今天的題目是「佛教徒若不持戒即末法」。佛教「徒」：徒就是僧。佛講佛法，僧依著法來修行，再傳給他人；可是僧人一定要持戒。不但僧人要持戒，就是俗人也應該持戒。不論僧人或俗人，若不持戒，那就是末法，所以說：佛教徒若不持戒即末法。

Today's topic is: “When Buddhist disciples don't keep the precepts, the Dharma is at an end.” Buddhist disciples refers to members of the Sangha. The Buddha spoke the Dharma, and the Sangha cultivates according to it and teaches it to other people. It is essential that Sangha members keep the precepts. Laypeople should also uphold them. If the Sangha members or the laypeople fail to keep the precepts, this age will be the Dharma-ending Age. That's why we say, “If Buddhists don't uphold the precepts, it's the end of the Dharma.”

你若隨便打妄語、殺生、邪淫、偷盜、飲酒，這都是犯了根本五戒，即是末法。就是有佛法在世，你不持戒，那從你自身起，就是末法。

If you casually lie, kill, engage in sexual misconduct, steal, or take intoxicants, breaking the five basic precepts, you are bringing about the Dharma-ending Age. Even though the Buddhadharma is still in the world, the demise of the Dharma begins with you if you don't uphold the precepts.

「法賴僧傳」，人才能傳揚佛法，但一定要以「戒」為根本，所以戒是成佛的基礎。基礎就像造房子要先打地基，我們是在造佛這個房子的基礎，必須要從持戒著手做起。各位要特別注意！不要殺生、偷盜、邪淫、妄語、飲酒。不是不要，而是你根本就不要去做。不是人家告訴你，你才不做，而是自己本身就老老實實地嚴持這根本五戒。

The Dharma has to be propagated by the Sangha, and the people who propagate the Dharma should recognize the fundamental role of precepts. Precepts are the foundation for the attainment of Buddhahood. Just as one first lays the foundation when building a house, we are now laying the foundation for the house of Buddhahood, and the first step is to make sure that we uphold the precepts. Everyone should take care not to kill, steal, engage in sexual misconduct, lie, or take intoxicants. It's not enough to want not to do these things; you absolutely don't do them. You must honestly keep these five basic precepts of your own free will, not because other people tell you to.

一九八三年六月十日晚間開示於
萬佛聖城妙語堂