所有的人类，一切一切都是向外驰求，心外求法，越跑越远，总也追不上。但是越追不上，就越要追，这就叫舍本逐末，舍近求远。
The human race is engaged in the pursuit of external things. We seek the Dharma outside the mind. The more we chase it, the farther we stray. We can never catch up with it. Although we cannot catch up, we are ever more eager in our pursuit. Paying attention to trivialities, we forget our main objective. Rejecting what is near at hand, we seek far away.
你们各位以为现在这个计算机、电视、电话、电冰箱等等是好东西，其实这都是一种表法，一种在外边迷人的东西，令人执迷不悟。可是你若真明白了，也是令你觉悟的一种东西。就好像眼耳鼻舌身意这六根，它能令人堕落；可是你若会用它，也能令人修行无上菩提。
People think computers, televisions, telephones, refrigerators, and so on are good things, and they tend to become attached to them. If we truly understand these things, they can help us become enlightened. They are like the six senses: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. These six thieves can cause people to indulge in evil ways. However, if you know how to use them, they can help you to cultivate and attain Buddhahood.
现在外边有计算机这些东西出现，可是我们自性里边这些妙不可思议的东西都是具足的，本来不需要向外去驰求。但是因为我们自己令自己这些宝贝──妙不可言的常住真心，性净明体，被五蕴遮障了，所以不能现了。因为被遮障着，所以就舍近求远，不知道回光返照。
Computers and the like appear to be external objects, but actually they exist within our own nature. We do not have to seek outside for them. We cannot see these treasures, which come from our everlasting true mind and our pure, bright nature, simply because they have been obscured by the five skandhas. Since they are covered up by ignorance, we forget what is near to us and seek what is far away. We don't know how to look within ourselves.
外边有计算机，我们每一个人自己也都有个计算机，这个又叫做神脑，也可以称为圣脑，也可以称为佛脑，也就是那个大智慧。那么现在的科学家，发明这些东西，都是往外驰求，越找越远。他们在皮毛上转来转去，好像有所得，其实把本有的智慧都忘了，这就叫舍本逐末。
Within our own nature, we each have a computer called the divine mind, the sacred mind, or the Buddha mind; it is simply great wisdom. Nowadays, scientists come up with an endless stream of new inventions, but they are actually wandering farther and farther off the track. They are searching outside themselves, on a superficial level. They may seem to have attained something, but actually they have forgotten their inherent wisdom. This is to concentrate on details while forgetting the main objective.
我们修道人是舍末求本，把末梢不要了，找这个根本的法门。根本的法门就是怎么样才能圆满自己本有的佛性。怎么样才能返本还原，恢复我们本有的大圆镜智、平等性智、妙观察智、成所作智？这四智都是智能的表现，而计算机只不过是四智里头百千万亿分的一少部分。所以我们各位把真金都不认识，尽拿这些黄铜来玩，这是很可怜啊！我们现在修行的人，都要认识自己真正本有的智慧，我们不要向外去驰求。
Cultivators should concentrate on the main objective and renounce the petty details. We should discard the minor parts and search for the fundamental Dharma-door. How can we perfect our own original Buddha-nature? How can we return to the source and go back to the origin? How can we recover our inherent Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom, our Wisdom of Equality, our Wonderful Contemplative Wisdom, and our Wisdom of Accomplishment? These four are manifestations of wisdom, while the computer is only a tiny fraction of one-trillionth part of the Four Kinds of Wisdom. People tend to mistake brass for gold; they are very pitiful. As cultivators, we should recognize our inherent wisdom instead of seeking far and wide outside.
那么外边这些东西是不是不用它呢？前一阵子我说计算机等科技是妖怪，令人都失业，懒惰懈怠，养成一种好逸恶劳的思想。这样下去，不久人在世界上就没有用了。既然没有用了，当然这一场戏就快要闭幕了──人都没有用了，还要人干什么？反过来说，人若觉悟，以真智慧来采用科技，而不是让科技来控制人，那么，当然可以做出很多裨益人群的东西。总而言之，同一样东西，就看你会不会用。应该是人用计算机，而不是让计算机来控制人心。所谓
Does that mean we should not use external things at all? A while back, I mentioned that computers and other products of technology are monsters that put people out of work, making them lazy and causing them to detest toil and be fond of ease. If this continues, human beings will soon become useless. Once there is no use for the human race, the show will be over and the curtains will fall. What will people be needed for? On the other hand, if people wake up and utilize scientific technology wisely instead of letting themselves be controlled by it, it can benefit humankind in many ways. In general, no matter what it is, it depends on how you use it. People should use computers, but not let their minds be controlled by computers.
见事省事出世间，
见事迷事堕沉沦。
If you recognize what you see,
you can transcend the world.
If you are confused by what you see,
you will sink and drown.
一九八三年三月廿五日晚间开示
于万佛圣城
A talk given on March 25, 1983,
at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
