活佛恩師慈訓： Compassionate Teachings of Our Gracious Master, the Living Buddha: 【 佛堂的尊貴，在於有天命 】 The Dignity of a Holy Temple Lies in Having the Heavenly Mandate. 求道之人當知，佛堂的尊貴，在於有「天命」——上帝之命。這是佛堂與其他場地截然不同之處，故有諸天仙佛來護法。 Those who seek the Tao should know that the dignity of a Holy Temple lies in having the “Heavenly Mandate”—the mandate of God. This is what makes a Holy Temple completely different from other places; therefore, immortals and Buddhas from all heavens come to protect the Dharma. 有天命，才能辦道、才能求道，才能傳自古不輕傳的「正法」——回天之路、成佛之法，才能傳真理的福音。 Only with the Heavenly Mandate can one propagate the Tao, receive the Tao, and transmit the “True Dharma” that since ancient times has not been lightly transmitted—the path back to Heaven and the method of attaining Buddhahood. Only then can one spread the gospel of truth. 若非天時道運成熟，世間只有「教」，沒「道」。若非「天命」降世，人類絕無法求得真理大道，頂多只是一位虔誠的宗教徒，依著數千年傳承的文化習俗與經典文字而學。因未真正找到真理、未求得「如來正法」，也只能依信仰所教而行。 If the heavenly timing and Tao destiny were not ripe, the world would have only “religions,” not the “Tao.” If the “Heavenly Mandate” had not descended into the world, humanity could never obtain the great Tao of truth. At most, one would only be a devout religious follower, learning according to cultural customs and scriptural texts passed down for thousands of years. Because one had not truly found the truth or obtained the “Tathagata’s True Dharma,” one could only practice according to what one’s faith teaches. 古云：山不在高，有仙則名；水不在深，有龍則靈。 The ancients said: A mountain need not be high; if an immortal dwells there, it is renowned. Water need not be deep; if a dragon dwells there, it is numinous. 普陀山不過一座小島，因曾是觀音菩薩道場而聞名。道場中許多佛堂皆為家庭式佛堂，雖不大，卻是修道人明理發心後，將自家捨出作為佛堂，方便大家辦道、聽課。佛堂雖小，因有「天命」，故顯其尊貴。 Mount Putuo is merely a small island, yet it is famous because it was once the sacred site of Bodhisattva Guanyin. Many Holy Temples in Tao grounds are family-style Holy Temples. Though not large, they are homes that cultivators, after understanding the principles and forming aspirations, have offered as Holy Temples, making it convenient for everyone to propagate the Tao and listen to lectures. Though the Holy Temple is small, because it has the “Heavenly Mandate,” its dignity is revealed. 場地不比他處大，更遑論佛像大小。但這一切皆是表象。形象的大小終究是表面，並非真理內涵。若沒有「天命」，再大也只是形相，與真理無關，只能傳教「教法」，無法傳道「心法」。而世人往往執著表面，以為場地越大越舒適、雕像越大越有存在感、人越多越真實——此或許正是人的無知與膚淺之處。 The venue is no larger than other places, let alone the size of the Buddha statues. But all of this is appearance. The size of forms is ultimately superficial; it is not the inner meaning of truth. If there is no “Heavenly Mandate,” no matter how large it is, it is only a form, unrelated to truth. It can only transmit religious “teachings”; it cannot transmit the Tao’s “mind Dharma.” Yet worldly people often cling to surfaces, thinking that the larger the venue, the more comfortable; the larger the statue, the greater its sense of presence; the more people, the more real it is—perhaps this is precisely where human ignorance and superficiality lie. 天命降臨顯尊貴，仙佛護法道場開。 形相大小皆虛幻，真理心法永常在。 When the Heavenly Mandate descends, dignity is revealed; Immortals and Buddhas protect the Dharma, and the Tao ground opens. Forms and sizes are all illusory; The truth and mind Dharma forever abide. 山不在高有仙名，水不在深有龍靈。 佛堂雖小天命至，光明普照萬人心。 A mountain need not be high; with an immortal, it is renowned. Water need not be deep; with a dragon, it is numinous. Though the Holy Temple is small, when the Heavenly Mandate arrives, Its light shines universally upon the hearts of all. 若無天命空傳教，有道方能返本真。 修辦至誠同歸路，大道尊崇理天親。 Without the Heavenly Mandate, one only transmits religion in vain; Only with the Tao can one return to the original truth. Cultivating and propagating with utmost sincerity, all return on the same path; The great Tao is revered, and the Heaven of Principle is near.