真正佛教徒要问自己：“我在佛教中做了多少事？有多少贡献？是佛教护持我，还是我来护持佛教？” True Buddhist disciples must ask themselves: How much work have we done for Buddhism?What contributions have we made? Is Buddhism supporting me, or am I supporting Buddhism?
今天是美国的国庆节，建国纪念日。国家有纪念日，个人也应该有个纪念日。什么是个人的纪念日？我们现在要开始做个真正的佛教徒，纪念我在佛教中做了多少事？有多少贡献？是佛教护持我，还是我来护持佛教？若是佛教护持我，我应如何去报答佛恩？如果我是护持佛教，就应该问问自己，我出了多少力量？我在心中是否还有渣滓？是否还有污浊的思想？我应该用什么力量来拥护佛教？把这些题目认清楚了，然后才算得上是一个真正的佛教徒，一个真正的拥护佛教者。
Today is the Independence Day of the United States of America, the day for commemorating the founding of the nation. The country has a day of commemoration; each person should also have a day of commemoration. What is each person's day of commemoration? Starting now, we want to become true Buddhist disciples, and we want to remember how much work we have done for Buddhism and what contributions we have made. Is Buddhism supporting me, or am I supporting Buddhism? If Buddhism is supporting me, how am I going to repay the Buddha's kindness? If I am supporting Buddhism, how much strength have I put forth on its behalf? Do I still have garbage in my mind? Do I still have defiled thoughts? What kind of effort should I be exerting to support and protect Buddhism? When I have figured out the answers to these questions, I can be considered a true Buddhist, a true supporter of Buddhism.
万佛圣城，是一个佛教在西方建立的最基本道场，是整个世界佛教的发源地，也是整个世界佛教的归源地；不但如此，也是所有宗教的归源地。无论哪一个宗教，愿意到这里研究佛学，一律欢迎。所以万佛圣城是所有人的万佛圣城，也是所有菩萨、贤圣僧、罗汉、辟支佛的万佛圣城，也是所有善男信女的万佛圣城。你若想做佛教的一份子，就必须拥护万佛圣城，不可以破坏万佛圣城。
The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is one of the fundamental Way-places of Buddhism in the West. It is the source of the world's Buddhism and also the point of return for Buddhism throughout the world. Moreover, it is also the point of return for all religions. Followers of all religions are welcome to come study the Buddha's doctrines here. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is everyone's City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. It is also the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas of all Bodhisattvas, sages and worthies in the Sangha, Arhats, and Pratyekabuddhas. It is also the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas of all kind and faithful people. If you want to be a part of Buddhism, you should definitely support and protect the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and you may not harm the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
护法韦驮菩萨与伽蓝圣众菩萨，过去只是观望着万佛圣城，看着我这一个不会做事的人想建立道场，不知道是否能建立起来？现在我告诉你们：护法韦驮菩萨与伽蓝菩萨！你们不可以再观望了，你们应尽护法的责任来拥护万佛圣城，有万佛圣城就有佛教；若万佛圣城没有了，佛教也没有了！
In the past, the Dharma-protectors Weituo (Vajrapani) Bodhisattva and Qielan (Sangharama) Bodhisattva merely observed the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas from afar, watching to see if such an incapable person as myself would be able to establish a Way-place as I wished to. Now I am telling you, Dharma-protectors Weituo Bodhisattva and Qielan Bodhisattva, you can no longer just watch from a distance. You ought to fulfill your duties as Dharma-protectors and come support the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. If the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas exists, Buddhism exists. If there were no City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, there would be no Buddhism either.
亚洲的佛教已经是生了癌症，不易治好，而在美国的佛教是新生的，所以一切一切都要主持正法。护法韦驮菩萨与伽蓝圣众菩萨，在这个正法出现于世的道场，再不尽心竭力地来拥护佛教，那就够不上是护法韦驮了，也够不上是伽蓝了。这与你过去所发的愿力，是大相违背的。所以我现在明明白白地告诉你们，我已经把万佛圣城建立起来了，你们应该负担起护持的责任。凡是天魔外道、妖魔鬼怪，不准他们到万佛城来捣乱，他们来是可以，但不能兴风作浪，不守万佛圣城的规矩。
Buddhism in Asia has already contracted a cancer which is difficult to cure. In America, Buddhism is newborn, and so we must uphold the Proper Dharma in all respects. Dharma-protectors Weituo Bodhisattva and Qielan Bodhisattva, the Proper Dharma has appeared in the world, at this Way-place. If you don't exhaust your efforts to support Buddhism, you don't deserve to be called Dharma-protectors Weituo and Qielan. You will also be going against the vows you made in the past. I am telling you very clearly right now: I have already established the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and you should take up your responsibility of protecting and supporting it. You should not allow any celestial demon, unbeliever, ghost, or goblin, to come and stir up trouble at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. They may come if they want, but they may not cause an uproar or break the rules.
所有十法界：佛在这儿是住持道场，其它九法界的众生，包括一切天魔外道，都要拥护万佛圣城，以后绝对不允许在万佛圣城中不守规矩，必须循规蹈矩，最低限度，你们天魔外道到这里，不准杀生、不准偷盗、不准邪淫、不准打妄语、不准饮酒吸毒。这是我今天要对你们说的话，无论出家人或在家人，人、鬼、仙、畜生等，都要严守万佛圣城的规矩，不准懈怠！
Of the ten Dharma Realms, the Buddhas are managing this Way-place. The living beings in the other nine Dharma Realms, including heavenly demons and unbelievers, must support the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. They absolutely may not break the rules of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Instead, they must obediently follow the rules. At the very least, when you heavenly demons and unbelievers come here, you are not allowed to kill, steal, engage in sexual misconduct, tell lies, consume alcohol, or take drugs. This is what I want to say to you today. Whether you are a left-home person, a layperson, a ghost, an immortal, an animal, or any other being, you must follow the rules at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. No laxity is allowed!
一九八二年七月四日中午开示于万佛圣城
A talk given at noon on July 4, 1982at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas