To change your destiny, you must first learn the Four Noble Sermons

改变命运 先学《了凡四训》

 How do you change your destiny? Start by doing good deeds? What is the truth? Does it really work? Start by reading The Four Noble Sermons, he will teach you many truths ...... Those who want to make their destiny better should read this book first.

                        ----- Zhuge Changqing

  Venerable Jingkong: Although this book is not a Buddhist scripture, it should be respected as if it were. In the early years of the Republic of China, Master Yin Guang of the Pure Sect was a strong advocate of this book throughout his life. His Hong Hua Society printed and delivered about a million copies of this book, so it is clear that Master Yin attached great importance to this book. Not only that, but he also constantly advocated teaching us to study, practise and preach it.

    "Do not do all evils, practice all good deeds, and purify your own mind; this is the Buddhas." This is the Dharma seal of the Buddhas. Buddhism is about principles and reasoning. That is why the sutras have five kinds of people who say that, apart from the Buddha, the rest of the disciples, the celestial, immortal and incarnate beings speak, and as long as it is the same as the tenets of what the Buddha says and does not contradict the principles of the Buddha, the Buddha recognises it as a sutra.

   Let us look at the contents of this book, all of which are about "avoiding all evils, practising all good deeds and purifying oneself", which is equivalent to Buddhist scriptures. It is not only what the Buddha himself says that is called Buddhist scripture. This is what makes Buddhism respectable and worthy of admiration. Therefore anything that is in line with the principles and principles of the Buddha's education, we should look at as a classic. This book, in particular, has been proven by our ancestors and advocated time and again that it is the foundation for our study of Buddhism; not only for Buddhism, but also for people in general to establish their lives in society.

   There is a set of disciplines for creating destiny; it has theories and methods, and these theoretical methods are in this book. This book does not have a lot of weight, but it does hold the platform for this aspect. Therefore, if we want to transform our destiny, create our destiny, and even achieve real success in Buddhism, we must rely on the theories and methods in this book as the basis.

In his recent book "The Essentials of Zen Practice", Old Monk Xuyun mentions four conditions that must be fulfilled in order to practise Buddhism.

  First, a strong belief in cause and effect. One must believe deeply in the truth of karma and retribution and not have the slightest doubt about it.

  Secondly, strict adherence to the precepts. The precepts are a great discipline, but for those of us who are new to it, we need not be calculating in terms of the precepts, but just be able to keep the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues. It is good to be able to keep the Five Precepts and Ten Virtues well, not only for those who are at home, but also for those who are monks. In the Ming dynasty, Master Spreading Yi was a master of all religions and teachings, and he wrote a great deal. His student, Venerable Cheng Shih, did not dare to compare himself with his teacher, so he called himself a monastic yucca, that is, he kept the five precepts. So it is good that we can strictly observe the five precepts in our Buddhist studies. The recent Master Hong Yi also strictly observed the five precepts and called himself a monk.

  Thirdly, to have faith. We must not be swayed by evil knowledge and opinions from outside.

  Decide on the path of practice. Of the 84,000 teachings, we should choose which one to practice and never change it easily after deciding on the path.

Only when we have these four conditions can we be considered to have truly studied Buddhism. Therefore, these four conditions can be said to be indispensable for the future propagation of the Dharma and the benefit of life - not only for the propagation of the teachings, but also in the sect. All in all, the old monk has indeed pointed out the direction for the future propagation and evolution of the sect, and this is what we must abide by.

   In the chapter on the Forty Avatamsaka, the King of the Fire of Ganga, it is mentioned that there are six major programmes of practice, which are worthy of our attention. Those were the words of the Buddha at the Avatamsaka session, and no worldly or exotic learning can surpass these six things, which are stated in great detail in the scriptures. King Gandharva was the lord of a kingdom and still made mistakes every day, and he had to take a little time to listen to the scriptures in addition to his political affairs. There were lecture halls in the court, and who was invited to speak? It was always the great sages and brahmins who had great wisdom, or sages who had attained the fruit of the path, and they were invited to speak. The king led his ministers, and lessons were given every day as a matter of routine. The content of the lectures could be summarised into six main categories - what is good? What is evil? What is righteousness? What are the evil laws? What are the laws that are beneficial to us? What are the laws that are harmful to us? These are the six things. They are the six things that enable us to distinguish between good and evil, between good and evil, between right and wrong, and between good and evil. There is no other way to learn, but this is all. The Four Sermons on the Way of Learning are quite correct in this regard.

   The Four Sutras of the Wayfarer is the name of the book, and the "Wayfarer" is the person who wrote it. There are two ways to say that the word "Fan" in "Da Fan" is a word. The first is about a human being, if not a saint like a Buddha, Bodhisattva or Luohan, then an ordinary mortal. The word " 了" means to understand, and it also means to finish. To "understand the mortal" means to understand that it is not enough to be an ordinary person, but to be the highest of all. It means that all the bad thoughts that ordinary people have should be gradually eliminated. Secondly, it refers to the author, Mr. Yuan Zuifan. He was born in Wujiang County, Suzhou Province, Jiangsu Province, and was destined to have no children, live to be fifty-three years old, and become a magistrate. However, his love of doing good deeds and his belief in Buddhism changed his destiny by actively cultivating good fortune and virtue - he was born childless and gained a son, became a high school scholar, was posthumously appointed to the post of Young Secretary of the Shangbao Division, and lived to the age of seventy-four. Because he was such a good man, everyone respected him and called him "Mr. Wayfarer".

   The Four Sermons of Jie Fan are four essays in which Mr Yuan taught his son a lesson, which, as we read them, are certainly not the same as the classics. These four essays, when read from beginning to end, are almost always about our faults, and if we know our faults, we have to change them, and if we don't change them, we cannot enter the Way. So two of these four texts - reforming faults and cultivating goodness - are the focus of the Four Disciplines. The book we have printed has a preface by Venerable Yin Guang, which we can read as a metaphysical (introduction) text.

 如何改变命运？从积善行德开始？究竟有什么道理？真的管用吗？先看看《了凡四训》吧，他会教给你很多道理......。想让命运更好的，要先看看这本书。

                        ----- 诸葛长青

  净空法师：这本书虽然不是佛经，但是要把它当作佛经一样尊重。民国初年，净宗印光大师一生中对这本书极力提倡。他的弘化社，印送这本书约在百万册以上，由此可知，印祖对这部书的重视。不仅如此，而且还不断提倡教我们研究、实行、讲说。

    “诸恶莫作，众善奉行，自净其意，是诸佛教。”这是诸佛的法印。佛法是讲原则、讲道理的。所以佛经有五种人说，除佛之外，其馀弟子、天、仙、化人所说的，只要和佛说的宗旨一样，不违背佛的原则，佛都承认它是佛经。

   我们看看这本书的内容，都是讲“诸恶莫作，众善奉行，自净其意”，等于是佛经。佛是讲理的，并不是只有佛自己说的，才称为佛经。这就是佛教值得人尊敬，值得人赞叹的地方。因此凡是符合佛陀教育的原理、原则，我们都应该看成是经典。尤其是这本书，经过祖师的证明，一再提倡，它是我们学佛的根基；不但是学佛的基础，也是一般人在社会上安身立命的根本。

   创造命运是有一套学问，它是有理论、有方法的，这些理论方法就在这本书中。本书的分量虽然不多，但对于这方面确实掌握住纲领。所以我们想要改造命运、创造命运，乃至学佛真正有所成就，都要依本书的道理方法为基础，可见本书对于我们学佛修行是何等的重要！

近代虚云老和尚在《参禅法要》里面，提到修学佛法必须具备四个条件：

  一、深信因果。对于因果报应的道理，要深深地相信，不能有丝毫的怀疑。

  二、严持戒律。戒律是一门很大的学问，我们初学的人，不必在律学上斤斤计较，能把五戒十善持好就行了。不但是在家同修，就是出家同修，能将五戒十善持好就很好。明朝的澫益大师，通宗通教，著作很多，在律宗里，他也算是一位律宗的大德，但他在戒学里却自称是出家沙弥。他的学生成时法师，不敢跟老师比，就自称出家优婆塞，就是守五戒。所以我们学佛能严守五戒就很好了。近代的弘一大师，也是严持五戒，自称出家优婆塞。

  三、坚具信心。不能被外面邪知邪见所动摇。

  四、决定行门。八万四千法门，我们选择修那一门，决定行门以后，绝不轻易改变。

具备这四个条件，才算是真正学佛。所以，这四个条件，可以说是我们今后弘法利生——不但是弘教，就是在宗门里面，也是不能缺少的。总而言之，老和尚确确实实指出了今后弘宗演教的方向，这是我们必须要遵守的。

   在《四十华严》甘露火王这一章里，提到了修学有六大纲领，这是值得我们注意的。那是佛陀在华严会上所说的，任何世出世间的学问，都超越不了这六桩事，经文里述说得非常详细。甘露火王是一国之主，每天还会犯错，他除了处理政事以外，还要抽一点时间来听经。在宫廷里有讲堂，要请谁来讲呢？总是一些有大智慧的大沙门、婆罗门，或者证了道果的圣人，请他们来演讲。国王率领大臣们，天天都上课，习以为常。所讲的内容，可归纳为六大类——什么是善法？什么是恶法？什么是正法？什么是邪法？那些法与我们有利益？那些法与我们有害？就是这六桩事情。世出世间学问，归纳起来亦不外这六桩事，也就是叫我们能辨别善恶、辨别正邪、辨别是非、认识利害。学问之道无他，如此而已。《了凡四训》在这方面提出了相当正确的看法。

   《了凡四训》是这本书的名字，“了凡”是写这本书的人。了凡的“凡”字，有两种说法。第一是讲到人，如果不是佛、菩萨、罗汉这些圣人，就是一个平常的凡人。“了”是明白，也是完结的意思。“了凡”就是明白做个平凡人是不够的，应该要做最上等的人。就是说凡是平常人所动那些不好的念头，要渐渐消除，所以称作“了凡”。第二、就是指作者袁了凡先生。他是明朝人，原名黄，字坤仪，出生在江苏省苏州府的吴江县，原本命中注定没有孩子、寿五十三岁、官做到县长。但他喜欢做善事，并且信仰佛教，因积极修福积德而改变了命运——无子得子、高中进士、官位追赠到尚宝司少卿、享寿七十四岁。因为他是一个大善人，所以大家都尊重他，称他“了凡”先生。

   《了凡四训》是袁了凡先生教训他儿子的四篇文章，我们读起来，当然与经典不相同。这四篇文章从头到尾细看一遍，几乎都是说我们的毛病，知道毛病就得要改，不改就不能入道。所以这四篇当中的两篇——改过、修善——是《四训》的重点。我们印的这个本子，有印光法师的序文，我们可以把它当作玄义（简介）来读，序文的小注，是尤惜阴居士作的，相当扼要，可以帮助我们理解。

What are the acts of abstaining from killing and releasing

 戒杀与放生的行为包括哪些

 1. Do not kill a living being with your own hands.

　　2. Do not abet others to kill.

　　3. Do not help others to kill.

　　4. Abstain from eating meat.

　　5. Do not engage in trades related to killing.

　　6、Whenever there is worship, regardless of what is being worshipped, use vegetarian dishes, flowers and fruit, not animal gifts.

　　7. If you see someone killing a human being, you should discourage them or buy the animal to be slaughtered with money and release it. If this does not work, or if the person does not sell the animal, then you should have compassion for the slaughtered animal, and even better if you can recite the Buddha's name or mantra for it.

　　8. Do not abuse the animal.

　　9、Other actions that are contrary to killing.

　　10. Abstain from killing and releasing animals yourself, and advise others to do the same. 

   1、不亲手杀生。

　　2、不教唆别人杀生。

　　3、不帮助别人杀生。

　　4、戒除肉食。

　　5、不从事与杀生有关的行业。

　　6、凡有祭拜，不管拜的是什么，一律用素菜、鲜花、水果，不用牲礼。

　　7、见人杀生，应加劝阻，或用钱将临宰之动物买而放之。若劝阻无效，或他不卖，则应对被杀之动物起同情心，若能为它念佛号或往生咒更好。

　　8、不虐待动物。

　　9、其他与杀生行为相反之行为。

　　10、自己戒杀放生，也劝别人戒杀放生。 

(This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

Selected Articles in Previous Periods

Click the article title to view

往期精选文章

点击文章标题查看

1The wisdom of traditional Chinese culture changes the destiny: filial piety to parents+five in one+self-improvement

1 国学智慧改命运：孝敬父母+五合一+自强不息

2Zhuge Changqing's Three Golden Keys to Changing Destiny

2诸葛长青改命运三把金钥匙诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

3Zhuge Changqing's Greeting Ritual (15 Steps Concise Version)

3 诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

4How to repent: the ritual of repentance and the method of repentance (full version)

4   如何忏悔：忏悔仪轨忏悔方法（完整版）

5How to read the Dizang Sutra: Methods for reciting Dizang Sutra (complete version)

5 如何念地藏经：念地藏经仪轨方法（完整版）

6How to release? The ritual of releasing life

6怎样放生？放生仪轨

7Zhuge Changqing's Repentance Culture: A Case Study of Repentance Methods for Changing Destiny

7诸葛长青忏悔文化：改变命运忏悔方法案例

8Free Life Culture: Free Life Culture in Ancient China

8放生文化：中国古代的放生文化

9Shocking photo of feeding: Buddha, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector come to the scene

9施食震撼照片：佛菩萨护法神亲临现场

10Feeding Rite Return: the return is changed to simple return

10施食仪轨回向：回向修改为简洁回向