要持戒，首先我們必須瞭解所持的戒律。第一，我們對佛的戒律要有信心。我們剛剛講的，要對三寶有信心，這是很重要的；如果我們對三寶沒有信心的話，那沒有辦法持戒，因為我們不相信，所以第一，我們要相信諸佛所制定的戒律是眞理。我們也可以檢查一下是不是眞理，在我們身心可以做實驗。如果今天佛講的話，我們覺得不合乎眞理，那我們不需要信。但是佛今天講的道理，都是契合著眞理，我們就應該依法來修行，這點我們要認識。我們不是崇拜偶像，我們是崇尚眞理，這一點學佛的人一定要很清楚。
我們有了信心下一步該如河呢？我們平常講修行要有信、解、行、證，同理我們對佛的戒律要有信心，對三寶要有信心，這是信。
接下來就要解，瞭解這個戒律。「我到底發願受什麼戒啊？」這也就是各位在這五天當中，來學習瞭解所要受的戒是什麼？怎麼樣來持？什麼時候開緣或遮止？這就是我們要瞭解的。在信、解都能夠成就下，我們才能夠去受戒。這時戒體才能夠在我們心裡生出來。
一是戒法。因為我們對三寶有信心，所以來學佛的戒律。什麼戒呢？在家菩薩戒。在家菩薩戒有很多，我們受的是《優婆塞戒經‧受戒品十四》裏的所說的六重二十八輕菩薩戒。
這《優婆塞戒經》是北涼時代曇無讖法師翻譯的。其他的，因為時間關係沒辦法給大家一一介紹它的因緣及特殊之處。但是，最起碼大家有概括的瞭解，菩薩戒的種類是很多的。
今天我們來學戒，相信佛的戒法，學戒以後就要受戒。受戒時，我們根據這本儀規，根據大乘法的授戒法來傳授。到時候三師會請十方諸菩薩來給大家證明到了萬佛聖城受戒。
在《受戒儀規》上講到無作戒體。菩薩戒法師云：「諸佛子等，既能發此十四種深弘誓願，我當起座，為汝等頂禮，仰啟十方現住諸佛及諸菩薩感發汝等圓宗戒體。」這就是戒體了，這是各位來這裏受戒最重要的時候，就在這時候，你要感發你的戒體。
所以這內容大家一定要讀，在那個時候如法觀想我能夠得到上品的戒體。
我們剛剛講到，戒體經過「信」和「解」以後，在受戒的時候我們眞誠懇切地把六重二十八輕戒法，領納於我們心中，這產生了一種止惡防非的功能。我們對這個戒律該行的，就去做；不該做的絕對不做，乃至做夢要時都能告訴自己說，「這個不能做。」這就是「戒體」的力量了，這是啊正領納戒體。有了戒體，在我們身口意就發出力量來了。我們的行為、氣質就變了，乃至做夢，我們的思想行為都跟以前不一樣，這就是「戒行」。
待續 |
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In order to uphold the precepts, first we need to understand them. First, we need to have faith. We should trust in the Buddha's precepts. We need to have faith in the Triple Jewel. If we cannot keep the precepts, it is because we do not believe in them. Therefore, first we need to trust that the precepts set down by the Buddhas are the truth. We can investigate for ourselves to see if they are true or not. If we feel that the words of the Buddha are not in accord with the truth, then we do not have to believe them. But the principles that the Buddha spoke do accord with the truth; therefore we should cultivate accordingly. We need to be clear about this. We are not worshipping an idol; we are revering the truth. As Buddhists, we need to be very clear about this point.
Once we have faith, what is the next step? We often speak of faith, understanding, practice, and realization in cultivation. Faith means faith in the Buddha's precepts, in the Triple Jewel. Next comes understanding. We need to understand the precepts. "Ultimately, what kind of precepts have we made vows to receive?" All of you are gathered here to study in order to understand the nature of the precepts you will receive. How do we uphold them? What are the exceptions and "coverings"? This is what we need to understand. When we have complete faith and understanding, we can receive the precepts. In this way, the precept substance can shine forth from our nature.
First comes the Precept Dharma. Since we have faith in the Triple Jewel, we study the Buddha's precepts. What kinds of precepts are we studying? The Lay Bodhisattva Precepts. There are many kinds of Lay Bodhisattva Precepts. What we will be receiving are the Six Major and Twenty-eight Minor Precepts from Chapter Fourteen "On Receiving Precepts" in the Upasaka Precepts Sutra.
The Upasaka Precepts Sutra was translated by Dharma Master Tan Wu Zhen of the Northern Liang Dynasty. Due to time constraints, we cannot expound in detail the causes, conditions, and wonderful points of the precepts. But at least we can gain a basic understanding. There are various categories of the Bodhisattva Precepts.
Today we are here to study the precepts, to have faith in the Buddha's Precept Dharma. After studying the precepts, we should receive them. When we receive the precepts, the transmission will be based on this reference manual and on the Great Vehicle Dharma for the transmission of the precepts. At that time, the three Precept Masters will invite the Bodhisattvas from the ten directions to come to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to certify the precept transmission.
The Handbook of Bodhisattva Precepts for the Laity speaks of the unconditioned substance of precepts. The Dharma Master for the Bodhisattva Precepts will say: "All disciples of the Buddha, since all of you can bring forth these fourteen deep, vast vows, I now ascend the seat and bow on behalf of all of you, to respectfully invite the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions to transmit to you the perfect substance of the precepts." That is known as the precept substance. This is the most important time for you during the precept transmission. It's when you receive the substance of the precepts.
Everyone should read this section, so that when the time comes you can contemplate accordingly to receive this superior precept substance.
After producing faith and understanding, when we receive the precepts, we have to truly and sincerely place the six major and twenty-eight minor precepts in our minds, so that we can stop evil and avoid wrongdoing. We should put into practice the dharma of the precepts. We should not do what we are not supposed to do. Even when we dream, we should tell ourselves that it's not permissible to do such and such a thing. That power comes from the precept substance. We have that power if we have truly received the substance of the precepts. Once we have the precept substance, we will gain a kind of strength in our body, mouth and mind. There is a change in our conduct and demeanor. Even when we are dreaming, our thoughts and our behavior are not the same as before; this is known as the precept conduct.
To be continued |
