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title: 精華 Vital Essence
description: "「諸法從緣起，如來說是因，彼法因緣盡，是大沙門說。諸惡莫作，眾善奉行，自淨其意，是諸佛教。」"
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精華

Vital Essence

「諸法從緣起，如來說是因，彼法因緣盡，是大沙門說。諸惡莫作，眾善奉行，自淨其意，是諸佛教。」

All phenomena arise from causes,
Those causes have been taught by the Tathagata.
And also that which puts a stop to these causes—
This too has been proclaimed by the Great Shramana.
Abandon evil doing.
Practice virtue well.
Master your mind.
This is the Buddha』s teaching.

一切顯宗的精要均可囊括于此偈中。作為修行人，若能時常念誦，回向放生生靈或施主，加持于人或為人宣說，功德很大。

This verse encompasses all the essential points in Sutrayana Buddhism. Practitioners will bring great benefit to all concerned by explaining its meanings to others, using this verse in dedicating merit to released live beings or sponsors, or for conferring blessings.

「諸惡莫作」，包含了小乘的一切法要，也就是獨善其身，不能作惱害眾生之事；「眾善奉行」，則包含了菩薩乘的所有要旨，也就是要兼濟天下，廣行利眾，救人之難、濟人之急、憫人之孤、容人之過；「自淨其意」，則是要淨除自心的污垢，剷除一切惡念。作為佛弟子，若能依教奉行，則「永無惡曜加臨，常有吉神擁護」、「百福駢臻，千祥云集」。一切所求之除生死、斷煩惱、得菩提之大願，皆唾手可得。

「Abandon evil-doing」 surmises the core of Hinayana practices that one must maintain one』s own integrity and do nothing to harm other beings. 「Practice virtue well」 embodies the essence of the Bodhisattva path; that is, to embrace all beings in the world and practice beneficial activities—relieving beings from suffering, helping those in need, caring for the lonely, and being tolerant of others』 faults. 「Master your mind」 refers to purifying the mind』s obscurations and eliminating all harmful thoughts. To practice according to these Dharma teachings, beneficent gods will always protect the practitioners and no evil things will happen to them. Many happy and auspicious conditions will spontaneously come together. Our great aspirations—to pacify afflictive emotions, to escape the rounds of rebirth, and to attain enlightenment—become easily within reach.

白居易曾問鳥巢禪師：「禪師，何為佛法之要旨？」「諸惡莫作，眾善奉行。」「此話三歲孩童也解得啊！」「三歲孩童可解，八十歲老翁不可行啊！」

Bai Juiyi once implored the Bird Nest Zen Master:

「Master, what is the essence of Buddhism?」
「Abandon evil-doing, practice virtue well.」 the Master answered.
「That』s it? But even a 3-year-old knows this.」
「A 3-year-old might have known it, but an 80-year-old can』t really do it.」

世上的事向來如此，說著容易做著難。要想依照此偈行持，非得花一番寒徹骨的功夫不可。

That is how things usually go in the world: It is easier said than done. To put this teaching into daily practice, we need to redouble all of our efforts.

在世尊的諸傳記中，時常有佛陀及諸比丘在接受供養後，念誦此偈為施主回向的記載；往昔藏地的僧眾在接受供養後，也常常念誦此偈為施主回向；99年我去泰國時，發現當地的僧眾也是念誦此偈為施主回向。但不知為何如今此風並不盛行，很多僧眾在接受供養後，往往一擦嘴，最多說聲謝謝，就算了事。這種由佛陀時代一脈相傳，沿襲下來的良好風氣，不應該斷送在我們這一代的手里，我們應重拾此傳家寶，使之不致丟失。

It has been described in the life stories of the Buddha that upon receiving offerings, Buddha and his disciples often recited this verse to dedicate merits to benefactors. In the past, it was customary for Tibetan monks to do the same. Thai monks also recite this verse to dedicate merit to donors, as I found out during my trip there in 1999. For some reason, such a tradition is falling out of fashion. Many monks will at the most say thanks, if nothing more than just wipe their faces, after partaking of food offerings. As this tradition has come down from the time of the Buddha, we should not let it die out in our hand. Let us restore this fine practice, to save it from becoming lost.

壬午年五月二十日
2002年6月29日

20th of May, Year of RenWu
June 29, 2002