Introduction 简介
What are the Six Great Guidelines
什么是六大宗旨
Not Fighting, Not Being Greedy, Not Seeking, Not Being Selfish, Not Pursuing Personal Advantage, Not lying
不争，不贪，不求，不自私，不自利，不妄语
We should expand our vision and broaden our views. We should not know only about ourselves, or be aware only of our own family, or know only about our own country's existence. We have to expand the measure of our mind so that it exhaustively fills empty space and pervades the Dharma Realm. We should think on behalf of all mankind, not just scheme for our own sakes. To benefit mankind and not harm mankind: That is the fundamental requirement.
我们把眼光放大，把思想放宽，不要只知道有我自己，或者只知道有我的家庭，或者只知道有我的国家，要将心量扩大到尽虚空遍法界，要为全人类的利益着想，不要只为自己打算。对人类有利益，而不伤害人类，那就是基本条件。
How can we benefit mankind and not harm mankind? We have to practice the six great principles:
怎样利益人类，怎样不伤害人类？就是实行六大宗旨：
1. Do not fight. We do not fight with anyone. You fight with me, but I will not fight with you; you scold me, but I will not scold you; you beat me, but I will not beat you; you bully me, but I will not bully you.
第一「不争」：我们不和任何人争，你和我争，我不和你争；你骂我，我不骂你；你打我，我不打你；你欺负我，我不欺负你。
2. Do not be greedy. Once greed arises, you are insatiable. Be it money or material things, you always feels you don't have enough. The greedier you are, the less satisfied you become. The less satisfied you are, the greedier you get. You are greedy into your old age, but you still don't wake up. You are harmed by greed your whole life. When you die, you still feel there is some matter or some object you haven't obtained, and you feel deep regret. How pitiful this is! The second great principle is not to be greedy for money, benefits, or fame--in general, not to be greedy for anything whatsoever.
第二「不贪」：贪心一起，就贪而无厌，无论金钱，或是物质，总觉得不够，愈贪愈不够，愈不够愈贪，贪到老了，还不觉悟。被「贪」字害了一辈子，到死的时候，还觉得哪件事或者哪个东西还没有得到手，深表遗憾，这是多么可怜！第二大宗旨，不贪任何的金钱、利益，或好名。总之，一切不贪。
3. Do not seek. Seeking is pretty similar to greed. Greed is abstract and invisible. Seeking means to actually go out and exploit one's connections, seeking by hook or by crook. What does one seek? One seeks money and material things. In general, one seeks for all kinds of benefits. We seek inwardly, not outwardly. We seek within our minds, sweeping away all the false thoughts of our ignorant mind, our mad mind and wild nature, our jealousy and obstructiveness, our greed, anger, stupidity, and so forth. We don't apply cosmetics on the outside. Instead we adorn the inside and make it pure. There is a saying, “When people reach the state of seeking nothing, their character will naturally be noble.” When we don't seek from others, our character will naturally be pure and lofty, free of dirty thoughts.
第三「不求」：这个「求」字和「贪」字差不多。 「贪」是若有若无；「求」是实际地企求，到处去拉拢关系，不择手段地求，求什么？求金钱，求物质；总而言之，求一切利益。是向内求，不向外求。内求于心，把痴心妄想、狂心野性、妒忌障碍、贪瞋痴等，扫除干净，不向外边粉刷，而把内边庄严清净。所谓：「人到无求品自高。」不求于人，品格自然清高，没有那些邋遢的思想。
4. Do not be selfish. Why has the world deteriorated to such a state? Because people have been too selfish. If it's something that they will gain benefit from, they will be the first to do it. However, if it's something that won't benefit them in any way, they stand aside and watch, or make some sarcastic remarks with the attitude of watching fire from a safe distance. There are many kinds of selfishness. There is selfishness with regard to position, selfishness with regard to reputation, selfishness with regard to power, and selfishness with regard to money. To put it in a nutshell, if people care only about themselves and not about others, it is always because their selfishness is acting up. Living in this world, people should help each other and offer mutual support. We should learn to have the spirit of saving those in difficulty upon hearing their suffering. We should not gloat over others' misfortunes. If people in this world were not selfish, then we would all get along harmoniously like one family. But because we are selfish, we've created a lot of problems. Therefore, not being selfish is the fourth great principle.
第四「不自私」：世界为什么坏到这种程度？都因为人人太自私。对自己有利益的事，便争先恐后去做；若是对自己没有利益，就袖手旁观，或者以隔岸观火的心情来说风凉话。自私有多种，对于地位自私，对于名誉自私，对于权利自私，对于金钱自私。一言以蔽之，一切的一切都因为自私在作怪，所以不管他人，只顾自己。人生存在这个世界，就要互相帮忙、互相援助，所以应学习闻苦救难，不可有幸灾乐祸的心理。 世人若是没有自私心，便能和任何人和睦相处，如同一家人。因为有自私心，才弄出很多的问题，所以不自私是第四大宗旨。
5. Not pursuing personal advantage. This principle is even more important than the fourth principle of not being selfish. There is no one who doesn't want to pursue personal advantage. But people certainly have to refrain from pursuing personal advantage for the world to improve. To not pursue personal advantage means to benefit others and forget about oneself. That's known as sacrificing oneself for others. We don't benefit ourselves; we only benefit others, save others, and enlighten others.
第五「不自利」：这个宗旨比第四个宗旨「不自私」，更为重要。谁也不愿意不自利，可是一定要这样「不自利」，世界才能好。不自利就是要利益他人，把自己忘了，所谓「舍己为人」，我们不自利，只是利他，只是度他，只是觉他。
6. Do not lie. This means having no intention to cheat people. Why do people tell lies? Because they're afraid of losing benefits to themselves and afraid of suffering losses. Thus, they lie. If we always treat people honestly and sincerely, then we will naturally be able to uphold the principle of not lying.
第六「不妄语」：就是不存心骗人。人为什么打妄语呢？因为他怕自己的利益失去，怕吃亏，所以他才撒谎。若是常常用真心待人，则自然就能遵守不妄语的宗旨。
Today I have briefly introduced the six great principles to you. If I were to explain them in detail, I would never be able to finish. If you can practice these six great principles, then you will benefit from them all your life. The benefit is not superficial.
今天简单将六大宗旨向各位介绍，如果详细来讲，是说不能尽的。这六大宗旨，你若能去实行，那对各位是终身益之，受用匪浅的。
We have to do our best to help this world take the path towards peace and light. Don’t always be unable to forget yourself. Each one of us should not fight, not be greedy, not seek, not be selfish, not pursue personal advantage, and not lie. If everyone can be this way, then there won’t be any more wars in the world, nor will there be any more plundering or robbing. In general, contention and greed turn people topsy-turvy. If we can all be devoid of thoughts of fighting and greed, then the world will be at peace. Therefore, no matter what field or profession you belong to, you should fulfill your own obligation and responsibility and do something to help the country and the people. Everyone should remember these guidelines. If you can truly avoid contending, being greedy, seeking for advantages, being selfish, pursuing private gain and lying, the society will surely be in harmony, families will be happy and our world will be at peace.
我们要尽量帮助这个世界走向安乐光明的途径上去，不要总是忘不了自己，所以我们每一个人应该不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不打妄语，人人若都能这个样子，世界也都没有战争了，也就没有打劫的、强抢的。所以无论你在哪一行，都应该把自己的本分尽到了，尽到自己责任，对于国家、对个人的生命，都应该有所帮助。这六大宗旨，人人要念兹在兹不忘它，如果能真正不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不妄语，那么家庭必定幸福，社会必定安宁，天下就太平了。
Not Fighting 不争
We should be amiable and courteous to people. We cannot be arrogant and look down on everyone.
对人要和蔼，要有礼貌，不可贡高我慢，目空一切。
You must endure the insults that ordinary people find unendurable.
受人所不能受的侮辱。
Not going against what is proper and right is known as virtuous conduct. Not hindering others is morality. In whatever you do, you should make it your obligation to help others. If you hinder others and cannot benefit them in terms of profit, time, culture, wisdom, or any other aspect, you are acting contrary to morality. Therefore, in every move and action, every word and deed, we should always make "not going against morality" our basic rule.
不违背道德就是德行，不妨碍他人就是德行。无论做什么，要以帮助他人为本份。若于利益上、时间上、文化智慧上，或其它种种事情上，对他人有所妨碍，不能利益他人，都是于道德有所违背。所以我们的一举一动、一言一行，总以不违背道德为根本箴规。
No matter who obstructs you, you should accept it. "When adversity comes, compliantly accept it." Anyone who is unkind or unreasonable to you is just your Good and Wise Advisor. If you can compliantly accept adversity and calmly handle unexpected or unreasonable situations, then your skill in patience can be seen. Don't be moved because of a single sentence that someone says. Some people think "being unmoved" means to be without shame and remorse, but that's wrong. The kind of "being unmoved" you should cultivate is being able to endure what others cannot endure--that's true skill.
谁妨碍自己都接受，逆来顺受；谁对自己不慈悲，或不讲道理，都是自己的善知识。能“逆来顺受”，对横逆能处之泰然，才见出你忍辱的功夫，不要因别人一句话就动了。有些人的“不动”是无惭无愧，这是不对。你要修的“不动”，是能忍人所不能忍，这才是真功夫。
Cultivators must avoid fighting at all costs. Don't be so belligerent and eager to fight.
人修行，切记不要和人斗争，不要好勇斗狠。
We shouldn't criticize other people as soon as we meet them. If we're always looking at the faults of others, it proves that our own suffering hasn't come to an end. We haven't pulled up the roots of suffering.
不要一见到人，就看别人的不对。你尽找别人麻烦，是自己苦未了，苦根未断尽。
Patience is of utmost importance; you must endure the things that you ordinarily find unendurable. For instance, maybe you don't want to put up with a scolding, but if someone scolds you, you should be happy about it. Perhaps you don't want to be beaten, but if someone beats you, you should be even happier.
忍，是最要紧的，就是叫你忍你所不愿意忍的事情。譬如我不愿意挨骂，可是有人骂我，我都欢喜。我不愿意挨打，可是有人打我，我更欢喜。
Cultivating the Way is, in fact, cultivating from the reverse. How do we flip it over? It is simply a matter of learning to like what you dislike. You shouldn't, however, pass on to other people the things that you don't like.
修道也要倒过来修。怎么倒过来呢？就是你不愿意的事，也要愿意。你所不愿意的事，你不该让给旁人。
Patience is something cultivators cannot be without. Only with the power of patience can we cultivate. Without patience, all talk of cultivation is in vain.
忍耐是修行人不可缺少的。有忍耐力，才能修行；没有忍耐力，一切都免谈。
When you encounter a situation that doesn't go your way, you must bear up under it and yield to it. Don't fight with anyone. If you can cultivate, but you can't be patient and you freely let your temper go at any time, you'll burn to ashes all the merit and virtue that you cultivated through such painstaking, bitter effort.
遇到不如意的境界，要忍要让，与世无争。若是不能忍，随时发脾气，把辛苦所修的功德，统统都烧光了。
"No matter who treats me badly, I will not feel anger or hatred towards them. I will treat all people sincerely and influence them naturally with that sincerity. In this way their hostility will be transformed into friendliness, their swords changed to plowshares."
无论谁对我不好，也不生瞋恨心，以诚待人，对方自然被感化，化干戈为玉帛。
Cultivating the Way is simply a matter of gaining the ability to endure. As it's said, "Patience is a priceless jewel." You can experience true happiness only if you can bear up under all situations.
修道，就是修忍受。所谓“忍是无价宝”，能忍受得住，才能得到真正的快乐。
If you choose not to cultivate virtuous conduct yourself, don't keep others from cultivating virtuous conduct. If you do obstruct others in these ways, then you must discipline and reform yourself.
自己不修德行，不要妨碍他人修德行。如果有这种思想和行动的人，一定要纠正过错，改恶向善。
You cannot be arrogant and assume that you're higher and better than everyone else.
不要以为我比谁都高，比谁都强。
If someone insults you and spreads tales about you, you shouldn't mind. You should let it pass, come what may. The entire episode will eventually calm down all by itself.
有人毁谤你，说你的坏话，无所谓！应该处之泰然，自然风平浪静。
Cultivators of the Way should be like water, humble and modest, neither contending for merit nor striving for virtue. They bestow advantages on others and keep the disadvantages for themselves.
修道的人，要像水一样，有谦卑心，不争功、不贪德，好的给人家，坏的自己留着。
The highest kind of goodness resembles water,
As it benefits all things and never contends.
It stays in places that most people despise,
And thus it approaches the Way.
上善若水，水善利万物而不争。
处众人之所恶，故几于道矣。
We make kindness and compassion our duty and expedient resourcefulness our practice as we rescue living beings from the sea of suffering.
要慈悲为怀，方便为门，拯救他们（众生）出离苦海。
Any thoughts of victory and defeat do not accord with the creed of a cultivator and stand in opposition to the Way.
凡是有胜负心，就不合乎修道的宗旨，就违背了道。
People who slander us are really our Good and Wise Advisors. When we've performed correctly, but somebody finds fault with our job, then we should strive to further improve, and take one more step from atop the hundred-foot pole. "The person who finds my faults I will treat as my teacher." An individual who can point out our shortcomings is our teacher. We ought to show him gratitude and never feel antagonism or hostility towards him.
有人来诽谤我们，那是我们的善知识。我们本来做得对，可是有人批评我们不对，那么就要往对的更进一步去做，所谓“百尺竿头，更进一步。”“见吾过者是吾师”，能说出我们毛病的这个人，就是我们的老师，应该感谢他，不可对他仇视。
Things pass by quite easily,
But a bad temper's truly hard to change.
If you can never get angry,
You've got a pearl beyond price.
Then, if you can never know hatred,
Everything will go your way.
Since afflictions never bother you anymore,
Your evil karma no longer comes to call.
But someone who knows only to criticize others
Is one whose own suffering has not yet ended.
事事都好去，脾气难化了，
真能不生气，就得无价宝。
再要不恨人，事事都能好，
烦恼永不生，冤孽从哪找？
常瞅人不对，自己苦没了！
Truly recognize your own faults,
And don't discuss the faults of others.
Others' faults are simply my own faults:
Being one in substance with all is called Great Compassion.
真认自己错，
莫论他人非；
他非即我非，
同体名大悲。
The greater the hardship, the more energetic you are. Even when surrounded by adversity, you remain calm. You don't feel mistreated, and you don't complain to heaven or blame others. You bear adversity and cultivate patience. That's the kind of skill you ought to have.
愈在难处愈精进，一切横逆交加，皆处之泰然，不觉得不公平，也不怨天，不尤人，能逆来顺受，修忍辱波罗蜜。
Always look for good in what appears to be the opposite. "If you fail to achieve your goal, seek the reason within yourself." Don't be so defensive.
我们应该在反面找好处，“行有不得，皆反求诸己。”不要为自己做辩护律师。
If you don't scold or berate others, you create merit and virtue.
你在口头上不骂人了，不说粗言暴语伤害他人，这也都是功德。
If you harbor deviant views and wish to harm people, your practice is demonic. Demons want to harm people, while genuine cultivators would never harm anyone under any circumstances.
存着邪知邪见想去害人，这就是魔法，是魔王所行的法。魔是害人不利人；真正想修法的人，在任何情形下也不会害人的。
Don't seek revenge on anyone. No matter who mistreats you, endure it. Be patient, and don't harbor grudges.
不向任何人报复，就是任何人对自己有害处，也要忍耐，修忍辱波罗蜜，不生报复之心。
Even if someone is a devil, we won't harm him. We will gather him in and will refrain from attacking him.
你是魔鬼，我也绝不伤害你，也要摄受你，而不生一种对待法。
No matter how badly someone treats you, don't blame or hurt him or her. Your heart should be as vast as the universe, so that it can encompass all the myriad phenomena.
旁人就是对自己怎么不好，也不怪他，也不去伤害他。心量要有三千大千世界那么大，把所有森罗万象都包括在里面。
We should never engage in rebellious activities, for that's very dangerous.
我们切记，不要做犯上作乱的事，有这种行为是很危险的。
What's meant by singleminded concentration? Not having malicious thoughts towards others. If you harbor thoughts of malice, you'll later find yourself in danger. It's said, "If you engage in many unrighteous acts, you only bring death upon yourself." In harming others, you are actually harming yourself. "If you kill a person's father, someone will kill your father. If you kill a person's brother, someone will kill your brother." This is the law of cause and effect.
何谓“专一”？就是不生害人之心。若存害人之心，将来是很危险的，所谓“多行不义必自毙”，害人反害己。“杀人之父，人必杀其父；杀人之兄，人必杀其兄。”这是因果。
