「知命」與「認命」不同。「認命」是消極的態度， 完全放棄生命的作為；「知命」則是認知萬事萬物有 其因緣，該來的總是會來，順逆皆然。 "Understanding life" is different from merely "accepting life." Accepting life can be pessimistic, a giving up of life. Understanding life is to understand that all things exist through causes and conditions. Whatever is supposed to come, favorable or adverse, it will come. - Master Sheng Yen

 

因緣需要用心把握，假使因緣尚未成熟，不妨再等等 吧！等待加上努力，才能在因緣成熟時好好把握。 Take hold of the workings of causes and conditions; if they are not "ripe," then wait and continue with diligence. When causes and conditions are ripe then they can be put to good use. - Master Sheng Yen

 

事情的成功與否，雖然不去計較，然而一分努力、一 份用心，都是增上緣。 We should not get caught up with success and failure. The diligence and thoughtfulness we put into our work, irrespective of its outcome, can be translated into favorable conditions for our own growth. - Master Sheng Yen

 

能有因緣的認知，便能從憂苦煩惱得到解脫。 Someone who understands causes and conditions can be freed from the bondage of suffering and afflictions. - Master Sheng Yen

 

2 因是主觀的條件，緣是客觀的因素；主觀的條件可以 掌握，客觀的因素則要經營。 A "cause" can be understood as the main factor, our own subjective initiative; "conditions" are objective, auxiliary factors. We can control the "cause" but the "conditions" must be cultivated and fostered. - Master Sheng Yen

 

開花結果是自然現象，開花而不結果也是正常，這就 是因緣。 Flowers blossoming and bearing fruit is a natural phenomenon. Flowers blossoming and not bearing fruit is also natural. Both accord with the workings of causes and conditions. - Master Sheng Yen

 

人人都可助人，真心的讚美人、鼓勵人、安慰人，給 人勉勵、疏導，就是在幫助人。 Everyone has the capacity to help others. We can help others through our sincere appreciation, encouragement, consolation, and guidance. - Master Sheng Yen

 

只要常以眾人的安樂為安樂，以眾生的幸福為幸福， 必然就是一個平安的人了。 We will be a harmonious and peaceful person if we take the peace, joy, and fortunes of others as our own source of joy, peace, and fortune. - Master Sheng Yen

 

心中不存得失想，便是世間無事人。無事不是沒事 做、不做事，而是做事、任事之間，心中沒有罣礙。 If you do not entertain self-referential thoughts of gain and loss, then in Chan you are "one with nothing to do." Nothing to do does not literally mean doing nothing. Rather, it means your mind is unobstructed when you engage in any task. - Master Sheng Yen

 

人生的苦與樂，往往來自心的體驗。若能把人生的苦 樂，當成是增長慈悲心和智慧心的過程，就是大自在 人。 The suffering and joy you feel comes from the mind's perception. If you take all of life's favorable and adverse experiences as a process to develop wisdom and compassion, then that you are free. - Master Sheng Yen

 

心甘情願奉獻自己的所有、所知，利益家人、親友， 乃至一切眾生，成為大眾所需要的人，便是一個「要 人」。 Offering ourselves, our knowledge, and everything to the benefit of our family, friends, and even all sentient being without any reservation or complaint is to be someone who everyone needs—an "important person." - Master Sheng Yen

 

做一天和尚撞一日鐘，在什麼樣的身分、職位和角色 ，就要盡心盡力、盡責盡分，便是把握當下，就是心 靈環保。 One day in a monk’s life is one day of work. No matter who we are or what status and role we play, as long as we are diligent and responsible, taking hold of the precious present moment, then we protect our spiritual environment. - Master Sheng Yen

 

凡事心存感恩，努力當下，把自己當成是承先啟後的 「輸血管」，一方面接受先人的養分，也把自己的養 分往下傳，就是善盡生命之責。 As long as gratitude fills our hearts, and we are diligent, then we can be like a tube for blood transfusion—we receive nourishment from our predecessors and we also transport the nourishment we have to future generations. To do this is to fulfill our duty. - Master Sheng Yen

 

個人生命雖然渺小，只要發揮所能所長，克盡一己之 力，就是扮演了人類歷史承先啟後的角色。 Even though our individual lives are miniscule, as long as we can fully utilize our strengths and develop our capabilities with utmost effort, then we will fulfill our roles of inheriting the past and inspiring the future of civilization. - Master Sheng Yen

 

天生我材必有所用，每個人出生時，就已帶著責任和 價值來到世上。這份「用處」，是對人類歷史負責， 對全體社會盡責。 There is usefulness in the talents we were born with. When each of us is born, we bring to this world our life purpose and capacities. Our "usefulness" is measured by our ability to contribute to humanity in the history of our times and to the whole of society . - Master Sheng Yen

 

人生的價值在於奉獻，在奉獻之中成長，廣結善緣。 The real value of life comes from offering ourselves to others; this is where we grow and form connections with others. - Master Sheng Yen

 

我們希望自己健康、快樂、平安，也希望他人健康、 快樂、平安的這種願心，其中也有自我中心，但與自 私的自我中心不同，乃是利他的菩提心。 We hope to have health, happiness, and harmony for ourselves, and we wish that others may have the same. Self-referentiality exists here, but it is very different from selfishness. Such an attitude of benefitting others is known as Bodhi-mind or bodhichitta. - Master Sheng Yen

 

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

 

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