今天的题目是“佛教徒若不持戒即末法”。佛教“徒”：徒就是僧。佛讲佛法，僧依着法来修行，再传给他人；可是僧人一定要持戒。不但僧人要持戒，就是俗人也应该持戒。不论僧人或俗人，若不持戒，那就是末法，所以说：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.”

你若随便打妄语、杀生、邪淫、偷盗、饮酒，这都是犯了根本五戒，即是末法。就是有佛法在世，你不持戒，那从你自身起，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.

“法赖僧传”，人才能传扬佛法，但一定要以“戒”为根本，所以戒是成佛的基础。基础就像造房子要先打地基，我们是在造佛这个房子的基础，必须要从持戒着手做起。各位要特别注意！不要杀生、偷盗、邪淫、妄语、饮酒。不是不要，而是你根本就不要去做。不是人家告诉你，你才不做，而是自己本身就老老实实地严持这根本五戒。

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间开示于
万佛圣城妙语堂