為什麼要受持五戒？（中英對照）　宣化上人著

◎ 什麼是淨戒？

◎ What are PURE precepts?

各位要注意這個「淨」字。淨，是什麼意思呢？就是不染污，就是清淨，絲毫的染污也沒有，這種淨就是一念不生謂之淨，淨念。

You should pay attention to the word “pure.” What does “pure” mean? It means being pure and clean, free from all defilement. Not having the slightest defilement is the kind of purity in which not even a single thought arises.

你單在外邊持戒，說﹕「我不殺生。」你心裡常常不滿意人，或者發人的脾氣，這都犯殺戒了。

Not killing includes purifying our thoughts. If we uphold precepts on the surface and claim that we don’t kill, but we complain about others constantly or get angry with people, we are still violating the precept against killing.

偷盜，你不必真正去偷去，就心裡面羨慕人家的財物或者技能，妒嫉人，這都犯了盜戒了。

Not stealing includes mental states. We don’t have to steal physically. When we envy other’s wealth or talents, or become jealous of people, we transgress the precept against stealing.

邪婬，你心裡儘打異性的妄想，這都叫犯了婬，都是不淨了。

Not committing sexual misconduct includes not having improper thoughts about the opposite sex. If we indulge in improper thoughts about the opposite sex, then we are being impure and breaking the precept.

這個淨戒，就要乾乾淨淨的，一點染污念也沒有了，這才是淨戒。

Holding the precepts purely means leading a clean life without any defiled thoughts. That is to hold the precepts purely.