佛垂般涅槃略說教誡經 1.2

1.2

釋迦牟尼佛初轉法輪，度阿若憍陳如，最後說法度須跋陀羅，所應度者皆已度訖，於娑羅雙樹間將入涅槃。是時中夜寂然無聲，為諸弟子略說法要：「汝等比丘，於我滅後，當尊重珍敬波羅提木叉，如闇遇明、貧人得寶。當知此則是汝大師，若我住世無異此也。持淨戒者，不得販賣貿易、安置田宅、畜養人民奴婢畜生，一切種殖及諸財寶，皆當遠離如避火坑。不得斬伐草木、墾土掘地，合和湯藥、占相吉凶、仰觀星宿推步盈虛、曆數算計，皆所不應。節身時食清淨自活，不得參預世事通致使命，呪術仙藥、結好貴人親厚媟嫚，皆不應作。當自端心正念求度，不得苞藏瑕疵、顯異惑眾。於四供養知量知足，趣得供事不應稸積。此則略說持戒之相。戒是正順解脫之本，故名波羅提木叉。依因此戒，得生諸禪定及滅苦智慧。是故比丘，當持淨戒勿令毀犯。若人能持淨戒，是則能有善法；若無淨戒，諸善功德皆不得生。是以當知，戒為第一安隱功德之所住處。

When Śākyamuni Buddha first turned the wheel of the Dharma, he liberated Ājñātakauṇḍinya; when he preached the Dharma for the last time, he liberated Subhadra. Those who were to be liberated had all been liberated, and between the twin śāla trees he was about to enter nirvāṇa. At that time, in the dead of night, all was tranquil and silent. For the disciples he briefly explained the essentials of the Dharma:

“You monks, after my passing you should honor, treasure, and revere the Prātimokṣa, as if finding light in the dark, or as a poor person gaining a treasure. You should know that this is your great master, no different from when I remained in the world. Those who keep the pure precepts may not engage in buying and selling or trade; they may not acquire fields or houses, or keep people, slaves, or livestock. All forms of planting and cultivating, as well as wealth and treasures, are to be shunned as one avoids a pit of fire. You may not fell trees and clear grass, or till the soil and dig the earth. Compounding medicines, divining good and bad fortune, gazing at the stars to calculate fullness and decline, and astrological reckonings—none of these are fitting. Regulate your body, eat at the proper times, and live in purity. You may not participate in worldly affairs or serve as couriers. Incantations, elixirs of immortality, making alliances with the noble, and intimacy or frivolous familiarity—none of these should be done. You should rectify your minds and seek liberation with right mindfulness; you must not conceal your shortcomings or display marvels to delude the multitude. Concerning the four requisites, know moderation and be content. Merely accept what is offered and do not hoard. This is a brief account of the characteristics of keeping the precepts. Precepts are the foundation of true conformity with liberation; therefore they are called Prātimokṣa. Relying on these precepts, one can give rise to the dhyāna concentrations and the wisdom that extinguishes suffering. Therefore, monks, you should keep the pure precepts and not allow them to be breached. If someone can keep the pure precepts, they can possess wholesome dharmas; if one lacks the pure precepts, no wholesome merits can arise. Thus you should know that the precepts are the foremost dwelling place of peace and merit.