◎ 不要錯過受五戒的機會
◎ Don't miss the chance to receive the five precepts
受五戒、八戒的人，都叫「優婆塞」、「優婆夷」，受過菩薩戒，就叫「菩薩」。本來只有出家人受菩薩戒，但因菩薩是自利利人的，所以在家人也可以受菩薩戒。
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，受戒是很要緊的，想受戒的人，不要錯過機會。
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，受兩戒也可以，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，十戒是沙彌戒，可以受菩薩戒，十重四十八輕戒。
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」；
受兩戒叫「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.”
譬如你不能不殺生，不能戒殺戒，你可以受不偷盜的戒。你歡喜飲酒，好像我有個酒徒弟，不願受「酒」戒，你不受酒戒可以受其他的戒。「我喜歡講大話，這個『妄語戒』我不能受。」你可以受其他四戒。「我不能戒殺戒，有時候螞蟻小蚊蟲，在無意中我會傷了牠們的生命。如果受戒再犯戒，那更有罪了。」那你可以不受殺生戒，這隨你自己的意思。受一戒、兩戒、三戒、五戒都可以，不要錯過這個機會！
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.
在中國受戒，你沒有二百塊錢（美金），你受不了的。那個錢不是做縵衣的錢；縵衣袍是要你自己做，那做多少錢不管你。你歡喜做好一點就用多點錢，你想做不好的就用少點錢。你就單單受戒，供養師父及供養廟上，這兩百塊也不算多的。
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.
