当今社会，人心不古，道德沉沦，大多数的人对于道德的观念模糊不清，无法遵循，以致离道德愈远。人乘佛教推行于全世界，为了建立人类新的道德观念，不以谈玄说妙来讲道德，以免使人对于道德问题高深的理论感觉模糊，望之却步，因此圣开导师乃将道德的定义简单的列成一个公式，重新订为：
利己谓之道，
利人谓之德，
利己利人谓之道德。
让世界上各种肤色种族，男女老幼，万业亿行的人类，皆能了解什么是道德，使人人易懂，人人能行，便于遵循，以普及道德观念，达到净化人心，美化世间的目的。
学佛不受之礼
问：学佛的人受到诽谤、侮辱时要如何应付？
师答：学佛的人遇到人家诽谤、侮辱，我们就要用忍辱波罗蜜。所谓“忍辱波罗蜜”，“波罗蜜”就是到彼岸的意思。我们凡夫众生都是在苦海的这边，叫做此岸，我们要以忍辱的精神不要怕受到侮辱，不要怕受到诽谤，我们要以忍辱的精神而达到彼岸。所谓“彼岸”，就是清净光明快乐的彼岸。讲起来，要忍是很不容易，我们从凡夫开始忍，一直到成佛还是要忍。
要讲这个忍字啊，讲一天也讲不完，但是我们学佛的人要知道忍的宝贵，那我们就要做到真正能够忍，要做到真正的忍，就要做到无忍可忍，不是做到忍无可忍。
一般凡夫众生也会忍，忍到忍无可忍的时候，就爆炸了！我们学佛的人跟一般凡夫众生的忍不一样，要无忍可忍，要把人家骂你的、侮辱你的、诽谤你的消化掉，有人骂你、侮辱你、诽谤你，你就笑一笑，认为说诽谤你的人是善知识。假使有人跟你讲说：“某人诽谤你啊！某人侮辱你啊！”你口里讲说：“阿弥陀佛，无量光明！”就好了，因为阿弥陀佛有无量光明，无量寿命，无量功德。有人对你不好，或者有人对你很好，你也是念一声阿弥陀佛，就把黑暗变成光明。
假使人家诽谤你、侮辱你，你都记在心里，这样就会害了自己。那么你检讨自己，觉得可能我确实有不好的地方吧！人家才会侮辱我、才会诽谤我，人家不讲我也不知道，人家讲了我就知道改进改过，那不是最好的吗！
假使你没有不好的地方，那么你就把他当作不懂事、当作小孩子，那也没有关系啊！你慈悲心生起来，体谅对方可能没有知识，那侮辱我有什么关系啊！我没有什么损害吧！你这样子就把它度到彼岸了。
就好像人家送礼给你，你可以接受，也可以不受。我来讲个故事。
佛陀在世的时候，有一个年轻人，他没有知识，有一天跑到佛陀的地方，胡言乱语，讲了一通。他讲完了，佛陀很高兴说：“喔！好！好！好！今天有缘哪，你来跟佛陀讲这些话，佛陀听了好高兴。”佛陀就反问他说：“你家里有没有办过喜事啊？过年、过节有没有准备些好的东西要送给亲戚朋友啊？ ”
他说：“有啊！有啊！过年过节办喜事，我妈妈都会准备很多好东西要我送去给亲戚朋友。”
佛陀又问他：“假使你的亲戚朋友不收你的礼物，那你怎么办呢？”
那么这个青年就回答：“不收礼物，我就拿回来嘛！东西是我的，不收我就拿回来嘛！”
佛陀很幽默的说：“今天你认为你跟佛陀讲的这许多话是很好的礼物，但是佛陀不需要啦，那你怎么办呢？还是带回去吧！”
他这一想，不对啦！在佛陀面前讲错话，佛陀也没有生气，他想想，马上就跪下来：“佛陀啊！我向你忏悔，我今天讲不对啦！”
佛陀就讲说：“没有关系，没有关系，你来了，你骂佛陀也是有缘啦！你称赞佛陀也是有缘啊！”
他听到说没有关系，他心里面就好高兴。这个青年听到说他跟佛陀有缘，好惭槐！惭愧心生起来：“佛陀！那我现在顶礼，我来皈依你好不好？”佛陀说：“好好好，有缘有缘。”皈依佛陀以后就好高兴的回去了。
这个故事是在佛教的大藏经里面的。我们学佛修行就要像佛陀这样子，你骂我也没有关系，你讲坏话也没有关系，佛陀还说我们有缘有缘。所以我们学佛啊，在任何地方碰到人家诽谤我们、讲我们坏话、侮辱我们，我们也笑笑：“阿弥陀佛，有缘，有缘。”以后他就：“哎！这个人这么奇怪！”他还跟你做好朋友：“下次你带我去皈依好吧！”那你就把他度来了。
假使他诽谤你，你就气得脸红脖子粗，摩拳擦掌，马上要跟他打起来了，那怎么办？那你就受相赠与——接受了他的礼物啦！所以我们学佛啊，要学佛不受之礼，要知道这种方法，不受这种礼物。
自性即佛性
问：时常听到“自性”这两字，请问要怎样解释？
师答：“自性”就是佛性，以物来讲叫做法性，有情众生的自性叫做佛性。其实有情无情同圆种智，法性、佛性是一体的。
Reflections in a Covid 19 world
By Pei Qi
Transience
As a Buddhist, I have been taught about the transience of all phenomenon and to see past the illusions of all that are mere reflections and consequences of karma. The Covid 19 situation has changed and taken away all that I have taken for granted. The experience of living in a Covid 19 world is a humbling one; it has shaken to the core, the foundations of the social constructs we have formed. It has got me thinking, at the end of the day, what is really mine? What is it that I am in control of? If a virus can change everything overnight, isn’t this a testimony to the truth that nothing is permanent? I thank my teachers who have taught me the Dharma. These teachings that I have held close to me, have allowed me to transit quite calmly into this new world order that is dictated by the whims and fancy of the virus.
Mindfulness in daily life
Working from home has blurred the lines between family and work. More so than ever, I must not let emotions slow me down so that I can be a good employee and mother. Multitasking is not easy and I have learnt that if I keep a calm rational mind and keep a good watch over my thoughts, I can get the job done quicker with less fuss. When in a state of mindfulness, we will not hurt people with unintended consequences as a result of unmindful words and actions. The practice of sitting meditation is very essential as we do need some quiet time to watch our mind and maintain a state of awareness in stillness, with no distractions and I do my best to make it a part of me and my children’s daily routine. The state of mindfulness should not be restricted to the time we spend on sitting meditation, but every single moment of our lives. Consistent sitting meditation practice can, and will reinforce our ability to watch our mind and return to a state of mindfulness easily as we go about our daily lives.
Empathy during these difficult times
As a Buddhist, I have also learnt to be emphatic to the needs and opinions of others during this Covid 19 situation, however diverse they may be. There have been so many opinions on how to manage the changes and in order for one not to be frustrated and confused, one needs to be able to take a step away and look at things not just from a larger perspective but also from another person’s point of view. Putting biases and personal likes aside when handling a matter or making a decision takes a lot of wisdom and self-awareness. I often fall back on Buddhist teachings when I have a difficult decision to make and when I do that, problems become less complicated.
Buddhist congregation sessions during Circuit Breaker period
To allow us to continue with Dharma practice during the Circuit Breaker period, our Dharma teachers, together with a team of volunteers have put our weekly Dharma sessions online with Zoom and I am unendingly grateful to them for providing this platform for us to practise and listen to the Dharma as a congregation. As I chant the names of the Bodhisattvas, I am so grateful to the mercy they have shown, the guidance and hope they have given to mankind. May all fellow Buddhist practitioners continue to practise the way of the Bodhisattvas and emulate the Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future. May all fellow Buddhist practitioners continue to cultivate and transfer the merit of our practice to all sentient beings in this world of suffering.
Be With Buddha.