Episode 217 — 為什麼學生隻能跟一個老師學

希望我們同學要認真努力，不要受到外人影響，跟一個老師，這個老師會幫助你，老師太多，問題出來了。我在前面跟諸位做過報告，我還沾了一點邊緣，就是中國師承的傳統。師承，老師對學生的要求，三樁事情：

I hope everyone would seriously work hard by learning from one teacher and would not be influenced by outsiders. If you learn from one teacher, this teacher will help you succeed in your learning. Having too many teachers will pose problems. As I mentioned to you earlier, I am considered fortunate to have come into contact with the Chinese tradition of a teacher’s lineage, whereby the teacher would request his students to meet three conditions.

第一個，你在拜老師之前老師告訴你，你過去所學的我統統不承認，這第一個條件；第二個條件，從今天起只能跟他一個人學，只能聽他一個人講經教學，不可以找第二個人，什麼大德在這個地區講經、講演都不能去聽，除非他同意，他不同意不可以去；第三個，從拜老師這一天起，你看的文字，你看些什麼書、看些什麼經，都要經過他同意，他不同意不准看。

First, before you pay respect to the teacher, he will tell you that he would not acknowledge everything that you have learned in the past. This is the first condition. The second condition is from today onward, you can only learn from him and listen to his Dharma lectures, and not anyone else’s. Hence, you cannot go and listen to any great masters’ Dharma lectures in your area unless he grants you the permission. The third condition is from the day you pay respect to him and regard him as your teacher, you can only read the texts, books and sutras approved by him.

你完全能夠接受，老師最後告訴你有期限的，五年，五年之內一定要遵守，你才能學到東西。這三個條件是什麼？就是覺明菩薩說的不懷疑、不夾雜、不間斷，跟一個老師。你跟兩個老師，老師看法、想法不一樣，老師講的不一樣，你到底跟誰？

If you can fully accept these conditions, the teacher would tell you that you have to abide by them for five years so that you can learn something. What are these three conditions? They are what Jueming Miaoxing Bodhisattva taught us: to have no doubts, no distractions and no interruptions. This is the advantage of learning from one teacher. If you learn from two teachers, who should you follow if these two teachers have different opinions and say different things?

三個老師就迷惑顛倒了，三個人三個說法怎麼辦？四個老師四個說法，你就沒法走路了。中國教學自古以來就是一個老師，不可能同時兩個老師。一個老師學完畢業了，大概畢業都是五年，學習期限是五年，五年之後你離開，如果你覺得還有高明的，你可以再跟一個人，行，這個可以。

With three teachers, you will become confused. What should you do if these three teachers say different things? With four teachers saying different things, you would not be able to walk. The Chinese pedagogy since ancient times has been learning from one teacher and it was impossible to have two teachers at the same time. Upon completion of the 5-year study period under one teacher, you can learn from another wise teacher if you think there is one.

你再跟一個老師，老師告訴你，你從前學的我不承認。為什麼？承認要辯論，辯論很辛苦，老師不願意跟你辯論。我不承認，你得聽我的；你要不服，不服你離開，我不教你，你另請高明。這叫師承。

This teacher will again tell you that he would not acknowledge everything that you have learned before. What is the reason? Because if he were to acknowledge your previous learnings, you would have debates with him. Getting into a debate is very painful, so the teacher is unwilling to do so. By unacknowledging your past learnings, you have no choice but to listen to him. You can leave and look for another wise teacher if you do not accept it because he would not teach you. This is called ‘teacher’s lineage.’