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贊曰：
往昔發願 嚴持戒律
為眾中尊 尸羅第一
結集律藏 主持毘尼
旛幢高樹 登峰造極
註解﹕
「往昔發願，嚴持戒律」：他在往昔就發這個願，他要嚴持戒律，要修行戒法。
「為眾中尊，尸羅第一」：他是在僧人裡邊，是眾中一個很出乎其類，拔乎其萃的，所以他是持戒第一。
「結集律藏，主持毘尼」：結集律藏的時候，他為律主。
「旛幢高樹，登峰造極」：戒律的戒幢，他豎得很高的，對戒律是最有研究了。
又說偈曰：
波羅木叉是大師 依教奉行修總持
金剛寶珠常在握 美玉無瑕時護之
諸佛本源精進力 菩薩母體篤行思
西土南山規範普 緇門楷式眾基石
註解﹕
「波羅木叉是大師」：佛入涅槃的時候，阿難以四事問佛：佛住世以佛為師，佛入涅槃之後以誰為師呢？佛答覆，告訴弟子比丘就「以戒為師」。
「依教奉行修總持」：依教奉行修戒律，也就等於一種總持。總持﹕總一切法，持無量義。
「金剛寶珠常在握」：這個金剛寶珠，也就是個戒律。他常常護持戒律，就好像金剛寶珠總在手裡這麼執持一樣。「美玉無瑕時護之」：美玉無瑕，也就是護持戒律就像護持一塊美玉似的，你不能隨便；不保護它，就會跌碎了。時時都要保護它，時時要護持這個戒律。
「諸佛本源精進力」：什麼叫諸佛本源呢？諸佛本源也就是戒律，這個戒律就是成佛的一個源流。你若不持戒律，就不能成佛了；你持戒律才能成。要精進，又要用功去勇猛精進修這個戒律，才能達到佛果。「菩薩母體篤行思」：戒律也是菩薩的母體，所以你要很誠懇，很堅固地去修行，審思之，明辨之，要這樣子。
「西土南山規範普」：西，就是印度，西土；南山，就是道宣律師。道宣律師也就是精修戒律，所以感動天人陸玄暢給他來送飯；他吃飯的時候，天人給他送飯，感得這樣子，所以說規範普。這個《南山律》，在中國是很普遍的。
「緇門楷式眾基石」：戒律，也是出家人一個最好的準繩，最好的規矩，所以這就是大眾的一個基礎，像石頭那麼堅固的一個基礎。如果出家不持戒律，那就沒有基礎了，將來一定會墮落的。
「優波離尊者」文完 |
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Praise:
Having made vows in the past, he upheld the precepts rigorously.
Being the venerated one in the assembly, he was foremost in shila.
When the Precepts Pitaka was compiled, he served as the host of Vinaya.
He erected the banner high and reached the acme of achievements.
Commentary:
Having made vows in the past, he upheld the precepts rigorously: He had made vows in the past to uphold the precepts rigorously and to cultivate the Dharma of precepts.
Being the venerated one in the assembly, he was foremost in shila: He was an outstanding person in the monastic community. Therefore he was foremost in upholding the precepts.
When the Precepts Pitaka was compiled, he served as the host of Vinaya. He was in charge of the compilation of the Precepts Pitaka.
He erected the banner of precepts high and reached the acme of achievements: He was well versed in the precepts.
Another verse says:
The imoksha is the great teacher.
By upholding the teaching he cultivated dharani.
He constantly held the vajra precious pearl and protected the immaculate, beautiful jade.
He vigorously exerted himself in the source of all Buddhas, sincerely practiced and pondered the origin of Bodhisattvas.
In the Western Land and on the Southern Mountain, he was a model for everyone.
They are the standards for all monastics and the foundation stone for the assembly.
Commentary:
The pratimoksha is the great teacher: When the Buddha was about to enter Nirvana, Ananda asked the Buddha about four matters: One was, “When the Buddha dwells in the world, we regard the Buddha as our teacher; after the Buddha enters Nirvana, whom should we regard as our teacher?” The Buddha replied, telling his disciples, the Bhikshus, to “regard the precepts as their teacher”.
By upholding the teaching he cultivated dharani: To uphold the precepts according to the teaching is equivalent to cultivating dharani. Dharani, or literally, to gather in and maintain, means to gather in all Dharmas and maintain limitless meaning.
He constantly held the vajra precious pearl in his hand: This vajra precious pearl is the precepts. He constantly protected and upheld the precepts, just as one would hold a vajra precious pearl in his hand.
…and protected the immaculate, beautiful jade at all time: Beautiful jade is immaculate, that is, one has to protect and uphold the precepts the way one would protect a piece of beautiful jade—you simply cannot be sloppy and do as you please; if you don’t protect it, you will drop it and break it into pieces. One must constantly protect and uphold the precepts.
He vigorously exerted himself in the source of all Buddhas: What is the fundamental source of all Buddhas? The source of all Buddhas is simply the precepts. These precepts are the fountainhead of Buddhahood. If you don’t uphold the precepts, you cannot become a Buddha; you can become one only if you uphold the precepts. One must be vigorous and exert oneself to practice the precepts valiantly and vigorously in order to achieve Buddhahood.
…and sincerely practiced and pondered the origin of the Bodhisattvas: Precepts are also the origin of the Bodhisattvas. Therefore, you must cultivate very sincerely and decisively, contemplate and see things in their true light. You must do it in this way.
In the Western Land and on the Southern Mountain, he was a model for everyone: The Western Land means India; the Southern Mountain refers to Vinaya Master Daoxuan. Vinaya Master Daoxuan practiced the precepts rigorously and meticulously. Therefore he moved the heavenly being Lu Xuan Chang to offer him food. When it was time for him to eat, the heavenly being would offer him food. He could get such a response, therefore he was said to be a model for everyone. This “Vinaya of Southern Mountain” was very prevalent in China. They are the standards for all
Monastics, and the foundation stone of the assembly: Precepts are the best yardstick and the best rules and regulations for all monastics. Therefore they are the foundation of the assembly—a foundation that is as solid and firm as a rock. If one does not uphold the precepts after leaving the home life, then one will not have a foundation and in the future will certainly fall.
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