為什麼要受持五戒？（中英對照）　宣化上人著

◎ 不受戒是真「自由」嗎？

◎ Will "not receiving precepts" give you true freedom?

有這個邪知邪見的人說﹕「不要受戒。你受戒做什麼？何必弄個『戒』來管著你？不受戒多自由呢！你何必要受戒呀？」你以為不受戒是自由，卻很容易墮地獄了。那真是「自由」，很容易就跑到地獄去了。

People with wrong views say, “Don’t take the precepts. What do you want to take them for? Why get some precepts to restrain you?” That is a wrong view. You think that not receiving precepts is being free. But it’s very easy to fall into the hells that way. That's where your so-called "true freedom” may lead you.

你若受戒，有戒來支持你，有戒相、戒法、戒體支持你，就不容易墮地獄；就是墮地獄也很快就出來了。你要是聽其自由，不受戒，以後墮落地獄裡，什麼時候才能出來，那是沒有人能擔保的。

If you receive the precepts, you will have the protection of precepts. The precept marks, percept dharma, and precept substance will support you. You will not fall into the hells that easily. Even if you do fall into the hells, you will get out quickly. If you like to be free and don’t take precepts, then later when you fall into the hells, it's not for sure when you will come out.

你要是受過戒，墮地獄的時間，由很長的時間可以縮短。好像你犯了很大的法，被 警察捉住，因為你給總統做護衛、茶房，總統就寫字條叫人把你放出來，你很快就出來了。若是沒有這種關係，很久的時間也不能放出來，不知要拖延多久。這是同 一個道理，你有「戒」來保護你，它可以把你受很長罪的時間，縮為很短的時間。所以不要自作聰明，說不受戒是好的。

On the other hand if you have received precepts your time span in the hells can be shortened. It is like when someone who committed a major crime gets caught by the police. If the criminal had worked as a personal guard or an attendant for the president, then the president may write a note ordering that criminal's release. If the criminal doesn’t have such connection, he won’t be released for who knows how long. It is similar to that. When you have the protection of precepts, the long duration of your suffering can be greatly condensed. Therefore, don’t get smart and say, “It’s good not to receive the precepts.”

你們受戒，這是好的。我告訴你們，眾生受佛戒，即入諸佛位。眾生受了佛戒，就是入了佛位，所以不要毀佛禁戒，不要譭謗佛的戒律。

It’s good for you to receive the precepts. Let me say this to you, “Having taken the Buddha’s precepts, living beings enter the position of all Buddhas.” When living beings take the precepts of Buddhas, it’s the same as having entered the position of the Buddha. Therefore, don’t disparage the precepts or slander the Vinaya of the Buddha.