我们学佛的人要把握时间，有空就看经、拜佛、念佛、静坐、诵经等，不要让时间空过，蹉陀岁月。

We Buddhists should make good use of all available time to read and recite the sutras, perform prostration, recite the name of the Buddha, or practice sitting meditation. Do not let the time pass in vain and waste our lives.

 

经典即是路，有烦恼时可以拿来解，若会应用转境，当下的烦恼即是菩提，就是在受持经典；否则，烦恼即是无明。

The sutras are paths and remedy we may take to counteract our vexations. If we know to apply the teachings in the sutras to help switching the perception of unfavorable circumstance, the vexations in the moment might be the bodhi. This is abiding by the sutras. Otherwise, vexations are ignorance.

 

经藏在哪里？经藏在我们的心中。但是这部人人都有的自性‘心经’，必须靠智慧开显才有办法流露出来。所以 佛陀宣讲的一切经典都是智慧。我们因为智慧未开，看经书当然是迷迷糊糊，无法解空‘真义’，深入佛法。

Where is the sutra pitaka? It is within us. But this self nature ("heart sutra") immanent in every one of us cannot be revealed unless the wisdom is unfolded. All sutras expounded by Sakyamuni Buddha recorded buddha-wisdom; but since our wisdom is yet to unfold, we tend to feel confused when reading the sutras. That is why we all have great difficulty either in comprehending the essence of "emptiness" or immersing ourselves deeply in Buddhadharma.

 

勤修‘戒、定、慧’不是用嘴巴讲说就可以的，而是要真正实地去行，也就是要修我们这个‘五蕴’。

Being able to talk about sila (precept), samadhi (meditation), and prajna (wisdom) is not enough. Putting them into practice is what really counts. In other words, we have to work on the five skandhas, i.e. (form, sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness).

 

诵经不是只有唱唱念念而已，还要真正去体会经典里的意义，但这必须要自己实修去证悟出来。要修到一看到经文，不思文义即能印心，否则只是唱唱念念，执着‘我在诵经’，不能了解经义，是无法与‘经’理相契的。

Sutra-recitation is more than just humming and reciting the words. We have to try to understand the true meaning of the sutras, which cannot be succeeded unless we practice diligently to be awakened. We have to practice to the extent that as soon as we see the verses of the sutras, we can immediately correspond to the True Mind without even pondering on the meaning of the words. Otherwise it is only humming and chanting. Clinging to the self thinking “I am reciting the sutra” without the capability to comprehend the true meaning of it will take us nowhere to correspond to the True Mind.

 

‘看经说法’，如果自己不实修，那么所看所讲的，都还是别人的东西，等于在数他人的家宝，自己并不能脱出生死牢笼。 

If we read the sutras and preach the Dharma without putting the teachings into practice, we are merely reciting others' ideas. It would be like counting treasures owned by others--however valuable they may be, they are not ours and won't help us escape the eternal prison of births and deaths.

 

看过去祖师们的开示、语录、论著，宛如祖师们并没有入灭，仍然还在对我们说法、教化我们。

We should read or listen to the sermons, analects, and treatises of great patriarchs from the past as if they have not entered nirvana and are still preaching and guiding us.

 

若有人来请问我们经典的意思，应当尽己所知，诚恳地为他解说，则于人于己诸多功德。切不可以轻慢心推说不知，否则自己有过失。

When people come to us and ask us to explain a certain sutra, we should do it sincerely and to the best of our abilities. It will benefit them as well as us. Do not be arrogant and pretend that we don't know much about the sutra; otherwise, we will be at fault.

 

看经要能解意，信、解、行、证实际修持，才能开智慧。

The essence of reading sutras is to try to comprehend the meaning of them. Only through growing faith, enhancing comprehension, diligent practice, and personal verification can the sutra help us to unfold our immanent wisdom.

 

------Translated from Analects of Master Kuang-chin（编译自《广钦老和尚开示录》）