ENG version

我經常走訪世界各國，巡察各地佛光會的會務，目睹會員們盡心盡力，任勞任怨地付出心血，心中實感敬佩，但也深深的覺得：大家分布在全球各地，不但對於佛光會的宗旨、目標必須要有深刻的了解，對於自己如何發展佛光會務也應該要有具體的認識，才能充分落實人間佛教的理念。所以，我今天要以下列四點來說明佛光會員的進展：

(一) 希望大家做好「佛光會員」：就長遠的目標而言，理想的佛光會員就是圓滿人格的人間菩薩。凡是可以增加我們般若智慧，開發我們內心能源，堅定我們信心道念，培養我們福德因緣的一切事務，我們都應該努力學習，要求自己成為優秀的佛光會員，尤其在見和同解上，更要加強認識。

一個優秀的佛光會員應該要熟悉本會的章程、宗旨、目標、信條，以利於會務的推動；必須勤讀本會指定的經典書刊，以增進對佛法的體悟；能夠主動介紹本會給大家認識，以吸收更多的生力軍；並且盡力維護《佛光世紀》，為這一份屬於會員大眾的刊物提供佛教訊息、會務動態、修持心德、閱讀感想，以使大家共霑法益。

為使佛光會在瞬息萬變的社會中能日日茁壯，我建議每個協會每個月要有一次幹部聯誼，藉此互鄉砥礪切磋；每半年要有一次全體會員的聚會，報告半年以來的工作情況，檢討平日會務的利弊得失，表揚熱心會員的善心義舉，策畫下半年度的組織活動，時時自我觀照反省，經常提供創見美意。這些都是優秀的佛光會員應該具備的條件。

(二) 希望大家建設「佛光人家」：我們一生當中，與家人相處的時間最長，所以家庭對於人格成長有密切的關係。「佛光人家」是基於共同信仰，秉持佛教理念，彼此成就，憂戚與共的理想家庭。所以，「佛光人家」不但是現代的佛化家庭，也是佛光淨土的雛形。

我希望有志一同的夫婦都能連袂參加佛光會的活動，研習佛光會的課程，並且在家中設立佛堂，研覽經書聖典，閱讀《佛教叢書》、《佛光世紀》、《普門雜誌》、《覺世月刊》，共同分享心得。

身為父母的會員們應該將佛光會的精神理念運用在言行舉止上，為子女們樹立學習的榜樣，讓孩子們從小在佛光的薰陶下成長。最好全家大小都能定期前往隸屬佛光會團體會員的寺院道場禮佛共修，積極參加佛光會的活動，一起學習。此外，每年應要求一次「家庭普照」，務求佛光家庭的每一位成員都能在生活中奉行佛法，共同攜手邁向幸福光明的人生大道。

(三) 希望大家發展「佛光社區」：「佛光社區」就是佛光家庭的擴大。身為佛光會員，對於人間的關懷不應止於一人一家而已，我們要把法喜禪悅分享給左鄰右舍，所以，各位會員可以發動街坊鄰里成立插花布置、素食烹飪、書法美術、舞蹈歌詠等才藝班，共同美化生活；可以引領社區成員至道場寺院參加法會活動，共同淨化心靈；可以組織各種義工，共同發揮服務熱忱；可以設置兒童班、親子會，共同關心子女教育。

藉著大家在生活上守望相助，在修行上交換心得，將佛法的溫馨和樂充滿社區每一戶人家，讓我們的巷道街衢成為佛光巷、佛光街，讓我們生活的社區成為佛光社區。

(四) 希望大家創造「佛光淨土」：佛光會的終極目標，就是在人間創造「佛光淨土」。

「佛光淨土」是什麼樣的世界呢？「佛光淨土」是一個佛化的世界，在「佛光淨土」中，每一個人都皈依三寶，受持五戒，明因識果，廣結善緣。「佛光淨土」是一個善美的世界，在「佛光淨土」裡，大家所看到的都是美麗的事物，所聽到的都是悅耳的聲音，囗中所說的都是良言美語，手中所做的事情都是善行義舉。「佛光淨土」是一個安樂的世界，人與人之間沒有嫉妒，只有尊重；沒有憎恨，只有祥和；沒有貪慾，只有喜捨；沒有傷害，只有成就。「佛光淨土」是一個喜悅的世界，人人都翱遊在和煦的春風中，家家都共沐在佛法的慈光裡，時時都是良辰美日，處處都是般若天地。

從做好「佛光會員」到建設「佛光人家」，從建設「佛光人家」到發展「佛光社區」，從發展「佛光社區」到創造「佛光淨土」，雖有大小層次之別，但彼此之間都有相輔相成的密切關係，有時可以同時進行，有時必須次第實踐，希望大家能夠靈活運用在日常生活上。

How to Advance BLIA

Whenever I visit BLIA chapters around the world, I am heartened by their dedication and perseverance. The BLIA can grow only through the work of its members. Since our chapters are spread our all over the world, I want to use the following sections to describe in detail how each member should think of the BLIA. In earlier chapters we discussed the general aims of the BLIA. Those aims are our guiding principles, and they are very important. At the same time, it is equally important that each member of the BLIA also have a concrete under- standing of how to participate most effectively in the BLIA.

Be a good member

The ideal member of the BLIA would be a perfect bodhisattva. Since few of us have reached this level of accomplishment, it would be good for all of us to concentrate on developing the qualities of a bodhi- sattva: patience, wisdom, compassion, forbearance and  caring. As we strive to develop these qualities in ourselves, each member of the BLIA should also make himself thoroughly aware of the aims, goals and beliefs of the BLIA.

When all of us hold the same goals, our work together will be very productive. Thus, it is important that we all read BLIA publi- cations and participate in BLIA activities. Since there is more BLIA reading material available in Chinese than in other languages, and since we are unable to translate everything fast enough to keep up with the demand, people who do not read Chinese should look to their local temples, or to Chinese speakers among them, for more detailed explanations of BLIA affairs. I do not want to encourage non-Chinese speakers to be passive here. Speakers of other languages can develop their own publications and offer their own ideas for the development of the BLIA at any time. The BLIA is a worldwide organization. As time goes on, we will invariably develop centers steeped in languages other than Chinese. For the time being, the very attempts of non-Chi- nese speakers to participate fully in the BLIA will create excellent conditions for all of us to learn from each other.

Since the world changes so fast nowadays, I want to encourage every chapter of the BLIA to hold a chapter meeting at least once a month. BLIA members should do their utmost to be present at  these meetings. Every half-year, BLIA chapters should hold larger meetings at which semiannual reports are presented and ideas for the next half-year can be worked out. These meetings should provide an opportunity for every member to express himself or herself, and they should, ultimately, encourage all of us to be as creative as we can throughout the year.

Be like family

For most of us, the family is the most important unit of social inter- action. Our personalities are formed within families, and most of our adult needs circle around family. The BLIA should be like a family to its members. We all have the same beliefs and ideals, and on the basis of these, we should seek to develop the acceptance and sharing that must characterize an effective family unit.

In addition to this, the BLIA should be exceptionally open to participation by whole family units. We should encourage husbands and wives to join together, and we should encourage children to attend events designed for them. In this way, the Dharma can be passed on to the next generation when members of that generation are still small and receptive. There is nothing better for a family than to have all of its members worship and learn together. And there is nothing better for Buddhism than to have many generations learning the Dharma together.

Be a community

Community, essentially, is an expansion of the family. In another sense, community is growth beyond the family. I hope members of the BLIA will not allow themselves to become narrow Buddhists who only are willing to practice in small groups or by themselves. All of us must work together to make our chapters inviting and pleasant for all members. At the same time, we should always be looking to expand our influence beyond the limits of our current enrollment. When we are successful at building community among ourselves, we will naturally want to reach out to include more people.

Acommunity should be dynamic, and it must be open to persons of all kinds. The very basis of true community is harmony among differ- ence. Do not expect to be on good terms immediately with everyone in your BLIA community. We should, however, all be expected to communicate and try our best to find common ground that will allow us to build our organization.

Communities meet many kinds of human needs. As we recognize our own need for community, it is imperative that we simultane- ously recognize the needs of other people to be in community with us.

Cooperation need be built on nothing more than that realization. Beyond that, if the truths of the Dharma are added to our efforts, the communities we will succeed in building will have enormous value for us, as well as for the generations after us.

The Pure Land

To make this world into a Pure Land is our ultimate goal. The Pure Land is our highest standard, and it is our highest ideal. But what would a Pure Land in this world look like? In a Pure Land, everyone would take refuge in Buddhism, everyone would uphold the five precepts, everyone would understand cause and effect, and everyone would do his or her utmost to develop good relations with others. With these fundamental attitudes in place, this world would become  a very beautiful place indeed. People’s vision and awareness would be raised to the point where beauty was present in everything. Every sight, every sound and every word spoken would be part of a larger vision of beauty and compassion that included all sentient beings. Every act would be born of kindness, while emotions like jealousy and anger would disappear. Respect would replace hatred, joy would replace greed, and wisdom would replace ignorance. The Pure Land is a fundamental aspect of our minds. By emphasizing these positive aspects, and by acting on them, the BLIA will do a large part of the work necessary to bringing the Pure Land fully into reality in this saha world.