Sutra on the Buddha”s Bequeathed Teaching

　　Translation into Chinese by Tripitaka Master Kumarajiva of Yao Qin Dynasty (ca. A.D.400)

　　Provisional Translation into English by The Buddhist Text Translation Society, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, City Of Ten Thousand Buddhas(1999 )

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　　When Shakyamuni Buddha first turned the Wheel of Dharma, he crossed over the Venerable Ajnatakaundinya.

　　The very last time he spoke the Dharma, he crossed over the Venerable Subhadhra.

　　All of those whom he should have crossed over had already been crossed over.

　　He lay between the Twin Sala trees and was about to enter Nirvana.

　　At this time, in the middle period of the night, all was quiet, without any sound.

　　Then for the sake of all of his disciples, he spoke on the essentials of the Dharma.

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　　All of you Bhikshus ! After my Nirvana, you should revere and honor the Pratimoksha.

　　It is like finding a light in darkness, or like a poor person obtaining a treasure.

　　You should know that it is your great teacher, and is not different from my actual presence in the world.

　　Those of you who uphold the pure precepts should not buy, sell or trade.

　　You should not covet fields or buildings, or keep servants or raise animals.

　　You should stay far away from all kinds of agriculture and wealth as you would avoid a pit of fire.

　　You should not cut down grass or trees, plow fields or dig the earth.

　　Nor may you compound medicines, prophesize good and evil, observe the constellations, cast horoscopes by the waxing and waning of the moon, or compute astrological fortunes.

　　All of these activities are improper.

　　Regulate yourselves by eating at the appropriate time and by living in purity.

　　You should not participate in worldly affairs or act as an envoy,

　　Nor should you become involved with magical spells and elixirs of immorality, or with making connections with high ranking people, being affectionate towards them and condescending towards the lowly.

　　With an upright mind and proper mindfulness you should seek to cross over.

　　Do not conceal your faults or put on a special appearance to delude the multitudes.

　　Know your limits and be content with the four kinds of offerings.

　　When you receive offerings, do not store them up.

　　This is a general explanation of the characteristics of upholding the precepts.

　　The precepts are the root of proper freedom; therefore they are called the Pratimoksha (lit. The root of freedom).

　　By relying on these precepts, you will give rise to all dhyana concentrations, and reach the wisdom of the cessation of suffering.

　　For this reason, Bhikshus, you should uphold the pure precepts and not allow them to be broken.

　　If a person is able to uphold the pure precepts, he will, as a result, be able to have good dharmas.

　　If one lacks the pure precepts, no good merit and virtue can arise.

　　Therefore you should know that the precepts are the dwelling place for the foremost and secure merit and virtue.

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　　All of you Bhikshus ! If you are already able to abide by the precepts,

　　You should restrain the five sense organs, and do not allow them to enter the five desires as they please.

　　It is like a person tending cattle who carries a staff while watching them, not allowing them to run loose and trample othersỖs spouting grains.

　　If you let your five sense organs run loose, not only will the five desires become boundless, they will be uncontrollable.

　　They are like a violent horse unrestrained by reins who drags a person along so that he falls into a pit.

　　If you are robbed or injured you will suffer for only a single life,

　　but the injury from the plundering done by the five sense organs brings misfortunes which extend for many lives.

　　Because their harm is extreme…

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