No. 1129-A歸戒序
No. 1129-A Preface on Taking Refuge and Precepts
夫三寶者。性相常住。體周法界。接物應機。如日曜於千江。為世舟航。非三畏之可比。故其始心入道。首則歸依三寶。受不殺盜婬妄酒戒。似儒教仁義禮智信之五常。然五常慶在一生。五戒功歸多劫。故云五戒不持。人天路絕。如來三十二相。皆從持戒而得。苟不持戒。尚不得疥癩野干之身。況得功德之體。若能持戒。現獲名稱。終超有頂。是故現見奉戒去殺。不狥仁而仁自著。持戒離盜。不崇義而義自敷。守戒除婬。不修禮而禮自立。遵戒息妄。不期信而信自成。受戒斷酒。不履智而智自明。夫斯之實。可謂振網持綱。萬目開張。破無明殻。出長夜夢。復何功可以加之。何德可以配之。若不是修。昧於所欲。徒役慮于名形。勞心乎百氏。倦形神於宵夜。虛耳目於良晨。何乖道之遠逝。而弗及者乎。得其本。則無欲而不辦。去其實。則何從以措心。是以梵志捨異學。而歸投三尊。菩薩奉禁戒。而位同大覺。如斯之教。孰得而思議哉。
The Triple Gem—its nature and characteristics are ever-abiding. Its substance encompasses the entire universe of phenomena, responding to beings according to their capacities, like the sun reflected in a thousand rivers. It serves as a vessel and ferry for the world, surpassing even the three objects of reverence in worldly teaching. Therefore, when one first sets their mind on the path, they begin by taking refuge in the Triple Gem and receiving the precepts against killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. This resembles the five constant virtues of Confucianism—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. Yet the five virtues only bring blessings within a single lifetime, while the five precepts yield merit spanning countless eons. Thus it is said, “If the five precepts are not upheld, the paths of humans and heavenly beings are cut off.” The thirty-two marks of the Tathagata are all attained through upholding the precepts. If one does not keep the precepts, they cannot even obtain the body of a mangy fox, let alone the body of merit. But if one does uphold the precepts, they will gain renown in the present and ultimately transcend the highest heavenly realm. This is why we see that those who uphold the precept against killing become naturally benevolent without striving for benevolence. Those who keep the precept against stealing naturally develop righteousness without seeking it. Those who observe the precept against sexual misconduct naturally establish propriety without cultivating it. Those who follow the precept against false speech naturally find faith without expecting it. Those who uphold the precept against intoxicants naturally achieve wisdom without practicing it. The truth of this is like shaking the main cord of a net and causing all the meshes to open. It shatters the shell of ignorance and awakens from the long night of delusion. What merit could surpass this? What virtue could equal it? If one fails to cultivate this, remaining ignorant of what they truly desire, they merely exhaust themselves chasing fame and form, wearying their minds with a hundred schools of thought, tiring their bodies and spirits through the night, and wasting their senses in the morning. How far they stray from the path and never reach it! When one grasps the root, there is nothing they cannot accomplish. If they abandon the real, how can they settle their mind? This is why the ascetics of old renounced heterodox teachings and took refuge in the Three Jewels. Bodhisattvas uphold the precepts and attain the same enlightenment as the Buddhas. This kind of teaching—who can fathom it?
時康熈癸卯仲夏鼎湖山比丘弘贊識No. 1129
Recorded by the monk Hongzan of Dinghu Mountain in mid-summer of the guimao year of the Kangxi reign. No. 1129.
歸戒要集卷上
Essentials of the Precepts and Refuge, Volume 1
粤東鼎湖山沙門釋 弘贊在犙輯
Master Hongzan of Dinghu Mountain, Guangdong