buddha-dharma.
（二）坚持完成日课，建寺不忘修行
第二不要忘记修行，尽量定时定量完成日课。日课是消除业障、增长福慧、克服习气、增强定力的好方法。 Secondly, insist on the completion of your daily prayers; do not forget about practising the Dharma while constructing the temple. You should complete your specified daily lessons because they can reduce your bad karmas, increase your wisdom and improve your concentration.
有弟子告诉仁炟：师父，弟子愿意做事，就是不想做功课，每天都发愁做功课。仁炟认为这是障碍的反映，也是毛病习气的反映。能够坚持把自己的每日功课按时按量完成，看起来简单，而意义非常殊胜。坚持日课而且对于挑战自己的毛病习气，养成良好的修行习惯，对于自己定力的修行，慧力的增长，去除业障、积累福德資粮都很重要。 大家不要忽视日课，这也是历事练心的提升。大家坚持底线功课：每天一部《金刚经》、一遍《楞严咒》、7遍《大悲咒》。 如有时间，最好通读《大乘经咒合刊》，以及《地藏经》等。3个月或半年完成“南无观世音菩萨圣号”100万遍。有条件的也可以阅藏。 Some followers told me that they are willing to do all kinds of tasks except the daily Dharma practice and lessons. This is a reflection of their bad habits. The completion of daily lessons looks easy, but it has a big meaning. It is a challenge for you to drop your bad habits and cultivate good habits. It is a form of training to enhance your internal strength and capability to handle matters. So you must stick to the bottom line: every day recite the Diamond Sutra and Shurangama Mantra《楞严咒》once; and the Mantra of Great Compassion seven times. If you have time, you should read other sutras too. Within six months you should recite the name of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara《观世音菩萨》one million times.
要活学活用佛法，把佛法用到工作生活中，让自己受益，让周围的人受益。比如遇到问题，试着思考如果是祖师大德，他们是如何处理这些问题；也可以用金刚经的经义来思考，该如何看待这个问题，如何来解决这个问题。要持之以恒，发长远心、坚固心，法喜和吉祥都会不期而至。希望大家只管耕耘，莫问收获，坚持种善因，那么吉祥的果自然也不求自得。 You must make use of the Dharma in your daily life and in your work to benefit yourself and others. When you face difficulty, imagine how an ancient distinguished monk would react under such situation. You can also think about the teachings of the Diamond Sutra and obtain inspirations from it as how to solve your problem. You must be persistent. Blessings will come one day. I hope that you all will keep cultivating, do not be bothered with the harvest because when you have sown good seeds, good fruits will come naturally.
五、博山正觉寺未来的展望 5.The future prospect of Zhengjue Temple （一）充分发挥寺院的职能：举办佛七法会、专题讲座、佛学培训班、国学的教育与学习、积极参与公益慈善事业。自利利他，自度度他，回报社会。 (1)To bring the functions of the temple to full play: Organise 7-day chanting Dharma assemblies, talks on specific topic, Dharma training courses, education and learning of Chinese literature, to positively involve in public charity work. （二）建成安心办道、通宗通教、禅净圆融、闭关实修的一方乐土。 (2)To turn it into a land of paradise that suits all people to practise different schools of Buddha-dharma without discrimination. （三）建设安养院，解决僧人、及僧人的父母老有所养，以及大德居士的老有所养问题，为大家提供安度晚年的条件和环境。 (3)To set up an old folks home with conducive environment where Sangha members as well as their parents and devotees will have a shelter over their heads when they are old. （四）佛教文化的弘扬。利用高科技，多种方式，更好地弘扬佛教文化。 (4)To make use of advanced information technology to propagate Buddha Dharma.
欢迎加入到正觉大家庭。寺院的建设和佛法的弘扬需要多种人才，欢迎大家积极参与，到正觉寺做常驻义工、护持道场，在全国各地做正觉义工等，成为正觉大家庭的一分子，精进修行，护持正法，弘扬正法。愿这一生过得更加有意义。最后祝福大家 诸事吉祥、万事如意！ The door of Zhengjue Temple is always open to all. We need plenty of people with different talents and professions to join as volunteers in the construction of the temple and propagation of Buddha Dharma. You may be stationed at the temple or at other places. Last but not least, may all be well always!
