四 自尊
「尊」是尊重，「自尊」就是自己尊重自己。可是人都喜歡人家尊重我，而不知我自己尊重自己；不知道要想人家尊重自己，必須我自己尊重自己做起。怎樣尊重自己呢？就是自己時時想著：我當做一個偉大的人，做一個了不起的人。比如我們想做一位清淨的高僧吧，就拿《高僧傳》來讀，看他們怎樣行，我也怎樣行，所謂「彼既丈夫我亦爾。」又比方我想將來做一位大菩薩，那末，就當依經中所載的菩薩行，隨力行去。這就是自尊。但自尊與貢高不同。貢高是妄自尊大、目空一切的胡亂行為；自尊是自己增進自己的德業，其中並沒有一絲一毫看不起人的意思的。
"Respect" means to hold in high regard. "Self-respect" means holding oneself in high regard. However, people generally prefer others to respect them, without knowing how to respect themselves. They don't realize that if they want others to respect them, they must begin by respecting themselves. How does one respect oneself? By constantly thinking: I should become a great person, an extraordinary person. For example, if we want to become a pure and accomplished monk, we should read the *Lives of Eminent Monks*, observe how they conducted themselves, and follow their example—just as the saying goes, "Since they were great, I can be too." Similarly, if we aspire to become a great Bodhisattva in the future, we should practice the Bodhisattva's deeds as recorded in the sutras, to the best of our ability. This is self-respect.
However, self-respect is different from arrogance. Arrogance means being falsely self-important and looking down on everything; it is reckless behavior. Self-respect means cultivating one's own virtue and achievements, without even a hint of looking down on others.
諸位萬萬不可以為自己是一個小孩子，是一個小和尚，一切不妨隨便些；也不可說我是一個平常的出家人，那裏敢希望做高僧、做大菩薩。凡事全在自己做去，能有高尚的志向，沒有做不到的。
Never think, "I'm just a child, just a young monk—so I can afford to be careless." Nor should you think, "I'm just an ordinary monk—how could I ever aspire to become a great master or a great Bodhisattva?" Everything depends on your own effort. If you set a high goal for yourself, there is nothing you cannot achieve.
諸位如果作這樣想：我是不敢希望做高僧、做大菩薩的，那做事就隨隨便便，甚至自暴自棄，走到墮落的路上去了，那不是很危險的麼？諸位應當知道：年紀雖然小，志氣却不可不高啊！
If you think, "I can never hope to become a great monk or a great Bodhisattva," then you'll end up doing things carelessly, even giving up on yourself and heading down a path of decline. Isn't that very dangerous? You should understand: though you may be young, your aspirations must be high.
我還有一句話，要向大家說，我們現在依佛出家，所處的地位是非常尊貴的，就以剃髮、披袈裟的形式而論，也是人天師表，國王和諸天人來禮拜，我們都可端坐而受。你們知道這道理麼？自今以後，就當尊重自己，萬萬不可隨便了。
"I have one more thing to say to all of you. Now that we have left home life following the Buddha, the position we hold is truly noble and precious. Even in terms of our appearance—shaving our heads and wearing the monastic robes—we become teachers for both humans and heavenly beings. When kings or celestial beings come to pay their respects, we may sit calmly and receive their bows. Do you understand the significance of this? From now on, you must respect yourselves and never act carelessly."