问：怎样才能修出一个平稳的心态？是不是从四外加行开始反复闻法就行了？还要打坐吗？

Question: How can we cultivate ourselves to have a stable mindset? Is it alright that we just listen to the Dharma repeatedly from the four ordinary preliminaries? Are we still meditating?

答：闻思修，先是听闻，然后思维，最后还得去修。打坐有观修和静修，我们现在修加行是以观修为主。心态放下，不要着急，心态稳定、安住下来，稳稳当当修暇满难得、寿命无常……慢慢这样去修，就行了。

Guru’s answer: Listening, contemplating and practicing Dharma indicate a sequence that we listen to the Dharma first, and then contemplate. Lastly, we have to put it into practice. Meditation includes observing meditation and tranquility meditation. The one we have been doing in the practice of four ordinary preliminaries is observing meditation. We should let go of our mentality and feel no rush. Once the mind is settled and can be dwelled peacefully, we can regularly practice methods such as the difficulty to find the freedoms and advantages as well as the reality of impermanence and death. Follow this sequence when practicing, it will be alright then.

佛法是对治烦恼、对治习气的。能对治烦恼、能对治习气的，就是佛法；没有对治烦恼、没有对治习气的，就不是佛法。你有没有学佛法，就看这个。无论你念什么经、修什么法，若是没有去对治烦恼习气，统统都不是佛法。

Buddha Dharma is to overcome afflictions and habitual patterns. The thing that can overcome afflictions and habitual patterns is Buddha Dharma. Those that don’t eliminate afflictions and habitual patterns are not Buddha Dharma. Whether you learn Buddhism or not, we observe these criteria. No matter what sutras you read, what Dharma methods you practice, if you cannot get rid of afflictions and habitual patterns, they cannot be called Buddha Dharma at all. 

习气难改，烦恼也不好对治，没有一下子都改掉的，你得慢慢来，用佛法去改变自己的烦恼习气，一点一滴去改，一天改变一点也行，不要放弃。最好的是每天都有改变、进步，中等的是每个月都有改变、进步，下等也应该每年都有一些改变、进步。

It is hard to change habitual patterns and overcome afflictions, which cannot be done quickly. It takes time to change your own afflictions and habitual patterns with Buddha Dharma. Change them little by little. It is alright to make a few changes each day and just not give up. The best scenario is we make a change and progress every day. On average, we make changes and progress each month. In worst situation, we should make changes and progress each year.

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