《大佛顶首楞严经》这一部经其中有〈楞严咒〉，这〈楞严咒〉的“楞严”两个字，就翻译成“究竟坚固”。那么这一部经，在中国来说，是很重要的一部经，所谓“成佛的法华，开慧的楞严。”我也很愿意讲这个《楞严经》和《法华经》，因为这两部经，既能开智慧，又能成佛。所以不单我愿意讲，我希望每一个人都把它研究明白了，尤其是《楞严经》。

The Shurangama Mantra is in the Shurangama Sutra. The word 'Shurangama' has the meaning 'absolutely firm and solid.' In China, this Sutra is considered one of the most important Sutras. It is said: "to become a Buddha requires the Dharma Flower Sutra; to develop one's wisdom requires the Shurangama Sutra." I'm very willing to lecture on the the Shurangama Sutra and the Dharma Flower Sutra, because these two Sutras can develop people's wisdom and lead them to Buddhahood. Not only do I want to talk about them, but I also hope everyone here will study and understand them, especially the Shurangama Sutra.

讲到这个《楞严经》，在我们中国有一位智者大师，他在一生之中，只听见这部经的名字，他就想要读诵这一部经，就向着印度天天叩头礼拜，希望见到这一部经。叩头礼拜十八年，结果也没有见着这一部经。智者大师他的智慧已经出类拔萃，他的辩才已经是无碍了，那么他还恭敬礼拜这一部《楞严经》，可见这一部《楞严经》的重要性。

Speaking of the Shurangama Sutra, I remember in China there was a Great Master named Zhi Zhe ("Wise One") who, upon hearing the name of the Shurangama Sutra, wanted to read it. For that reason he bowed in the direction of India every day, hoping to someday to study it. Although he made full prostrations for eighteen years, he never saw this Sutra. Though the wisdom and intelligence of Great Master Zhi Zhe surpassed that of ordinary people and his eloquence had no limits, he still revered and bowed to the Shurangama Sutra. This shows how important this Sutra is.

有这一部《楞严经》在世的时候，天魔外道就都不敢出现。可是很不幸地，这一部《楞严经》在末法的时候，就先先没有了，先没了。等这一部经一没的时候，这天魔外道就会得便了。所以现在有一些个冒充佛学的专家，也说自己是研究佛法的一个学者，或者是某一个大学里头佛学系的教授，那么他们公然就提倡，说是《楞严经》是假的，是中国人伪造的。啊！你们各位想一想，我们中国虽然是出过很多的圣人，但是我相信能造《楞严经》的这种圣人，还找不出来哪一个。所以我绝对相信这《楞严经》是真的，是正确的，是降伏天魔、制诸外道的一部经。因为〈楞严咒〉里边所说的，都是降伏天魔、制诸外道的，从一开始到终了，每一句都有它的妙处，都有它不可思议的力量。所以这个《楞严经》，就是为〈楞严咒〉而说。

As long as the Shurangama Sutra exists in this world, the demons from the heavens and the externalists will be afraid to show themselves. Unfortunately, the Shurangama Sutra will be the first to disappear in the Dharma-ending Age. After this Sutra disappears, the demons from the heavens and the externalists will take advantage of the situation. That is why now there are some who pretend to be experts on Buddhism, who say they are scholars of Buddhist studies or professors of Buddhism in such-and-such universities, and they publicly suggest that the Shurangama Sutra is a spurious Sutra created by the Chinese. All of you just think for a moment: Although China has produced many sages, I doubt that we could find one among them who could have written the Shurangama Sutra. I firmly believe that the Shurangama Sutra is genuine and correct, and that it offers the means to subdue demons from the heavens and control externalists. That is because the phrases in the Shurangama Mantra serve to subdue demons from the heavens and control externalists. From the beginning to the end, each line of the mantra has its mystical effect and inconceivable power. It was because of the Shurangama Mantra that the Shurangama Sutra was spoken.

以前在香港有翻译《楞严经》的人，把《楞严经》翻译成英文了。那么翻译成英文，他就把“设楞严坛”这种仪规都删去了，把那一段经文也不要了，咒也不要了。他说西方人哪一个也不相信〈楞严咒〉，他们都不愿意诵持咒的，他们对于咒认为是迷信，不相信咒的这种功用。所以他把怎么样地设坛啊，怎么样修持这个楞严大法啊，他都不要了。那么现在等我到西方国家，到美国，我亲身的经验，在西方人里，很多很多都是欢喜诵持〈楞严咒〉的。不单欢喜诵持〈楞严咒〉，而且还都能背得出来。在金山圣寺，我有一个徒弟，他早晨做早课随着诵〈楞严咒〉，晚间做晚课我们也诵持〈楞严咒〉，那么早晚这么念一念，他念到二十六天，就能背得出来了。我在美国第一个考试，就是考试〈楞严咒〉，谁会背〈楞严咒〉，谁就第一个考试及格；谁若不会〈楞严咒〉，就暂时不及格、不合格。那么我在那个暑假班是这样规定的，所以有一位是二十六天能背得出〈楞严咒〉，有一位是二十八天能背出〈楞严咒〉。所以现在在西方的佛教徒，认识〈楞严咒〉的，是很多的。

In the past, someone in Hong Kong translated the Shurangama Sutra into English, but he deleted the section on the rites of setting up the Shurangama Platform and also left out the entire Shurangama Mantra. He said that no Westerners would believe in the Shurangama Mantra, that they wouldn't recite it since they consider mantras to be superstitious and don't believe in the functions of mantras. Therefore, he left out the instructions for setting up the platforms and for practicing and upholding the Great Shurangama Dharma. After coming to this Western country--the United States, I personally realized that there are many Westerners who love to chant the Shurangama Mantra. Not only do they like to chant the Shurangama Mantra, they are even able to recite it from memory! At Gold Mountain Monastery, I had a disciple who joined us in reciting the Shurangama Mantra during morning recitation and again during evening recitation. After twenty-six days of reciting it in the morning and evening, he was able to recite it from memory. The first test I gave to my students in America was on the Shurangama Mantra. I stipulated in the summer session (1968) that whoever could memorize the Shurangama Mantra would pass, and whoever could not would fail. There was one who memorized the Shurangama Mantra in twenty-six days, and another who memorized it in twenty-eight days. And now, many Western Buddhists are familiar with the Shurangama Mantra.

我们各位应该想一想，这一些个冒充佛学专家，或者一些个自命为学者的，或者是某一个大学里头的教授，为什么他们要倡议说这个《楞严经》是假的？就因为《楞严经》上所说的，都是对治这些人的毛病，把他们所本有的一些老毛病都说得清清楚楚的。好像其中那个〈四种清净明诲〉，说得清清楚楚的，不可毁犯。这一些人根本就不愿去他们的毛病，所以就提议说：“《楞严经》是中国人造的。”这个最初是谁说的呢？是日本人提议出来的。那日本人说谁告诉他的呢？说是一个中国的法师告诉他的，说这个《楞严经》是假的。那么我不知道这个法师究竟他懂不懂《楞严经》？这法师的名字不要提他了，因为已经是很早的事情了。那么就这么样以讹传讹，说《楞严经》是假的。这就证明这个佛法没啊，一点一点地就是由佛教里边的人造出这种谣言来，一点一点地就令人生一种怀疑；生一种怀疑，久而久之就狐疑不信了；那么狐疑不信，就把这一部经会置诸高阁；置诸高阁就等于毁灭了一样的。所以，你对这一部经也不研究了，他对这一部经也不发生兴趣了，久而久之，就这样毁没了。不是这个经自己就没有字了，或者没有纸了，或者怎么样的，而是人们一点一点地就把它淡忘下来了。

All of us should stop for a moment and think, "Why do these fake Buddhist experts, self-proclaimed scholars, and college professors say that the Shurangama Sutra is false?" It's because the doctrines of the Shurangama Sutra counteract the faults of these people; it clearly exposes their faults. For example, it explains very clearly that the Four Clear Instructions on Purity must not be transgressed. Since these people have no intention of eliminating their faults, they insinuate that the Shurangama Sutra was created by the Chinese. Who were the first ones to say this? The Japanese. Who told the Japanese? It is said that a Chinese Dharma Master informed them that the Shurangama Sutra was counterfeit. I don't know whether that Dharma Master understood the Shurangama Sutra. We don't have to mention his name, because it was a long time ago. Since then, people have been spreading the rumor that the Shurangama Sutra is not genuine. This shows that the Buddhadharma is declining: people within Buddhism made up such a rumor, gradually causing doubts in others. Over a period of time, people became doubtful and disbelieving, and in their disbelief they put this Sutra away in the attic. That's equivalent to destroying it, for no one will study this Sutra or have any interest in it. Over the course of time, the Sutra will disappear, not because of something like the words fading away or the pages falling out, but because, little by little, people will forget about it.

为什么人要提倡这个？就是因为他不愿意守这个规矩。那经上又说，五十种阴魔有种种的神通，这都不算一回事。所以他想自己有一点神通的时候，就认为我如果有这个神通，也变成假的了。现在在日本有一个同参，据说他有神通，用手一指，这个蜡烛就着了，那么究竟是不是这样子？我还没有证实。我这一次十四号到日本去，或者见一见这个人，他在很早以前也希望见我，那么我们去，大家互相交换一下意见。

Why have people made up this false theory? Simply because they do not want to follow the rules. The Sutra also states that the various spiritual powers associated with the fifty skandha-demon states are not significant. So those people think, "Even if I had some spiritual powers, they would be considered false." I've heard that a certain cultivator in Japan has spiritual penetrations--it's said that he can point his finger at a candle and cause it to light up. Is this the case? I haven't witnessed it yet. I'm going to Japan on the fourteenth, so maybe I'll look him up. A long time ago he also wanted to see me, so when I visit him we can exchange ideas.

那么《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉这个重要性，是没有法子能说得完的，尽未来际也说不完它的这种妙用，所以说不可思议。我今天再用我诚诚实实的这种心，来向你们各位坦坦白白地说一说这个〈楞严咒〉的妙用。过去我在东北的时候，每逢遇着人有病，我就一定要令他的病好。我以什么力量来令一切的人病好？就是这个〈楞严咒〉的力量。

The importance of the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra is beyond words. Even if I were to speak to the end of time, it would be impossible to completely describe its wonderful effects. It is inconceivable. Today I'm using a very honest mind to candidly tell all of you about the wonderful effects of the Shurangama Mantra. When I was in Manchuria, whenever I met people who were sick, I was determined to cure their illness. What power did I use to cure sick people? The power of the Shurangama Mantra.

这个〈楞严咒〉其中有五部，东方是阿閦佛，阿閦佛就是金刚部；南方是宝生佛，就是宝生部；中央是佛部；西方是莲华部；北方是羯磨部。这五部就是管理这个世界五方的五大魔军，所以你一诵〈楞严咒〉，这五方的五大魔军他都俯首低头，那么老老实实地不敢违犯〈楞严咒〉的这种威力。

The Shurangama Mantra contains five divisions: In the East is the Vajra Division, hosted by Akshobhya Buddha; in the south, the Jewel-creating Division, hosted by Creation of Jewels (Ratnasambhava) Buddha; in the center, the Buddha Division, hosted by Vairochana Buddha; in the West, the Lotus Division, hosted by Amitabha Buddha; in the North, the Karma Division, hosted by Accomplishment (Amoghasiddhi) Buddha. These five divisions control the vast demon armies of the five directions. When you recite the Shurangama Mantra, the soldiers of the five demon armies will lower their heads in obedience. They will behave themselves and will not dare to oppose the awesome power of the Shurangama Mantra.

〈楞严咒〉上，又有“息灾法”：你一诵这个〈楞严咒〉，一切的灾难都没有了。有“降伏法”：就是无论你是什么天魔外道，一诵〈楞严咒〉，就把这个魔的法力都给破了，把他就降伏了。又有“增益法”：你譬如修道，能增益你的智慧，增益你的菩提心，增益你这个愿力，一切一切都会增加，这是增益法。有“成就法”：一诵这个〈楞严咒〉，你修什么法门都会成就的，这又是一种。又有一种“钩召法”：就是遇着天魔外道，你想要把他抓来的时候──举个例子，就像世间的警察，到那儿把那个犯罪的人抓来了；这钩召法也就是无论是天魔也好，外道也好，你想要把他抓来，这一切的护法善神、天龙八部、八万四千金刚藏菩萨即刻就会把他抓来，这是钩召法。

In the Shurangama Mantra, there is a Dharma for Quelling Calamities. When you recite the mantra, all disasters and misfortunes will disappear. There is also a Dharma for Subduing. No matter what kind of demons from the heavens or heretics you encounter, when you recite the Shurangama Mantra, you will destroy the power of the demons and subdue them. There is a Dharma that Increases Benefits. When you are cultivating the Way, this dharma will help you increase your wisdom, your resolve for Bodhi, and the power of your vows; it can increase everything. This is called the Dharma that Increases Benefits. There is an Accomplishment Dharma. When you recite the Shurangama Mantra, no matter what Dharma-door you practice, you will accomplish it. There is another dharma called the Hooking and Summoning Dharma. This dharma is to be employed when you encounter demons from the heavens and heretics and you want to seize them, just as the policemen in our society catch criminals. When you want to catch the demons from the heavens or the heretics, all the kind-hearted Dharma-protecting spirits, the gods and dragons, and the remainder of the eightfold division, and the 84,000 Vajra Store Bodhisattvas will immediately seize them. This is the Hooking and Summoning Dharma.

〈楞严咒〉有五会，其中分出来有三十几部法。那么我在东北能对治这一切人的病痛，都因为〈楞严咒〉的这种力量。可是这个〈楞严咒〉不是随随便便人人都可以使用的；那么使用也不是全面的，因为分出来三十几部，有三十几部法。我这样说，那么在美国有一些个不懂佛法的教授，他们就想了，说：“哦！原来这个〈楞严咒〉是很多小咒凑到一起的！”你说这讲出来，真是笑死人！自己也不明白，就以教授这个科学的脑袋，来揣测〈楞严咒〉这种不可思议的情形。我听见这么样地讲，觉得很可笑！

The Shurangama Mantra consists of five sections and can be divided into over thirty types of dharmas. It was because of the power of the Shurangama Mantra that I was able to treat people's illnesses when I was in Manchuria. However, it is not the case that just anyone can casually use the Shurangama Mantra. When one uses it, one doesn't necessarily have to use the whole mantra, because it contains over thirty types of dharmas. When I mentioned this, some professors in the United States didn't really understand Buddhism, and they thought, "Oh! Now I see that the Shurangama Mantra is just a combination of many little mantras." How ridiculous! They themselves do not understand, so they use the scientific mind of a professor to speculate on the inconceivable state of the Shurangama Mantra. This is what I've heard. What a joke!

为什么要讲这个〈楞严咒〉呢？因为这一部《楞严经》，就是为着〈楞严咒〉而说的；如果没有〈楞严咒〉的话，根本就不会有《楞严经》。所以翻译英文这一位先生，他把〈楞严咒〉不要，把结坛这种仪规也都不翻译，这可以说，就好像一个人没有了头似的。一个人没有个头，这有什么用呢？所以在翻译经典时，不能武断，不能自己用自己这个小智小慧，或者以管窥天、以蠡测海，用自己这种知见来断章取义，妄加去取，对于经上，这是不可以的。

Why do we want to talk about the Shurangama Mantra? Because it was for the sake of the Shurangama Mantra that the Shurangama Sutra was expounded. Without the Shurangama Mantra, there wouldn't be any Shurangama Sutra. Therefore, since that person from Hong Kong left out the Shurangama Mantra and didn't translate the rites of setting up the platform, you could say that his English translation is like a person without a head. What can a person do if he has no head? When we translate Sutras, we shouldn't arbitrarily add or delete sentences by interpreting passages out of context or using our own limited understanding and wisdom. If we did, it would be like viewing the sky through a reed or measuring the ocean with a gourd. This is not allowed when we are translating Sutras.

我们现在在金山圣寺也是翻译经典，那么凡是经上所有的，绝对是保留的，不会或者把这个经的头给砍去，或者把脚给剁去了。也不会像某某一个professor（教授），翻译这个“两足尊”，他翻译成什么呢？就翻译成“两条腿”，他说“皈依佛，两条腿。”那么这种的翻译法，也不能说是完全不对，但是有多少是大相迳庭了，与这个经的本意是不相合的。因为这种关系，所以我们金山圣寺所翻译的这个经典都特别谨慎小心，不是随便就把经某一段取消了。那么今天讲这《楞严经》，顺便说一说这个意思。

Now, we are also working on Sutra translations at Gold Mountain Monastery, and we absolutely must retain all the text that is in the Sutras. We will not chop off the head or do away with the feet. Nor will we be like a certain professor who translated liang zu zun (which means "Doubly Perfect Honored One") as "Most Venerable of Two Legged Beings," implying that we should "Take refuge with the Buddha's two legs." [The Chinese character zu can mean perfect or foot.] This way of translating (word-for-word) cannot be said to be completely incorrect, but it is quite far from the intent of the text and does not agree with the original meaning in the Sutra. For these reasons, we are extremely attentive and careful in all the Sutras we translate at Gold Mountain Monastery. We would not casually delete a paragraph in the Sutras. Since I'm talking about the Shurangama Sutra today, I have taken an opportunity to bring this up.

节录自《大势至菩萨念佛圆通章浅释》

Excerpted from the explanation of
The Chapter on the Perfect Penetration
through Mindfulness of the Buddha
by Great Strength Attained Bodhisattva