Preface to the First Chinese Edition of the Teachings of Master Hanjing

《師語》中文第一版前言

Hanjing Laoren, the Master Teacher and First Master Emissary, received the heavenly edict to revive God’s teachings on Earth on December 21, 1980, in order to continue the Dao lineage in the world, to preach God’s true Dao, to save all living beings of the world, to avert and dispel nuclear holocausts, to assure freedom, peace and safety in Taiwan, and to promote unification of China based on the Three Principles of the People.1 He was always vigilant about leading and encouraging the strivers2 of the Church to:

師尊，首任首席使者涵靜老人。自庚申年十一月十五日（民國六十九年十二月廿一日）天帝教奉上帝詔命，重來人間，繼開道統以還，為傳播天帝真道、為拯救天下蒼生、為化延核戰浩劫、為台灣地區自由安寧、為促進實現三民主義1統一中國，時時地地，殷殷諄諄，勗勉全教同奮2：

  • Have absolute “faith” in God

－要「信」－絕對信賴　上帝。

  • “Vow” to keep all living beings of the world in their thoughts at all times

－要「願」－心心念念為天下蒼生。

  • Carry out “deeds” without looking for personal gain and without seeking one’s own blessings

－要「行」－不為自己打算，不求個人福報。

He wanted strivers to sacrifice and devote themselves: to the cultivation of righteous qi [aka chi], to exercise the five cardinal disciplines3 day and night, to become initiated, to pay homage to the “Three Treasures”4 and to follow the “Three Mottos”5 religiously.

切切實實犧牲奉獻，培養正氣，早晚力行五門基本功課3，皈奉三寶4，信守三銘5。

He also advised strivers of the Church that:

又苦口婆心，椎心瀝血地昭告全教同奮：

  • A great life can only come about by individuals striving with the community, with the goal of equality of the sacred and the mundane in promoting religious unity, world unity and anthro-celestial unity. Ideal living conditions and environment can thus be achieved.

－美好人生多由個人與群體共同奮鬥而來。奮鬥為求聖凡平等，以進宗教大同、世界大同、天人大同，創造出人生的理想環境。

  • The least one can do is not to disrupt human relationships. More so, we work actively with others, display true camaraderie and carry out the highest ideals that “the world community is equally shared by all” and to “regard the universe as your home.”

—消極的，以不妨礙人際關係；積極的，以通力合作，發揮親愛精誠，實踐天下為公、宇宙為家的崇高理想。

  • Strivers can discern in their minds what they will do or will not do, adhere faithfully to the “Four Precepts of Church Regulations,”6 and behave according to the “Church Code of Life”7 of the Twenty Watchwords.8

—在心地上，明辨其有所不為，信守「教約」四戒6。在行為上，固執「教則」7的二十個字8為其所應為。

  • Strivers should be prepared for danger in times of peace, and continue cultivating during times of adversity. It is important to understand that if you do not cultivate while still alive, you will not be equipped to survive in the nonphysical realm after the transition to the other side.

—應居安思危。在逆境中奮鬥，以成就自己。要知道生前不修，死後將無法具備到無形精神世界生存的條件。

  • Strivers should keep a broad mind and not be restricted by their neighborhood or social status in guiding others to reach the ideal realm of great freedom.

－應心量寬大，不分畛域，不別階級，以導化天下，臻達大自由、大自在的理想境界。

  • Strivers should recognize that although we are all the same and have much in common, we still have differences, and we should accept the sameness in others to help revive the kindness in them. Religious unity and unity of the world all stem from this vision and actions.

－同中有異，異中有同。同於人之所同，使人性復善，宗教由之大同，世運由之大同。

Master Teacher used his personal long-term cultivation experience to inspire strivers to practice the “Supreme Truth-Blossom Vehicle Method for reaching the highest heaven”9 so that they may temper their spirits in dual cultivation of self-nature and physical body.

師尊更以長期修持鑽研之經驗歷程，啟導同奮勤修「法華上乘昊天心法」9，以臻性命雙修之精神鍛煉。

Master Teacher taught tirelessly, with patience and skill. He adapted his teachings to his audience. At times he was like a breeze under the bright moon and at times he spoke with sarcastic tones to inspire the listeners. At times he revealed heavenly secrets. Sometime he would sigh and sometime he would roar like a lion.

師尊循循善誘，誨導不倦，因人資質稟賦，時而春風化雨，時而清風明月，時而隨諷悱啟，時而暗示天機，或而聲聲哀，或而獅子吼。

All strivers of the Church have learned from Master Teacher’s teachings from writings, from personal practice or from his personal spiritual teachings. They have been relieved of their obsessions, awakened from their spiritual deafness or blindness, have come to understand the essence of cultivation, or have come to be in harmony with the Dao, by his teachings or because of them.

全教同奮懍於師尊之言教、身教、心教，得悟痴迷，得啟聾聵，得趣真詮，得證道和。

Master Teacher’s teachings are like pearls coming down from the ninth heaven, as Buddha picking a flower with a smile [for understanding the essence and meaning of life].

師尊語論誠如九天咳唾珠磯墮，如明鏡菩提拈花笑。

This book, the first edition of the Teachings of Master Hanjing, is divided into four parts: “Cultivation”, “Quiet Sitting [Meditation]”, “Striving,” and “Heavenly Mandates.”

爰分輯以「修持篇」、「靜參篇」、「奮鬥篇」、「天命篇」，集為《師語》第一輯。

All Church members should take this book as their motto. As a mirror to reflect upon or as an oar to help them row their boat of life. As a shield to protect them or as a compass to guide them, and as a whip to remind them when they stray with wrong thoughts or deeds.

全教同奮為銘為鑑，作櫓作盾，為南鍼，為棒喝！

[Note: A glossary of terms and concepts that are used in this preface, including superscripts 1-9, are presented as Appendix 6 at the end of the text.]

[註:本文出現附有註腳編號之名詞請參見附錄六《師語》中文第一版前言名詞解釋]

The Publishing Editorial Board of the Teachings of the First Master Emissary, the Master Teacher, December, 1988

首席師尊言行出版編輯委員會謹啟
民國七十七年十二月