闻思而不修，犹如识途而不行，最终一事无成

Many people have heard the teaching of the Three Supreme Methods before, but that is not enough. To actually practice it is the most crucial. In my opinion, there is no need to hear more teachings if a teaching cannot be put into practice. One should learn to apply faithfully one teaching at a time. Like walking, one only needs to see clearly some ten meters or so of the road ahead in order to move steadily forward. Conversely, knowing the condition of the road a hundred or even a thousand miles ahead but staying put at the starting point would be completely useless.

也许很多人以前也知道三殊胜，但仅仅知道是不够的，关键问题在于能否做到。若不能做到，我认为就没有必要听更多的法，先把听到的法落实到行为上，做到一个，再听下一个。就像在走路时，如果能先看清眼前的十几米路，就可以稳稳当当地往前行进。如果始终寸步未行，那么，即使前面一百公里、一千公里的路况你都能了然于心，也是于事无补的。

True, it is not that easy to be a real Buddhist, but do not let that discourage you either. Are renunciation and bodhicitta only fit for gods and celestial beings to develop? No, it is totally possible, even now in the so-called period of decline of the Dharma, for ordinary people like us to generate renunciation and bodhicitta. If they were only the privileges of the Buddhas and the bodhisattvas of the first bhumi, and impossible to be achieved by ordinary people, we would not be able to do anything even knowing that we are not yet qualified as Buddhist practitioners. But it is not like that at all. Renunciation and bodhicitta are something that ordinary people are absolutely capable of generating. We need not be too discouraged or too arrogant, just honestly evaluate ourselves and spur ourselves on all the time to make constant improvement and not be a practitioner in name only. The fact that we are probably not yet practitioners by any standards ought to keep us under pressure and ultimately push us to make progress. Nothing but serious actions can lead us to success.

所以，要做一名真正的佛教徒没有那么容易，但大家也不用因此而灰心失望。出离心、菩提心，是否只有神仙或天堂里的帝释、梵天才能做到呢？事实并非如此。发起出离心、菩提心，完全是人，而且是像我们这些末法时代的凡夫俗子所能够做到的。如果出离心和菩提心，是佛或者登地菩萨的专利，凡夫根本无法办到，则即使知道自己不是修行人也无济于事。但实际情况却不是这样，这些发心都是普通人力所能及的。所以，我们既不用太气馁，也不能太傲慢，而是要如实地衡量自己，对自己有一个正确评价，并时刻激励自己：“我必须努力改善、不断进步，决不再做名义上的修行人！”当我们知道自己什么也不是，并有了压力之后，才会努力去改善。只有踏踏实实地付诸行动，我们才会成功。

People are likely to go astray if these points are overlooked. I think it is really unnecessary for some to hear the profound teachings like the Great Perfection just yet. Does it mean there is no benefit in listening to those teachings? No, that’s not what it means. Hearing the teaching certainly can plant some good seeds in the mindstream while also having the inherent merit associated with listening to the Dharma, but no other benefit to speak of. Therefore, I believe, without the necessary foundation, it is not very meaningful to rush into receiving those teachings. The most pressing task right now is to adjust the motivation.

不重视这些问题，是会走错路的。我想，有些人根本没有必要去听大圆满等高深之法。是否听闻这些法没有利益呢？不是，这样做也可以在心田里播下一些好的种子，也有闻法的功德，但除此之外，再没有其他好处。所以我认为，在基础不具备的情况下，仓促地去听这些法，并没有很大意义。当务之急，是调整动机。

Of course, only we ourselves know if we have aroused renunciation or bodhicitta. Unless someone has the ability to read other people’s minds, it is impossible for anyone else to know even through fortune telling or divination. Thus, for the sake of monitoring our development, we must act as our own most unforgiving supervisor.

当然，是否具有出离心、菩提心，只有自己心里明白。除非有他心通，否则，其他人即使通过算命、打卦，也是不可能了解的。所以，我们必须成为在监督自己方面不讲情面的纠察员。