金山圣寺是法界佛教总会所属的机构，以前叫佛教讲堂，在三藩市中国城一栋小楼房的四楼。第一个暑期班（一九六八年）在那里开课，当时有很多人从西雅图来参加，为期九十六天，功课很忙，每天没有休息的时间，只有在星期六放半天假时，有的就去洗衣服，有的就做私人的事。
Gold Mountain Monastery is operated by the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and used to be known as the Buddhist Lecture Hall, which was then a tiny flat located in a fourth floor walk-up in San Francisco's Chinatown. That's where our very first Summer Cultivation Session took place in 1968. Many people from Seattle took part in that ninety-six day session. The full daily schedule allowed no time for resting. The only chance for a break came on Saturday afternoon, when participants did their laundry or took care of personal business.
《楞严经》就是在那时讲的，计划在暑期班的期间把它讲完。最初每天讲一次，讲了一个时期，觉得时间不够，于是乎增加一次，每天讲两次。后来又怕讲不完，再增加一次，每天就讲三次；到了最后，每天讲四次。就这样，在这个暑期班的期间，勉强将这部《楞严经》讲完，功德圆满，回向一切众生。
We lectured on the Shurangama Sutra during that session, planning to finish it before the session ended. We began by holding one lecture daily, but before long, realizing that there wasn't enough time to finish the complete Sutra, we added an extra lecture, so there were two lectures a day. Later, because it still looked like we couldn't finish the Sutra, we added a third lecture to the daily schedule, and so forth, until at the end we had four lectures each day. We barely finished explaining the Shurangama Sutra during that summer session. Thus the merit and virtue was completed and we transferred it to all living beings.
《楞严经》讲完之后，就有五位美籍青年出家，三位比丘、两位比丘尼。这是美国最先有人出家，受具足戒的开始。
Once the Shurangama Sutra had been explained, five young Americans left the home-life, so now there are three Bhikshus and two Bhikshunis. These are the first Americans to leave home and receive the complete precepts.
以后每年都有暑期班，继续有很多人来学习佛法，也有人出家做比丘和比丘尼。虽然人数不多，但是金山圣寺的宗旨，重质不重量，只要实实在在修行，研究佛法，就是一个也不算少，何况不止一个。
Each year thereafter we held a Summer Cultivation Session. Many people came to study Buddhadharma, and some of them decided to leave home and become Bhikshus and Bhikshunis. Although the total number of people is not large, at Gold Mountain Monastery we value quality over quantity. What counts is that those who come are sincere in wanting to cultivate the spiritual path and investigate Buddhadharma. Even one such person can't be considered too few; and if many people have that attitude, that's even better!
金山圣寺出版一本英文杂志，定名为《金刚菩提海》（编按：目前是中英对照，改名为《万佛城金刚菩提海》），是月刊，刊登佛法要义，令西方人晓得佛法的来龙去脉，而对佛法有个正确的认识，不再误解佛教是迷信，是崇拜偶像，是消极悲观者，是社会的寄生虫。令一般人知道佛教是自由平等，以提倡世界和平为目标，没有种族、国籍、地域的界限，大家一律都是佛弟子。
Gold Mountain Monastery publishes a monthly English journal called Vajra Bodhi Sea. (The journal is now bilingual, with Chinese and English side by side, and is called The Buddhist Month-ly--Vajra Bodhi Sea.) This journal brings the essentials of the Buddha's teachings to Westerners so they can learn the ins and outs of Buddhism, develop a correct understanding, and not misinterpret Buddhism as a superstitious religion, an idol-worshipping cult, a pessimistic escape, or parasitical burden on society. Our journal informs people that Buddhism advocates equality and freedom. It transcends all boundaries of country, race, and nationality and regards all beings alike as Buddhist disciples.
佛教从有史以来，没有发生过战争。因为佛教的戒律，第一条就是不杀生，不但不杀人，就是其它的动物也不杀；而且还要放生，保护一切动物的安全，所以没有战争。
Since Buddhism's inception, there has never been a Buddhist war. This is due in part to the first of the Buddhist precepts, which is "no killing." Buddhists not only refrain from killing humans, we don't kill any animals, either. Instead, we liberate living creatures, and protect the safety of all animals; therefore, we've never been involved in a war.
金山圣寺是在沙里澄金。若是金子，来到金山圣寺，等于回到自己的家里。虽然不讲话，但是读书很方便，天天研究佛法，没有人来打闲岔，这是很好的环境。美国人很多，但真正发心来到这里研究佛法，来听经学法的有多少呢？所以，成佛是一个一个成的，不是一群一群成的。世界上无论什么，都是以少为贵。我们金山圣寺研究佛法的人数虽然不多，但在这个世界上却是最宝贵的。将来各位把佛法学会了，都可以到各处去弘扬佛法，利益众生。令一切众生早成佛道，这是我对各位的期望。
At Gold Mountain Monastery, it's as if we're panning for gold in the sand. If a person has the quality of gold, when he arrives at Gold Mountain, he'll feel right at home. Although we don't talk much here, the silence makes it quite convenient for studying; Every day we study Buddhism, and nobody comes to interrupt our work; this is an ideal environment. America has a large population, but how many have taken the opportunity to come investigate the Buddhadharma and listen to lectures on the Sutras here? This attests to the fact that Buddhas are created individually, one by one, and not in groups. In this world, things which are scarce are considered valuable. Although the people who come to Gold Mountain to investigate Buddhism may be few in number, they are the most valuable people in this world. In the future, when you all understand the Buddhadharma, you can go out to propagate the teachings in every land and bring benefit to all creatures. My wish is that you will quickly lead all beings to Buddhahood.
这次来参加暑期班的人，每一个人都必须要遵守时间，不要浪费光阴，中国有句名言：“一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴。”所以时间是最宝贵的，最重要的。今年暑期班的同学，在这里要努力学习佛法，不要把宝贵的光阴空过去，一定要学点真正的道理。
Each one of you who has come to attend this summer session must cherish the time; don't let it pass by carelessly! I mentioned the Chinese proverb that goes, "An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold. Even an ounce of gold can't buy back an instant of time." So time is the most valuable, the most important of all commodities. All my classmates in this summer session, diligently study Buddhism! Don't allow the precious minutes to slip by. Use this time to learn some true principles of the spiritual path!
现在有一件事情，想对各位说一说，本来我不想说，可是不能不说。什么事情？就是出家人一定要尊重自己，不要把自己看得太低贱，又不可以贡高我慢。要时时刻刻反省和检讨，有过改之，无过勉之，绝对不可散漫，不可放逸。
There's an important matter that I want to discuss with you all. In fact I thought not to mention it, but now I see I can't avoid it. You left-home people absolutely must learn to respect yourselves. Don't see yourselves as worthless and cheap. But neither should you be haughty and proud. Examine yourself at all times and reform any faults that you find. If you find no faults, then press on. Under no circumstances should you become lax and careless.
你们大家既然跟我出家学道，凡是我所见到的，一定要讲出来，纠正你们的毛病。如果不讲，那是我对不起你们各位。我将所见到的事说出来之后，你们听不听？改不改？那是你们个人的事。我把做师父应负的责任尽到，问心无愧，你们可不要堕地狱的时候，才来埋怨师父：“啊！我师父当初为何不严教？如果好好教我，我怎么会堕地狱呢？”
Since you left the home-life to study the spiritual path with me, I'm obliged to point out everything that I see, in order to correct your faults. If I failed to tell you of your faults, then I'd be doing you an injustice. Once I tell you your faults, it's up to you to decide if you want to listen to me and change. By telling you, I've fulfilled my duty as a teacher, and have nothing to regret or be ashamed of. So if any of you fall into the hells, you have no right to complain, "Oh, why wasn't my teacher more strict with me? If he'd taught me better, then I wouldn't have wound up in hell!"
现在我把要说的话说出来，出家人切记！切记！不可以干涉别人的自由，不要影响别人的行动。自己不修行，不要妨碍他人修行；自己不持戒，不要妨碍他人持戒；自己不修德行，不要妨碍他人修德行。如果有这种思想和行动的人，一定要纠正过错，改恶向善。出家人要时时刻刻自己管自己，一举一动，一言一行，都要合乎戒律，不荒唐，要认真，不可随随便便，所谓：无规矩，不能成方圆。
So now I've had my say. Left-home people should never disturb other people or interfere with their freedom. If you yourself don't cultivate, take care not to obstruct the cultivation of others. If you don't hold the precepts yourself, be sure not to prevent others from holding the precepts. If you choose not to cultivate virtuous conduct yourself, don't keep others from cultivating virtuous conduct. If you do obstruct others in these ways, then you must discipline and reform yourself. Left-home people must take charge of themselves at all times and accord with the moral precepts in every word and deed. Don't act so wild! Be serious! Don't just do what you please. Don't you know the proverb:Without using a compass and a T-square,You'll never draw good circles and corners.
所以佛在入涅盘时，告诉阿难尊者说：“以戒为师”，这是出家人的座右铭。
That's why before the Buddha entered Nirvana, he told Ananda, "Take the precepts as your teacher." This phrase can serve as a motto for every left-home person.
我们在吃饭的时候，要存三念五观。
While we eat, we should make the Three Recollections and the Five Contemplations. There's a saying,
施主一粒米，重如须弥山；
吃了不修行，披毛戴角还。
A single grain of donor's rice,Is as weighty as Mount Sumeru.If one should eat it and then fail to cultivate,One will have to repay the debt by wearing fur and horns.
这是多么危险！所谓“袈裟底下，失去人身。”所以，出家人处处要严守戒律。我们在生死未了的时候，欲心未断的时候，时刻不能懈怠，处处不能马虎。所以普贤菩萨说：
How dangerous this situation is! This is called "losing one's human body while wearing the precept sash." So left-home people, wherever they may be, must sternly guard their precepts. Before we've put an end to birth and death, before our thoughts of desire have been severed, we may not be even the slightest bit lax or careless. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva exhorts us:
是日已过，命亦随减；
如少水鱼，斯有何乐？
大众！当勤精进，如救头然，
但念无常，慎勿放逸。
This day is already done,Our lives are that much less.
We're like fish in evaporating water,What joy can there be in this?
Great Assembly!We should be as diligent and vigorous,As if our own heads were at stake.
Never forget impermanence!Be careful, and never be lax!
我们出家人，一分一秒也要爱惜，所谓“一寸光阴一寸金，寸金难买寸光阴。”光阴如此地宝贵，不可浪费时间。每个人要用功修行，精进再精进，才能有所成就。凡是用功修行的人，没有时间说话，没有时间打闲岔。关于这一点，我希望每个人都要注意。我见到不修行的人，觉得非常痛心，这岂不是辜负自己当初出家时所发的愿吗？这种口是心非的出家人，焉能为僧宝？盼望各位自己尊重自己！
We who have left the home-life must cherish each passing minute and second of time. Remember: "An instant of time is worth an ounce of gold. Even an ounce of gold can't buy back an instant of time." Time is just this precious, so don't waste it! Work hard at your cultivation. Be ever more vigorous. Only then can you expect success. There's never been a hard-working cultivator who had time to hold casual conversations or disturb others. I hope all of you will pay attention to this. It hurts me deeply to see people fail to cultivate! Aren't you letting down the vows you made upon first leaving home? Can this kind of left-home person who says one thing and does another consider himself part of the Sangha Jewel? I hope you'll all learn to respect yourselves!
