◎                   心定者，其言重以舒；不定者，其言輕以疾；此程子教人者也。

A person whose mind is still will speak solemnly and slowly; a person whose mind is restless will speak frivolously and quickly; this is the teaching of Chengzi.

選自《近思錄》卷四　存養（凡七十條），作者朱熹、呂祖謙。

Quoted from Digest for Contemplation of Recent Lessons, vol. 4, “Conserve and Nurture” (70 sayings); by Zu Chi, Lu ZhuChien.

【譯文】內心安定的人，他的言語穩重而舒展。內心不安定浮躁的人，他的言語輕快而急迫。這是程子教我們的話。冷靜謹慎的人不急於發表言論，卻字字中肯；心浮氣躁的人雖很快就發言，但由於缺乏深思熟慮而難免淺薄。

[Translation]  A person whose mind is still and tranquil will speak solemnly and slowly.  A person whose mind is restless and agitated will speak frivolously and quickly; this is the teaching of Chengzi.  A calm and prudent person will not rush to give his opinions, but all his words will be concise and pertinent; a restless and agitated person, although speaks quickly, but his comments, due to a lack of deep consideration, will be superficial.

concise and pertinent; a restless and agitated person, although speaks quickly, but his comments, due to a lack of deep consideration, will be superficial.

◎                   菩薩三種順菩提門法：一者，依智慧門，不求自樂，遠離我心貪著自身故。二者，依慈悲門，拔一切眾生苦，遠離無安眾生心故。三者，依方便門，憐憫一切眾生心，遠離恭敬供養自身心故。

Bodhisattvas have three practices that are in accordance with the Bodhi Dharma Door: 

(1)    depend on the door of wisdom, to abstain from self-pleasure, thus  depart far from our mind’s greedy attachment to our bodies;

(2)    depend on the door of compassion, to rescue all sentient beings from sufferings, thus depart far from the mind’s lack of making sentient beings tranquil (secure); and

(3)    depend on the door of expediency, to be sympathetic towards all sentient beings, thus depart far from the mentality of revering and caring for our body and mind.

選自《無量壽經優婆提舍願生偈》，婆藪槃頭菩薩造，元魏菩提留支譯。

Excerpted from Sukhavati-vyuhopadesa (Commentary for Rebirth in Pure Land), by Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, translated by Bodhiruchi during the period of Yuan Wei (6^th century)

【譯文】菩薩有三種順菩提門的方法：一是依智慧門，不求自己得安樂和享受，因為菩薩遠離了我心貪戀自己身體為實有的執著。。

[Translation]  Bodhisattvas have three practices that are in accordance with the Bodhi Dharma Door: 

1.     depend on the door of wisdom, to abstain from self-pleasure or self-indulgence,  because Bodhisattvas depart far from our mind’s greedy attachment to our bodies as real;

二是依慈悲門，拔除一切眾生的疾苦，因為菩薩遠離了損害眾生，令眾生心不得安寧的行為。

2.     depend on the door of compassion, to rescue all sentient beings from diseases and sufferings, because Bodhisattvas’ conducts depart far from harming sentient beings, which would make sentient beings lose their inner-peace;

三是依方便門，憐憫一切眾生心，因為菩薩遠離了貪著他人供養、恭敬的心念

3.     depend on the door of expediency, to be sympathetic towards all sentient beings, because a Bodhisattva’s mind departs far from the craving for others’ offerings and reverence.

◎                   勤修戒定慧，息滅貪瞋癡，便能扭轉未來。不論是自身健康，家庭幸福，事業成功，乃至世運災變。

To diligently cultivate precepts, meditation, and wisdom, and to eradicate greed, anger, and ignorance, will change the future; whether for self-health, family happiness, success of enterprise, or even for world peace and the diversion of catastrophes.

【譯文】精進勤勉的修習戒定慧三無漏學，息滅內心的貪瞋痴三毒煩惱，就能夠扭轉未來的命運。不論是對自身的健康，還是家庭的幸福，事業的成功，乃至於化解世界的各種災變，都會有改善。

[Translation]  Diligently and vigorously cultivate the three non-leaking studies of precepts, meditation, and wisdom, and eradicate the three poisonous mental afflictions of greed, anger, and ignorance, can change the future.   There will be improvements, whether for self-health, family happiness, success of enterprise, or even for the transformation and reconciliation of a myriad of worldly catastrophes.

◎人類大家庭，以和、平，與寬、恕相待，才能共存共榮。和平在自己內心裡。唯有愛好中國傳統文化，才有幸福人生；唯有愛好和平，才能帶來和平。

The big family of humans can only survive and prosper by treating each other with harmony, peace, forgiveness, and tolerance.  Peace starts within one’s heart.  Only the reverence for traditional Chinese culture can make humans live a happy life; only the love for peace can bring world peace.

【譯文】整個的人類是一個大家庭，以和睦、平等、寬厚、忠恕相互對待，才能共存共榮。和平在自己的內心裡，不在外面。唯有愛好中國傳統文化，才有幸福的人生。唯有愛好和平，才能帶來和平。

[Translation]  The entire human race is a big family and can only survive and prosper by people treating each other with harmony, peace, tolerance, loyalty, and forgiveness.  Peace is within one’s mind, not from outside.  Only the reverence for traditional Chinese culture can make humans live a happy life; only the love for peace can bring world peace.

◎古今中外，大聖、大賢的教誨，才是人類億萬代生存幸福之根基，才是社會、國家、世界永恆常治久安之大道，不可不知也。

The teachings of the saints and sages of the West and the East, from ancient times to the present, are the foundation for the survival and happiness of the human race for generations to come, as well as the Grand Way to everlasting peace of societies, countries, and the world; all must know this.

【譯文】古今中外的大聖大賢們的教誨，才是人類億萬代生存和幸福的根基，才是社會國家世界永恆長治久安的大道。聖賢的學說，我們不能不知道!

[Translation]  The teachings of the saints and sages of the West and the East, from ancient times to the present, are the foundation for the survival and happiness of the human race for generations to come, as well as the Grand Way to everlasting peace and order of societies, countries, and the world.  We all must understand the teachings of the saints and sages.

◎                   東方聖學，皆出自性；修之弘之，福慧無量無邊。得人身，遇正教，的是百千劫希有因緣，難逢之事。

The teachings of the saints of the East derive from the Self-Nature; the cultivation and propagation of such teachings will accumulate immeasurable and boundless merits and wisdom. To be born a human and to encounter such correct teachings are a matter of scarcity, indeed, a cause and condition that rarely happens in hundreds of thousands of kalpas.

【譯文】東方的聖賢學問，都是從自性中流出的。修學和弘揚這些學問，能夠獲得無量無邊的福德和智慧。得到人身、遇到聖教，的確是百千劫稀有的因緣，是百千劫難以遭遇的幸事。

[Translation] The teachings of the saints and sages of the East derive from the Self-Nature.  The cultivation and propagation of such teachings will accumulate immeasurable and boundless merits and wisdom.  To be born a human and to have the opportunity to learn such teachings are, indeed, a cause and condition that hardly happens in hundreds of thousands of kalpas, as well as a most fortunate matter that is rarely encountered in hundreds of thousands of kalpas.

◎                   釋迦、孔子第一正知正見，即是「述而不作，信而好古」。此中義境，深廣無盡。唯佛與聖，乃能究竟。一切創新者，所不能知耶！

The number one correct understanding and proper view of the Buddha Shakyamuni and Confucius is “to depict and not to create, to believe and (thus) love the ancients.”  The profundity of this aphorism is deep, wide, and endless.  Only the Buddhas and the saints can completely apprehend.  All creators cannot fathom.

【譯文】釋迦牟尼佛和孔子的第一正知正見，就是「述說往聖的學問，而不是自己創作，宣傳可信而且是善的部分」。

[Translation] The number one correct understanding and proper view of the Buddha Shakyamuni and Confucius is “to depict the teachings of past saints, and not to create their own; to proclaim and propagate the believable, especially the parts that are virtuous.” 

這個中間蘊涵的義趣和境界，可以說是高深廣大，無窮無盡。只有佛和聖人，才能夠究竟的了知；而一切否定往聖先賢的所謂的自我創新者，他們是不能了知的。

The profundity and meaning of this aphorism is deep and wide, infinite and endless. Only the Buddhas and the saints can completely apprehend; and those who denounce the past saints and the ancient sages, the so-called self-creators, cannot fathom such profundity.

◎                   英人湯恩比言：「解決二十一世紀社會問題，唯有中國孔孟學說與大乘佛法。」。

孔孟孝敬、仁義、存心、忠恕為用。大乘真誠為體，慈悲妙用。

Dr. Arnold Toynbee of England said: “In the coming 21st century, the only human civilization fit to liberate the world from the pit of global chaos or a crisis is the Theosophy or Wisdom of Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism.” 

Confucius and Mencius taught the application of filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, a meditative mind, loyalty, and forgiveness.  In Mahayana Buddhism, sincerity is the essence and compassion is the subtle application (supreme expediency).

【譯文】英國著名的湯恩比教授說，要解決二十一世紀的社會問題，只有依靠中國的孔孟學說與大乘佛法。。

 [Translation] Dr. Arnold Toynbee, the famous British professor, said: “In the coming 21st century, the only human civilization fit to liberate the world from the pit of global chaos or a crisis is the Theosophy or Wisdom of Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism.” 

 孔孟學說以孝敬、仁義、存心、忠恕為用；大乘佛法以真誠為體，以慈悲為其妙用

The teachings of Confucius and Mencius manifest the utility of filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, cultivation of the mind, and loyalty and forgiveness.  In Mahayana Buddhism, sincerity is the essence and compassion is the subtle application.

　　◎深信聖賢教育，能覺悟人性，喚醒人心，回頭是岸。湯博士之言誠然。

            A deep faith in the teachings of the saints and sages can invoke our humanistic (true) nature, awaken our humane heart, and to deliver us to the shore (of social order? To turn back from our evil ways?).  Dr. Toynbee’s statement is a truism.

【譯文】深信聖賢人的教育，能夠覺悟我們的人性，喚醒人們的良善心，回頭是岸。英國人湯博士的話誠然可信。

[Translation]  A deep faith in the teachings of the saints and sages can invoke our true nature, awaken our humane heart, and to return us to the shore (to our true nature).  Dr. Toynbee’s statement is true and believable.

◎                   三世如來同讚歎，十方菩薩共皈依。

Jointly praised by the Tathagatas of the three time periods,

the refuge for the bodhisattvas in the ten directions.

選自《地藏菩薩本願經‧讚地藏菩薩偈》。

Quoted from Sutra of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, The Gatha Praising the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha (Earth Treasure).

【譯文】地藏菩薩的功德是無量無邊，所以過去、現在、未來三世諸佛都共同讚歎。

[Translation]  The merits and virtues of the Earth Treasure Bodhisattva are immeasurable and boundless, therefore, the Buddhas of the three time periods of past, present, future, jointly praise him.

十方就是東、南、西、北、東南、西南、東北、西北，以及上方、下方共十方。這十方所有無量無邊不可說不可說的菩薩皆一同皈依地藏菩薩。因為地藏菩薩的誓願宏深，在釋迦牟尼佛滅度之後，彌勒菩薩下生成佛之前，代表佛教化眾生，所以十方菩薩都來皈依他。

The ten directions are the east, south, west, north, southeast, southwest, northeast, northwest, and the upper and lower, altogether ten directions.  All the immeasurable and boundless, the unmentionable of unmentionable numbers of bodhisattvas in the ten directions together take refuge in the Earth Treasure Bodhisattva.  Because of the immensity and bottomless vows of the Earth Treasure Bodhisattva, after the nirvana of the Buddha Shakyamuni and before the descending of the Bodhisattva Maitreya to Earth to become a Buddha, he represents the Buddha to teach and transform sentient beings; therefore, all the bodhisattvas in the ten directions take refuge in him.