修行的告诫：丛林里要随众

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古大德都是强调啊，

丛林依众靠众，

只有靠大众的力量，

我们才能够往前进步。

The ancient virtuous ones always emphasized the importance of being collective in monastic communities, as we rely on the strength of the group for progression.

一个人想用功，

除非讲这个人的自觉性很高，

一定是尝到法味，或者在禅上有一定的受用，

他一个人他是不会放逸的，

他就是在房间里面，他也是用功的。

For an individual who wants to practice diligently, he will still let loose when alone unless he possesses a high level of self-awareness, has experienced the taste of the Dharma, or has certain achievements in meditation. 

Even when he is alone in his room, he remains diligent.

所以，我们要是初学的人，

就是最妙的办法就是依众靠众，

“大众熏修稀精进，十地顿超无难事”。

这个我们个人用功，

就算你出家多少年，

他还是要用功的，他也不能离开佛法的，

这个大众的力量呢，

就是让我们会生惭愧心，就对了。

Hence, if we are beginners, 

the best approach is to rely on the group. 

"When the assembly practices together, progress is swift, and ten lands will be easily transcended immediately." 

Even if one has been ordained for many years, one would still need to keep up with diligent practice and should not distance oneself from the Dharma. 

The collective strength of the assembly fosters a sense of shame within us. 

别人能去参学，我不能去，

别人用功用的挺好，我用的不好，

别人学习的挺好，我学习的不好，

Others are able to travel out and learn from virtuous ones while I cannot. 

Others improve in their diligent practice while I do not. 

Others learn quite well while I do not. 

他心里面就是升起惭愧心，

惭愧心属于七圣财之一。

A sense of shame naturally arises within the heart,

and this sense of shame is one of the seven sacred wealths.

所以，我们出家人有没有钞票不重要，

这个信、戒、闻、舍、慧、惭、愧，

这个七圣财多多益善。

我们对三宝啊，对师长啊，对自己呀，

对道场，对道友啊，信心有多少，

这第一个就是信财富啊！

Thus, the possession of monetary wealth is not important to monastics like us. 

Yet for the seven sacred wealths —faith (śraddhā), precepts (śīla), learning (śruta), giving (tyāga), wisdom (prajñā), conscientiousness (hrī), and shame (apatrāpya)—the more, the better.

How much faith we have in the Triple Gem, our teachers, ourselves, 

our monastic community, and our Dharma companions is the foremost, 

it is the wealth of faith.

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