《楞严经》里的〈四种清净明诲〉：断淫、断杀、断偷、断妄，是息息相关的。若犯淫戒，就容易犯杀戒，也容易犯盗戒、妄语戒。因此犯淫戒，是杀盗妄都包括了。所以分而言之是四种，合而言之是一体的。

The Four Clear Instructions on Purity in the Shurangama Sutra, which say that one must put an end to one's lust, killing, stealing, and lying, are closely interrelated. If you break the precept against lust, it is easy to break the precepts against killing, stealing, and lying as well. Therefore, a transgression of the precept against lust includes transgressions of the other three precepts. Discussed separately, they are four kinds, but spoken of together, they are a single entity.

佛这么悲心切切，苦口婆心，详详细细地为我们说这〈四种清净明诲〉，可是一般人还不相信。不是一般人不相信，而是其中有些学者、教授，或不能守戒的出家人，他们不相信。这些人无法改善过来，不能将根刨出，藕断丝连，纠缠不清，所以他索性就什么都不信，而公然说《楞严经》是假的。

The Buddha, out of great compassion, earnestly explained the Four Clear Instructions on Purity in detail, but most people do not believe in them. Actually, it's not the ordinary people, but certain scholars, professors, and left-home people who cannot hold the precepts, who do not believe in them. These people cannot reform and get rid of their offenses. They cannot completely break their bad habits, so they decide not to believe in anything and claim that the Shurangama Sutra is false.

《楞严经》在佛所说的经里，是最重要的一部经。不要说学者和教授说它是假的，或者不守戒律的人说它是假的，就算有一个人能现十八变及种种神通，以这种种神通力量来对我说《楞严经》是假的，我也不相信。为什么？因为《楞严经》所说的道理，都是正合乎人的毛病──无明罪业，也正是痛下针砭，对症下药。可是一般人都不愿意吃这副药，认为这个药太苦，受不了。所以就算有医生把药单开出来，他也把这个药丢弃不要，说这个药没有功效。这就叫自欺欺人，误人误己。

The Shurangama Sutra is one of the most important Sutras spoken by the Buddha. Not to mention scholars, professors, or people who break the precepts, even if someone who could perform the Eighteen Transformations of an Arhat and had all kinds of spiritual powers said the Shurangama Sutra was false, I wouldn't believe it. Why not? Because the principles in the Shurangama Sutra deal directly with our problems─our ignorance and our karmic offenses. They pinpoint our faults and urge us to change; they are exactly the right medicine for our illnesses. Most people cannot endure this bitter medicine. When the doctor prescribes it, they throw it away, saying it doesn't work. They just cheat and obstruct themselves and others.

因为如此，无知识的人就跟着这班人跑，说某某有名的学者、某某有名的教授、某某有名的大法师都说《楞严经》是假的。于是以盲引盲，互相酬唱，你也这么说，我也这么说，邪论纷然。如此一来，佛教徒也不需要守戒律了，也不需要听〈四种清净明诲〉了，〈五十阴魔〉也可以不理睬了，所有所有都可以一笔抹杀！各位想一想，这一类的人多坏！如果这种人不下拔舌地狱，那就没有公理可言了。

As a result of this, ignorant people then jump on the bandwagon, saying, “This famous scholar, that famous professor, and that renowned Dharma Master all say the Shurangama Sutra is false.”

This is a case of the blind leading the blind. They all sing the same tune, disseminating their deviant theories that everything is permissible: They say that Buddhists need not hold the precepts, nor observe the Four Clear Instructions on Purity, nor pay attention to the Fifty Skandha-demon States. They reject all of that. Think how malicious these people are! If they don't fall into the Hell of Ripping Out Tongues, there is simply no justice at all.

所以我们早先讲的，这些心理变态的小孩子，就是造了毁谤大乘经典的无间罪业，所以才受这种骇人的果报。不过人都不知道，还是胆子那么大，冒冒失失公然敢去造罪业，瞪大眼睛说假话，这样子真是泯灭良知良能啊！把本有的聪明智慧都扼杀了，这真是可悲可叹的一件事！因为他们毁谤大乘经典，用眼耳鼻舌身意造种种恶业，所以等到来世再为人时，就变成这种心理变态的小孩子，也不自知，也不自觉，受恶果报还认为很好。

Earlier we were talking about autistic children. These children are undergoing the retribution for having slandered the Great Vehicle Sutras, an offense that merits falling into the Relentless Hells. Not realizing this, people recklessly commit offenses and tell blatant lies. They obliterate their conscience and capibilities, and kill their own intelligence and wisdom. How sad! In their past lives, autistic children slandered the Great Vehicle Sutras and committed all sorts of evil karma with their eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind; and so now that they have become humans again, they have been born with this handicap. Unaware of their own past deeds, they think their miserable retribution is quite fine.

不要用假聪明来破坏佛法。这些有名气的人，或者名学者、名教授、或大法师，他一说出这种毁坏佛法的话，无形中影响了千千万万、无量无边的人都失去真正的信心。你说这种罪业造得多大！百千劫之后，他转身为这类的儿童还算便宜呢！相信他永远都不会再讲话了，永远都要受哑吧的果报！因为他瞎人眼目，说的话误人太厉害了。

Don't use your false intelligence to disparage the Buddha's words. When a famous scholar, a well-known professor, or a great Dharma Master denigrates the Buddhadharma, he may influence countless numbers of people to lose faith. How great would you say his offense is? If his retribution is light, he may be reborn as a retarded child after hundreds of thousands of eons. But I believe he will undergo the retribution of being a mute forever! He has blinded and misled people too gravely with his words.

各位想想，为什么他要说这样的话？就因为他做不到〈四种清净明诲〉：不淫，他办不到；不杀，他也办不到；不偷，表面上他可以说不偷，但是某些学者教授常常去偷别人的文章，偷别人的学说凑起来，东拉西扯的。若拿别人的东西当为己有，这就是盗。若一天到晚欺骗学生，就等于在那里打妄语。当然，不是所有学者、教授都是这样，但其中就有这类德中之贼在作怪。

Why would he utter such slander? Because he cannot abide by the Four Clear Instructions on Purity. He cannot abstain from lust and killing; he may say he doesn't steal, but some scholars and professors habitually plagiarize the work of others. They steal others' theories, copying a little from this source and a little from that source and piecing it all together. Taking others' belongings is stealing. To deceive students all day long is plain lying. Of course not all scholars and professors are this way, but there are thieves among the virtuous who always act up.

因为〈四种清净明诲〉，他都办不到，所以他就慌了手脚了。他若接受这种理论，他自己就倒了，自己就失去地位了，但是他不甘示弱，所以昧着良心说：“《楞严经》是假的。”可是单说这句话，就犯了滔天大罪，所谓“豁达空，拨因果，莽莽荡荡招殃祸。”将来受无间地狱的果报时，就后悔莫及了。

Such people are flustered by the Four Clear Instructions on Purity, because they cannot live up to them. To accept those instructions as true would mean their downfall. They would lose their position. To conceal their weaknesses, they shamelessly claim that the Shurangama Sutra is false. But that claim is a tremendous offense. As it is said,

When one passes into emptiness
And denies cause and effect,
Thus gross and reckless,
One invites calamities.

When they fall into the Relentless Hells to undergo their retributions, they will regret it, but it will be too late.

一九八三年四月十七日晚间开示
于万佛圣城