..續本文上一頁 to Buddhism. Some well-known professors, scholars, and even left-home people blatantly claim that the Shurangama Sutra is false. Why are they so deluded

　　 Because they can”t stand to see themselves reflected in the “demon-spotting mirrors” of the Four Clear Instructions on Purity and the Fifty Skandha-demon States discussed in that Sutra. The Fifty Skandha-demon States exposes their demonic state. And they cannot abide by the rules specified in the Four Clear Instructions on Purity. For these reasons, they go against their conscience and utter this great lie, saying that the Sutra is false.

　　我們對《楞嚴經》與〈楞嚴咒〉要認識得非常清楚，沒有任何咒比〈楞嚴咒〉更靈，沒有其他經文比《楞嚴經》更真，能把天魔外道及一切衆生的毛病，針針見血，闡明得如此詳細。

　　We should clearly understand the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra. No mantra is more efficacious than the Shurangama Mantra, and no Sutra is more true than the Shurangama Sutra. No other Sutra pinpoints and describes the problems of the celestial demons, externalists, and living beings in such precise detail.

　　若沒有〈楞嚴咒〉，佛法就沒有了；沒有《楞嚴經》，正法就消滅了。各位爲了護持佛法，一定要把《楞嚴經》讀得熟之又熟，隨時隨地都可背可講，才不愧爲真正的佛弟子，才不枉出家一場。

　　If the Shurangama Mantra disappeared, the Buddhadharma would also disappear; if the Shurangama Sutra vanished, the True Dharma would perish as well. In order to protect and uphold the Buddhadharma, all of you must study the Shurangama Sutra until you can recite it by heart and lecture on it at any time or place. Then you will be true disciples of the Buddha, and you will not have left home in vain.

　　因此，大家切勿被這些「名學者」、「名教授」、「大法師」所眩惑，以盲引盲，以爲《楞嚴經》是假的。他們憑什麼說《楞嚴經》是假的？根本他們是睜著眼睛說瞎話，貢高邪見，我慢猖狂，等到將來受果報時，是不堪設想的。

　　Beware of those famous scholars, renowned professors, and great Dharma Masters who are blind men leading the blind when they tell others that the Shurangama Sutra is false. On what evidence do they base their claim

　　 They are shameless liars, arrogant and disrespectful, confused by wrong views. In the future, their retribution will be terrible beyond scope.

　　還有以下的消息向諸位發表。不管其他道場的家風如何，在萬佛聖城若想出家者，最低限度要有大學文憑。若從旁的大學已得到畢業文憑，還需要在本校接受僧伽訓練班叁年的嚴格訓練，品學兼優，始有資格受具足戒，爲比丘、比丘尼。

　　I have one more thing to tell everyone. I don”t know the policy in other monasteries, but the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas accepts only college graduates for admission into the Sangha. If you have a college degree, you must further undergo three years of rigorous training in the Sangha and Laity Training Programs, and you must show excellent character and scholarship, before you can qualify for ordination as a Bhikshu or Bhikshuni.

　　在這個時代，出家人必定要有出類拔萃、特別優良的教育背景，方成法器。若只字不識，終天只會拉攏攀緣，在佛教裏混飯吃，做些不高尚、不清淨的犯戒行爲，有辱缁門，怎麼可以爲佛教增光？怎麼令人對叁寶生敬仰心？因此爲提高缁門素質，從今以後，欲來萬佛聖城出家者，不論男女老幼，先要考取大學文憑，並能背出《楞嚴經》、〈楞嚴咒〉，方被錄取。此外出家衆本來應熟讀的沙彌戒、〈五十叁小咒〉、《梵網經菩薩戒》、《四分律》比丘、比丘尼戒，也要能背得出來。

　　In the present age, Sangha members should be especially well-educated so that they can transmit the Dharma. There are illiterate and opportunistic monks and nuns who get their meals from Buddhism, but then disgrace the Sangha by breaking the precepts; how can they bring glory to Buddhism and inspire people to have faith in the Triple Jewel

　　 Therefore, in order to improve the qualifications of the Sangha, from this day forward, those who wish to leave the home-life at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, whether they are male or female, young or old, must first earn a college degree and be able to recite the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra by heart, before they will be accepted. In addition, left-home people are expected to seriously study and commit to memory: the Shramanera (novice) precepts, the Fifty-three Small Mantras, the Brahma Net Sutra Bodhisattva Precepts, and the Four Division Vinaya (the Bhikshu and Bhikshuni precepts).

　　從前，在此道場出家的要求，雖然沒有現在這麼嚴格，但我一向不隨便收徒弟，要收也是極爲謹慎，經長期審察來者的思想言行，才接受他剃度。但有鑒于末法蓋世，邪魔熾然，不得不做此破釜沈舟的改革運動，積極提高出家人的品學水准。凡是跟我出家的弟子，都要頂天立地，允文允武，爲法門大將，甚至于以世俗的角度觀之，亦是超卓非凡的人材。已跟我出家的弟子們，也應該個個會背《楞嚴經》，隨時隨地能講能說。這樣才算得上實在進行弘揚正法的責任，續佛命脈，沒有白出家一趟！

　　In the past, although the requirements for leaving the home-life at this Way-place were not quite as strict, I have never accepted disciples casually. I am always very cautious, and only after long-term observation of the disciples” thinking, speech, and conduct do I permit them to shave their heads. But now, when the Dharma-ending Age prevails in the world and demons are on the loose, I have no choice but to start this revolution to raise the ethical and educational standards of the Sangha. Every left-home disciple of mine must be an indomitable hero skilled in both martial and literary arts, a great general of the Dharma. His talents should be superlative, even from a worldly perspective. My left-home disciples should also memorize the Shurangama Sutra and be able to lecture on it whenever the occasion calls for it. If you can do that, you are genuinely propagating the True Dharma and are extending the lifespan of Buddhism, and you have not left the home-life in vain.

　　一九八叁年四月十四日晚間開示

　　于萬佛聖城

　　A talk given on the evening of April 14, 1983,

　　at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

《佛教的骨髓：《楞嚴經》 The Marrow of Buddhism: The Shurangama Sutra》全文閱讀結束。