..續本文上一頁，更爲歡迎。出家人一律要背誦〈楞嚴咒〉和《楞嚴經》，以及《梵網經》和《四分律》等，以研究《華嚴經》和《法華經》爲主課，時時精進，沒有懈怠，這是萬佛聖城的家風。

　　In order to raise the standards of the Sangha, I will permit people to enter the monastic life only after they have graduated from college or from the three-year Sangha Training Program at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. People who have earned Master”s or doctoral degrees are even more welcome. After leaving home, they should memorize the Shurangama Mantra, the Shurangama Sutra, the Brahma Net Sutra [Bodhisattva precepts], and the Four Division Vinaya [Bhikshu and Bhikshuni precepts]. They should devote themselves to studying the Avatamsaka Sutra and Lotus Sutra, and accord with the City”s tradition of vigorous cultivation.

　　現在佛教在西方初露曙光，我們不要把它變成末法時代，一定要令正法常住于世，續佛慧命。如何能令正法常住？就要充實佛教的學問，理解經典的義理。所以在萬佛聖城一舉一動、一言一行都是學習，研究自己的學問，培養自己的品德，修持自己的戒律。

　　Buddhism is just beginning in the West. Let”s not turn this age into the Dharma-ending Age. We must perpetuate the Proper Dharma and the Buddha”s wisdom. How can we do this

　　 We must learn more about Buddhism and understand the principles in the Sutras better. Therefore, at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, in everything we say and do, we are learning. We are getting to know ourselves better, developing our characters, and cultivating our precepts.

　　出家乃是大丈夫的事，沒有勇猛果斷的力量，是辦不到的。所以出家之後，就要認真修行，嚴守戒律，不可懈怠，因循放逸。如果覺得出家的生活太苦，隨時可以還俗。我不是鼓勵你們還俗，而是佛教裏根本不需要這種似是而非的人。不要因爲一個不守規矩的人，而破壞萬佛聖城的名譽，這是我的規矩。我是遵守佛製而行事，不是別出心裁，故意標新立異。

　　Only heroic people can enter the monastic life. It takes courage and determination to leave home. After doing so, you must cultivate and uphold the precepts seriously. Don”t become lax and mindlessly follow the routine. If you feel that the monastic life is too bitter, you can return to lay life any time. I”m not trying to encourage you to do that, but Buddhism doesn”t need people who pretend to be what they”re not. I don”t want the reputation of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to be ruined on account of one person. These are my rules. I”m not trying to be different, I”m just following the regulations passed down by the Buddha.

　　一九八叁年十月廿一日開示

　　A talk given on October 21, 1983

《爲了生死而出家 We Leave the Home-life in Order to End Birth and Death》全文閱讀結束。