佛說當來變經
The Buddha Speaks the Sutra of the Future Transformation
西晉月氏國三藏竺法護譯
Translated by the Tripitaka Master Zhu Fahu of the Yuezhi Kingdom during the Western Jin Dynasty
聞如是：
Thus have I heard:
一時，佛在舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園，與大比丘眾俱，比丘五百及諸菩薩。
Once, the Buddha was staying at the Jeta Grove in the kingdom of Shravasti, together with a large assembly of monks—five hundred in all—along with many bodhisattvas.
爾時，世尊告諸比丘：「將來之世，當有比丘因有一法不從法化，令法毀滅，不得長益。何謂為一？不護禁戒，不能守心，不修智慧，放逸其意，唯求善名不順道教，不肯勤慕度世之業。是為一事，令法毀滅。」
At that time, the World-Honored One addressed the monks: "In the ages to come, there will be monks who, by holding on to a single fault, fail to follow the Dharma, causing the Dharma to decline and bringing no growth or benefit. What is this one fault? It is neglecting the precepts, failing to guard the mind, not cultivating wisdom, letting the mind wander in carelessness, seeking only a good reputation without honoring the path of the teaching, and refusing to diligently pursue the work of transcending the world. This single matter is what causes the Dharma to be destroyed."
佛告比丘：「復有二事，令法毀滅。何謂為二？一、不護禁戒，不攝其心，不修智慧，畜妻養子，放心恣意，賈作治生以共相活。二、伴黨相著，憎奉法者，欲令陷墮故為言義，謂之諛諂；內犯惡行，外佯清白。是為二事，令法毀滅。」
The Buddha told the monks, "There are two more things that cause the Dharma to decline and disappear. What are the two? First, not upholding the precepts, not restraining the mind, not cultivating wisdom—instead keeping a wife and raising children, letting the mind run loose and unrestrained, engaging in trade and business to make a living together. Second, clinging to companions and factions, resenting those who honor the Dharma, trying to bring them down by twisting words and calling their sincere practice flattery—while secretly committing wrongdoing, yet outwardly pretending to be pure. These are the two things that cause the Dharma to decline and disappear."
佛告諸比丘：「復有三事，令法毀滅。何謂為三？一、既不護禁戒，不能攝心，不修智慧。二、自讀文字不識句逗，以上著下、以下著上，頭尾顛倒，不能解了義之所歸，自以為是。三、明者呵之不從其教，反懷瞋恨，謂相嫉妬；識義者少，多不別理，咸云為是。是為三事，令法毀滅。」
The Buddha told the monks, "There are three more things that cause the Dharma to decline and disappear. What are these three? First, not guarding the precepts, not calming the mind, and not cultivating wisdom. Second, reading the scriptures oneself without understanding the punctuation, placing what comes above below and what comes below above, turning the head and tail upside down, thus failing to grasp the true meaning of the teachings, and yet insisting one is right. Third, when wise people correct them, they refuse to follow the guidance, instead harboring resentment and claiming it is jealousy; those who understand the meaning are few, while the majority fail to discern what is correct, all declaring, 'This is right.' These are the three things that cause the Dharma to decline and disappear."
佛告諸比丘：「復有四事，令法毀滅。何謂為四？一、將來比丘已捨家業，在空閑處不修道業。二、憙遊人間憒閙之中，行來談言，求好袈裟五色之服。三、高聽遠視以為綺雅，自以高德無能及者，以雜碎智比日月之明——畜已！四、不攝三事，不護根門，行婦女間，宣文飾辭多言合偶，以動人心，使清變濁；身行荒亂，正法廢遲。是為四事，令法毀滅。」
The Buddha told the monks, “There are also four things that cause the Dharma to decline. What are the four? First, in the future, monks who have already left the household life will dwell in secluded places but fail to practice the path. Second, they will delight in wandering among the noise and crowds of the world, coming and going to chat and gossip, seeking fine robes of five colors. Third, they will strain to hear and gaze far off, thinking themselves refined and elegant, believing their own virtue is so high that none can match it, and comparing their trivial wisdom to the brilliance of the sun and moon—enough of that! Fourth, they will not restrain the three deeds, will not guard the gates of the senses, will move among women, speaking adorned words with much talk of pairing and coupling, stirring people’s hearts, turning the pure into the turbid; their bodies and minds will wander in disorder, and the true Dharma will be neglected and delayed. These are the four things that cause the Dharma to decline.”
佛告比丘：「復有五事，令法毀滅。何謂為五？一、或有比丘本以法故，出家修道，廢深經教——十二因緣、三十七品，方等深妙玄虛之慧，智度無極，善權方便，空、無相、願至化之節。二、反習雜句淺末小經、世俗行故——王者經典，亂道之原——好講此業，易解世事，趣得人心令其歡喜，因致名聞。三、新聞法人、淺解之士，意用妙快；深達之士，不用為佳。四、天龍鬼神不以為喜，心懷悒慼，口發斯言：『大法欲滅，故使其然。』捨妙法化，反宣雜句，諸天流淚，速逝而去。五、由是正法稍稍見捨，無精修者。是為五事，令法毀滅。」
The Buddha told the monks, "There are five things that cause the Dharma to decline and disappear. What are the five?
First, some monks initially leave home and cultivate the path for the sake of the Dharma, but then they discard the profound scriptural teachings—the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, the Thirty-Seven Practices on the Path to Awakening, the deep and subtle wisdom of the Mahayana, the unsurpassed perfection of wisdom, the skillful means of liberation, and the liberating gates of Emptiness, Signlessness, and Wishlessness.
Second, they instead turn to studying trivial, superficial scriptures and worldly writings—the classics of kings and rulers, which are the root of confusion for the path. They delight in teaching these worldly matters, easily understood by ordinary people, seeking only to please others and win popularity, thereby gaining fame and renown.
Third, those who newly encounter the Dharma and have only shallow understanding consider these superficial teachings wonderful and attractive, while those of deep insight no longer consider such pursuits worthwhile.
Fourth, the heavenly beings, dragons, and spirits take no delight in this. Their hearts filled with sorrow, they say, 'This is happening because the great Dharma is about to vanish.' When the sublime Dharma is abandoned in favor of scattered worldly talk, the gods shed tears and quickly depart.
Fifth, because of this, the true Dharma is gradually set aside, and there are none who practice it with earnest dedication.
These five things cause the Dharma to decline and disappear."
佛告比丘：「吾滅度後，有此邪事十五之亂，令法毀滅，一何痛哉！若有比丘欲諦學道，棄捐綺飾，不求名聞，質朴守真，宣傳正經——佛之雅典深法之化不用多言，案本說經不捨正句，希言屢中不失佛意——麁衣趣食，得美不甘，得麁不惡，衣食好醜，隨施者意，不以瞋喜；攝身、口、意，守諸根門，不違佛教；念命甚短，恍惚以過，如夢所見，覺不知處；三塗之難，不可稱計，勤修佛法猶救頭然；五戒、十善、六度無極、四等、四恩、智慧、善權，咸可精行。雖不值佛世，出家為道學不唐捐，平其本心，愍念一切，十方蒙恩。」
The Buddha told the monks: "After I pass into final liberation, these fifteen kinds of corruptions will arise and cause the Dharma to be destroyed—how painful this is! If any monk truly wishes to study the Path, let him cast aside ornamentation, seek no fame, remain simple and true, and teach the correct scriptures—the Buddha's elegant and profound teachings should transform others without the need for excessive words. Let him expound the sutras according to the original text without abandoning the correct phrases, speak little but hit the mark, and never stray from the Buddha's intent. Let him wear coarse robes and eat simple food—not delighting in fine flavors nor resenting coarse ones, accepting whatever clothing and food comes according to the donor's means, neither angered nor pleased by it. Let him restrain his body, speech, and mind, guard the gates of his senses, and not violate the Buddha's teachings. Let him remember that life is exceedingly brief, passing in a blur like a dream—upon waking, one knows not where it went. The perils of the three lower realms are beyond measure; let him cultivate the Dharma with the urgency of one whose head is on fire. The five precepts, ten good deeds, Six Perfections, four immeasurable states of mind, four methods of benefiting others, wisdom, and skillful means—all these can be diligently practiced. Even if one does not encounter a Buddha in this world, to leave home and cultivate the Path in this way is never in vain. With a balanced mind, compassionate toward all beings, all in the ten directions will receive its blessings."
佛說如是，諸比丘悲喜前自歸佛，作禮而去。
佛說當來變經