在家人上庙烧香，认为烧香越多，功德就越多，这是错误的观念；出家人宣传烧纸钱，让死者有钱贿赂狱卒，这是卑鄙的手段。 When laypeople go to the temple, they think that the more incense they burn, the more merit they will have. That's wrong. Left-home people say that burning paper money gives the deceased money to bribe the wardens of the hells. That's a vile tactic.
我觉得中国佛教有很多迷信的色彩存在，有些不合情理的事情，令人起怀疑而不信佛。这种种的地方，必须要改革，如果不大刀阔斧修正一番，佛教的前途就不堪设想了！
I feel that Chinese Buddhism contains a lot of superstition. The irrational ideas and practices that cause people to lose faith in Buddhism should be reformed. If sweeping changes aren't made, I can hardly imagine what will become of Buddhism in the future.
譬如上庙烧香；认为烧香得越多，功德也就越多，其实这是错误的观念。给佛上香，是表示恭敬之意，只要虔诚上一支香就够了，何必上很多支呢？如果心不诚，无论上多少香也不会有感应。
For instance, when people go to the temple, they equate the amount of incense they burn with the amount of merit they will earn. That's wrong. We offer incense to the Buddha to show our respect. It's enough to sincerely offer one stick of incense. Why offer so many sticks? If our mind isn't sincere, then no matter how many sticks we offer, there won't be a response.
佛并不是嗜好香气的，如果佛嗜好香，那和我们凡夫又有什么分别呢？这种风气要改，否则令人怀疑佛有贪图香气之心。这样在无意之中，就给佛高尚的名誉加上了污点，实在是罪过之至！
It's not that Buddhas like the smell of incense. If they did, they would be no different from ordinary people. We have to change this trend; otherwise, people will think that Buddhas crave the smell of incense, and the lofty name of Buddhism will be ruined. That would truly be a great offense!
一般愚夫愚妇到佛前叩头，这是理所当然，但是他们不知道拜佛是怎回事？只知道祈求佛保护他们升官发财、平安，求男求女，求名求利，一切所求都是自私自利的表现，没有利人利世的想法。佛菩萨虽然有求必应，不令众生失望，但是贪求无厌，那就不对了。我看到这种情形，很有感触，所以要改革这种愚夫愚妇拜佛的观念，开导他们为信仰而拜佛，为祈求世界和平而拜佛，要有正大光明的祈求，为人不为己，这才是真正佛教徒的行为。
Ordinary people are doing the right thing when they bow before the Buddhas, but they don't know the real meaning behind it. They only pray to the Buddhas for protection, a good position, good fortune, peace, a son or daughter, fame, and profit. The things they seek show that they are selfish and only want to benefit themselves. They don't think about benefitting people or helping the world.Although the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas respond to all prayers and do not disappoint any living being, it is not right to be insatiably greedy. When I see this kind of situation, I have many feelings. I wish to change people's views about bowing to the Buddhas. I want to teach them that they should bow to the Buddhas to show their faith and to pray for world peace. Their prayers should be proper, noble, and bright. They should pray for others, not for themselves. That's how true Buddhists should behave.
有不肖的出家人，宣传烧纸钱有大用处，让死者有钱可以贿赂狱卒，减轻刑罚。有的人听法师说，烧纸钱越多越好，就相信法师所说的话，因为他们认为出家人不打妄语。哪知这其中另有秘密，出家人暗中得好处，所以大家心照不宣，狼狈为奸，欺骗当事人的金钱，这种手段多么卑鄙！所以我要改革烧纸钱的陋习，打倒迷信，不要令佛教受不白之冤，佛教不是提倡烧纸钱的宗教。
Some left-home people advocate the benefits of burning paper money, saying that it provides the deceased with money to bribe the wardens of the hells to reduce their sentences. Thinking that monks don't lie, some people believe those Dharma Masters who tell them the more paper money they burn, the better. What they don't know is that those monks make a hidden profit. Those monks maintain a silent conspiracy of cheating people out of their money. What vile tactics! I want to change the custom of burning paper money. I want to overthrow superstition; I don't want Buddhism to receive undeserved criticism. Buddhism does not advocate burning paper money.
一九八三年十月十五日开示
A talk given on October 15, 1983