1-2-4. OPENING-CEREMONY开光仪式

　　People from Udorn invited me to open their brickshop, they wanted to invite 9 monks but I told them I could come by myself . They wanted me to open it, so I told them that one who wants to trade well should speak pleasantly and one should make a sign with big letters, and hang it up high enough for everyone to see clearly, that should work.

　　有人从乌洞(Udorn)来请我为他们的砖石店开光，他们要我再邀9位和尚，但我告诉他们我自己去就够了。他们要我去开光嘛！所以我就告诉他们：「一个人想要生意好必须讲话要好听，而且还要做个牌子写上大大的字，高挂起来让每一个人都可以清楚看到，这样就会有效(而不是我去主持个仪式或唱诵一些经句就有效的)。」

　　I asked them : 'What does NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDHASSA mean'? They didn't know. Thai Buddhists but they don't know Buddhism. Well, I explained that NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO means : 'Homage to the Blessed one', ARAHATO SAMMASAMBUDDASSA means : One who is far from defilements, far from enemies, enlightened by Himself before teaching us.We should be respectful. Besides respecting the Buddha, husband and wife should live mutually respectful to each other, knowing their duties. And they should be respectful towards their parents, relatives and friends as well . We have to behave respectfully. It is not enough to just say the words NAMO TASSA, thinking they are holy words - that is because people don't understand. Blessing a sign through chanting is the same : it's not holy.

　　If you want to trade well, you should speak pleasantly to your workers and give them a reasonable salary. When you make a lot of profit, then give them a lot. Suppose you have 5 workers, giving each 1000 baht a month, altogether 5000 baht and another 3000 baht is left as profit, this shows you take too much . You give them each a thousand but yourself, you take 3 thousand, no good ! You should take just 1500 baht; the remaining 1500 divide it up between your 5 workers. Like this you won't have troubles, having to look for new workers all the time. You help them and they will help you.

　　我问他们：「 "Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa"是什么意思？」他们不知道？！他们是泰国佛教徒，但却不知道佛法？！好吧，我只好解释说：「Namo Tassa Bhagavato是礼敬世尊的意思，Arahato Sammasambuddhassa是指一位没有烦恼、没有敌人、自己觉悟而后又能教导我们的人。这样的人我们应该尊敬祂，但是，除了尊敬佛陀，我们夫妻生活在一起也应该要相敬如宾，要知道自己的本分，同时还应该尊敬父母及亲友。我们的行为应该要这样恭敬有礼才行，只是唱诵Namo Tassa…是不够的，有人认为这些是神圣的经句，那是因为这些人并不了解佛法。同样地，藉由唱诵来为一块招牌扁额祈福也没什么神圣(不会因为这样就真的有什么神圣来赐福)。那要怎么做生意才会好呢？

　　如果你想要生意好，对员工讲话就必须客气还要给他们合理的工资，甚至当你赚很多钱时，应该要多给他们一些。假设你有五位工人，一个月赚8000铢，你给每个人每月1000铢，一共是5000铢，其它3000铢作为自己的利润，那这样你就拿太多了。你给他们每人才1000，而你自己拿3000，这不太好！你应该只拿1500铢，其余1500铢再平均分给你的五位工人。你这样做的话就不会有麻烦，不必常常要找新工人。你帮他们，他们也会帮你。」

　　I explained like this. They understood. Next I asked them : 'What does BUDDHAM SARANAM GACHAMI, DHAMMAM SARANAM GACHAMI, SANGHAM SARANAM GACHAMI mean'? They didn't know. They just repeat it like a parrot. I explained to them that BUDDHAM SARANAM GACHAMI means 'I take the Buddha as my refuge', the refuge that can really eliminate danger. DHAMMAM SARANAM GACHAMI means 'I take the DHAMMA as my refuge', the refuge that can really eliminate danger. SANGHAM SARANAM GACHAMI means 'I take the SANGHA as my refuge', the refuge that can really eliminate danger. To chant or repeat it without understanding like this, is neither magical nor mystical.

　　我这样解释一番，他们听懂了。接下来，我再问他们：「"Buddham Saranam Gachami, Dhammam Saranam Gachami, Sangham Saranam Gachami."是什么意思」？他们不知道？！他们只是像鹦鹉学语般地反复唱诵而已。我向他们解释说：「Buddham Saranam Gachami是说“我以佛陀作为我的庇护”，这是可以真正消除危难的庇护。Dhammam Saranam Gachamil是说“我以正法作为我的庇护”，这是可以真正消除危难的庇护。Sangham Saranam Gachami是说“我以僧伽作为我的庇护”，这是可以真正消除危难的庇护。但如果只是反复唱诵而没有像这样真正了解其意，是既不会有什么神奇也不会有什么奥妙的。」

　　That day, I explained things from all angles. When they understood properly, I asked them : 'Do you want more rituals ?'.

　　They answered : 'It doesn't matter!'.

　　那天，我从各种角度去解释了一些事情。当他们完全了解之后，我问他们：「你们还要更多的唱诵仪式吗？」他们回答：「没关系了！」