傅親安居士2025年8月11日晚間講於萬佛聖城萬佛殿

Good evening all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Good and Wise Advisors, Sangha, Dharma Protectors, and Laity. Tonight is Aaron Friedman’s turn to talk. That’s Chin An as Dharma name, which means peace. May it prevail in the world, as it is needed more than ever. The title of my talk is “It is a long journey”. I will start you with a question, “What does it mean to be a young, Caucasian, American, male, volunteer in the 21st century?”
 
諸佛菩薩、善知識、僧團、護法和各位居士，大家晚安。今晚輪到Aaron Friedman講法。我的法名叫「親安」，安就是「平安」的意思。我也希望這個世界可以得到平安，因為這是我們當今世界最需要的。我今晚的題目叫：長途旅程。開始前我有一個問題：在廿一世紀，做一個年輕的美國男性白人義工意味著什麼？

My ten-year milestone at CTTB is August 24, 2025. Around just two weeks away. So for tonight’s Dharma talk I wanted to give some basic advice based on my past time here at CTTB as well as a pitcher of that good Dharma Gatorade as it is around 100 degrees Fahrenheit today.

8月24號就是我在聖城十週年的一個里程碑。和現在就剩下兩周了。所以今晚的結法缘，我想結合自己在聖城這些年的經歷，給大家一些基本的建議，同時也奉上一壺清涼的「佛法佳得樂」，因為今天的氣溫大約有華氏100度。（註：佳得樂為運動飲料。） 

Yes I admit, it’s ordinary advice. If you pay attention you might find something you did not know. But if you know a lot you might find many things I did not know. So feel free to share at any point during the speech as well as correct any mistakes I make. Here are some of the topics I would like to cover at CTTB. Relationships, fourfold assembly, culture, Dharma, precepts, and more. The theme is not to give up. 

我承認，這些都是很普通的建議。如果你用心聽，也可能會發現一些你不知道的事情。但如果你已經知道很多，也許會發現很多我不知道的地方。所以，在我講話的過程中，請隨時分享你的想法，也歡迎指正我的錯誤。以下是我想談在聖城生活的主題：人際關係、四眾弟子、文化、佛法、戒律等等。主題就是——不要放棄。
 
Let me start by saying life can be filled with all kinds of relationships. At CTTB it is no different. You have long-term relationships as well as short-term relationships. You can also have good and bad relationships, right and wrong relationships, positive and negative relationships. It is important to be realistic about your relationships and to recognize you will encounter relationships that challenge you in ways and have to learn to adapt.

首先我要說，人生中充滿了各種各樣的人際關係，在萬佛聖城也一樣。這裏有長期的人際關係，也有短期的人際關係；有好的關係，也有不好的關係；有正確的關係，也有錯誤的關係；有積極的關係，也有消極的關係。重要的是，對這些人際關係要保持實在的態度，並且意識到，你會遇到在各方面挑戰你的關係，這時你要學會適應與調整。
 
Often this can be after the fact as we cannot always predict what is going to happen to us or what things are going to be like. You are living with or around many people and may be affected by them in surprising and unusual ways or ordinary and boring ways. It really depends on the person you have with you.

這種情況往往是在事後才會明白，因為我們無法預測會遇到什麼事，也不知道事情如何發展。當你與許多人同住或在他們周圍時，就可能會以意想不到、不尋常的方式被他們影響，也有可能就只是以平淡無奇的方式影響。這其實取決於你身邊的這個人是誰。

You also have a long-term relationship with the group as well as smaller groups that you have to struggle with and succeed with. You may encounter personal difficulty or achievement and may even be critical or praising of how things go. But don’t be taken for a loop, some behaviors that may affect you a little on the outside, over the long run, do add up, so it is important to ask for help and insulate yourself at CTTB with people you trust who are also wise. That starts and ends with Shr Fu. As he is clearly the highest source of wisdom and compassion in the community.

在這裏，你會和大團體建立長期的關係，也會與一些較小的群體建立關係。在這些關係中，也會經歷些磨練，才能獲得成就。在這裏，你可能會遇到個人的挑戰，也會取得個人的成就，有時也免不了，可能對待種種事情自己的批評或稱讚的看法。但也不要被事情繞暈了，有些行為雖然在表面上對你的影響似乎很小，但長遠來看卻會積累起來。所以，重要的是要學會尋求幫助，在萬佛聖城中與那些值得信任、和有智慧的人建立溝通。這一切的開始與結束，都在於師父上人，因為他是聖城中智慧與慈悲的最高的源泉。

Short-term relationships are temporary but can be intense once and a while. Keeping it at a mellow pace and setting healthy boundaries are always a good idea. However, it can be tricky to know what a boundary is in another culture in certain circumstances. Overall, do not be afraid to monitor your relationships so you can improve them and learn from them.

短期的人際關係雖然是暫時的，但有時也可能會非常強烈。保持平和的節奏、設定健康的界限，應該是一個明智的做法。但有時，如何在另一種文化背景中判斷什麼是合適的界限，並不是很容易。總的來說，不要害怕去檢視自己的人際關係，這樣你才能改善它們，也能從中學習。

What does that mean to keep up with your relationships? When you do house keeping you are cleaning up your house and preventing new stuff from arising. When you monitor you can imagine bad elements to relationships going down as well as good elements improving over time and working toward this. In other words, maintain your relationships like you would a clean environment.

「維持人際關係」是什麼意思呢？就像你打掃房子一樣，你在清理屋子裏的雜物時，會
防止增添新雜物。當你去觀察人際關係時，可以想像，把影響關係不好的因素減少，好的因素會隨著時間而增加，就朝著這個方向去努力。換句話說，就是要像維持一個乾淨的環境一樣，去維護你的人際關係。 

It is important to remember that this Way-place tries to be a very friendly Way-place for all, but not everyone who steps on the property is friendly. They can be mean. They can be nice. So just keep an eye out for yourself and ask elders and friends for help.

要記住，這個道場努力為所有人營造一個非常友善的環境，但並不是每一位踏進這裏的人都是友善的。他們可能很刻薄，也可能很和善。所以，要留意保護自己，並向長輩和朋友尋求幫助。

I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams encountering a master like Shr Fu, even after he had left the world, based on my childhood. We simply do not have men like that in the Western world. At least not that I know of. It’s really inspiring to come and be a small part of Shr Fu’s vision, as well as my own part to it, as I feel everyone contributes in some way, and participates in it too.

可以說我連做夢也想不到，能認識像上人這樣的師父，即使上人的色身已經離世，這樣的相遇仍超乎我童年的想像。在西方世界，我們根本就沒有像上人這樣的人物存在。至少據我所知是沒有的。能夠來到這裏，成為師父大願景中的一小部分，是非常鼓舞人的。我覺得每個人也都以某種方式在師父的願景中，貢獻著自己的力量。 

I believe and see him as a really good example of what a master is. I also admire his wisdom and face (prestige), and hope he comes back in a Western form because I am Western and also think that would be a great contrast. But who knows?

我把上人看成是作為「師父」的一個非常好的典範。非常敬仰他的智慧和聲望。也希望
他能以西方人的形象再來，因為我自己是西方人，而且覺得那會是一個很有趣的對比。但誰又能說得準呢？

I just feel very taken care of and looked after by the master, and greatly trust in his instincts and compassion to make sure I do not get into too much trouble, be it with myself or others.

我覺得我在聖城，是得到上人的關照和看護的。我非常信任他的直覺和慈悲，相信他會確保我不會陷入太多麻煩，無論是對自己還是對他人。

Encountering monks for the first time was very ordinary and extraordinary. I am very happy to see people who dedicated their lives toward doing good and Dharma, and really uphold that well. I figure in the long run there will be many monks at CTTB, so it is a blessing to see 15 or 20 regularly and be able to understand them, at my level, as a group. I also like seeing their individual differences as well as harmony and really like interacting with them. The monks are good examples.

我第一次遇見僧人，感覺既平常又覺得很不凡。我很高興看到有人將自己的一生奉獻給行善和佛法，並且真正切身實踐這種精神。我想從長遠來看， 萬佛聖城會有很多僧人，所以現在每日能夠見到十五到二十位男眾法師，並且能在我的層面上理解僧團，是一種福氣。我喜歡看到法師們彼此的不同與集體的和諧共處，也很喜歡與他們的互動。男眾法師
都是很好的榜樣。

Encountering nuns at CTTB is really incredible! There are so many of them. How many are there? Who knows? Maybe 50 or more. And they all do a great job with the Dharma as well as with each other. In the long run out-back (CTTB’s east campus), we are going to have many nuns, so it is a privilege being able to see them all at CTTB where they are now. They are very respectful. The nuns are good examples.

在萬佛聖城見到女眾法師真是令人難以置信！比丘尼人數眾多。究竟有多少呢？我也不確定，可能有五十或更多吧。比丘尼法師們不僅在佛法上表現非常出色，而且彼此也相處得很好。從長遠來看，我想未來在萬佛聖城東區妙覺佛教學院，會有更多的比丘尼法師，所以現在在 萬佛聖城裏每天能看到見女眾法師，也真是一種殊勝的福分。女眾法師們的態度都非常恭敬，也都是很好的榜樣。

The laymen tend do to do a great job with limited man power. As a whole, I feel they are very hardworking. I reflect that I myself admire and look up to the lay people and really wonder how I got to be one, given how inspiring they can be. I have had my share of individual differences or difficulties with some but that is expected in any community.

男居士總是能在人手有限的情況下把事情做得很好。我感覺整體而言，他們都是做工很勤勞的。我反思自己，內心十分欽佩和敬重這些居士，也真心好奇自己是如何成為其中一員的，因為他們實在令人鼓舞。我也曾與其中一些人有過個別的分歧或困難，但這在任何團體中都是正常的。

We cannot be perfect with everyone. Even the Buddha has an arch enemy, so don’t judge yourself too hard. Basically, in Buddhism, we do not cook eggs, nor do we walk on their shells. Stay positive!

我們不可能與所有人都完美相處。即使佛陀也有他的宿敵，所以不要對自己要求過於苛刻。基本上，在佛教裏，我們既不煮蛋，也不會像走在蛋殼上那樣小心翼翼、擔驚受怕。所以要保持積極的心態！

The laywomen are a great group and I wish them the best! I never could have imagined anyone from my younger years growing up and going to CTTB and becoming a laywoman. Then again, I find it hard to believe that I was able to find a truly special community like CTTB in a jungle of Western American knowledge and insight that I grew up with. 

女居士們是一個很棒的群體，我衷心祝福他們！我從未敢想過在我年輕成長的歲月中，竟會有人來到萬佛聖城，發願在這裏作一名女居士。話說回來，我也很難相信，在我成長過程中所接觸的西方美國的知識與見解的叢林裏，我竟然找到了像萬佛聖城這樣真正特別的（修行）團體。

You’ve got to find the precious pearl of Dharma and then you get to go for it! It feels good to have a fourfold assembly that does its best to maintain harmony and conduct during our time here. We are sometimes not always spot on, but it does not mean we cannot try our best.

你得找到佛法的那顆寶珠，然後全力去追求它！在聖城裏，看到四眾弟子努力維護和諧與戒律，這種道場的氛圍讓人感到欣慰。雖然有時我們沒辦法把事情一下子做到完美，但這並不意味著我們不能盡力去做。

Asian culture is a very new experience. When Shr Fu first came to America, I was told there were more Americans than Asians. I bet it was pizza, burgers, and hot dogs every day! No just kidding, did you catch that exclamation mark. Where did all my stress go? It’s truly a blessing to see Asian culture in such a close and welcoming environment, and continually learn and realize how little I know, as well as how much wonder there is to know in Dharma.

亞洲文化對我來說是全新的體驗。師父剛來美國時，我聽說那時（上人弟子當中）美國人比亞洲人多得多。我敢打賭，那時候每天都是披薩、漢堡和熱狗！開個玩笑，（你注意到那個驚嘆號了嗎？我的所有壓力都去哪兒了呢？）能夠在這樣一個親近而溫馨的環境中接觸亞洲文化，真是一種福氣。我也不斷地學習，意識到自己知道的其實很少，而佛法中還有無盡的妙法值得去學習。

I look forward to the good and wise aspects of Asian culture spreading alongside the Dharma throughout America and the West, consciously leaving behind harmful or negative elements, and continuing this work in partnership with Westerners, as we do now.

我期待亞洲文化中，那些優秀和智慧的方面，能夠和佛法一起在美國和西方世界傳播開來。同時，我們應該捨棄其中有害或負面的成分，就像我們聖城所做的一樣，繼續和西方人合作，共同推動這個事業。

It feels really good to be an American in America practicing and focusing single-mindedly on the Buddhist way of life and spiritual goal of ending birth and death. We Americans have a long way to go in Dharma, but it is ever so important to be upbeat and optimistic about everything going on and keep a positive attitude. The USA landscape is wide open and we are really going to get to see everything happen in a wonderful way.

身為美國人，能夠在美國本土專心致志地修行，以了生脫死為目的，以佛教生活理念修行是件非常好的事情。我們美國人在佛法上還有很長的路要走。但現在對我們來講，對佛法保持一個積極向上樂觀的態度，也是至關重要的。美國的格局寬廣，我們也真將見證將來會變得更加美好。

I truly believe there will be a day when all races and all types of people will follow the Buddhist fFaith and peace will prevail on earth. My own experience is with a substantial amount of predominantly Asian and American Buddhists, as well as smaller amounts of different cultures. 

我真心相信將來有一天，所有種族、各類人群都能遵循佛教的信仰，那時和平也將普及世界。我個人覺得這會以亞洲和美國大批佛教徒為主的，也有少量來自其他文化背景的人們。

 But CTTB is truly at heart a melting pot and needs to include and strive to include every culture and race and quality and type of person to really let the lotus of Dharma blossom throughout the world.

但是萬佛聖城的核心本質，確實是一個大熔爐，它需要包容，並努力容納每一種文化、種族、不同品質和類型的人，才能讓佛法的蓮花真正在世界各地綻放。

Dharma has been very stimulating and intriguing to listen to and read over the years. As a friendly lecture participant I’ve learned a lot from Shr Fu, not just in his Dharma, but the personality he has penetrated my limited comprehension. There are so many original ideas in Dharma and unusual perspectives and stories. 

這麼多年，對我來說，佛法一直是引人入勝令我不斷聞思修的課題。作為一個友好的聽經參與者，我從師父那裏學到了很多，不僅是他的佛法教誨，還有師父的人格，穿透了我個人有限的理解。佛法中也蘊含著許多原創思想、許多不同的視角和故事。

 You have to be a really good story teller to keep up with everything going on in the world. I feel one day, Dharma Masters will even be able to speak like Shr Fu does in real life. But maybe that is just a dream, that is just a dream.

要跟上這個世界上發生的一切，你必須是一位非常出色的說故事者。我覺得總有一天，法師們也都能像師父住世時那樣，在現實生活中講法。不過也許這只是個夢想。
 
Precepts are one of the hardest parts. The five precepts are something you have a cultural background for, but you really have to remember not to do them. The lying goes into four types of false speech. Jeez man, take it easy. I mean precepts and good behavior are ultimately necessary.

戒律是最難堅持的部分之一。五戒雖然有文化背景的支持，但真正重要的是牢記不去犯戒。比如「妄語」就包含四種不同類型的妄語。哎呀，但也可以放輕鬆點。我的意思是，諸惡莫做，眾善奉行，最終是必要的。

Recently, I took the Bodhisattva precepts in 2024. And I am dearly struggling with them. I don’t recite the precepts right. I forget the precepts. I don’t get them. I break them unintentionally. But I still have faith. I still have hope. I still believe. And, most necessarily, I always repent. And some are very geared toward the old days, some are more timeless.

最近，我在2024年受持了菩薩戒，但在修持上遇到了很大的困難。我誦戒時會出錯，也會忘記某條戒律，對於一些戒律也不太懂。有時還會不自覺地犯戒。但我依然有信心，有希望，也依然堅信佛法的力量。而且，最重要的是，我總是誠心懺悔。我發現在菩薩戒裏，有些戒似乎更適合古代的情況，有些戒則不受時代限制，歷久不衰。

 It’s a long-term journey and I am glad I found them and am learning to relax with them instead of being so strict too soon. May all beings be free from suffering and relax in their precepts when too tight, and tighten when too relaxed!

這是一段長期的修行旅程，我很慶幸自己受了戒，並且正在學習如何以放鬆的心態去對待它們，而不是一開始就對自己要求過於嚴格。在受戒方面，願一切眾生遠離痛苦，在發現自己被戒律綁住時能放鬆，戒律鬆懈時能及時收緊！

It takes a while to figure out the supplies and clothing you need, and this may be an ongoing journey for everyone. I have had to redo my room a few times, and found I needed different supplies. You luckily have Amazon (online retailer) to help you get things. Or you have to have a car and go shopping downtown. Or, something else! Such as getting items from the temple.

要弄清楚自己需要的物資和衣物，需要花費一段時間，這對每個人來說可能都是一個持續的過程。我自己也曾多次必須重新整理房間，發現需要不同的物品。幸運的是，你可以通過亞馬遜網站購買所需物品，或者開車到市中心去購物，又或者有其他方式，比如從道場裏領取用品。
 
It’s also not obvious where everything is, so it’s helpful to ask. Just do not ask me, because I do not know or have a clue, even though I am supposed to. As wellAlso, it gets really hot in summer and really cold in winter. So you need to have a good sleeping bag as well as a fan. You could even have an air purifier to help with allergies. Although I admit, I did not have any of these the first number of years I was here. So do and get what you want to, not what Chin An tells you to.
 
但東西到底在哪裡也不是很清楚，所以找人問一下會有幫助。不要問我，因為我也不知道，也沒有頭緒，就算我是應該知道的。在聖城，夏天這裏很熱，冬天又非常冷，所以
你需要準備一個好的睡袋和風扇。你還可以準備一個空氣淨化器來幫助緩解過敏。其實我自己在聖城最初幾年，也都沒有這些東西。所以，你想要什麼就可以去買什麼，不必聽親安的話。

I am still learning about honor and respect. And I really appreciate when they are shown. Is it possible to ever understand the nuances of honor and respect if you do not grow up and in an honor-based culture? If one is not chasing honor, what does it matter? Just do not be attached.
關於什麼是尊重和榮譽感，我還在學習中，也非常感激別人給予的尊重。如果一個人不是在以「榮譽感」為核心的文化中成長，是否可能真正理解“尊重”和“榮譽”其中的細微差別呢？如果一個人自己也不追求什麼榮耀，那又有什麼關係呢？所以關鍵是不要執著於它。

If one offends someone who has a lot of honor and runs into trouble both can still learn to see a lighter perspective. I needed more cartoons and books and honor in my childhood at school to help. I sense I have a chance!

如果一個人冒犯了一個很有聲望的人，兩人都遇到了麻煩！其實還是可以學著用輕鬆點的態度來解決這個問題。我小時候，在學校時，是需要看許多漫畫、許多書籍和榮譽感來幫助我。但現在來看，我感覺自己有機會能處理這個問題了！

 Lastly, shame and remorse are a very important part of life. So is repentance. Although I struggle to repent verbally inside when I go to the Great Compassion Repentance ceremony, I still cherish the chance to be able to do so and am working on having an open heart with Guan Yin Bodhisattva.

最後，慚和愧是生命中非常重要的一部分，懺悔也同樣如此。雖然每當參加〈大悲懺〉時，我在內心用語言懺悔時會感到困難，但我仍然珍惜有這樣機會，並且正在努力以一顆開放的心來接近觀音菩薩。
 
Thank you, I will take my chances with her. And any other Bodhisattva or Buddha I can manage to convince to accept my repentance! Just kidding, you can repent to everybody in the Buddha hall and they will heal you. You just have to have faith and believe it! As for shame and remorse, it is a long journey getting in touch with shame and how I feel about it inside. It is dull and sweet, it is sharp and tangy, it is spicy and happy? Who knows?

感謝大家，我會抓住向觀世音菩薩懺悔的機會。當然，如果能說服其他菩薩或佛陀接受我的懺悔，那就更好了！只是開個玩笑，其實你可以向大殿裏的每一人懺悔，他們都會幫助你療癒。你只需要有信心，相信這一點！關於慚和愧，這是一段漫長的旅程，感觸自己內心的懺悔，它有時沉悶又甘甜，有時尖銳又刺鼻，甚至有時辛辣又帶著快樂？誰知道呢？

I hope you have had a lovely talk and would like to thank everyone for taking the time to listen. Also, I would like to thank Will for being a very great translator, and my mom and dad for being my secret ingredient for helping me to fulfill my dream of cultivating the Dharma under Shr Fu.

希望今晚的結法緣讓大家愉快，感謝每一位抽時間聆聽。同時，也要感謝劉親法出色的翻譯。還要感謝我的父母，他們是我追隨師父上人修行道路上的秘密法寶，幫助我實現夢想。

Make the Dharma your own. Do not be afraid to come up here and make a mistake. That’s why we have forgiveness and repentance ceremonies regularly. Even if you’ve made a mistake, it might not be as bad as you think. I wonder if one day there will be Dharma Masters speaking for an hour.

讓佛法成為你自己的法寶。不要害怕上臺出錯，這正是我們固定舉行拜懺法會的原因。即使你犯了錯，或許也沒你想的那麼糟糕。我在想，不知哪一天，法師們能講上一個小時的法。