為什麼要受持五戒？（中英對照）　宣化上人著

◎ 老修行的故事

◎ The story of an old cultivator

以 前有個老修行，是在家人不是出家人。他受了五戒，另外又受了一個「食不語」的戒。可是他把五戒都犯了，就剩這個「食不語」的戒未犯。護這條戒的戒神就希望 他快點犯這條戒，祂也好走了，不保護他。但是這個人始終也不犯這條戒，吃飯的時候，他總不講話。以後這個戒神就給他托夢﹕「你什麼戒都犯了，為什麼吃飯這 個戒你不犯呢？你快點犯，我好離開你了。」

Once an old lay cultivator had received the five precepts and an additional rule of “keeping silent while eating.” However, later he broke all five precepts and only kept the rule of "keeping silent while eating." The precept-protecting spirit that protected this rule hoped that the lay person would violate it so that he could also leave. This person, nonetheless, never broke that rule. He always ate in silence.

Later, that precept spirit appeared in a dream, “You have transgressed all the precepts. Why haven’t you broken this rule of "keeping silent while eating"? Please break it quickly so I can leave.”

這個老修行心想﹕「噢！我就持一個食不語的戒，果然有戒神保護著我。」於是他後來又找了一個有道德的法師，又重受過，結果他也修行成道了！這每一個人有每一個人的因緣。

The old cultivator thought to himself, “I only hold this one rule of eating in silence and still I have that precept spirit protecting me.” Thereafter, he found a virtuous Dharma Master and received the five precepts again. Consequently, he cultivated and realized the Way. Each person has his own set of causes and conditions.

所以受戒在佛教裡是很重要的事。

Therefore, receiving precepts is a very important matter in Buddhism.