文／明．妙葉 (生卒年不詳)

一、念身不求無病，身無病則貪欲易生。

二、處世不求無難，世無難則驕奢必起。

三、究心不求無障，心無障則所學躐等。

四、立行不求無魔，行無魔則誓願不堅。

五、謀事不求易成，事易成則志存輕慢。

六、交情不求益吾，交益吾則虧損道義。

七、於人不求順適，人順適則心必自矜。

八、施德不求望報，德望報則意有所圖。

九、見利不求沾分，利沾分則痴心亦動。

十、被抑不求申明，抑申明則怨恨滋生。

──選自《寶王三昧念佛直指》

Treatise on the King of Treasures Samadhi

Miao Ye (Dates unknown, Ming Dynasty)

English translation: John Balcom

Do not ask for the body to be without sickness, for if the body is without sickness, greed and desire will easily arise.

Do not ask for a world without difficulty, for if the world is without difficulty, arrogance will arise.

Do not ask to investigate the mind without obstruction, for if there is no obstruction you will skip over what you have learned.

Do not ask to practice free from Mara, for practicing free from Mara weakens your vows.

Do not ask to make plans that are easily accomplished, for accomplishing things easily will lead you to despise determination.

Do not make friends that benefit yourself, for making friends that benefit yourself damages your morals and sense of justice.

Do not ask to live with others and be satisfied, for with satisfaction the mind becomes conceited.

Do not ask to give and have the favor returned, for if favors are returned then you will develop improper intentions.

Do not ask for others to share their benefits with you, for having benefits shared with you will lead to the mind moving falsely.

Do not ask to have your own oppression immediately removed, for if oppression is immediately removed anger will arise.

── from Baowang Sanmei Nianfo Zhizhi

(The Jeweled King Samadhi's Direct Guidance

on the Mindfulness of the Buddha)