戒律根本只有一個，就是不自私。人要是有自私心，就會犯戒；若沒有自私心，就不會犯戒。同理，人有自私心，就會犯法；沒有自私心，就不會犯法。有些人在法律上受到委屈，未得到一個公平的判決，這是因為在往昔所行所做，總將不公平加諸於人，所以他人也以不公平加諸於己。

The precepts are based upon one thing only－unselfishness. If people are selfish, they transgress the precepts; if they are unselfish, they won’t transgress them. By the same token, selfish people break the laws, while unselfish people don’t. Sometimes the law seems to treat certain people unjustly, and those people cannot get a fair trial. That’s because in their past lives they did not treat others fairly, so now they are getting unfair treatment in return.

你應睜開自己的眼睛，把思想整頓一下，看一看，世上的人犯法，實在都是自私心引起來的。所有不守規矩的人，都源於自私。如果沒有自私心，則世間法不會犯，出世間的規矩也不會犯。所以若真能實行萬佛聖城的六大宗旨──不爭、不貪、不求、不自私、不自利、不妄語，則不但能在世間做一個好人，也可以成為出世的聖人。世界亂的原因，就是因為人人自私，未能大公無私。好像有些黨派口口聲聲說是大公無私，可是實際做出來的事，完全是為己的，就這樣把世界弄亂了，弄得人人都不平安，有恐懼感。這種種的不平安和恐懼感，都是因為自私心引起的。

You should open your eyes, organize your thoughts, and take a look: Selfishness drives people to break the laws. People who don’t abide by the rules are motivated by selfishness. If they weren’t selfish, they would violate neither worldly nor transcendental laws. And so, if you can truly practice the Six Guidelines of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas－not to contend, not to be greedy, not to seek, not to be selfish, not to pursue personal advantage, and not to lie－then not only will you be a good person in the world, you can also become a sage who transcends the world. The reason the world is in such a mess is that everyone is selfish; people aren’t public-spirited. Some political parties claim that they are working in the public interest, but the things they do are all for their own benefit. That’s why the world is so messed up and people are insecure and afraid. All the fear and insecurity stems from selfishness.

我們現在研究戒律，把戒律明白了，就知道怎樣做人。明白做人的本份，也就明白做聖人的本份，所以研究戒律是非常重要的。要想幫助這個世界，我們首先要不爭、不貪、不求、不自私、不自利、不妄語，以身作則，做其他人的榜樣，這樣世界才會一天比一天平安。所以每個星期五學戒律時，要特別虔誠恭敬，才能得到其中的益處。

We are currently studying the precepts. Once we understand the precepts, we will know how to be a person. Once we understand the basis for being a person, we will also understand the basis for being a sage. So, the study of the precepts is very important. In order to help this world, first of all we must not contend, not be greedy, not seek, not be selfish, not pursue personal advantage, and not lie. We should set an example with our own conduct and be a model for other people. In that way, the world will become more peaceful day by day. Therefore, we should be especially sincere and respectful when we study the precepts every Friday, so that we can derive benefit.

一九八四年十月五日開示