如果能超越個人的利害得失，便會把整體社會、全人 類的利害得失，當成是自己的利害得失。 Transcending individual concerns for gain and loss, you will be able to regard society's and humanity's gain and loss as your own concern. - Master Sheng Yen

 

超越了自私自利、利害得失的自我中心，就能讓心胸 開闊、包容心增加，得失心也就減少了。 If you can transcend selfish and self-serving attitudes, along with thoughts of your own gain and loss, then your heart will truly be open and receptive. Concerns for your own gain and loss will also decrease. - Master Sheng Yen

 

自我中心原是一種生命的動力，不見得是壞事，但是 如果自我中心太強，經常自以為是、貪得無厭、傲慢 或自卑，自己是快樂不起來的。 Self-centeredness is a fundamental factor for survival; from this perspective, it is not necessarily bad. However, if a person's self-centeredness is too strong, always feeling that one is right, with an insatiable desire for gain, or feeling arrogant or self-disparaged, then it will be very difficult to be happy. - Master Sheng Yen

 

衝突的產生，往往是因為過度強調自我中心。 Conflicts usually come from an over-assertion of personal views. - Master Sheng Yen

 

人之所以自私自利，貪得無厭，是因為缺乏安全感。 Those who are selfish, self-serving, and insatiable act this way due to feelings of insecurity. - Master Sheng Yen

 

自私自利，看起來是保障了自己，其實不然，損人者 終將害己。 Being selfish and self-serving may seem to be a way to protect yourself, but this is not so. One who is selfserving actually harms others and ultimately, himself. - Master Sheng Yen

 

人的一生之中，如果能有一個明確的價值觀並且堅定 不變，則生命過程中的每個階段，都將是相乘相加的 人生饗宴。 If you uphold clear principles of life’s values and abide by them without being swayed, then as you pass through each stage of life, all experiences will add to the feast of your life. - Master Sheng Yen

 

每個人的條件不同、智慧不同、環境不同、體能不 同、背景也不同，不必相提並論；只要腳踏實地，步 步穩健，就能走出一條路來。 Each individual has his or her own disposition, wisdom, environment, physical makeup, and background. There is no need to compare. As long as the individual is solid, taking each step in life with certitude and stability, then he or she will be able to make something out of life. - Master Sheng Yen

 

肯定自我而對自己的優缺點不執著，不因此驕傲、懊 悔，而持續不斷地精進努力，便是一種無我的態度。 To affirm yourself and not attach to strengths or weaknesses—to not become arrogant or regretful—and still be diligent in all endeavors is an attitude of selflessness. - Master Sheng Yen

 

清楚知道自己的優缺點，瞭解生存與生命的意義，是 肯定自我的開始。 To clearly know your strengths and weaknesses, observe the meaning of life and existence. This is the beginning of self affirmation. - Master Sheng Yen

 

人往往會隱藏自己的缺點，不大願意去面對或承認； 若能坦然面對自己的缺點，缺點就會愈來愈少，問題 也會愈來愈小。 People usually hide their shortcomings and avoid confronting them. Face them with openness, and then these shortcomings and other problems will actually decrease. - Master Sheng Yen

 

通常人都喜歡彰顯自己的優點，優點要發揮、要成長 ，不必誇張。 Ordinarily people like to boast about their strengths. Our strengths should be developed, but there is no need to exaggerate them. - Master Sheng Yen

 

不跟自己比，不跟他人比，只知努力於現在，隨時準 備著未來。 Do not compare yourself against some standard; do not compare yourself with others. Just be diligent in the present and be prepared at any time for the future. - Master Sheng Yen

 

不要自以為是，也不必小看自己。 Do not think you know it all; do not belittle yourself. - Master Sheng Yen

 

能夠與自我和諧相處，就能夠深切地瞭解自我，包括 自我的優點和缺點。 Harmonizing yourself first to deeply understand the processes of the self, including your merits and weaknesses. - Master Sheng Yen

 

放鬆身心、體驗身心，才能夠與自我和平相處。 Relax and experience body and mind, then you will be in harmony with yourself. - Master Sheng Yen

 

要和外在環境和諧相處，首先要跟內在的自我和平相 處。 If you want to harmonize with the environment, first harmonize yourself. - Master Sheng Yen

 

處理問題要心平氣和，心不平、氣不和，則容易說錯 話，讓問題更複雜。 We have to respond to problems with calm. If our minds are not equanimous and harmonious, then we will likely say the wrong things and make the situation worse. - Master Sheng Yen

 

反對、阻撓的聲音並不可怕，能夠面對、包容，反而 是幫助自己成長的一種助力。 No need to fear the sound of opposition or obstacles. If we can face and accept them then these conditions become a force to help us to grow. - Master Sheng Yen

 

無論忙碌與否，獨處或群居，內心經常保持著安定、 祥和、清明，就是修禪，便是落實心靈環保。 The Chan practice of inner environmental protection is to maintain stability, harmony, clarity, whether we are busy or not, alone or with others. - Master Sheng Yen

 

不論外在環境如何改變，只要內心安穩、冷靜面對， 一定能找到解決問題的辦法。 It does not matter how much the environment changes, as long as we face it with calm and composure, we will certainly find a solution. - Master Sheng Yen

 

只要有一口呼吸在，心念一轉，環境就會跟著轉變， 因為環境是無常的。 As long as we have one breath left, when we alter our thinking the environment will change along with it, because the environment is impermanent. - Master Sheng Yen

 

多想兩分鐘，還有許多活路可走；只要還有一口呼吸 在，就有無限的希望。 Ponder for two more minutes, and opportunities may reveal themselves; as long as we have one more breath, our potential is unlimited. - Master Sheng Yen

 

如果觀念正確，知道生老病死都是自然現象，就不會 怨天尤人。 If our views are correct, then we know that birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural and we will not blame others. - Master Sheng Yen

 

這個世界隨時可能發生災難，平時做好預防工作和心 理準備，就能在災難發生時，把傷害減到最低。 The world can face great danger and calamity at any time. If we are mentally prepared for anything, then when misfortune strikes we reduce the potential injury to the bare minimum. - Master Sheng Yen