杀生不异杀佛杀家人
[236] Killing Lives [Is] Not Different [From] Killing Buddhas [And] Family Members
一切众生，从无始来，轮回六道，互为父母、兄弟、妻子、眷属，互生。互为怨家对头，循环报复，互杀。佛于诸大乘经中，屡为劝诫，而见闻者少。即得见闻，而信受奉行者更少。
All sentient beings, from beginninglessness since, [have been] reborn [in the] six paths, [with] one another as [our] fathers, mothers, older [and] younger siblings, wives, children [and] family members, born [as] one another. [With] one another as enemies opposing, cyclically retaliating, [and] killing one another. [The] Buddhas, in many [of the] Great Vehicle’s sūtras within, frequently for [us] exhorted [on this], yet those seeing [and] hearing [them are] few. Even [if] attaining seeing [and] hearing [of them], yet those faithfully accepting [and] practising [them are] even fewer.
[Note 1: The six paths (六道) are (i) hell-beings’ path (地狱道), (ii) hungry ghosts’ path (饿鬼道), (iii) animals’ path (畜生道), (iv) human beings’ path (人道), (v) asuras’ path (阿修罗道) and (vi) heavenly beings’ path (天道). The Great Vehicle’s sūtras (大乘经) emphasise on practising great compassion for all beings.]
于是佛以大悲，现诸异类，供人杀食。既杀之后，现诸异相，俾一切人，知是佛现，冀弭杀劫，以安众生。如蛤蜊、蚌壳、牛腰、羊蹄、猪齿、鳖腹，皆有佛栖。惊人耳目，息世杀机，载籍所记，何能备述？
Thus, [the] Buddhas, with great compassion, appear [as] many different kinds [of beings], offered [to] humans, [to be] killed [and] eaten. Those already killed, later appear [with] many unusual signs, [to] cause all people, [to] know [that they] were Buddhas appearing, [with this] hoping to stop killing’s disaster, so as to [bring] peace [to] sentient beings. Like clams, oyster shells, cow waists, goat trotters, pig teeth, soft-shelled turtles’ stomachs, all have Buddhas roosting [within. With this] astonishing people’s ears [and] eyes, ceasing [the] world’s desires [to] kill, [of] those [in] books recorded, how [are they] able [to be] completely stated?
[Note 2: Buddhas roosting (佛栖) within refer to sentient beings’ Buddha-nature (佛性), the potential to be Buddhas, ‘hibernating’ within their bodies.]
未杀之前，均谓是畜。既杀之后，方知是佛。是知杀生，不异杀佛。即非佛现，亦未来佛。杀而食之，罪逾海岳，急宜痛戒，庶可解脱。
Those yet [to be] killed, [are] all before, called [to] be animals. Those already killed, [are] later then, known [to] be Buddhas. [With] this, know [that] killing lives, [is] not different [from] killing Buddhas. Even without Buddhas appearing, [they are] also future Buddhas. [As] killing and eating them, [create] transgressions [that] exceed oceans [and] mountains, [there] should urgently [be] remorseful abstaining [from these, so that] hopefully, [there] can [be] liberation.
[Note 3: To kill animals and humans is to kill future Buddhas, as all sentient beings have Buddha-nature – even if they are not manifested Buddhas.]
须知人物虽异，灵蠢互形。蠢人识暗，灵物智明。五伦八德，固不让人。其诚挚处，比人更深。敢以我强，杀食其肉，致令未来，常受人食？
[It] should [be] known [that] humans [and other] sentient beings, although different, [are with the] intelligent [and] foolish, [having] one another’s forms. Foolish humans [have] consciousnesses dark, [while other] intelligent sentient beings [have] wisdom bright. [Their] five relationships [and] eight virtues, [will] certainly not yield [to those of] humans. Their sincere aspects, compared [with] humans, [are] even [more] profound. [Who will] dare [to], with me [being] strong, [then] kill [and] eat their meat, causing [myself in the] future, [to] constantly suffer [from] humans eating [me]?
[Note 4: The five relationships (五伦) are (i) father and son (父子), (ii) elder and younger siblings (兄弟), (iii) husband and wife (夫妇), (iv) ruler and ministers (君臣), and (v) friend and friend (朋友). The eight virtues (八德) are (i) filial piety (孝), (ii) sibling piety (悌), (iii) loyalty (忠), (iv) trustworthiness (信), (v) propriety (礼), (vi) righteousness (义), (vii) integrity (廉) and (viii) shame (耻).]
历观史籍，自古及今，凡利人利物者，子孙必定贤善发达。凡害人害物者，子孙必定庸劣灭绝。
Going through [and] looking at historical records, since ancient [times], reaching now, [of] all those [who] benefit humans [and] benefit [other] sentient beings, [their] children [and] grandchildren [will] definitely [be] virtuous, good [and] flourish. [Of] all those [who] harm humans [and] harm [other] sentient beings, [their] children [and] grandchildren [will] definitely [be] ordinary, inferior [and] die out.
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师文钞》（续编）：物犹如此序；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Second Compilation): Preface [Of] ‘Sentient Beings [Are] Similar Like This’;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第两百三十六则）：六、劝注重因果：乙、示戒杀之要（第四则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (236th Short Section): 6th [Chapter]: Encouragement [To] Pay Attention [To] Cause [And] Effect: Second, Guidance [On] Essentials Of Abstinence [From] Killing (4th Short Section)
[Ref: #236 / 6.2.4]
Namo Amituofo : Translation by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
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