AgoodadvisorcultivatesinaccordwiththeBuddhadharma;
aneviladvisorcultivatesinaccordwithdemonicdharma.
浅言之，善知识就是有智能的人，恶知识就是愚痴的人。善知识有正知正见，恶知识有邪知邪见。合乎佛法就是正知正见，不合乎佛法就是邪知邪见。善知识依照佛法修行，恶知识依照魔法修行，善恶的关键在这个地方来分别。
Agoodadvisorissomeonewithwisdom;aneviladvisorisanignorantperson.Agoodadvisorhasproperknowledgeandviews;aneviladvisorhasdeviantknowledgeandviews.ProperknowledgeandviewsaccordwiththeBuddhadharma;deviantknowledgeandviewsdonot.AgoodadvisorcultivatesinaccordwiththeBuddhadharma,aneviladvisorcultivatesinaccordwithdemonicdharma.Thesearethecriteriathatdifferentiategoodandevil.
善知识用“四摄法”来教化人。何谓四摄法?就是布施、爱语、利行、同事。这四种法容易和众生打成一片，令众生对于佛法发生兴趣，深信佛法。
AgoodadvisorteachesandtransformspeoplewiththeFourMethodsofConversion:giving,kindwords,beneficialconduct,andcooperation.Withthesefourmethods,youcangetalongeasilywithlivingbeings,inspiringtheirinterestandeventuallytheirdeepfaithintheBuddhadharma.
(一)布施：要想令人相信佛法，必须布施财和法给他，令他对你发生好感。
(二)爱语：就是不违背人情，不违背佛法，说些慈爱的话。
(三)利行：随起身口意行，令众生各沾法益。
(四)同事：对于应度的众生与他做同样的工作。
1.Giving:ForpeopletohaveagoodimpressionofusandtoenablethemtobelieveintheBuddhadharma,wegivethembothwealthandDharma.
2.Kindwords:Wespeakkindly,followingtheprincipleofnotgoingagainsthumanfeelingsoragainsttheBuddha-dharma.
3.Beneficialconduct:Withourbody,mouthandmind,webringthebenefitsofDharmatolivingbeings.
4.Cooperation:Weworkalongsidethesamelivingbeingswewanttoliberate.
这四种法，是联络感情的方法。你能言行一致，大公无私，以身作则，见义勇为。众生自然相信你所说的话，也就相信佛法是度生死海的宝筏。
Thesefourmethodsaremeanstogetintouchwithanddeveloprapportwithlivingbeings.Ifyoucanbeconsistentinyouractionsandwords,beselfless,setanexamplewithyourownconduct,andactcourageouslyandrighteously,thenlivingbeingswillnaturallybelievewhatyousayandwillalsobelievethattheBuddhadharmaisapreciousvesselforcrossingtheoceanofbirthanddeath.
你们来到这里听经研究佛法，都是有大知识的人。要知道菩提自性本是清净的。本来清净，就是一法不立，一尘不染，不假造作，本来现前，本来具足。这个菩提自性，也就是佛性。这一点，各位要特别注意!
YoupeoplewhocomeheretolistentoSutralecturesandinvestigatetheBuddhadharmaareallgreatlearnedones.Youshouldknowthattheinherent,enlightenednatureisfundamentallyclearandpure.Withintheinherentnaturenotasingledharmaisestablished,norisitdefiledbyanydust.Thisnatureisnotproduced;itisfundamentallyapparentandfundamentallycomplete.ThisenlightenednatureistheBuddha-nature.Everyonepaycloseattentiontothis!
每个人的佛性和诸佛是一样，没有什么分别。不过，我们太愚痴，被无明妄想所覆盖，所以佛性不现前。若能用智慧来处理一切事情，佛性现前，那就是善知识。
Everyone’sBuddha-natureisthesameasthatofallBuddhas.Thereisnodifference.Butbecausewearetoodeluded,shroudedbyignoranceandidlethoughts,theBuddha-naturefailstomanifest.Ifwecouldusewisdomtohandleallofouraffairs,ourBuddha-naturewouldmanifest,andwewouldbegoodadvisors.