要修行、修出世法，必定先要选择明眼善知识。什么是明眼善知识？有四个条件：不贪钱、不贪色、不贪名、不自私。应该用这四个条件去衡量善知识，看看他是否说来说去，都是为了谋自己的利益，或者高举自己的地位，看看他有没有私人的企图？
If we want to practice the Dharma for transcending the world, we must select a wise teacher with clear vision. Who can be considered a wise teacher with clear vision? There are four criteria: the person is not greedy for money, fame, or sex, and isn't selfish. We should use these four criteria to determine whether a teacher has wisdom and clarity. We should see whether the person has ulterior motives--does he seek to make a profit or advance his own position, or plotting for his own personal benefit?
要亲近善知识，不用天天粘着他，而是要听他的话，听他的教诲。有问题的时候，可以去请开示；但不是一天到晚都要去见你的师父，才算亲近。去时还要毕恭毕敬地求法，不是连讲带笑，毫不庄重；也不要为他添麻烦。首先要问他有没有时间，若有时间，可以请他开示；假设他没有空，你不能坚持地说：“我必定要见他，我的事情最重要的！”
Drawing near a wise teacher does not mean hanging around him every day. It means following his teaching. Of course, you can ask for guidance when you run into problems, but you don't have to see your teacher all the time to be "near" him. When you go to see your teacher, you should request instructions in a very respectful manner--not laughing and joking and being totally unserious. Don't give your teacher unnecessary trouble. First find out if he is free. If he is, then you can ask for guidance. If he is busy, then you should not persist and say, "I must see him. My business is very important!"
善知识不会为自己的利益着想。有人问：“万佛圣城已经很大了，假使为你盖一个庙，你要不要？”我一定要。“那么你不是很贪心吗？”对，我的贪心很大，但不是为我自已，而是为世界佛教建立基本道场，来弘扬正法。所以凡是来到这儿的人，无论你有什么看法，都是来拥护万佛圣城。就算你骂也好，毁谤也好，其实都是在帮助万佛圣城。我不怕人骂，也不怕人毁谤，如果我怕，就不会来美国。无论你怎样毁谤我，我也觉得很好的。
A good teacher never thinks of his own benefit. Some people have asked me, "The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is already very big. If someone built another temple for you, would you accept it?" I most certainly would. "Well, then, aren't you being greedy?" Yes. I am extremely greedy, but not for my own sake. I want to establish an international headquarters for Buddhism that can propagate the Proper Dharma. Everyone who comes to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, regardless of what he or she thinks, is really coming to protect the City. Even if they slander the City, they are in fact helping the City. I am not afraid of being scolded or slandered. I wouldn't have come to America if I were. No matter how much people may slander me, it's perfectly fine with me.
学佛要多吃亏，永嘉大师说：
In studying Buddhism, we have to learn to take losses. Great Master Yongjia said,
“闻恶言，是功德，此则成吾善知识，不因讪谤起冤亲，何表无生慈忍力。”
Contemplate vicious words as merit and virtue; Then vicious words become one's good advisors. Do not let abuse and slander arouse enmity. How else can one express the power of compassion and patience with the nonarising of dharmas?
有人骂你，是帮助你向好了走，所以要“顺逆皆精进，毁誉不动心。”不要因讪谤便起冤恨之心，应该冤亲平等，一视同仁；否则怎样表达无生法忍的慈悲力量呢？
People who scold us are in fact helping us in our cultivation. Therefore, we must advance vigorously in favorable as well as adverse circumstances, and allow neither praise nor slander to sway us. There is no need to feel resentful when we are slandered. We should treat friends and enemies with equal kindness. Otherwise, how can we express the compassionate strength that arises from patience with the nonarising of dharmas?
一九七九年十一月六日开示
A talk given on November 6, 1979
