存敬　林鈺堂

眾生本來皆清明，覺受所迷行貪嗔；
一旦醒悟無異佛，待彼自覺常存敬。

跋

眾生忙於貪嗔癡，以致本具清明不顯。吃苦未深，所以難反省。苦極行不通，卻有捫心自問之可能。待彼自覺，不敢輕慢，故常存敬意於應對之際。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　二○○二年二月九日
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　養和齋　　　於加州

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Maintaining Respect　Yutang Lin

Clarity of mind is innate to all sentient beings,
Deluded by senses into acting mad and greedy.
Once awakened all are no less than Tathagatas.
With all respect I wait for their self-awakening.

Comment:

Sentient beings are preoccupied with greed, anger and fixation so much so that their innate clarity of mind becomes hidden. They have not suffered enough to the point that they would reflect on their ways of life. When suffering to the extreme point of facing impenetrable hindrance, then there might be the possibility of self-examination. Expecting their self-awakening, I dare not treat them lightly; therefore, in daily contacts I constantly maintain respect to other beings.

Written in Chinese on February 9, 2002
Translated on February 27, 2002
El Cerrito, California

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