《梵网经菩萨戒本》
Brahma Net Sūtra’s Bodhisattva Precepts’ Text
南无千华台上卢舍那佛 (三称)
Námó Thousand Flowers’ Dais Above’s Rocana Buddha (Three Recitations)
Note [1] Námó (南无): ‘Homage to’ and ‘refuge for life in.’
Note [2] Rocana Buddha (卢舍那佛): The Reward Body Buddha (报身佛) of Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛). He is portrayed here to be sitting on a thousand petalled lotus flower dais (莲花台), with these petals representing many world systems where the Buddha manifests in.
三聚净戒难得闻,经于无量俱胝劫。
读诵受持亦如是,如说修行者更难。
[The] Three Categories [Of] Pure Precepts [are] difficult [to] attain hearing [of, with the] passing of immeasurable koṭis [of] kalpas. [To] study [and] recite, receive [and] uphold [them are] likewise thus, [with] those as spoken cultivating practices even more difficult.
Note [3] Three Categories Of Pure [Bodhisattva] Precepts (三聚[菩萨]净戒): These include (i) Precepts That Gather Discipline And Ceremonies (摄律仪戒), (which are Precepts for avoiding all evils), (ii) Precepts That Gather Good Dharmas (摄善法戒). (which are Precepts for practising all good), and (iii) Precepts That Gather Sentient Beings (摄众生戒), (which are Precepts for guiding all beings to Buddhahood).
Note [4] Uphold Well: Since these Precepts are so difficult to attain properly, they should be studied well, so as to uphold them well.
《梵网经菩萨戒序》
Brahma Net Sūtra’s Bodhisattva Precepts’ Preface
诸佛子等,合掌至心听,我今欲说《诸佛大戒序》,众集默然听。自知有罪,当忏悔,忏悔即安乐;不忏悔,罪益深。无罪者默然。默然故,当知众清净。
All Buddhas’ [Bodhisattva] disciples [and] others, [with] joined palms [and the] sincere mind listen, [as] I now desire [to] speak [on] ‘All Buddhas’ Great Precepts’ Preface’, [may the] assembly gathered silently listen. [Those who] personally know [they] have transgressions should repent, [with] repentance then [with] peace [and] bliss, without repentance, [with] transgressions increasing [in] depth. Those without transgressions [should be] silent. [With] silence thus, [it] should [be] known [that the] assembly [is] pure.
Note [5] Repentance (忏悔): When listening to the above communally (or alone) twice a month, this is the moment to openly confess and express repentance on any transgressions transpired since the previous recitation of these Precepts, if not already done.
诸大德谛听,佛灭度后,于像法中,应当尊敬波罗提木叉。波罗提木叉者,即是此戒。持此戒者,如暗遇明,如贫得宝,如病者得差,如囚系出狱,如远行者得归。当知此戒,即是众等大师,若佛住世,无异此也。
All Great Virtuous [Ones], attentively listen. After [the] Buddha’s Parinirvāṇa, within [the] Dharma-Semblance [Age, there] should [be] reverence [of the] Prātimokṣas. The Prātimokṣas are the same as these Precepts. Those upholding these Precepts, [are] like [those in the] dark meeting brightness, like [those] poor attaining treasures, like those sick attaining recovery, like convicts bound exiting [from] prisons, like far travellers attaining return. [It] should [be] known [that] these Precepts, are the same as this assembly [and] others’ Great Teachers. If [the] Buddhas [are] abiding [in the] world, [they are] without difference [from] these too.
Note [6] After the Buddha’s Parinirvāṇa (佛灭度后): After Śākyamuni Buddha relinquished his Manifestation Body (化身) in our world at the age of 80.
Note [7] Dharma-Semblance Age (像法时期): After the Buddha’s Parinirvāṇa, is the Right Dharma (正法) Age, which lasted for five hundred years, followed by one thousand years of the Dharma-Semblance Age, when the Right Dharma begins to expressed with deviations, to merely resemble what is Right.
Note [8] Prātimokṣas (波罗提木叉): The Precepts, which are moral guidelines that accordingly comply (随顺) ‘towards liberation’ (解脱) from all afflictions (烦恼).
怖心难生,善心难发。故经云:「勿轻小罪,以为无殃。水滴虽微,渐盈大器。刹那造罪,殃堕无间。一失人身,万劫不复。壮色不停,犹如奔马。人命无常,过于山水。今日虽存,明亦难保。」
[The] fearful mind [is] difficult [to] arise, [and the] good mind [is] difficult [to] give rise. Thus [does a] Sūtra say, ‘[Do] not slight [a] small transgression, with [it] as [being] without disaster. [With] water drops although tiny, [they can] gradually fill [a] big vessel. [In a] kṣaṇa creating [a] transgression, [is the] misfortune [of] falling [into the] Uninterrupted [Hell]. Once losing [this] human body, [for] ten thousand kalpas not again [with it. A] strong form [does] not stop, similar to [a] running horse. Human life’s impermanence, surpasses [those] of mountains [and] rivers. Today although surviving, tomorrow [is] likewise difficult [to] guarantee.’
Note [9] Reflection: There should be the mind that fears doing of evil, which leads to suffering. There should be the good mind, which leads to doing of good, that leads to True Happiness, the end of suffering.
Note [10] Kṣaṇa (刹那): One instant, the shortest unit of time spoken of in Buddhism.
Note [11] Uninterrupted Hell (无间地狱): the longest lasting hell for the most evil, with seamless (i.e. uninterrupted) and thus most suffering. If a heinous transgression (逆罪) is created, even if in an instant, it can lead to rebirth there, followed by a slow ‘climb’ to ascend in the paths (道), to regain a human rebirth.
众等各各一心,勤修精进,慎勿懈怠、懒惰、睡眠、纵意。夜即摄心,存念三宝,莫以空过,徒设疲劳,后生深悔。
[The] assembly [and] others, [should be with] each one wholehearted, cultivating diligently, [be] cautious not [to be] lazy, idle, drowsy [and] unrestrained. [At] night then gathering [the] mind, [to] retain mindfulness [of the] Triple Gem, [do] not with nothing pass [time], in vain establishing [that with] fatigue, later giving rise [to] deep regrets.
Note [12] Mindfulness of Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛): This already encompasses mindfulness of the Triple Gem in essence, as he represents all Buddhas too, thus with all their Dharma teachings, leading the Saṃgha too, (as explained at https://purelanders.com/shenzhou).
Note [13] Diligence: Do not be half-hearted and lax in learning and practising of the Dharma, since they will have long-term benefits. Do not expend too much time and efforts on the worldly, since they will transpire shortly.
众等各各一心,谨依此戒,如法修行,应当学。
[The] assembly [and] others, [should be with] each one wholehearted, respectfully relying [on] these Precepts, according [with the] Dharma [to] cultivate practices, [you] should [thus] learn.
归命卢舍那,十方金刚佛。
亦礼前论主,当觉慈氏尊。
Take refuge [for] life [in] Rocana [Buddha, and the] ten directions’ Vajra Buddhas. Likewise prostrate [to the] Past Treatise Master, [the] Future Awakened Maitreya Honoured [One].
Note [14] Vajra (金刚): Used to describe the Buddhas as the Buddhahood they have realised is firm and indestructible, thus true and eternal. (There is reference to Maitreya Bodhisattva [弥勒菩萨] as this is from another preface, for another set of Bodhisattva Precepts related to him.)
今说三聚戒,菩萨咸共听,
戒如大明灯,能消长夜暗。
Now speaking [of the] Three Categories [Of] Precepts, [that] Bodhisattvas all together hear, [these] Precepts [are] like [a] great bright lamp, able [to] eliminate long night’s darkness.
戒如真宝镜,照法尽无余。
戒如摩尼珠,雨物济贫穷。
[These] Precepts [are] like [a] true treasure mirror, illuminating [the] dharmas completely without remainder. [These] Precepts [are] like [a] maṇi gem, [that] rains objects [to] aid [the] poor.
Note [15] Maṇi Gem (摩尼珠): Observation of the Precepts functions with them like a wish-fulfilling gem (如意珠) collectively as the meritorious virtues (功德) created can bear fruits in terms of that wished for. However, as the Precepts are committed to, what wished for must and will accord with the Dharma (如法).
离世速成佛,唯此法为最。
是故诸菩萨,应当勤护戒。
Departing [from this] world [to] quickly accomplish Buddhahood, [it is] only [with] this Dharma as [the] most supreme. Therefore, all Bodhisattvas, should diligently protect [these] Precepts.
Note [16] Quick Accomplishment: The swiftest path to Buddhahood is via rebirth for completing training in Pure Land (净土). With these Bodhisattva Precepts observed well, progress will be expedited in this life, also leading to a High Grade (上品) of birth there, thus further and fully expediting progress to Buddhahood then.
The above continues at https://purelanders.com/2024/06/28/brahma-net-sutra-bodhisattva-precepts-text-ten-heavy-pratimok%e1%b9%a3a-precepts-ten-heavy-prohibitive-precepts.
完整经典
Complete Sūtra:
《梵网经菩萨戒本》
Brahma Net Sūtra’s Bodhisattva Precepts’ Text
https://purelanders.com/pusa