| 弟子規 Standards for Students Di Zi Gui (Standards for Being a Good Student and Child) 翻譯1： 法界佛教總會（DRBA/BTTS/DRBU） 翻譯 翻譯2： 澳洲淨宗學院 翻譯 |
| 前言（Foreword） The Standards for Students are basic requisites for being a good person and guidelines for living in harmony with others. … For today’s society, it applies to all children, both male and female. |
| 總敘 Preface Outline |
| 弟子規。聖人訓。 These are the rules for being a student Handed down to us by Ancient Sages. Standards for Being a Good Student and Child(註1) is a book that was taught by Chinese saints and sages of the ancient past. |
| 首孝弟。次謹信。 First be filial to your own parents And respectful to all of your elders. The book first teaches us how to be dutiful to your parents, and how to be respectful and loving to our siblings. (註2) It then teaches us how to be cautious with all people, matters, and things in our daily life, and how to be a trustworthy person; and to believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages. (註3) |
| 汎愛眾。而親仁。 Be trustworthy, cautious and kind, And draw near to those who are good. Furthermore, it teaches us to love all equally, and to be close to and learn from people of virtue and compassion. |
| 有餘力。則學文。 Whatever time you have left Should be devoted to learning. Only when we have accomplished all the above can we then study further and learn literature and art to improve the quality of our cultural and spiritual lives. |
| 第一章 入則孝 Chapter 1 On Being Filial at Home Chapter 1 At Home, Be Dutiful to My Parents |
| 父母呼。應勿緩。 When your mother or father is calling, Do not be slow to respond. When my parents call me, I will answer them right away. |
| 父母命。行勿懶。 When your parents tell you to do something, Do not be lazy or sulky. When they ask me to do something, I will do it quickly. |
| 父母教。須敬聽。 When your parents need to instruct you, You should listen with patient respect. When my parents instruct you, I will listen respectfully. |
| 父母責。須順承。 Whenever your parents must scold you, Accept it with faithful compliance. When my parents reproach me, I will obey and accept their scolding. I will try hard to change and improve myself, to start anew. |
| 冬則溫。夏則凊。 In the winter, make sure they are warm. In the summer, make sure they are cool. In the winter, I will keep my parents warm; in the summer, I will keep your parents cool. |
| 晨則省。昏則定。 In the morning, cheerfully greet them. In the evening, tell them “Good night.” I will always greet my parents in the morning to show them that I care. At night I will always make sure my parents rest well. |
| 出必告。反必面。 If you plan to go out, tell your parents. Report to them when you get back. Before going out, I must tell my parents where I are going, for parents are always concerned about their children. After returning home, I must go and see my parents to let them know I am back, so they do not worry about me. |
| 居有常。業無變。 Settle down in one certain place. Do not switch from one job to another. I will maintain a permanent place to stay and lead a routine life. I will persist in whatever I do and will not change my aspirations at will. |
| 事雖小。勿擅為。 No matter how small the affair, Do not act just as you please. A matter might be trivial, but if it is wrong to do it or unfair to the other person, I must not do it thinking it will bear little or no consequence. (註4) |
| 苟擅為。子道虧。 For if you act just as you please, Then you have not performed as you should. If I do, I am not being a dutiful child because my parents would not want to see me doing things that are irrational or illegal. |
| 物雖小。勿私藏。 Although a thing may be small, Do not save it just for yourself. Even though an object might be small, I will not keep it a secret from my parents. |
| 苟私藏。親心傷。 For if you hoard things for yourself, Your parents’ hearts will be grieved. If I do, I will hurt my parents’ feelings. (註5) |
| 親所好。力為具。 Whatever your parents like best, You should provide for them soon. If whatever pleases my parents is fair and reasonable, I will try my best to attain it for them. (註6) |
| 親所惡。謹為去。 Whatever your parents dislike, You should do your best to remove. If something displeases my parents, if within reason(註7) I will cautiously keep it away from them. |
| 身有傷。貽親憂。 If you carelessly injure your body, Your parents will worry and fret. When my body is hurt, My parents will be worried. |
| 德有傷。貽親羞。 If you heedlessly damage your virtue, You bring shame and disgrace to your parents, If my virtues(註8) are compromised, my parents will feel ashamed. |
| 親愛我。孝何難。 When your parents are loving and kind, Of course it’s not hard to be filial. When I have loving parents, it is not difficult to be dutiful to them. |
| 親憎我。孝方賢。 The true test of being a person Comes when parents are hateful and cruel. But if I can be dutiful to parents who hate me, only then will I meet the standards of the saints and sages for being a dutiful child. |
| 親有過。諫使更。 If your recognize faults in your parents, Exhort them to change for the better. When my parents do wrong, I will urge them to change. |
| 怡吾色。柔吾聲。 Speak to them kindly and gently With a pleasant smile on your face. I will do it with a kind facial expression and a warm gentle voice. |
| 諫不入。悅復諫。 If they cannot accept your advice, Wait for an opportune time. If they do not accept my advice, I will wait until they are in a happier mood before I attempt to dissuade them again, |
| 號泣隨。撻無怨。 You may even use tears to exhort them, But don’t resent it if you are punished. followed by crying, if necessary, to make them understand. If they end up whipping me(註9) I will not hold a grudge against them. |
| 親有疾。藥先嘗。 When your parents are ill, call the doctor, Be sure the prescription is right. When my parents are ill, I will taste the medicine first before giving it to them. (註10) |
| 晝夜侍。不離床。 Wait on them day after day, At their bedside by day and by night. I will take care of them night and day and stay by their bedside. |
| 喪三年。常悲咽。 For three years after their death, Remember them always in sorrow. During the first three years of mourning after my parents have passed away, I will remember them with gratitude and feel sad often for not being able to repay them for their kindness in raising me. |
| 居處變。酒肉絕。 During this period of mourning, Don’t drink wine or eat meat. During this period I will arrange my home to reflect my grief and sorrow. I will also avoid festivities and indulgence in food and alcoholic drinks. |
| 喪盡禮。祭盡誠。 Take care of their funeral arrangements, Make offerings on their behalf. I will observe proper etiquette(註11) in arranging my parents’ funerals. I will hold the memorial ceremony and commemorate my parents’ anniversaries with utmost sincerity. |
| 事死者。如事生。 Reverently cherish their memory As if they were still in the world. I will serve my departed parents as if they were still alive. (註12) |
註1：Sourced from Analects of Confucius, Book I, Chapter 6. It was taught by Confucius, Mencius, and other Chinese saints and sages of the ancient past.
摘自於【論語】─學而第一篇第六章，是孔子,孟子以及其他中國古聖先賢所教導的。
註2：“Xiao” and “Ti” have been the very foundation of Chinese culture for five thousand years. Xiao (孝) means to be dutiful to one’s parents with affection, and to understand the basic relationship of grandparents, parents and self. In ideogram form, xiao has two components –the top part of xiao is the top portion of the word elder (老) and the bottom part is the word son (子). Combined into one, it implies that the older generation and the younger generation are one: there should be no gap between them. In Buddhism, the meaning is further extended. Outside the family, the child should treat every male and female of the parents’ generation as if they were the child’s own father and mother. Ti (弟) means sincere fraternal love. Here the term refers to the principle and standard of conduct between brothers not only when they are at home but when they are away from home. In Buddhism, its meaning also extends further to include conduct towards all older persons of any generation.
孝、弟是中國五千年文化固有的基礎。“孝”是孝順。孝的概念就是要瞭解祖父母、父母與自己的關係。把“孝”分開來看，上面與“老”字相同，下面是一個“子”字；表示老一輩跟小一輩的是同一體，不像現代的人有代溝。佛法更深一步的教導我們平時在外，遇見與父母同輩的長者，要如同對待自己的父母一樣。“弟”是指兄弟姐妹之間彼此誠心的友愛。在此用來衡量做弟妹的在外對兄長應有的標準原則。同樣的在佛法，我們對待同輩的長者也要如同我們自己兄長一樣的敬愛。
註3：“To believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages” means to trully practice and put the teachings of the ancient saints and sages into effect.
“信”是必須要落實古聖先賢在經典裡所教誨的，要做到才是真信。
註4： For example, in Buddhism, it is considered breaking the precept of not stealing if you borrow a piece of paper or take someone’s pen without permission. It is considered breaking the precept of not killing if I kill an ant or mosquito. If I lie or talk about someone behind his back, I have broken the precept of not lying, etc.
譬如在佛法，沒有經過同意拿別人紙、筆犯盜戒。殺螞蟻、蚊蟲犯殺戒。說謊，兩舌犯妄語戒等等。
註5：Parents will be saddened by the actions of a child who behaves secretively. If he behaves in such a way when he is still young, then he will probably twist the law, obtain bribes, and be a curse to his country and his people when he grows up.
父母感到悲傷，因為孩子從小就會私藏東西，將來長大後，可能就會做貪贓枉法，禍國殃民的事。
註6： If what pleases your parents is illegitimate or unreasonable, I should tactfully dissuade my parents, and tell them the reasons that they should not have it.
不合情、理、法的愛好，要婉轉的勸導父母。
註7： I should lead my parents to proper views and understanding of things.
要誘導父母走向正知正見。
註8：Virtues are standards and principles of one’s conduct. In China a man’s conduct is ruled by“Wu Chang” (五常) and “Ba De” (八德). “Wu Chang” are the five moral principles: kindheartedness(仁), personal loyalty(義), proper etiquette(禮), wisdom(智), and trustworthiness(信).“Ba De” are the eight virtues: duty to parents(孝), respect for elders(悌), loyalty(忠), credibility(信), proper etiquette(禮), personal loyalty(義), a sense of honor(廉), and a sense of shame(恥).
“德”是人的道德修養。德有五常八德。五常是仁、義、禮、智、信。八德是孝、悌、忠、信、禮、義、廉、恥。
註9： In ancient China
中國的古法，如孩子不聽管教，父母有權懲罰他們，如果很不聽話，有權要求官府把孩子處死。
註10： Chinese people take herbal medicine prescribed by Chinese doctors. Herbs are boiled with water to make a liquid medicine. Before giving such medicine to one’s parents, a child should first taste it to ensure it is not too hot or too bitter.
古時候的中國用草藥治病。把醫生開的藥方加水煮成藥湯。子女要先替父母親試嘗藥的溫度與苦味，調理好後才端去給父母喝。
註11： In ancient China
喪禮在中國古時候是由皇帝制定的。
註12： When my parents are alive, I should treat them with love and respect. When they pass away, I should arrange their funerals with deepest sorrow. For all the subsequent commemorations and anniversaries held, I should show love and respect as if they were still alive.
當我的父母在世時，我要敬愛他們。他們過世後，我要以沉痛的心籌備他們的喪事。往後每年祭祀父母，我都要以同樣敬愛的心紀念他們。
| 第二章 出則悌 Chapter 2 On Practicing True Brotherhood Chapter 2 Standards for Brothers At Home or Away from Home |
| 兄道友。弟道恭。 When the older children are friendly And the younger children respectful, If I am the older sibling, I will befriend the younger ones. If I am the younger sibling, I will respect and love the older ones. |
| 兄弟睦。孝在中。 Then brothers and sisters won’t fight, And it’s clear they know how to be filial. Only when I can maintain harmonious relationships with my siblings am I being dutiful to my parents.(註13) |
| 財物輕。怨何生。 Don’t think of wealth as important, Or else you will feel resentful. When I value my familial ties more than property and belongings, no resentment will come between me and my siblings. |
| 言語忍。忿自泯。 When talking to others, be patient, Then you won’t be troubled by anger. When I am careful with words and hold back hurtful comments, my feelings of anger naturally die out. |
| 或飲食。或坐走。 When people are eating or drinking, Sitting down or taking a walk, Whether you are drinking, eating, walking, or sitting, |
| 長者先。幼者後。 Let those who are older go first. The young ones should follow behind. I will let the elders go first; the younger ones should follow. |
| 長呼人。即代叫。 If an elder is looking for someone, You should run the errand instead. When an elder is asking for someone, I will get that person for him right away. |
| 人不在。己即到。 If the person you seek can’t be found, Hurry back and report what you’ve learned. If I cannot find that person, I will immediately report back, and put myself at the elder’s service instead. |
| 稱尊長。勿呼名。 In speaking to those who are older, Use the proper terms of respect. When I address an elder, I should not call him by his given name(註14). This is in accord with ancient Chinese etiquette. |
| 對尊長。勿見能。 When you are facing teachers and elders, Don’t show off or try to look smart. In front of an elder, I will never show off. |
| 路遇長。疾趨揖。 If you meet an elder while walking, Greet him or her with respect. If I meet an elder I know on the street, I will promptly clasp my hands and greet him with a bow. |
| 長無言。退恭立。 If the elder does not address you, Respectfully stand to one side. If he does not speak to me, I will step back and respectfully stand aside. |
| 騎下馬。乘下車。 If an elder’s walking and you’re riding, Stop and ask if he’s traveling far. Should I be riding on a horse(註15) and spot an elder I know walking, I will dismount and pay respect to the elder. If I am riding in a carriage(註16), I will stop, get out of the carriage, and ask if I can give the elder a ride. |
| 過猶待。百步餘。 Respectfully wait till he’s passed you Before you continue on in your car. If I meet an elder passing by, I will stand aside and wait respectfully. I will not leave until the elder disappears from my sight. |
| 長者立。幼勿坐。 When an elder person is standing, The young ones should not take a seat, When an elder is standing, I will not sit. |
| 長者坐。命乃坐。 But wait till the elder is seated, And sit down when you are told. After an elder sits down, I sit only when I am told to do so. |
| 尊長前。聲要低。 Speak softly in front of your elders, In a low voice that pleases the ear. Before an elder, I will peak softly. |
| 低不聞。卻非宜。 But you are wrong if you’re speaking So softly that no one can hear. But if my voice is too low and hard to hear, it is not appropriate. |
| 進必趨。退必遲。 Greet your elders promptly, And take your leave slowly. When meeting an elder, I will walk briskly towards him; when leaving, I will not exit in haste. |
| 問起對。視勿移。 Answer questions respectfully, And don’t let your eyes dart around. When answering a question, I will look at the person who is asking me the question. |
| 事諸父。如事父。 You should treat everyone’s parents Just the same as you treat your own. I will serve my uncles as if I am serving your parents.(註17) |
| 事諸兄。如事兄。 Treat all brothers and sisters Just like your family at home. I will treat my cousins as if they are my own siblings. (註18) |
註13： Parents are happy when their children get along with each other. This is one way children can show they are dutiful to their parents.
父母知道兒女能和睦相處一定會很高興，這也是兒女們盡孝道的一種方式。
註14： In ancient China
中國古時候男子有“名”、有“字”。“ 名”是指父母取的名。男子二十歲行【冠禮】，表示他已成人，朋友另外給他取個“字”就是“冠字”。以後只有父母才能稱他的“名”， 其他人包括皇帝也只能稱他的“字”，這是對他的尊重。唯一的例外是當他犯罪，在判刑的時候可以直呼他的名。
註15： In ancient China
中國古時候老百姓用馬或馬車作為交通工具。
註16：See footnote 15. 請參考註解15。
註17： See footnote 2. 請參考註解2。
註18： See footnote 2. 請參考註解2。
| 第三章 謹 Chapter 3 On Being Careful Chapter 3 Be Cautious in My Daily Life |
| 朝起早。夜眠遲。 In the morning it’s best to rise early. At night you should go to bed late. I will get up each morning before my parents; at night, I will go to bed only after my parents have gone to sleep. |
| 老易至。惜此時。 Cherish the time that is left you. Don’t expect that old age will wait. When I realize that time is passing me by and cannot be turned back, and that I am getting older year by year, I will especially treasure the present moment.(註19) |
| 晨必盥。兼漱口。 In the morning, first wash your face, And next brush your teeth very well. When I get up in the morning, I will wash my face and brush my teeth. |
| 便溺回。輒淨手。 After you go to the toilet, Use water and soap on your hands. After using the toilet, I will wash my hands. |
| 冠必正。紐必結。 You should put on your hat withcare, And fasten your buttons and snaps. I must wear my hat straight,(註20) and make sure the hooks(註21) of my clothes are tied. |
| 襪與履。俱緊切。 Then pull up your socks very neatly, And fasten your shoelaces as well. My socks and shoes should also be worn neatly and correctly. |
| 置冠服。有定位。 Your hat and other clothes Should be put in their own special places. I will always place my hat and clothes away in their proper places. |
| 勿亂頓。致污穢。 Do not leave them just lying around, Or they’re sure to get wrinkled and soiled. I will not carelessly throw my clothes around, for that will get them dirty. |
| 衣貴潔。不貴華。 Your clothing should always be neat. If it’s not new and stylish, don’t worry. It is more important that my clothes are clean, rather than how extravagant they are. |
| 上循分。下稱家。 What you wear should make common sense. Don’t spend too much money on clothes. I will wear only what is suitable for my station. At home, I will wear clothes according to my family traditions and customs. |
| 對飲食。勿揀擇。 Do not fuss and complain about tastes When you are given something to eat. When it comes to eating and drinking, I will not pick and choose my food. |
| 食適可。勿過則。 Eat enough so that you are full, But do not eat more than you need. I will only eat the right amount; I will not over-eat. |
| 年方少。勿飲酒。 During the time when you are young, Don’t drink liquor or take harmful drugs. I am still young, I must not drink alcohol. |
| 飲酒醉。最為醜。 To get drunk is disgraceful and ugly. Taking drugs brings you nothing but shame. When I am drunk, my behavior will turn ugly. |
| 步從容。立端正。 Your walk should be easy and graceful. When you stand, keep your back tall and straight. I will always walk composed, with light and even steps. I will always stand up straight and tall. |
| 揖深圓。拜恭敬。 Your half bows should be deep and full, And your full bows made with respect. My bows will always be deep, with hands held in front and arms rounded. I will always pay my respect with reverence.(註22) |
| 勿踐閾。勿跛倚。 Watch your step as you enter a doorway. Stand up straight and don’t lean against the wall. I will not step on doorsills or stand leaning on one leg. |
| 勿箕踞。勿搖髀。 Do not sit sprawled all over the floor. Or wriggle and squirm when you walk. I will not sit with my legs apart or sprawled out. I will not rock the lower part of my body while standing or sitting down. |
| 緩揭簾。勿有聲。 When closing a door best be careful, Do it slowly without too much noise. I will always lift the curtain slowly,(註23) and quietly. |
| 寬轉彎。勿觸棱。 Whenever crossing a room, Don’t bump into the table and chairs. I must leave myself ample space when I turn so I will not bump into a corner. |
| 執虛器。如執盈。 You should carry an empty container, Just as carefully as one that is full. I will hold empty containers carefully as if they were full. (註24) |
| 入虛室。如有人。 And enter a room that is empty, As you would if a crowd were inside. I will enter empty rooms as if they were occupied. (註25) |
| 事勿忙。忙多錯。 There is no need to be in a hurry. If you rush you will make a mistake. I will avoid doing things in a hurry, as doing things in haste will lead to many mistakes. |
| 勿畏難。勿輕略。 Don’t be afraid of what’s hard, And don’t be careless with what is easy. I should not be afraid of difficult tasks, and I will not become careless when a job is too easy. |
| 鬥鬧場。絕勿近。 Never go to rowdy places, Or places where people are fighting. I will keep away from rowdy places. |
| 邪僻事。絕勿問。 When something is low and improper It’s not worth your talk or your questions. I will not ask about things that are abnormal or unusual. |
| 將入門。問孰存。 When you’re going to enter a room, First knock to make sure it’s permitted. When I am about to enter a main entrance, I must first ask if someone is inside. |
| 將上堂。聲必揚。 When joining a gathering of people, Let them all know you’ve arrived. Before entering a room, I must first make myself heard, so that those inside know someone is approaching. |
| 人問誰。對以名。 If someone should ask who you are, You should answer by giving your name. If someone asks who I am, I must give my name. |
| 吾與我。不分明。 If you respond, “It is me,” You ’re not giving a proper reply. To answer ‘It is me’ or ‘Me’ is not sufficient. |
| 用人物。須明求。 If you use someone else’s belongings, Be sure that you ask for permission. Before borrowing things from others, I must ask for permission. |
| 倘不問。即為偷。 If you don’t get the owner’s permission, Then stealing is what you have done. If I do not ask, it is stealing. |
| 借人物。及時還。 If you must borrow something from another, Make sure you return it on time. When borrowing things from others, I will return them promptly. |
| 後有急。借不難。 If someone asks you for something, Loan it to them as soon as you can. Later, if I have an urgent need, I will not have a problem borrowing from them again. |
註19 ： There is an old Chinese proverb: “A unit of time is as precious as a unit of gold, but you cannot buy back one unit of time with one unit of gold.” It means that time is really very precious, as no amount of money can buy time.
中國諺語說：「一寸光陰一寸金，寸金難買寸光陰」。意思是說時間非常珍貴，不是用金錢可以買到的。
註20： Guan“冠”means hat. In ancient China
“冠”是帽子。中國古時候男子頭上帶帽，表示他已成年。
註21： In ancient China
中國古人衣服用衣鉤，需要打結。
註22： Bai“拜”means paying respect. In ancient China
“拜”是禮敬。中國古時候屈身、拱手、下跪、以頭叩地等禮節都稱為拜。
註23： In ancient China
古時候“簾”是用切細的竹子編成的，掛在屋內可遮敝房間。
註24： Even if a container is empty, out of reverence to things whether living or not, one should treat it with respect and handle it with care.
雖然容器是空的，也要愛惜它。對所有一切眾生，都要懂得愛惜。
註25： In ancient China
君子絶不會因有人或無人在房間而改變他的行為、舉止和態度。
| 第四章 信 Chapter 4 On Being Honest Chapter 4 Be Trustworthy |
| 凡出言。信為先。 Whatever it is that you say, You should speak so that you can be trusted. When I speak, honesty is important. |
| 詐與妄。奚可焉。 Tell the truth so others can believe you. To lie is against human nature. Deceitful words and lies must not be tolerated. |
| 話說多。不如少。 To talk just a little is better Than to chatter non-stop all day long. Rather than talking too much, it is better to speak less. |
| 惟其是。勿佞巧。 Talk only about what you’re sure of; Avoid cunning or flowery words. I will speak only the truth, I will not twist the facts. |
| 奸巧語。穢污詞。 Don’t use words to be mean and cruel, Or speak about things that are coarse. Cunning words, foul language, and |
| 市井氣。切戒之。 Let your language be pure and correct. Stay away from all that’s unworthy. philistine habits must be avoided at all costs. |
| 見未真。勿輕言。 If you haven’t seen something quite clearly, Don’t speak of it as if you know. What I have not seen with my own eyes, I will not readily tell to others. |
| 知未的。勿輕傳。 If you’re not sure about what exactly happened, Don’t spread rumors around. What I do not know for sure, I will not easily pass on to others. |
| 事非宜。勿輕諾。 When you know something is wrong, Do not simply follow along. If I am asked to do something that is inappropriate or bad, I must not agree to do it. |
| 茍輕諾。進退錯。 If you just go along with the crowd, You’re bound to make a mistake. If I do, I will be doubly wrong. |
| 凡道字。重且舒。 When you speak, say the words clearly; Distinctly and smoothly they flow. I must speak clearly and to the point. |
| 勿急疾。勿模糊。 If you talk too fast, no one will heed you; The same if you mumble too low. I must not talk too fast or mumble. |
| 彼說長。此說短。 Some like to talk about good points, Others like to find faults, big and small. Some like to talk about the good points of others, while some like to talk about the faults of others. |
| 不關己。莫閒管。 If something is none of your business, Simply pay no attention at all. If it is none of my business, I will not get involved. |
| 見人善。即思齊。 When you see the good points of others, You should strive to imitate them. When I see others do good deeds, I must think about following their example. |
| 縱去遠。以漸躋。 Though you don’t match up to them now. Persevere and one day you’ll catch up. Even though my own achievements are still far behind those of others, I am getting closer. |
| 見人惡。即內省。 When you notice bad habits in others, Reflect on your own shortcomings. When I see others do wrong, I must immediately reflect upon myself. |
| 有則改。無加警。 If you have the same faults, correct them. If not, never let them arise. If I have made the same mistake, I will correct it. If not, I will take extra care to not make the same mistake. |
| 唯德學。唯才藝。 If your virtue, learning and talents Don’t measure up to others, When my morals, conduct, knowledge, and skills |
| 不如人。當自礪。 Then spur yourself to work harder. Accept nothing less than your best. seem not as good as those of others, I will encourage myself to be better. |
| 若衣服。若飲食。 If your wardrobe is seldom in fashion And your home is simple and plain, If the clothes I wear, and the food I eat and drink |
| 不如人。勿生慼。 While your friends have the newest and finest, Don’t be upset and never complain. are not as good as that of others, I should not be concerned. |
| 聞過怒。聞譽樂。 If you’re angry when told of your faults, And happy when praise comes your way, If criticism makes me angry and compliments make me happy, |
| 損友來。益友卻。 Harmful friends will draw near you, And wholesome friends will stay away. bad company will come my way and good friends will shy away. |
| 聞譽恐。聞過欣。 If compliments make you uneasy And hearing your faults makes you glad, If I am uneasy about compliments and appreciative of criticism, |
| 直諒士。漸相親。 Forgiving and straightforward friends Will then gradually come to your side. then sincere, understanding, and virtuous people will gradually come close to me. |
| 無心非。名為錯。 When an error is not made on purpose, It is simply called a mistake. If any mistake I make is inadvertent, it is merely a mistake. |
| 有心非。名為惡。 But to deliberately do something wrong, Is not a mistake, but an evil. If it is done on purpose, however, it is an evil act. |
| 過能改。歸於無。 If you can reform your offenses, Your faults will all disappear. If I correct my mistake and do not repeat it, I no longer own the mistake. |
| 倘掩飾。增一辜。 But trying to cover them over Makes your offenses more severe. If I try to cover it up, I will be doubly wrong. |
| 第五章 汎愛眾 Chapter 5 On Cherishing All Living Beings Chapter 5 Love All Equally |
| 凡是人。皆須愛。 For all creatures throughout the world, One should cherish a kind regard. Human beings, regardless of nationality, race, or religion - everyone - should be loved equally. |
| 天同覆。地同載。 The sky covers all of us equally. The earth supports all humankind. We are all sheltered by the same sky and we all live on the same planet Earth. |
| 行高者。名自高。 People whose conduct is fine Are sure to have good reputations. A person of high ideals and morals is highly respected. |
| 人所重。非貌高。 Good conduct is what we respect; Fine looks cannot bring people honor. What people value is not based on outside appearance. |
| 才大者。望自大。 People who have great ability Thereby enjoy great prestige. A person’s outstanding ability will naturally endow him with a good reputation. |
| 人所服。非言大。 Others will follow their lead, But great talkers don’t earn much respect. Admiration from others does not come from boasting or praising oneself. |
| 己有能。勿自私。 The abilities you yourself have Should not be used to attain selfish goals. If I am a very capable person, I should use my capabilities for the benefit of others. |
| 人所能。勿輕訾。 The abilities others may have Should not be belittled and scorned. Other people’s competence should not be slandered. |
| 勿諂富。勿驕貧。 It’s not right to flatter the rich Or be arrogant towards the poor. I will not flatter the rich, or despise the poor. |
| 勿厭故。勿喜新。 What’s old need not be rejected. What’s new is not necessarily good. I will not ignore old friends, only taking delight in new ones. |
| 人不閒。勿事攪。 If you see a person who’s busy, Leave him alone until he’s free. When a person is busy, I will not bother him with matters. |
| 人不安。勿話擾。 If you see that a person is upset, Don’t annoy him with idle chatter. When a person’s mind is not at ease, I will not bother him with words. |
| 人有短。切莫揭。 Although you may know someone’s faults, There’s no need to tell everyone. If a person has a shortcoming, I will not expose it. |
| 人有私。切莫說。 The personal business of others Should not be the subject of talk. If a person has a secret, I will not tell others. |
| 道人善。即是善。 Praising the virtue of others Is itself a virtuous deed. Praising the goodness of others is a good deed in itself. |
| 人知之。愈思勉。 When people hear they’ve been praised, They will want to improve even more. When people are being praised and approved of, they will be encouraged to try even harder. |
| 揚人惡。即是惡。 There is never anything good In talking of others’shortcomings. Spreading rumors about the wrongdoings of others is a wrongdoing in itself. |
| 疾之甚。禍且作。 If they hear, they will surely resent it; They will see you mean nothing but trouble. When the harm done has reached the extreme, misfortunes will surely follow. |
| 善相勸。德皆建。 We should urge each other towards goodness And develop our virtue together. When I encourage another to do good, both of our virtues are built up. |
| 過不規。道兩虧。 If our faults are not corrected, We will surely stray from the Way. If I do not tell another of his faults, we are both wrong. |
| 凡取與。貴分曉。 The amount you give and you get Should always be clearly distinguished. Whether I take or give, I need to know the difference between the two. |
| 與宜多。取宜少。 Make sure that your giving surpasses The amount that you receive. It is better to give more and take less. |
| 將加人。先問己。 Before you begin to blame others, First you should question yourself: What I ask others to do, I must first ask myself if I would be willing to do. |
| 己不欲。即速已。 “Would I want to be scolded and blamed?” If not, then don’t do it to someone else. If it is not something I would be willing to do, I will not ask others to do it. |
| 恩欲報。怨欲忘。 Kindness must be returned. Let enmity just fade away. I must repay the kindness of others and let go of my resentments. |
| 報怨短。報恩長。 Grudges are better forgotten; Make kindness increase day by day. I will spend less time holding grudges and more time paying back the kindness of others. |
| 待婢僕。身貴端。 Treat your employees with fairness. Be proper and just with each one. When I am directing maids and servants, I will act honorably and properly. |
| 雖貴端。慈而寬。 And not only proper and just— You should also be kind and forgiving. I will also treat them kindly and generously. |
| 勢服人，心不然。 If you try to rule others by force, You will never win over their hearts. If I use my influence to make them submissive, their hearts will not be with you. |
| 理服人，方無言。 If you lead them with virtue and reason, Then they won’t feel oppressed and apart. If I can convince them with sound reasoning, they will have nothing to object to. |
| 第六章 親仁 Chapter 6 On Drawing Near to Goodhearted People Chapter 6 Be Close to and Learn from People of Virtue and Compassion |
| 同是人。類不齊。 Many different kinds of people All live on the earth together. We are all human, but we are not the same. |
| 流俗眾。仁者希。 There are many who follow the crowd. There are few who are truly humane. Most of us are ordinary; only a very few have great virtues and high moral principles. |
| 果仁者。人多畏。 Yet those who are truly humane Are often feared by other people, A truly virtuous person is greatly respected by others. |
| 言不諱。色不媚。 For they don’t hide behind words Or try to please with their looks. He will not be afraid to speak the truth and he will not fawn on others. |
| 能親仁。無限好。 To follow the truly humane Will bring immeasurable good. If I can be close to and learn from people of great virtue and compassion, I will benefit immensely. |
| 德日進。過日少。 Virtue will grow day by day; Mistakes will slowly fade away. My virtues will grow daily and my wrongdoings will lessen day by day. |
| 不親仁。無限害。 Not to follow the truly humane Will bring immeasurable harm, If I choose not to be close to and learn from people of great virtue, I will suffer a great loss. |
| 小人進。百事壞。 Unworthy people will draw near you, And everything will go awry. People without virtue will get close to me and nothing I attempt will succeed. |
| 第七章 餘力學文 Chapter 7 On Studying Whenever We Can Chapter 7 After All the Above Are Accomplished, Study Further and Learn Literature and Art to Improve Your Cultural and Spiritual Life |
| 不力行。但學文。 Cultural refinements have value, But not at the expense of real work. If I do not actively practice what I have learned, but continue to study on the surface, |
| 長浮華。成何人。 If you’re just superficially polished, Then what can you expect to become? even though my knowledge is increasing, it is only superficial. What kind of person will I be? |
| 但力行。不學文。 But if you do nothing but work And have no understanding of culture, If I do apply my knowledge diligently, but stop studying, |
| 任己見。昧理真。 You will be bound by your own narrow views, And your notions of truth will be murky. I will only do things based on my own opinion, thinking it is correct. In fact, what I know is not the truth. |
| 讀書法。有三到。 When you’re pursuing your studies, On the “three places” focus attention: There are methods to study correctly. They involve concentration in three areas: |
| 心眼口。信皆要。 Your mind, your eyes and your mouth. It’s important to train all these three. my mind, my eyes, and my mouth. To believe in what I read is equally important. |
| 方讀此。勿慕彼。 When you’ve taken up study of something, Don’t let yourself become sidetracked. When I begin to read a book, I will not think about another. |
| 此未終。彼勿起。 Be sure that you’ve finished one project Before starting off on another. If I have not completed the book, I will not start another. |
| 寬為限。緊用功。 Let your goals be lofty and broad. Let your efforts be focused and steady. I will give myself lots of time to study, and I will study hard. |
| 工夫到。滯塞通。 Once you have skill and experience, You’ll solve every problem with ease. If I devote enough time and effort,(註26) I will thoroughly understand. |
| 心有疑。隨札記。 When a question comes up in your reading, Make note of it before you forget. If I have a question, I will make a note of it. |
| 就人問。求確義。 Then ask someone else who will know, And who can explain the meaning. I will ask the person who has the knowledge for the right answer. |
| 房室清。牆壁淨。 Your room should be kept neat and tidy, With walls and floors uncluttered and clean. I will keep my room neat, my walls uncluttered and clean, |
| 几案潔。筆硯正。 Your desk should be kept in good order, Pencils, paper, and pens well arranged. my desk tidy and my brush(註27) and inkstone(註28) properly placed. |
| 墨磨偏。心不端。 If your desk and papers are messy, It is likely your mind’s mixed up too. If my ink block(註29) is ground unevenly, it shows I have a poor state of mind. |
| 字不敬。心先病。 If your writing is sloppy and careless, It’s likely your mind is not focused. When words are written carelessly, showing no respect, this shows my state of mind has not been well. |
| 列典籍。有定處。 Each of the books that you use Should have its proper place on the shelf. My books(註30) should be classified, placed on the bookshelves, and in their proper places. |
| 讀看畢，還原處。 After you’ve finished your reading, Put them back in the place they belong. After I finish reading a book, I will put it back where it belongs. |
| 雖有急。卷束齊。 Although you may be in a hurry, You should close your books the right way. Even if I am in a hurry, I still must neatly roll up and bind the open bamboo scroll(註31) I have been reading. |
| 有缺壞。就補之。 If the pages or covers are damaged, Be sure to take time to repair them. Any missing or damaged pages ought to be immediately repaired. |
| 非聖書。屏勿視。 What hasn’t been written by sages Is not something you should be reading. If it is not a book on the teachings of the saints and sages, it should be discarded and not even looked at. |
| 蔽聰明。壞心志。 Such books block your intelligence And undermine your resolve. Such books can block my intelligence and wisdom, and will undermine my aspirations and sense of direction. |
| 勿自暴。勿自棄。 Don’t ever look down on yourself Or fail to progress toward goodness. Neither be harsh on myself, nor give up on myself. |
| 聖與賢。可馴致。 We all can gradually learn To become worthies and sages. To be a person of high ideals, moral standards and virtue is something we can all attain in time. |
註26： If I do not understand part of a book I am reading, I should read it again and again, even for a thousand times. Its meaning will come to me in time.
古人說：「讀書千遍其義自見」。意思是說，讀書如有不明白的地方，要多念幾遍，念多了它的意思自然就懂了。
註27： “Brush” here means Chinese writing brush.
“筆”，指中國人寫字用的毛筆。
註28： “Inkstone” is a stone stand used for preparing the ink used in Chinese brush calligraphy.
“硯”是硯台，拿來磨墨用的文具，多數都是石做的。
註29： “Ink block” is a solid ink piece. A person grinds it with water against the inkstone to make ink for writing Chinese brush calligraphy.
“墨”是指墨條，加水在硯台上磨成墨汁，寫毛筆字時所用。
註30： Here the term “books” refers to books on laws, constitutions, and the organizational systems of a nation.
法典章制之類的書籍。
註31： “Scroll”, or “juan”(卷)，means a bamboo scroll. It is an ancient book, in the form of a scroll made of bamboo slips with knife-carved or painted Chinese characters. Such books were used before paper was invented.
“卷”是指竹簡。發明紙以前，古人拿竹子削片，用尖刀在上面刻字或用漆寫字。
諸惡莫作 眾善奉行 自淨其意 是諸佛教
Abstain from unwholesome deeds, Perform wholesome ones, Purify your own mind, This is the teaching of the Buddha. Namo Amitabha!
迴向偈
Dedication of Merit
願以此功德莊嚴佛淨土
上報四重恩下濟三途苦
May the merit and virtue
accrued from this work
adorn Amitabha Buddha’s Pure Land
repay the four great kindnesses above,
and relieve the suffering of
those on the three paths below.
若有見聞者悉發菩提心
盡此一報身同生極樂國
May those who see and hear of these efforts
generate Bodhi-mind,
spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma,
and finally be born together in
the Land of Ultimate
南無阿彌陀佛！
Homage to Amita Buddha!
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