V 3-40 Discussion about the Precepts of Buddhism 谈学佛的戒律
Disclaimer: The translations are not official nor endorsed by 2OR, so please just treat it as a ‘fan-based’ translation. The Buddha-Dharma is profound. No matter how you convey it, it won’t be completely perfect. Because the Buddha-Dharma is an experience, it’s an awakening 【佛法深奥无比，怎么写，都不会是究竟圆满。佛法是一种悟】. Please enjoy, and I hope it serves as a good filler until the official English version comes out.
师父今天跟大家讲一些主要的大罪。你们在学佛当中要记住，很多大的罪行，都是要下地狱的。你们自己想想吧，大罪，比如，杀了一位或者重伤、骂了一位很有道德、很有德性的高僧大德，也就是说，杀父、杀母、杀和尚、杀尼姑等，或者对一位善知识，一位高僧大德，你诽谤他，你讲他，你就等于杀死了千万人的慧命一样，因为这位高僧大德是替亿万人的慧命来出家、为亿万人的生命来解脱。所以诽谤杀父杀母等都是大罪，一般都是现世报，你看他倒霉不倒霉？
Master expounds about some of the most severe sins. You must take note of these as offenders of these will descend into hell. These include killing or severely hurting somebody, or scolding at a very meritorious virtuous person, or killing one’s parents or monks. Or if you slander or defame a venerable monk or a good spiritual mentor, then that is akin to ending countless wisdom-lives. That’s because a venerable monk initiated on behalf of countless wisdom-lives, where they want to liberate countless lives. That’s why they are all counted as severe sins. Typically karmic retribution happens in the current lifetime, just look at whether or not there’s a lot of misfortune happening to them.
这种人会下地狱。你们去看看，和尚为什么到后来不敢讲人家不好呢？他懂因果。举个例子，你如果是皇帝派来的钦差大臣，到这里来帮助大家，来改善你的城市，你如果骂皇帝的钦差大臣，过去是不是要杀头啊？师父不想多讲，你们明白道理就好。如果有人还敢再造恶口的话，这个是下地狱的罪。师父今天跟你们讲的都是重罪。你如果去骂一位高僧大德，你等于伤了千万修德人的心仪，因为他是来救千万修德人的心的。
These kinds of people will go to hell. Go and investigate why monks don’t dare to criticise or badmouth others. It’s because they understand karma. To illustrate this with an example, in the past, the emperor of China would delegate an imperial envoy to a city to improve the lives of its inhabitants. If somebody scolded or rebuked them, they would be beheaded. Master won’t expound any further; it’s okay if you understand. If somebody dared to commit deeds of verbal malice, this is a sin that could induce one to hell. If you scold a greatly meritorious venerable monk, then it’s akin to hurting countless meritorious people because they are here to save and create countless meritorious people potentially.
接下来跟大家讲“盗”。师父今天不跟大家讲小偷小摸，师父跟大家讲，偷什么东西是最严重的？要是偷了公共产物，师父所讲的公共产物，不是外面的，而是指，比如佛堂里，寺庙里，观音堂里，这些产物是不能偷的。举个例子，如果你脑子里想着，我今天看到佛堂有很多供上去的东西，我偷偷地把它带回去，好了，你不怕护法神吗？你不怕观世音菩萨看见知道你吗？
Next, Master expounds about the subject of ‘theft’. He’s not talking about taking petty advantages or petty things, but about public goods. Not public goods outside, but for example, the public goods inside a Buddhist temple and monastery. An example is that if in your head, you think that there should be a lot of offerings in the Guan Yin Temple and you want to secretly take some of it with you. Alright, aren’t you afraid of the Dharma protectors? Aren’t you afraid that Guan Yin Bodhisattva would notice?
你只有实实在在地讲一下，我今天想带点水果回去吃吃，你拿得心安理得啊！你偷偷摸摸的，想想看，你是什么形象，等你死后到了地府，你的那些动作会像电影一样全部给你放出来的，凭着这些判你去哪里。这个“盗”不得了，因为你在菩萨的眼前偷盗，想想看，等于你跑到警察那里去做坏事。所以，把一些公共的佛法上的东西挪为私有，是很大很大的罪。明明是一个堂堂正正的人，为什么要做偷偷摸摸的事情呢？
Only when you frankly speak your mind that you want to take some of the fruit offerings to eat when you return home would you have peace of mind. If you do something secretly, think about what kind of image you’re creating. When you pass away and is brought to the Underworld, your actions would be broadcasted out like a movie for you to see, and from what’s seen, you are sentenced to a destination accordingly. ‘Theft’ is a serious sin because you stole in front of the Bodhisattvas. It’s the same as committing a crime in front of the police. That’s why anybody who privately takes any offerings or any things related to the Buddha-Dharma is regarded as a very serious sin. You could’ve been a morally-upright person, why must your sneakily do things in secret?
再给大家讲“淫”。如果你去诱惑修行人犯罪，去诱惑修行人犯淫，那是罪加一等。师父不讲其它生活中的淫，师父讲的是你去诱惑尼姑、和尚来犯邪淫，那绝对是下地狱的。同样来讲，现在到观音堂来的女孩子、男孩子，如果你去诱惑他犯淫荡，你也下地狱。师父讲得很清楚，年龄大的人，尤其是老伯伯，老实一点，千万不要跟小女孩套近乎，比如今天我送送你吧，明天我请你吃饭，因为她们来观音堂是学佛的，她们是学佛人。如果按照现在的法门来讲，观音堂就是庙，她们就像尼姑一样，她们在守戒修心，你跑到庙里来勾引人家这些女孩子，你下地狱还不知道吗？
Next, Master expounds about the subject of ‘sexual misconduct’. It’s a sin if you try to entice a cultivator. If you tempt them to have sex with you, that’s doubly guilty. Master will not comment about other kinds of sexual misconduct that occurs in one’s daily life. But if you entice a monk or a nun to commit sexual misconduct, then you will definitely descend to hell. On the same note, if you try to entice the male and female visitors and practitioners in Guan Yin Temple, that is equally sinful, and you will descend to hell. Master wants to make this clear. For elderly people, especially old men, please behave yourself. Never try to get too close to a young lady, for example, offering her a ride somewhere, inviting her to dinner etc. That’s because the young lady came to Guan Yin Temple to learn Buddhism, she’s a Buddhist. If we view Guan Yin Temple as a monastery, then she’s the same as a nun, as she’s observing the precepts and cultivating her mind. Don’t you know that you will go to hell when you go to monasteries and attract the women there?
你敢动这种念头，师父看你魂魄都没了，胆子太大了。师父给你们敲响警钟了，不要开玩笑。很危险，这是大罪，叫罪加一等。如果你在外面找个女孩子，你就算自己犯了点淫，你还可以念经消掉很多。但是在观音堂就会闯祸的。想想看，他在东方台观音堂做了这么多的功德，以后却要下地狱，师父会是什么样的心情啊！师父难过不难过？因为师父看着他死得比师父早，看到他以后在地狱里，叫大家一起给他念小房子。你们要知道，下了地狱是不容易出来的，听得懂吗？师父告诉你们，所有人的都老实一点，年纪大的人跟女孩子少接触，只能有正正规规的学佛接触。
Do you dare to have these kinds of thoughts? You are too gutsy. Master is just sounding the alarms. It’s not a joke. It’s very dangerous as it’s a grave sin. If you are looking for a girl outside, even if you commit some minor sexual misconduct, you could still eliminate a lot of negative karma by reciting sutras. But if you did that in the Guan Yin Temple, then you’re in serious trouble. Think about it. If somebody performed many meritorious deeds in the Guan Yin Temple but was sentenced to be punished in hell, could you imagine how Master would feel? Wouldn’t he feel very upset? He has to witness them dying before him, and since he’s in hell, he has to ask others to recite and offer Little Houses for the person. You must understand that once you’re in hell, it’s very difficult to get back out. Do you understand? That’s why Master tells others to properly behave. Older men should have less contact with younger girls. They should only approach each other in an orderly and upright way when practising Buddhism.
接下来讲欺师和诈骗是一样的罪孽，很重的，叫大欺罪。如果你欺骗师父的话，等于欺骗老师，我们小时候敢不敢欺骗老师？你现在经常骗师父，这个就是大欺罪。你在外面吹个牛就算了，你骗自己的师父，这指的不是生活上的欺骗，而是在学佛方面的，比如说，师父问你们念了几遍经文，叫你做功德做了没有，明明没做，你却说做了，师父告诉你，这些都是欺师，也是大罪。所以叫你们不要乱开玩笑，叫你们尊敬师父，自己不明白，嘴巴里胡说，天地鬼神全部看到的，最后你去地狱天地鬼神也不容你啊。你们听得懂吗？师父很着急啊。弄钱财也是的。你们听下去，今天跟大家讲的都是下地狱的大罪啊。你们不要开玩笑。
Next, deceiving or cheating one’s master is also a serious sin. If you deceive your master, it’s the same as deceiving your teacher. Did we dare to deceive our teacher when we were little? If you frequently lie to Master, that is a serious sin. If you bluff in social events, that’s a trivial matter. If you deceive your master, then that isn’t cheating in a secular environment, but in a Buddhist environment. For example, if your master asked you whether you had recited X amount of sutras and performed meritorious deeds and you said you have but didn’t, then that is deceiving your master, and it’s a serious sin. That’s why Master has told you not to fool around and respect your master. If you don’t understand something yet recklessly speak as if you do, this is visible to all the spiritual beings. So if you do descend to hell, the spiritual beings won’t pity you. Do you understand? Master is very anxious. Deceit in money matters is the same. What Master expounds today are all the great sins that induce one to descend into hell. Don’t treat it as a joke.
还有挑拨学佛人之间的关系，使之分裂，都是大罪。今天跟他讲，没有什么学的，没有关系的，学不学都是一样，挑拨，他说你不好了，你说他不好了，这些都全部要下去的。不要做啊。你们在人间不懂啊，很严格的。作为一个学佛人，嘴巴千万不能再乱讲了，挑拨是非，制造分裂，这些都是罪大恶极。用最恶毒的语言去骂人、去诽谤人，只要恶口一出，就是重罪。骂人的人，如果骂得很恶劣，把人家祖宗都骂出来，这个人就是重罪，你们听得懂吗？这个人没有做这个事情，你非要去说他，诽谤他，我看见了，就是他在做这个事情，我吃准了就是他，这叫诽谤。在阳间，诽谤也是罪行；在阴曹地府，这叫重罪。人家没做过的事情，你硬说人家做了，实际上这就叫“缺阴德”。
It’s also a serious sin if you sow discord between fellow Buddhists causing conflicts. If you don’t want to learn Buddhism anymore and walk away, that is fine as it’s your own choice and it doesn’t affect anybody. But if you start to spread rumours and cause division within the Buddhist practitioner group, then all of this is a serious sin. Don’t do it. You don’t understand this; it’s very strict. As a Buddhist, one mustn’t recklessly speak, spread rumours and sow discord. If somebody scolds very badly and starts defaming and slandering their ancestors, that’s also a very serious sin. Do you understand? If somebody hasn’t done something, but you accuse and insist that they have, that is regarded as slander. In the world of the living, slander is a crime. In the Underworld, that is also a serious sin. If somebody hasn’t done something yet you accuse them of doing it; it is, in fact, a very immoral thing to do.
好好想想，你们走过了将近一半的人生，很多人已经走到了人生的末尾了，你们做过了多少坏事，你们的嘴巴讲过多少人不好，你们诽谤了多少人，师父告诉你，要是菩萨、护法神在这里，你们每个人找个洞全部可以钻下去。只有彻底地改变自己，跟菩萨说，我再也不讲了，观世音菩萨，你原谅我吧，我真的不懂啊，我过去讲人家不好，我是诽谤人家，我真的不懂啊。
Reflect on it. Many of you are already past your 50s, while many others are already close to the end of their lives. How many unwholesome deeds did you commit, how many people have you badmouthed or slandered? Master tells you, if the Bodhisattvas or Dharma protectors were here in front of you, every one of you would dig a hole and hide inside it. You must completely reform yourself and tell the Bodhisattvas that you’ll never do it again. “Guan Yin Bodhisattva, please forgive me, I was ignorant when I was badmouthing and slandering others. I was truly ignorant.”
难啊，稍不留神，就下地狱去了，你们听得懂吗？说黄色笑话，绮语，一个好好的女孩子在那里，如果你在女孩子面前拼命讲黄色笑话，这就叫绮语。这也是不可以的。实际上就是勾引人家。要记住，正人君子真的不会讲这些话的。师父看见过一对老夫妻，朝鲜人，干干净净，这两个人一辈子不吵架，人家不是说在家里可以乱七八糟，跑出来像真的一样，人家在家里是真的，出来也是真的。干净啊。
It’s really hard. If one isn’t careful, then they will go to hell, do you understand? If you make sexual, lewd or crude jokes in front of a good lady, that is considered as loose speech. That is also unacceptable. In reality, that’s also considered as enticing somebody. Take note; a morally upright man would never say these kinds of things? Master once saw a Korean couple who were very pure and never argued with each other in their whole life. Isn’t there a saying that couples fight at home but look lovey-dovey in public? But they are real inside and outside the house. They’re pure.
人真的有干净的，不是说在家里是一个概念，跑出来却像模像样的，那就像衣冠禽兽。师父跟你们讲话很严重的，师父对你们的要求很高。以后要拜师父，必须吃素，这个条件做不到，不要说想拜师父，做徒弟了。对入室弟子也是要求尽量吃素，但是对海外弟子是没有这一条的。如果你想做徒弟，如果连这一点都做不到，对不起，你这辈子不想改掉吃荤的习惯，说明没有慈悲心，你就得不到观世音菩萨的护佑。
People must really be pure, not like acting one way in private and acting in another way in public. These people are hypocrites. Master is very strict and has high expectations of you. After you have formally become his disciple, you must be a vegetarian. If you can’t even do that, then you’re not qualified. If you want to become a disciple and can’t do that, then sorry, if you aren’t willing to change your habit of eating meat, it means that you lack compassion. Then you won’t receive Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s blessings and protection.
要记住，下地狱就是贪三宝钱，就是贪佛法僧的钱。很多人都敢贪啊。供观世音菩萨的钱，弘法的钱，给僧人的钱，你也敢贪？这是下地狱的罪。师父今天不是吓唬你们，师父说的都是真话。但是你们也不要太紧张，因为你们在修行，你们在改正，观世音菩萨永远会给你们机会。但是你要是再犯你曾经犯过的错误，你就难逃罗网了。很多人不懂，过去犯过的事情，以后再犯的话，那就出毛病了。因为你在菩萨面前说，我再也不犯了，菩萨原谅了你，你又犯了，这不是对菩萨说谎吗？
Take note; you’ll go to hell if you desire to take money offered to the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha. Many people dare to do so. What about you? Do you dare to take money offered to Guan Yin Bodhisattva, offered to monks or money used for propagating the Dharma? These are all sins that cause one to go to hell. Master isn’t trying to scare you; it’s the truth. But you don’t have to be too nervous, that’s because you’re cultivating and are in the process of reforming yourself. Guan Yin Bodhisattva will always give you a chance. But if you keep making the same mistakes you did in the past, then you can’t escape punishment. Many people don’t understand. If you commit the same sin you did before; then it indicates a problem with you. That’s because when you vow to the Bodhisattva that you won’t do it again and the Bodhisattvas forgive, and you do it again, isn’t that the same as lying to the Bodhisattvas?
为什么学佛人这么规矩？为什么学佛的人看见钱，我不拿？为什么学佛人看见男人、看见女人不动心？因为他是学佛人，他有戒律啊。但是真正有几个人能够守戒呢？你们不要以为瞒过了师父，师父不知道，你们瞒不过师父的，但是师父也不想知道。你们背后做的事情，实际上你们在害你们自己啊。你们以为背后做的事情人家不知道？实际上，菩萨和天上的神哪位不知道？连鬼都知道啊。
Why are Buddhists so orderly? Why do Buddhists refrain from taking money when they see it? Why do Buddhists refrain themselves when they meet the opposite gender? It’s because they’re Buddhists, and they’re observing precepts. But how many people can truly keep the precepts? Don’t think that you could hide things from Master, you can’t, but he doesn’t even want to know. In reality, you’re only ruining yourself. Do you think that others don’t know if you’re doing something behind their back? In reality, how could the Bodhisattvas and the Dharma protectors not know about it? Even ghosts know about it.
多行不义必自毙。你多做不好的事情，连鬼都会来拉你的。那就是为什么学佛学到越高深的人，他越不敢做坏事。就是那些刚刚学佛的人，不知道天高地厚，以为菩萨讲过他就没事情了，其实等待他的就是大灾难。今天跟你们讲的都是重罪。比如说，收别人印经书的钱，或者私吞、占为己有，也是重罪。所以你们要好好地忏悔啊，不忏悔的话，到时候身体就会出毛病，你们出毛病的时候还以为，为什么我天天念大悲咒还会生癌症呢？因为你的孽障已经大于你的功德了。
‘One who is unjust is doomed to destruction’. If you do too many unwholesome things, even ghosts will come to drag you away. That’s why those who have a deep understanding of Buddhism don’t dare to do unwholesome things. It’s those who have just begun to learn Buddhism who are insolent, and think that they can get away by repenting or talking about it in front of the Bodhisattvas. What awaits them is a great calamity. Many other great sins include, for example, embezzling money used to print Buddhist sutras. That's why you must properly repent. If you don’t, then eventually you’ll develop some serious illnesses. When you do, you may think why you have this illness if you had constantly been reciting the Great Compassion Mantra daily. That’s because your negative karma is greater than the merit-virtues you have accumulated.
师父今天又讲回来，如果你不想出轮回，不想去除烦恼，就是说，我无所谓了，我下辈子再轮回好了，我就多一点烦恼没关系的，你们知道吗，这也叫犯罪啊。不进步，也是犯罪，叫忤逆罪。对学佛的人来讲，师父给的定义是不开悟罪。因为不开悟的人也有罪，他不开悟，不知道好坏，所以他一定会犯罪。想想吧，每次师父把文章放到博客上，很多人说，今天我又洗了一遍澡，今天台长又在帮我们擦干净灵魂，每个人身上多肮脏啊，把人家都往坏的地方想，有几个人能够把人家往好的地方想？
Master adds that if you don’t want to get out of samsara, if you don’t want to get rid of your affliction, in other words, you don’t care, you’re fine with reincarnating in the next life, you’re indifferent if your afflictions increase, then do you know? That is also a sin. If you don’t improve, that’s also a sin; it’s called the sin of disobedience. To Buddhists, it’s a sin of unawakenment. That’s because unawakened people sin. Because they’re unawakened, they can’t differentiate what’s good and bad, and so they will definitely sin. Think about it; every time Master publishes an article on his blog; many people would say that they’ve been cleansed. “Master has helped me to cleanse my soul again.” Everybody is defiled, and always thinking about the worse in others. How many people are there can make you think favourably?
人家做任何事情，你首先想人家不好的地方，假的、骗人的、做给人家看的。你不能把人家往好的地方想吗？学佛的人，心里经常有好的东西，你就能把人家往好的地方想，你今天把人家往坏的地方想了，你本身就是经常想坏事情的人。要明白，这个也是罪孽啊。因为你不开悟，你就有罪了。所以，对学佛的人来说，你是犯的不开悟罪，其实就是叫不明理。因为你不明白道理，那么你在思维上已经犯了罪啊，这叫思维犯罪。
Whenever others do something, you always think of them negatively first. ‘They’re fake; they’re liars and hypocrites.’; Can’t you think positively about them first? If Buddhists can remain wholesome in their minds, then they will always view others positively, If you keep viewing others in a negative light, it indicates that you’re someone who’s always thinking of unwholesome things. You must understand that it’s a sin. It’s because you’re unawakened, so you’re guilty. That’s why from the perspective of Buddhists, you have committed the sin of unawakenment. In reality, it’s called ignorance. Because you’re ignorant of the principles, you have already sinned on a mental level, so it’s a mental sin.
我们每个人身上都有邪见，邪恶的见解，偏邪的见解，所以就会讲佛菩萨不灵啊。师父在广播里，谁要讲一句不灵，师父马上说，你不要乱讲啊。这就叫护法。有时候，听众说念了多少张小房子了，还不灵啊，师父都不让听众讲的，因为鬼会不开心的，你们知道吗？这叫护法啊。师父在帮你们护法啊。所以，不能讲佛。人家问我，净空老和尚好不好，“好”，这个人好不好，“好，都好”。
Every one of us has deviated and unwholesome views, that’s why we’ll complain why the Bodhisattvas aren’t efficacious. In Master’s radio programme, if there’s anybody saying that they aren’t efficacious, then he will immediately warn them not to speak recklessly. That’s protecting the Dharma. Sometimes, the caller would say that they’ve recited X amount of Little Houses yet it’s still not efficacious. Then Master would not let them speak any further because the ghosts would get offended when they hear this. Do you know that? That’s protecting the Dharma. Master is helping you protect the Dharma. That’s why don’t speak ill of the Buddha. When somebody asked me whether Master Chin Kung is good or someone is good, Master would always reply that they’re all good.
你干嘛非要讲人家不好？你好了，你去讲人家不好干什么呢？你讲人家不好，并不代表你好啊。你好了，人家讲了你不好，你还是很好啊。你有本事，你自己好好做，人家讲你是人家的事情，人家造口业，你去讲人家，你们就是半斤八两了，你为什么要去讲人家不好呢？讲人家不好那是最划不来的事情，第一，挑拨，第二，诽谤，第三，造口业，第四，给人家创造一个反击你、攻击你的机会。你这不是给自己找麻烦吗？
Why must you keep insisting that somebody is bad? When you badmouth others, it doesn’t mean that you’re good. If you’re good and others badmouth you, you’re still good. If you’re capable, then continue doing what you’re doing. If others badmouth you, that’s their problem as they’re committing deeds of verbal misconduct. When you do the same to them, then you’re the same. Why must you badmouth others? It’s the most foolish thing to do. Firstly, you’re sowing discord. Secondly, you’re slandering. Thirdly, you’re committing deeds of verbal misconduct. Fourthly, you’re creating a justification for others to retaliate or attack you. So aren’t you creating problems for yourself?
你可以自己进步，你为什么要说这个不好、说那个不好呢？你们没有智慧，讲出来的话就是造口业。如果你们开悟的话，你们讲出来有些事情就算有点错，只要你的心真的是正的，菩萨也不会怪你啊。因为你们的心不正，你们到师父面前来讲这个不好，讲那个不好，讲这件事情，讲那件事情，实际上师父很清楚啊，你们是带有私欲的，因为你们每个人都有喜欢的人和不喜欢的人。所以，你们对自己不喜欢的人讲一些，好像是对事不对人，实际上你们就是对人，而不是对事。
You can improve, but why must you complain about this or that being bad? When you lack wisdom, much of what you say will be verbal misconduct. If you’re awakened, even if what you say may not be totally correct, but if your mind is upright, the Bodhisattvas won’t blame you. It’s because your mind isn’t upright, and when you complain in front of Master, he knows that you speak out of selfishness. It’s because many of you have people you like or dislike. That’s why when you’re in contact with the people you dislike, although you seem to be directing to the matter and not to a particular person, in fact, you are directing to that particular person and not the matter.
你们在观音堂，在师父这里学了这么多年佛法，如果你们在安排工作，在做事情当中，还有私心杂念，就叫乱来，就是浪费时间。要公心啊，因为你们不是做给师父看，也不是做给你们自己看，菩萨在天上，地下有鬼，全部都知道，那你骗谁啊，到最后你骗的是你自己，而不是骗的人家啊。师父就是知道你们有这种偏心，笑笑也就不讲了，但是要知道，你骗得了天上的菩萨吗？你骗得了下面的鬼吗？你最后连这点功德都没有。所以已经在做功德了，为什么还要弄个口袋，这里在装钱，那边在漏出去，学佛学到后来就是一边装进去，一边漏出来。所以，要有戒律，戒律为一切法的基础。
At the Guan Yin Temple, you have learnt the Buddha-Dharma from Master for many years. If you harbour any selfish and distracting thoughts when you’re organising and doing work, that’s called being reckless and wasting time. You must keep the public interests in mind. It’s because you’re not putting an act for Master or yourself to see. The Bodhisattvas in heaven and the ghosts in the Underworld all know. So the person you’re deceiving, in the end, is nobody else but yourself. Master knows that you occasionally have these thoughts, so he’ll just laugh and won’t comment further. But you must understand, can you deceive the Bodhisattvas in heaven? Can you deceive the ghosts in the Underworld? You won’t even be able to gain any merit-virtues. That is why those who had accumulated merit-virtues, why do they still lose it? It’s because it’s just like a hole in your purse, every coin that you put inside it gets dropped out of the hole. So in the end, merit-virtues go in one way and out the other way. That’s why one must observe the precepts. The precepts are the foundation for all Dharma.