天堂地獄由心造，成佛作祖心外無。 Heaven and hell are both in one's mind, there is no attaining Buddhahood outside of one's mind. - Master Sheng Yen

 

危機化為轉機時，絕路走出活路人。 Turn a crisis into an opportunity, turn a dead end into a new path. - Master Sheng Yen

 

雨露霜雪本無主，風雲雷電應時現。 As soon as thunder and lightning begin, one can expect a rain storm to follow. This is the workings of causes and conditions - Master Sheng Yen

 

戲外看戲忘了戲，夢中作夢不知夢。 Those watching a play often forget it is only a play, those dreaming often forget they are in a dream. - Master Sheng Yen

 

夕陽西下明天見，旭日東昇近黃昏。 When the sun sets, remember that it will rise again tomorrow; when the sun rises, remember that the sunset is not far behind. - Master Sheng Yen

 

世間本無垢與淨，祇緣自起分別心。 The difference between "pure" and "impure" only exists in a discriminating mind. - Master Sheng Yen

 

雲門日日是好日，行腳步步履芳草。 For a Buddhist, every day is a good day, everywhere is a good place. - Master Sheng Yen

 

水深千丈終見底，山高萬里海中昇。 Even the deepest ocean is not bottomless, even the tallest mountain has a base, everything great starts small. - Master Sheng Yen

 

教育為千秋大業，賢能乃百代楷模。 Education is an undertaking that will have impact for a thousand years, morality is a lodestar that will shine for a hundred generations. - Master Sheng Yen

 

青山綠水廣長舌，鳥語花香說妙法。 The green mountains and bubbling streams, the chirping birds and fragrant flowers -- everything around you can be an eloquent Dharma teacher if you know where to look - Master Sheng Yen

 

天上人間樂與苦，自心造作自身受。 Happiness and suffering are both created by one's own mind.- Master Sheng Yen

 

河山猶在，景物遷移；日月長運，人事全非。 As time goes by, one sees that nothing escapes the law of impermanence. - Master Sheng Yen

 

駕行般若船苦海普渡，常登涅槃山心性不動。 Command the ship of prajna, wisdom, and help those on the sea of suffering; climb the mountain of nirvana and keep one's mind unperturbed. - Master Sheng Yen

 

倚般若杵碎萬千障礙，運福德斧建人間淨土。 Wisdom will help us overcome all obstacles, virtues will help us build a pure land on earth - Master Aheng Yen

 

漫漫長夜無夢春宵短，茫茫苦海有船彼岸近。 The dark and long nights are easy to pass with dreamless sleep, the other shore across the sea of suffering is easy to reach with the Dharma as your boat. - Master Sheng Yen

 

學問的領域重在研究，經驗的範疇則為實踐。 Research is key to scholarly pursuits; practice is key to genuine experience. - Master Sheng Yen

 

莫怨孝子賢孫何其少，但問養育兒女怎麼教。 Ask not why one has so few good sons and filial grandsons, ask how one has brought up one's offsprings.- Master Sheng Yen

 

天不錯地不錯是心錯，他有理你有理我沒理。 When you are tempted to blame the enviroment, first look inward at your mind; when you are tempted to fault others, first reflect upon yourself. - Master Sheng Yen

 

誘以名利權位不動心，陷於千軍萬馬無所懼。 When one is not tempted by money, power and fame, one has nothing to fear even when facing an army. - Master Sheng Yen

 

權勢財富屬社會共享，禍福苦樂乃各人因緣。 Share your power and wealth with all,but treat your joys and suffering as causes and conditions of your own. - Master Sheng Yen

 

路遇懸崖峭壁走過去，巧過人間仙境莫逗留。 Don't be deterred by life's trials and tribulations, don't be corrupted by worldly pleasures and indulgence. - Master Sheng Yen

 

遇事正面解讀逆向思考，成事確立方向鍥而不捨。 Interprete everything positively, consider everything from a different angle, and do not falter in pursuing one's goals. - Master Sheng Yen

 

放下不等放棄，是為脫困，是為提起；要能放下才能提起， 提放自如是自在人。 Letting go is not giving up, rather it helps one take on new challenges. One cannot take on anything without first letting go. One who can take on and let go of anything in peace is truly free. - Master Sheng Yen

 

一鉢乞食千家飯，孤僧杖竹萬里遊；隨緣應化莫擁有，緣畢 放身撒兩手。 Carrying a bowl filled with alms from a thousand households, I am a lone monk with a bamboo cane who has travelled ten thousand miles; knowing that all comes and goes according to causes and conditions, when causes and conditions dissipate I let go of what's in hand. - Master Sheng Yen

 

朝山禮拜來修行，祈福消災願易成；口唱耳聽心恭敬，三步 一拜向前行；身心舒暢好感應，業消障除福慧增。 Go on a pilgrimage to improve your practice, prayers will be answered and vows will be fulfilled; be respectful, listen intently and sing wholeheartedly, prostrate yourself after every three steps; your body and mind will feel refreshed, karmic obstructions will be removed while blessings and wisdom increase. - Master Sheng Yen