莫作佛法之败种髡民
[277] [Do] Not Become Bald Shaven People Of [The] Buddha’s Dharma [With] Defeated Seeds
夫佛法者，乃九法界公共之法。无一人不当修，亦无一人不能修。
That Buddha’s Dharma, [is] thus that of [the] nine dharma realms’ common Dharma. Without one person [who is] not suitable [to] cultivate [it, and] also without one person not able [to] cultivate [it].
[Note 1: The nine dharma realms (九法界) are the ten dharma realms without the Buddhas’ realm.
Ten Dharma Realms (十法界):
Four Noble (Enlightened) Realms (四圣):
(With the greater above, in descending order of spiritual greatness)
(x) Buddhas (佛陀)
(ix) Bodhisattvas (菩提萨埵 / 菩萨)
(viii) Pratyekabuddhas / Those By Conditions Awakened / Lone Awakeners (辟支佛 / 缘觉 / 独觉)
(vii) Voice-Hearers (Śrāvakas) / Arhats (声闻 / 阿罗汉 / 罗汉)
Six Ordinary Realms (六凡):
(vi) Heavenly Beings (天人)
(v) Asuras (阿修罗)
(iv) Human Beings (人)
(iii) Animals (畜生)
(ii) Hungry Ghosts (饿鬼)
(i) Hell Beings (地狱众生)]
持斋念佛者多，推其效则法道兴隆，风俗淳善。此则唯恐其不多，愈多则愈美也。
[With] those upholding Purification [Precepts and] mindfulness [of] Buddha many, promoting their efficacy, then [will the] Dharma path flourish, [with these] customs well disposed towards. This then, [is] only [with] fear [that] those [are] not many, [with] even more, then even more good.
[Note 2: The Eightfold Retreat’s Purification Rites (For Those Receiving Eight Precepts) 八关斋戒仪轨 (受八戒者用): https://purelanders.com/2018/06/29/eight-precepts-ceremony]
至于出家为僧，乃如来为住持法道，与流通法道而设。
As for leaving [the] household [life to] be monastics, [this] thus [was by the] Thus Come [One], for abiding [and] upholding [of the] Dharma path, with transmitting [and] spreading [of the] Dharma path, then set up.
若其立向上志，发大菩提，研究佛法，彻悟自性，宏三学而偏赞净土，即一生以顿脱苦轮，此亦唯恐不多，多多则益善也。
If [there are] those [who] establish upwards Aspiration, [by] giving rise [to the] Great Bodhi [Mind] [大菩提心], [to] study [the] Buddha’s Dharma, [for] thorough awakening [of] self-nature, [and] propagating [of the] Three[fold] Learning. Then partial [to] praising [the] Pure Land [Dharma Door] [净土法门], [so as to], immediately [in this] one life, [be] with sudden liberation [from] suffering’s wheel, this [is] also only [with] fear [that those are] not many, [with] many more, then even better.
[Note 3:Threefold Learning (三学): (i) Precepts Learning (戒学), (ii) Concentration Learning (定学), (iii) Wisdom Learning (慧学). The Threefold Learning are needed for liberation (解脱).]
若或稍有信心，无大志向，欲藉为僧之名，游手好闲，赖佛偷生。名为佛子，实是髡民。即令不造恶业，已是法之败种，国之废人。
If perhaps slightly having [the] faithful mind, without great aspirations, desiring [to] rely on [the] name of being [a] monastic, [to be with] empty hands [and] fondness [of] idling, depending on Buddhism [to] steal [a] living, [although] named as ‘[the] Buddha’s disciples’, [they] truly are [just] bald shaven people. Even if not creating evil karmas, [they] already are defeated seeds of [the] Dharma, useless persons of [the] country.
倘或破戒造业，贻辱佛教。纵令生逃国法，决定死堕地狱。于法于己，两无所益。如是则一尚不可，何况众多？
If perhaps breaking precepts [and] creating [evil] karmas, giving shame [to the] Buddha’s Dharma. Even if alive escaping [the] country’s laws, definitely [after] death falling [into the] hells. For [the] Dharma [and] for oneself, [with] both without that benefitted. Thus then, [there] also must not [be] one [such person], much less numerous [ones].
古人谓：「出家乃大丈夫之事，非将相所能为。」乃真语实语，非抑将相而扬僧伽也。
Ancient persons say, ‘Leaving [the] household [life is] thus [the] practice of persons [with] great character, not generals [and] ministers that able [to] do.’ Thus [are] true words [and] real words, not pressing down generals [and] ministers, then praising [the] Saṃgha.
良以荷佛家业，续佛慧命，非破无明以复本性，宏法道以利众生者，不能也。
[This is] really because, [for] shouldering [the] Buddha’s [handed down] undertaking [and] knowledge, [to] continue [the] Buddha’s wisdom life, [if] not [as] those [who have] destroyed ignorance, with [this] restoring original nature, [for] propagating [the] Dharma path, in order to benefit sentient beings, [this is] not able [to be done].
以后求出家者，第一要真发自利利他之大菩提心，第二要有过人天姿，方可剃落。否则不可。
[On] those later seeking [to] leave [the] household [life], first, [they] must truly give rise [to the] Great Bodhi Mind of self-benefitting [and] benefitting others. Second, [they] must have natural talents surpassing others. Then can [they] shave [to] drop [their hair]. Otherwise, they must not.
至若女人有信心者，即令在家修行，万万不可令其出家。恐其或有破绽，则污败佛门不浅矣。
As for those women [who] have [the] faithful mind, even if at home cultivating practice, [there] absolutely must not [be] leading them [to] leave [the] household [life]. Fearing that perhaps, having words [and] actions exposing weak points, then [with] defiling [and] failing [of the] Buddhist door [that is] not superficial.
男若真修，出家更易，以其参访知识，依止丛林也。
Men, if [for] true cultivation, leaving [the] household [life, is] easier, with this [for] visiting [and] inquiring [of good-]knowing friends, depending [on and] resting [in] forest monasteries.
女若真修，出家反难，以其动辄招世讥嫌，诸凡难随己意也。
Women, if [for] true cultivation, leaving [the] household [life, is] instead difficult, with this easily attracting [the] world’s ridicule [and] resentment, [with] all difficult [to] comply with one’s wishes.
如上拣择剃度，不度尼僧，乃末世护持佛法，整理法门之第一要义。
According with [the] above selectively ordaining, not ordaining Bhikṣuṇī monastics, thus [for] future generations protecting [and] upholding [the] Buddha’s Dharma, [this is the] foremost essential [of] tidying up [the] Dharma Door.
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》（正编）：复谢融脱书二；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (First Compilation): Second Reply Letter [To] Xiè Róngtuō;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第两百七十七则）：八、释普通疑惑：论出家（第二十六则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (277th Short Section): 8th [Chapter]: Explanations [On] Common Doubts [And] Confusions: Discussion [On] Leaving [The] Household [Life] (26th Short Section)
[Ref: #277 / 8.26]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes 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
https://purelanders.com/jinghualu
