为什么要受持五戒？

Why Should We Receive and Uphold the Five Precepts？

◎ 不要错过受五戒的机会

◎DON'T MISS THE CHANCE TO RECEIVE THE FIVE PRECEPTS

受五戒、八戒的人，都叫“优婆塞”、“优婆夷”，受过菩萨戒，就叫“菩萨”。本来只有出家人受菩萨戒，但因菩萨是自利利人的，所以在家人也可以受菩萨戒。

People who receive the five precepts, or the eight precepts, are called “Upasaka”(for men) or“Upasika”(for women). If they take the Bodhisattva precepts then they are called Bodhisattvas of initial resolve, because they are making a commitment to uphold the Bodhisattva precepts and follow the Bodhisattva path. Left-home people receive and uphold the Bodhisattva precepts. But since Bodhisattvas of initial resolve are people who wish to learn how to benefit both themselves and others, lay people, too, can receive lay Bodhisattva precepts.

在佛教，受戒是很要紧的，想受戒的人，不要错过机会。

In Buddhism, receiving and upholding precepts is very important. When there is an opportunity to do so, people should not miss the opportunity.

你受一戒也可以，受两戒也可以，受三戒也可以，受四戒、五戒也可以，受八戒也可以，但是不能受十戒；在家人不能受十戒，十戒是沙弥戒，可以受菩萨戒，十重四十八轻戒。

A person can receive one precept, two precepts, three precepts, four precepts, or five precepts. He can also receive eight precepts but he is not eligible to receive the ten precepts, as those are reserved for shramaneras (novice monks) and shramanerikas (novice nuns). But you can take Bodhisattva precepts, the ten major and forty-eight minor precepts.

受一戒叫“少份戒”；

受两戒叫“半份戒”；

受三戒叫“多份戒”；

受五戒叫“全份戒”。

Receiving one precept is called taking “a minimum share of the precepts,”

Receiving two precepts is called taking “a half share of the precepts,”

Receiving three precepts is called taking “a majority share of the precepts,”

Receiving five precepts is called taking “a full share of the precepts.”

譬如你不能不杀生，不能戒杀戒，你可以受不偷盗的戒。你欢喜饮酒，好像我有个酒徒弟，不愿受“酒”戒，你不受酒戒可以受其他的戒。“我喜欢讲大话，这个‘妄语戒’我不能受。”你可以受其他四戒。“我不能戒杀戒，有时候蚂蚁小蚊虫，在无意中我会伤了它们的生命。如果受戒再犯戒，那更有罪了。”那你可以不受杀生戒，这随你自己的意思。受一戒、两戒、三戒、五戒都可以，不要错过这个机会！

If someone has a problem with receiving the precept of not killing beings, then that person can refrain from receiving that precept and can receive the precept of not stealing. If someone likes to drink, like my wine-drinking disciple who didn’t want to take the precept prohibiting the consuming of intoxicants, then that person can refrain from receiving the precept prohibiting the consumption of intoxicants, but can receive the others.

Someone may say, “I like to boast. I cannot receive the precept against lying.”Well, that person can receive the other four precepts.

Another person may say, “I cannot promise not to kill. Sometimes, unintentionally, I may kill ants and small bugs. If I kill them after receiving the precepts, my offenses will be greater.”That person doesn't have to receive the precept against killing. In general, each person can do whatever he or she prefers, receiving one, two, three, or up to five precepts. Just don’t miss this opportunity.

在中国受戒，你没有二百块钱（美金），你受不了的。那个钱不是做缦衣的钱；缦衣袍是要你自己做，那做多少钱不管你。你欢喜做好一点就用多点钱，你想做不好的就用少点钱。你就单单受戒，供养师父及供养庙上，这两百块也不算多的。

In China, if a person cannot afford to pay (it used to cost two hundred US dollars), then he won’t be able to receive the precepts. That money did not go toward the purchase of a sash and robe. The preceptees had to purchase those items by themselves. They could buy better or lesser quality sashes and robes, depending on what they had to spend. Just to receive the precepts, one had to make an offering to the teacher and his temple of at least two hundred dollars.

◎ 什么叫“居士”？

◎WHO ARE THE LAY PEOPLE?

什么叫“居士”？居士，就是居家之士，也就是在家相信佛法的人，守持五戒奉行十善的人就叫居士。

A layperson is someone who believes in Buddhism, upholds the five precepts, and practices the ten good deeds and who has not left the home-life.

◎ 什么叫“五戒”？

◎WHAT ARE THE FIVE PRECEPTS?

就是杀、盗、淫、妄、酒，五种戒。现在有很多人受过五戒了，这都叫居士了。

They are the precepts against killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, and taking intoxicants. People who have received the five precepts are called lay people.

◎ 什么叫“十善”？

◎WHAT ARE THE TEN GOOD DEEDS?

十善是十恶的反面。十恶是什么呢？身有三恶--杀、盗、淫。意有三恶--贪、瞋、痴。口有四恶--绮语、妄言、恶口、两舌，几乎占了十恶的一半。

The ten good deeds are just the opposite of ten bad deeds. The ten bad deeds are: killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct, which are done by the body; greed, hatred, and ignorance, which belong to the mind; and lying, loose speech, harsh speech, and divisive speech, which are committed by the mouth. Notice that the offenses of the mouth account for almost half of the ten.

◎ 什么叫“绮语”？

◎WHAT IS LOOSE SPEECH？

所说的话非常不正当，有的说某某女人如何如何，或者说某家如何如何，绮语所说的话近于邪，不正当的话。

Loose speech is crude or lewd speech, such as talking about how women (or men) behave, or gossiping, and so forth.

“妄言”就是打妄语。

Lying means not telling the truth.

“恶口”就是骂人，骂人就是造口业。

Harsh speech refers to scolding people, which creates mouth karma.

“两舌”，一个人怎么会长两个舌头呢？这不是生了两个舌头，是这个人说两种话，对甲就说乙如何如何，再对乙说甲如何如何，互相挑拨离间，这就是两舌。

Divisive speech means being double-tongued in the sense that one back-bites and causes schisms. Such a person tells A about B and then B about A, trying to split them up. That is how divisive speech works.

◎ 十善是什么？

◎WHAT ARE THE TEN GOOD DEEDS?

十恶反过来就是十善。十善是什么？就是不杀生、不偷盗、不邪淫、不贪、不瞋、不痴、不绮语、不妄语、不恶口、不两舌。这个恶，你不做了，就是善。居士要奉行十善，所以要守五戒行十善。

Turn the ten evil deeds around and they become the ten good deeds. What are the ten good deeds? They are: not killing, not stealing, not indulging in sexual misconduct, not being greedy, not harboring hatred, not being deluded, not using loose speech, not lying, not saying harsh words, and not engaging in divisive speech. If you can refrain from doing all these bad things, then you will be wholesome. Lay people should practice these ten good deeds. All lay people must observe the five precepts and practice the ten good deeds.

（待续 To be continued）