八關齋法
The Eight Precepts Observance
廣州寶象林沙門 弘贊在犙 輯
Guangzhou Baoxiang Lin Monks Hongzan Zaifan Compiled
如來御世。本為利樂一切眾生。而眾生根性不同。故教設多方。教雖非一。而不出三學。所謂戒定慧也。然定慧多門。戒列七眾。出家則比丘稟受二百五十大戒。比丘尼受持三百四十八戒。式叉摩那學其六法。沙彌沙彌尼俱持十戒。在家則清信男。清信女。戒開兩門。一五戒終身持。二八戒六齋日持。或十齋日持。或隨自意。有暇日即持。然戒雖云一日一夜。其所獲功德利益。非凡所測。如摩尼寶珠。雖復輕小。而勝一切諸寶。有斯善利。捨而不為者。有二種人。一者不信三世善惡因果。在儒不修五常。寧信如來出世五戒。由是人天路絕。道果無分。二者頑癡無知。不識君臣父子。孝悌忠信。惟知食息。畜生無異。寧曉遷善。是二種人。枉得人身。一生無善可記。肆意非為。一朝業果現前。追悔何及。其有智者。速宜受持。阿含經云。佛言。若善男子善女人。欲得八關齋。離諸苦者。得盡諸漏。入涅槃城。當求方便。成此八齋。人中榮位。不足為貴。天上快樂。不可稱計。欲求無上之福者。當求此齋。欲生六欲天。色。無色界天者。當持此齋。欲求一方。二方。三方。四方天子。轉輪聖王位者。亦獲其願。欲求聲聞。緣覺佛乘者。悉成其願。吾今成就。皆由持戒。八戒十善。無願不獲。若受八齋。首須懺悔先罪。然後受戒。應生慚愧。發懇切心。作如是言。
The Tathāgata appears in the world with one purpose: to benefit and bring joy to all sentient beings. Yet living beings have different capacities, so the teachings are given in many forms. Though the teachings are not one, they all fall within the three trainings: discipline, concentration, and wisdom.
Discipline and concentration have many approaches, while precepts are observed by seven groups. For monastics: monks uphold the 250 major precepts, nuns uphold 348, novice nuns train in the six dharmas, and both male and female novices uphold the ten precepts. For lay practitioners: laymen and laywomen observe the precepts in two ways. The first is the five precepts, upheld for life. The second is the eight precepts, observed on the six fasting days, or the ten fasting days, or at any time one chooses when one has free days.
Though the eight precepts are observed for but a single day and night, the merit and benefit they bring cannot be measured by ordinary means. Like a wish-fulfilling jewel — though small and light, it surpasses all other treasures. There are two kinds of people who, faced with such benefit, let it slip away:
The first kind do not believe in the karmic cause and effect of good and evil across the three realms of time. In worldly life they fail to uphold the five virtues, so how could they trust the five precepts taught by the Tathāgata? For such people, the path to heavenly rebirth is cut off, and awakening is out of reach.
The second kind are dull and ignorant, not recognizing the bonds between ruler and subject, parent and child, nor the virtues of filial piety, brotherly respect, loyalty, and faithfulness. They know only eating and breathing, no different from animals — how could they understand turning toward goodness?
These two kinds of people waste their human birth. Throughout their lives, no good deed can be recorded for them. They act recklessly without restraint, and when the results of their karma suddenly manifest, what use is regret?
Those with wisdom should quickly take up these precepts. The Āgama Sutra says: The Buddha taught, "If good men or good women wish to obtain the eight precepts, to be free from all suffering, to exhaust all defilements, and to enter the city of Nirvāṇa, they should seek the means to accomplish this eightfold observance. Honor and position in the human world are not worth prizing. The joys of heaven cannot be reckoned. Those who seek the supreme blessing should seek this observance. Those who wish to be born in the six heavens of desire, or in the realms of form and formlessness, should uphold these precepts. Those who wish to attain the position of a regional king, a great king, or a wheel-turning sage king will also have their wish fulfilled. Those who seek the fruits of the hearer, the solitary realizer, or Buddhahood will all accomplish their aspirations. What I have attained today came from upholding the precepts. Through the eight precepts and the ten good deeds, no wish goes unfulfilled."
When receiving the eight precepts, one must first repent of past wrongdoings, then take the precepts. One should feel shame and remorse, and with sincere and earnest resolve, make this declaration:
我某甲。從無始生死已來。至於今日。身業不善。殺。盜婬。口業不善。妄言。綺語。兩舌。惡口。意業不善。貪欲。瞋恚。愚痴邪見。不信因果。造此十不善罪。今向十方三寶諸佛菩薩。三乘聖眾。現前師僧。求哀懺悔。作如是懺已。教受言。
I, [Name], from beginningless time in the cycle of birth and death up to this very day, have committed unwholesome deeds through body — killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. Through speech, I have committed unwholesome acts — lying, frivolous talk, divisive words, and harsh speech. Through mind, I have committed unwholesome acts — greed, ill will, and foolish wrong views, not believing in cause and effect. Having committed these ten unwholesome deeds, I now turn to the Three Jewels of the ten directions, all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the holy assemblies of the three vehicles, and the teachers and monastics present here, seeking compassionate refuge and repentance. Having thus repented, I am taught to receive the precepts.
我某甲。歸依佛。歸依法。歸依僧。一日一夜。為淨行優婆塞(女人。當云優婆夷)。如來至真等正覺。是我世尊(三說已次受三結)。
I, [name], take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the Sangha. For one day and one night, I will be a lay practitioner of pure conduct(For a woman, it should be said: "a laywoman of pure conduct"). The Thus-Come One, the True and Perfectly Enlightened One, is my teacher(After saying this three times, next receive the three refuges).
我某甲。歸依佛竟。歸依法竟。歸依僧竟。一日一夜。為淨行優婆塞。如來至真等正覺。是我世尊(三說已次受戒相)。
I, [name], have taken refuge in the Buddha, have taken refuge in the Dharma, and have taken refuge in the Sangha. For one day and one night, I will uphold the pure conduct of a lay disciple. The Thus-Come One, the Fully Enlightened One, is my teacher. (Repeat this three times, then receive the precepts.)
- 如諸佛盡壽。不殺生。我某甲一日一夜不殺生。
- 如諸佛盡壽。不偷盜。我某甲一日一夜不偷盜。
- 如諸佛盡壽。不婬欲。我某甲一日一夜不婬欲。
- 如諸佛盡壽。不妄語。我某甲一日一夜不妄語。
- 如諸佛盡壽。不飲酒。我某甲一日一夜不飲酒。
- 如諸佛盡壽不著香華鬘。不香塗身。我某甲一日一夜不著香華鬘。不香塗身。
- 如諸佛盡壽不歌舞倡伎。不往聽觀。我某甲一日一夜不歌舞倡伎。不往觀聽。
- 如諸佛盡壽不坐高廣大牀。我某甲一日一夜不坐高廣大牀。
- 如諸佛盡壽不非時食。我某甲一日一夜不非時食。
經云。如上次第授已。當教發願。大論云。當發願言。
The scripture says: After teaching the above sequence, one should guide them to make a vow. The Great Treatise says: One should make a vow, saying—
我某甲受行八戒。隨學諸佛。名為布薩。願持是福。不墮三惡八難。亦不求輪王。梵王。世間之樂。願斷煩惱。逮得一切智。成就佛道(若欲兼報四恩。求生淨土者。當作如是發願言)。
我今以此八關戒齋功德。四恩總報。三有齊資。普與眾生。同生淨土。
此八關戒。亦名八支戒。又名八種長養功德法。前之八法。名為關戒。後一不非時食。名之為齋。齋戒合名。故云八關戒齋。關謂關閉八惡。不起諸過。齋者齊也。謂禁止六情。不染六塵。齊斷諸惡。具修眾善。故名齋也。大方便經云。優波離白佛言。夫八齋法。并過中不食。乃有九法。何以八事得名。佛言。齋法過中不食為體。八事助成齋體。共相支持。名八支齋法。是故言八齋。不云九也。不殺生者。下至微細蜫蟲。但有命者。不得故殺。不偷盜者。乃至一針一線。他不與者不取。不婬欲者。世間一切男女。及自妻妾。一日一夜。悉皆遠離。不妄語者。妄語有四。謂妄語。綺語兩舌。惡口。但與心口相違者。悉名妄語。不飲酒者。謂一切五穀華果釀成。能醉人者。皆不得飲。不著香華鬘不香塗身者。謂不得以諸華貫串為鬘。名香為末。熏佩塗飾。及著一切莊嚴衣具等。不歌舞倡伎。不往觀聽者。倡伎是樂器。謂自不習歌曲戲舞。作諸妓樂。樗蒲棋博等。及他人作時。亦不往觀聽。不坐高廣大牀者。高不過尺六。廣闊不過四尺。長大不過八尺。及一切嚴麗莊校牀座。皆不於中坐臥也。不非時食者。謂不過日中噉嚼五穀。瓜果等物。若日過西一線。乃至明日天未曉。皆名非時。經云。諸天早食。佛日中食。畜生日西食。鬼神夜食。今受八戒。斷六道因。學佛中食。以表中道。離斷常二邊之過也。食訖。須嚼楊枝。淨水𠻳口。去口中餘津。若不嚼楊枝。口中餘津尚存。而咽者。即犯非時。如無楊枝。除毒樹。一切桃。槐。苦澀等樹。皆可用之。五辛之物。俱不得食。此八戒齋。若犯前四。是實惡。性罪也。飲酒。是眾惡之門。後四。是放逸因緣。若人離前五種惡。是福因緣。離餘四種。是道因緣。報恩經云。若破八戒中重戒。後更受八戒。或受五戒。或受十戒。或大戒。及禪戒。無漏戒。一切不得。問曰。受八戒法。得二日三日。乃至十日。一時受不。答曰。佛本制一日一夜戒。不得過限。若有力能受。一日過已。次第更受。如是隨力多少。不計日數。夫受齋法。必從他人邊受。謂於五眾邊受。故婆沙論問曰。近住八戒。云何而得。答曰。從他教得。謂從師教。自發誠言。恭敬受得。又受戒者。要隨師語。如師說而說。方得受戒。若先自發言。或與師俱說。不得戒。問曰。著何服飾。得受此戒。答曰。常所受用衣服嚴具著之。皆得受。若為暫時莊嚴身者。必須棄捨。受時應齊一日夜。不增不減。謂清旦時。從師受得。至明清旦。此齋便捨。問曰。若至午後受此戒者。亦得戒不。答曰。應言不得。除先有要期。每月六日等。恒受齋戒。彼有餘緣。午前不憶。食已方憶。深生慚愧。即請戒師如法受者。亦得。薩婆多論云。必無戒師為授者。但心念口言。自歸三寶。我持八戒。亦得。若近處有戒師。心生慢墯。不往從受。而自受者。亦不得戒。俱舍論云。若不恭敬。不發戒體。若不如法受者。但生善行。不發戒體。故優婆塞戒經云。不得在佛像前自受。要從人受。根本清淨。受已清淨。莊嚴清淨。覺觀清淨。念心清淨。求報清淨。是名三歸清淨齋法。若能歸依受八戒者。除五逆罪。餘一切惡。悉皆消滅。若有人以四大寶藏。滿中七寶。持布施人。所有功德。不如有人一日一夜。受持八戒。得無量果報。至涅槃樂。雜譬喻經云。一日持齋。有六十萬歲餘糧。非時不食。復有五福。一少病。二身安。三少婬。四少睡。五生天識宿命。舍迦經云。月六齋日。奉持八戒。福不可計。若人急欲得三乘聖道者。當端其心。一其意。受持八戒。得大善利。智度論云。若臘月一日。至十五日。受持此戒。其福最多。此是如來現大神通日也。又云。五戒。一日戒。何者為勝。答曰。有因緣故。二戒俱等。但五戒終身持。八戒一日持。又五戒常持。時多而戒少。一日戒。時少而戒多。若無大心。雖復終身持。不如有大心。持一日戒。譬如輭夫為將。雖欲將兵終身。卒無功名。若英雄奮發。禍亂立定。一日之勳。名葢天下。八戒比於餘戒。亦復如是。問曰。何故六日受八戒修福德。答曰。是日鬼神逐人。欲奪人命。疾病凶衰。令人不吉。是故劫初聖賢。教人持齋修福。以避凶衰。是時不知有八戒。直以一日不食為齋。佛後出世。始教一日一夜。受持八戒。過中不食為齋。如是功德。將人至涅槃樂。四天王經云。月六齋日。天使者。太子。及四天王。自下觀察眾生。若不布施持戒。忠孝者。便上忉利天。以啟天帝。時天帝及諸天。心皆不悅。說言。惡道增多。諸天眾減少矣。若有布施持戒忠孝多者。諸天歡喜說言。天眾增益。惡道減損矣。涅槃經云。佛告大王。波羅柰國。有一屠兒。名曰廣額。於日日中。殺無量羊。見舍利弗。即受八戒。經一日一夜。以是因緣。命終得為北方多聞天王作子。賢愚經云。北天竺。阿槃提國中。有一老婢。晨夜走使。不得安處。小有違失。便受鞭捶。衣不蔽形。食不充口。年老困悴。思死不得。持瓶詣河取水。思惟是苦。舉聲大哭。時迦旃延尊者。來至其所。問言。何以悲泣懊惱乃爾。白言。尊者。我既年老。恒執苦役。加復貧窮。衣食不充。思死不得。是故哭耳。尊者曰。汝若貧者。何不賣貧。婢言。貧那得賣。誰當買貧。尊者曰。貧實可賣。如是至三。婢言。苟貧可賣。我宜問方。大德。貧云何賣。尊曰。審欲賣者。一隨我語。答言諾。尊者告曰。汝先洗浴。洗已。告曰。汝當布施。白言。尊者。我極貧困。身無手許完納。唯有此瓶。是主人的。當以何施。尊者。即持鉢與之。汝持此鉢。取少淨水。如教取來。奉上尊者。尊者受已。尋為呪願。次教受八戒齋。後教念佛種種功德。問曰。汝有住止處不。答言。無也。若磨時。即磨下臥。舂炊作使。即臥其中。或時無作。止宿糞堆。尊者曰。汝好持心恭謹走使。莫生嫌恨。自伺主人。一切臥竟。密開其門。於門曲內。敷淨草坐。思惟觀佛。莫生惡念。時老婢奉教歸家。依敕施行。於後夜中。即便命終。生忉利天上。主人早起。見婢命終。瞋言。此婢恒常不聽入舍。今暮何故乃於此死。即使人以草索繫脚。拽至林中。此女既生天上。與五百天子娛樂。時舍利弗尊者。在忉利天。問曰。汝因何福生此天中。答言不知。舍利弗。即借其道眼。觀其故身。生天因緣。由迦旃延。即將五百天子。來至林中。散華燒香。供養死屍。諸天身光。照耀村林。主人見已。怪其所由。與眾詣林觀看。見諸天子。供養此屍。即問天曰。此婢醜穢。生存之時。人猶惡見。況今已死。何故諸天。而加供養。時天子。具說本末生天因緣。即迴詣迦旃延所。尊者。為諸天人。廣說妙法。所謂持戒生天之論。欲不淨法。出離為樂。時彼天及五百天子。得須陀洹果。飛還天宮。時在會眾。聞法已。各獲道果。莫不歡喜奉行。(迦旃延。以天眼觀見此婢。餘有一夜命在。死即墮惡道。受無量苦。故徃度之)法句喻經云。東方有國。名鬱多羅波提。有婆羅門五百人。相率欲詣恒水邊。詞祀神池。沐浴垢穢。裸形求仙。路出大澤。迷不得過。中路乏糧。遙見一大樹。如有神氣。想有人居。馳聚樹下。了無所見。舉聲大哭云。饑渴委厄窮死斯澤矣。樹神現身問曰。道士那來。今欲何行。同聲答曰。欲詣神池。澡浴求仙。今日饑渴。幸哀矜濟。樹神舉手。百味飲食。從手流溢。給眾飲食。皆得飽滿。其餘飲食。足供路糧。臨別詣神。請問曰。本行何德。致此巍巍。神曰。吾本所居。在舍衛國。時國大臣。名曰須達。飯佛眾僧。於市買酪。無提酪者。倩我提之。往到精舍。使我斟酌。訖。行澡水。儼然聽法。一切歡喜。稱善無量。時我奉齋。暮還不飡。婦怪問我。不審何恨。我曰。不恨也。見長者須達飯佛。我奉戒齋。齋名八關。時婦瞋忿言曰。瞿曇亂俗。奚足採納。君毀遺則。禍從此興。踧迫不已。便共俱食。時我壽盡。神來生此。為此愚婦。破我齋法。不卒其業。來生斯澤。作此樹神。提酪之福。手出飲食。若全齋法。應生天上。封受自然。即為五百人。而說頌曰。祠祀種禍根。日夜長枝條。唐苦敗身本。法齋度世仙。按賢愚經。及百緣經云。昔迦葉佛滅度之後。遺法垂末。有二梵志。到比丘邊。俱受八戒。一願生天。一願作國王。願生天者歸家。婦呼共食。夫言。向受佛齋。過中不食。婦曰。君是梵志。自有戒法。何緣乃受異道之齋。今若相違不共我飯。當以斯事。語諸梵志。擯汝不與同會。夫聞恐怖。便與婦非時而食。由破齋故。後生龍中。其願作王者。持齋完具。得生王家。作大國王。時王園中。多有甘果。守園之人。日日奉送。其人後時。於園泉中。得一異柰。色香甚美。便作是念。我每出入。常為門監所遮。當以此柰與之。門監得已。奉貢黃門。黃門納竟。轉上夫人。夫人得柰。復用獻王。王食此柰。甚覺甘美。便問夫人。展轉相推。到守園人。王即喚來。而責之曰。如此美柰。何為不送。乃與他人。園人於是具陳本末。王瞋語言。自今以後。常送斯柰。園監啟王。此柰無種。何由可辦。王曰。若不能得。當斬汝身。其人還園。舉聲大哭。其龍先身。與王共受齋故。生於王園泉中。時龍變身為人。從泉而出。問其哭由。園監具說。龍聞入水。以金盤盛柰出泉。遣持奉王。并語吾意云。吾及王。本是親友。昔在世時。俱為梵志。共受八戒。各求所願。汝戒完具。得為人王。吾戒不全。故生龍中。今欲奉八關齋法。求捨此身。當為吾覓八關齋文。持來與我。若其相違。吾覆汝國用作大海。園監以柰奉王。具說龍意。王聞甚憂。良由時世無佛。法又滅盡。齋文難得。有一大臣。王敕之曰。龍索齋法。仰卿得之。若不得者。吾當殺卿。大臣歸家。甚懷憂惱。臣父見子。面色不悅。問知委由。其父語曰。吾家堂柱每放光明。試破看之。必有異事。尋即破之。得經二卷。一是十二因緣。二是八關齋文。得已。奉王。王得歡喜。自送與龍。龍得此經。便用好寶贈王。王及於龍。重修八戒。壽盡生天。同共一處。至釋迦如來出世。從天來下。至於佛所。佛為說法。時二天子。俱得須陀洹果。還歸天上。從是以往。畢得涅槃(按此八戒。無論已受五戒。未受五戒。皆得受之。或六齋日。自誕日。或父母生日諱日等。皆可受持。以資福慧。為出世之基也。若受戒已或遇破戒難緣相逼。寧可捨戒已。然後作之。不得犯戒罪。後還得受戒。欲捨戒時。無問出家在家人邊。但向一人言。我今捨八戒不持。一說。即成捨也)。餘詳歸戒集中。