闻谤不辩不退
二十多年前，很多人对藏传佛法了解不多，常把藏传佛法与密教画成等号。师父刚开始讲广论时备受误解，许多人批评师父传密法。有一次，我随侍师父参加教界长老的聚会，其中一位与师父认识甚久的长者见到师父，问道：“你密法修得怎么样啊？”师父事后告诉我，他当时面对此境，内心深深感触在汉地弘传菩提道次之不易。
师父在台湾开创了广论研讨班，渐渐形成了以研讨方式学习的风气。若干年后，师父有感于中华文化与佛法的十善业共通之处甚多，而十善业是培育正法的最重要沃土，所以开讲了《论语》等儒家典籍。这时，有学员批评师父因佛法讲不下去了，只好讲论语。
修学佛法有赖暇满人身，人们因农药化肥污染了食物而让色身受到摧残，无量有情也受到伤害，因此师父倡导推广有机农业。许多同学感恩师父的悲心关照而积极投入之时，也有学员毁谤师父因没能力带大众修行，只好教大家去种菜。
有一年，师父想要帮助贫困的藏僧修学佛法，于是设立了赞助基金。有学员以为师父把钱挪作他用而向师长诬告。师父知道了，问法师：“你们会怎么看待？”有一法师说：“闻谤不辩。”师父点点头表示嘉许。过了几天，师父说：“别人故意批评我，我不会在意，闻谤不辩。但我必须向师长启白。”那时，师长来到香港，师父带了账册去见师长。师父启白，请师长看一下学员诚心的护持记录，师长说：“我相信你，我不需看账册。”
正当师父的净智、文教、广福事业蓬勃发展时，台北传来了声音：“师父还俗了，现在在台北某某路开咖啡店。”
我问师父：“您常常被人误解、诋毁，请问您怎样应对？”师父静静地说：“我啊，常常做什么事都会有人这样讲啦！”
师父轻描淡写的一句话，却在我内心产生永恒的憾动。
净远法师（2015年4月4日）
Facing defamation – no argument, no retreat
Twenty over years ago, a lot of people were not familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. Often, Tibetan Buddhism was thought to be the same as Esoteric Buddhism. Master Jih-Chang was widely misunderstood when he first began teaching the Lamrim and was criticized for propagating esoteric teachings. Once, I followed Master Jih-Chang to a meeting with the Buddhism elders. One of the elders who had known Master Jih-Chang for a very long time asked him, “How is your practice of esoteric teachings coming along?” Master Jih-Chang later told me that this encounter made him deeply feel that it was not easy to propagate the Lamrim to the Chinese people.
Master Jih-Chang started Lamrim classes in Taiwan, and the culture of discussion-based learning was eventually developed. Some years later, Master Jih-Chang recognized the many commonalities between the Chinese culture and Buddhism’s Ten Virtuous Deeds, and that the Ten Virtuous Deeds formed the most important fertile soil to cultivate the perfect Dharma teachings. Therefore, Master Jih-Chang started teaching various Confucian classics such as The Analects, etc. At this time, some students commented that Master Jih-Chang started teaching The Analects because he had run out of ideas to teach the Dharma.
One relies on the human life of leisure and opportunity to learn and practice Dharma. Our physical bodies have been ruined by food contaminated by chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Countless sentient beings have been harmed as well. Therefore, Master Jih-Chang advocated and promoted organic farming. While there were many students who actively participated in this endeavor because they were grateful and touched by Master Jih-Chang’s heart of compassion, there were others who maligned Master Jih-Chang had lost the ability to lead the students in Dharma practice, and therefore had resorted to teaching about vegetable farming.
There was one year when Master Jih-Chang wanted to help the poverty-stricken Tibetan Sangha members to learn and practice Dharma, hence he set up a sponsorship fund. Some students thought that Master Jih-Chang misappropriated the money and reported to Master Jih-Chang’s Master. When Master Jih-Chang learned of this, he asked the Sangha members, “How would you react to this?” One of the venerables said, “When defamed, do not argue.” Master Jih-Chang nodded in recognition. A few days later, Master Jih-Chang said, “I do not mind being intentionally criticized. When defamed, do not argue. However, I must clarify with my Master.” When Master Jih-Chang’s Master came to Hong Kong, Master Jih-Chang brought the account ledgers to see him. Master Jih-Chang requested his Master to examine the records of the sincere offerings and support from the students, but his Master said, “I trust you, I do not need to see the ledgers.”
Just when Master Jih-Chang’s Wisdom, Education, and Bliss undertakings were flourishing, there were rumors from Taipei saying, “Master Jih-Chang has resumed secular life, he is now running a cafe in Taipei.”
I asked Master Jih-Chang, “You are frequently misunderstood and defamed, how do you deal with them?” Master Jih-Chang said calmly, “Well, there is always someone passing such comments whenever I do anything!”
Master Jih-Chang’s words were said with ease, but it created an eternal impact in my heart.
Venerable Jing Yuan (4 April 2015)