English
‘The eight evil conditions are: first, hell (Niraya); second, hungry ghosts (Preta); third, animals (Tiryak); fourth, border regions; fifth, the heavens of long life; sixth, although obtaining a human body, being blind, deaf, mute, or crippled, unable to hear and receive the Dharma; seventh, although obtaining a human body, with the six senses complete, having worldly wisdom and eloquence, studying worldly classics, believing in heretical views, offering sacrifices to ghosts and demons, or slaughtering and hunting, indulging in desires, engaging in all kinds of deception and falsehood, and not believing in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). From this life onwards, one will again enter hell, going from darkness into deeper darkness, with no time to escape. Even if one sometimes obtains a human body, one still does not believe in the true Dharma, does not revere the Three Jewels, and slanders the holy path. Eighth, being born in a place where there is no Buddha. These are called the eight evil conditions, also called the eight difficulties.’ ‘The three evil paths are the home of all sentient beings, only temporarily obtaining a human body, only temporarily obtaining rebirth as a deva. It is like being a guest for a short time and returning home for a long time. Students should contemplate this, diligently strive and advance, and then one can escape suffering. It is difficult to obtain a human body, difficult to have the six senses complete, difficult to have eloquence, difficult to attain intelligence, difficult to have a long life, difficult to encounter a wise person, difficult to have straightforward faith, difficult to generate a great Bodhi mind, difficult to hear the sutras and Dharma, and difficult to encounter a Tathagata (Buddha). In this world, there is a tree called the Udumbara (auspicious flower), which only has fruit but no flowers. Only when a Tathagata appears in the world does it bloom! Having already obtained a human body, with the six senses complete, having eloquence and intelligence, having a long life, encountering a wise person, generating a Bodhi mind, having straightforward faith that does not regress, hearing the sutras and Dharma, and encountering a Tathagata in the world, all of these are due to past deeds and accumulated merit. Those who accumulate merit go from light into light, following the footsteps of the Tathagata, continuously practicing without stopping, and will eventually awaken in the Bodhimanda (place of enlightenment), without destroying their roots of goodness, or forgetting their previous merits. Once one loses the mind of the Tao, it takes kalpas (eons) to recover. Be careful, be careful! All sentient beings are constantly in a long prison, surrounded by twelve layers of walls, enclosed by three layers of thorny fences, and constantly watched by six robbers with drawn swords. It is very difficult, very difficult for anyone to escape from within!’ ‘What is the long prison? It refers to the Three Realms (Desire Realm, Form Realm, Formless Realm). What are the twelve layers of walls? They refer to the Twelve Nidanas (links of dependent origination: ignorance, volitional action, consciousness, name and form, the six sense organs, contact, sensation, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, old age and death). What are the three layers of thorny fences? They refer to the Three Poisons (greed, hatred, delusion). What are the six robbers with drawn swords? They refer to the six --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
情也。已发道心，当具禁戒、四等大慈、六波罗蜜、安般守意、三十七品、诸禅三昧总持之门。等一切法，意无高无下，无想无愿，出三脱门，得三治法，分别三向，晓三达智，无缚无解，不求诸天、人中之尊，转轮王位不动其心，不畏罪苦，不计有劳，志在一切，无所荣冀，解三界空，不习三有，是谓得出十二长狱。知十二因缘，所起所灭，能断痴本，是谓得出十二重城。知淫、怒、痴三垢无原，意不复着，是谓得拔三重棘篱。晓了六情，皆无本末，譬如芭蕉，意不缚爱，是谓得离六拔刀贼。 “要当先解，无我无人，都无所作；无所不作，所作功德，亿劫不惓。譬如鸟飞虚空，无有足迹，作无迹行，无能见者；不与罪事、诸恶因缘，大如毛发，是谓发菩萨心者能度苦厄。居家为牢狱，妻色、儿息、财物、珍宝为下，为是银铛杻械，恩爱痴着，为是重担。” 佛告诸弟子：“一切善男子、善女人！汝已出家，为得离狱，弃捐妻子，为得脱械，如何不能放舍重担？” 诸沙门曰：“我无所担！” 佛言：“汝沙门着吾我人，贪身计寿，是汝重担；专求供养，畜积所有，是汝重担；同学不和，反亲白衣，是汝重担；自大种姓，贡高憍绮，是汝重担；恃智慢愚，轻邈他人，是汝重担；很戾自用， 现代汉语译本： 这是（菩萨的）情怀。已经发起菩提心，应当具备禁戒、四等大慈（四种无量心：慈、悲、喜、舍）、六波罗蜜（布施、持戒、忍辱、精进、禅定、智慧）、安般守意（通过观察呼吸来集中注意力）、三十七道品（四念处、四正勤、四如意足、五根、五力、七菩提分、八正道）、诸禅三昧总持之门。平等对待一切法，心中没有高下之分，没有妄想没有愿求，出离三脱门（空门、无相门、无作门），得到三治法（对治贪嗔痴的方法），分别三向（声闻向、缘觉向、菩萨向），明白三达智（法达智、义达智、辞达智），没有束缚没有解脱，不追求诸天、人中的尊位，即使是转轮王的地位也不能动摇他的心，不畏惧罪恶痛苦，不计较辛劳，志向在于利益一切众生，没有丝毫的荣华富贵的期望，理解三界（欲界、色界、无色界）皆空，不执着于三有（欲有、色有、无色有），这叫做脱离十二长狱。 明白十二因缘（无明、行、识、名色、六入、触、受、爱、取、有、生、老死），所生起和所灭亡的道理，能够断除愚痴的根本，这叫做脱离十二重城。知道淫欲、嗔怒、愚痴这三种烦恼没有根源，心中不再执着，这叫做拔除三重棘篱。明白六情（眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意）都没有本末，譬如芭蕉一样虚幻不实，心中不被爱欲束缚，这叫做脱离六拔刀贼。 最重要的是要先理解，没有我，没有人，一切都是无所作为的；也没有什么是不作为的，所作的功德，即使经历亿劫也不会厌倦。譬如鸟在虚空中飞行，没有留下任何足迹，所作所为不留痕迹，没有人能够看见；不与罪恶之事、各种恶的因缘有任何瓜葛，即使小如毛发，这叫做发起菩萨心的人能够度脱苦难。居家生活如同牢狱，妻子美色、儿女、财产、珍宝是牢狱的底部，是束缚人的银铛脚镣手铐，恩爱痴迷是沉重的负担。 佛告诉诸位弟子：‘一切善男子、善女人！你们已经出家，是为了脱离牢狱，抛弃妻子儿女，是为了摆脱枷锁，为什么不能放下这些沉重的负担呢？’ 诸位沙门回答说：‘我们没有什么负担！’ 佛说：‘你们这些沙门执着于我、人等概念，贪恋身体，计较寿命，这就是你们的沉重负担；专门寻求供养，积蓄财物，这就是你们的沉重负担；同修之间不和睦，反而亲近在家的俗人，这就是你们的沉重负担；自以为出身高贵，贡高我慢，华而不实，这就是你们的沉重负担；依仗自己的智慧而轻视愚笨的人，轻视藐视他人，这就是你们的沉重负担；刚愎自用，不听劝告，'
English
English version: This is (the sentiment of a Bodhisattva). Having already generated the Bodhi mind, one should possess precepts, the Four Immeasurables (immeasurable kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity), the Six Paramitas (generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom), Ānāpānasmṛti (mindfulness of breathing), the Thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment (the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right exertions, the four bases of power, the five roots, the five powers, the seven factors of enlightenment, and the noble eightfold path), and the gate of all Dhyana Samadhis and Dharani. Treat all dharmas equally, without high or low distinctions in the mind, without delusion or desire, departing from the Three Doors of Liberation (emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness), attaining the Three Cures (methods to cure greed, hatred, and delusion), distinguishing the Three Vehicles (Śrāvakayāna, Pratyekabuddhayāna, and Bodhisattvayāna), understanding the Three Wisdoms (wisdom of the Dharma, wisdom of the meaning, and wisdom of eloquence), without bondage or liberation, not seeking the honored positions among gods or humans, not being moved in mind even by the position of a Chakravartin (wheel-turning king), not fearing the suffering of sins, not calculating labor, aspiring to benefit all beings, without any expectation of glory or fortune, understanding that the Three Realms (desire realm, form realm, formless realm) are empty, not clinging to the Three Existences (desire existence, form existence, formless existence), this is called escaping the Twelve Long Prisons. Understanding the arising and ceasing of the Twelve Nidanas (ignorance, volitional action, consciousness, name and form, the six sense organs, contact, feeling, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, old age and death), being able to cut off the root of ignorance, this is called escaping the Twelve Heavy Cities. Knowing that the three defilements of lust, anger, and delusion have no origin, the mind no longer clings, this is called uprooting the Three Thorny Fences. Understanding that the Six Senses (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind) have no beginning or end, like the emptiness of a banana tree, the mind is not bound by love, this is called escaping the Six Sword-Drawing Thieves. The most important thing is to first understand that there is no self, no person, and everything is without action; yet there is nothing that is not done, and the merits of what is done will not be exhausted even after billions of kalpas. Just as a bird flies in the empty sky without leaving any footprints, acting without leaving traces, and no one can see it; not associating with sinful matters or any evil causes and conditions, even as small as a hair, this is called a Bodhisattva who has generated the Bodhi mind being able to cross over suffering. Living at home is like a prison, wife, beauty, children, wealth, and treasures are the bottom of the prison, they are the silver shackles and handcuffs that bind people, and the infatuation with love is a heavy burden. The Buddha told the disciples: 'All good men and good women! You have already left home to escape the prison, abandoning your wives and children to break free from the shackles, why can't you let go of these heavy burdens?' The Śramaṇas said: 'We have no burdens!' The Buddha said: 'You Śramaṇas cling to the concepts of self, person, etc., are greedy for the body, and calculate life, these are your heavy burdens; you specialize in seeking offerings and accumulating wealth, these are your heavy burdens; you are not harmonious with your fellow practitioners, but instead are close to laypeople, these are your heavy burdens; you think highly of your noble birth, are arrogant and extravagant, these are your heavy burdens; you rely on your own wisdom and despise foolish people, belittle and scorn others, these are your heavy burdens; you are stubborn and self-willed,' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
不受人谏，是汝重担；食无节度，饮酒贪味，是汝重担；法服不具，着俗衣裳，是汝重担；外似如法，内怀谀谄，是汝重担；不制六情，毁戒犯欲，是汝重担；赋敛百姓，兴起寺庙，是汝重担；祠祀鬼母，祈请福愿，是汝重担；假托佛法，咒术治病，是汝重担；违负众祐，犯四重禁，是汝重担；栖息无恒，不还庙房，是汝重担。不舍担者，后入地狱。” 佛言：“有大白象，力壮移山，坏地成涧，拔树碎石；象力无双，有人以发绊系其脚，象为之躄，不能复动。” 佛告诸弟子：“当解此譬，当善思之！若有贤者，居家为道，厌世所有，苦空非身，常欲出身，为道辞家妻子，当就明师，受持法服。临出之日，妻子恋泣，悲诉声哀，其辞辛苦。贤者睹之，心为怅然，意即回变，为妻子所惑，无复出家之志，是如发系象，不能复动，长受衰矣！” 佛言：“一切壮无过心，心是怨家，常欺误人，心取地狱，心取饿鬼，心取畜生，心取天人，作形貌者，皆心所为，能伏心为道者，其力最多。吾与心斗，其劫无数，今乃得佛，独步三界，皆心所为。一切众香，莫过栴檀；其香无量，香价贵于阎浮提金。又疗人病，人有中毒，头痛体热，磨栴檀屑，以涂其上，若以服之，病即除愈，一切众生，莫不愿得。有人 现代汉语译本 不受他人劝谏，这是你的重担；饮食没有节制，贪图饮酒的美味，这是你的重担；法衣不完备，穿着世俗的衣裳，这是你的重担；外表好像遵从佛法，内心却怀着阿谀奉承，这是你的重担；不能控制眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意这六种情欲，毁坏戒律，触犯欲望，这是你的重担；征收百姓的赋税，兴建寺庙，这是你的重担；祭祀鬼母，祈求福报和愿望，这是你的重担；假借佛法，用咒语和法术来治疗疾病，这是你的重担；违背辜负大众的供养，触犯四重禁戒（杀、盗、淫、妄），这是你的重担；居所不定，不返回寺庙僧房，这是你的重担。不放下这些重担的人，死后会堕入地狱。 佛说：‘有一头巨大的白象，力气很大，能够移动山岳，破坏土地形成沟壑，拔起树木，击碎石头；这头象力大无比，如果有人用一根头发来缠住它的脚，这头象就会瘫痪，不能再动弹。’ 佛告诉各位弟子：‘应当理解这个比喻，应当好好思考它！如果有一位贤者，在家修行佛道，厌恶世间所有的一切，明白人生是痛苦、虚空、无常的，常常想要脱离尘世，为了修行佛道而辞别家庭妻儿，应当去亲近有智慧的导师，接受并持有法衣。临出发的那天，妻子儿女依依不舍地哭泣，悲伤地诉说，声音哀切，言辞凄苦。这位贤者看到这种情景，心中感到怅然若失，意志立刻回转改变，被妻子儿女所迷惑，不再有出家修行的志向，这就好像用头发缠住大象的脚一样，使它不能再动弹，长久地遭受衰败啊！’ 佛说：‘一切力量再大也比不过心，心是怨家，常常欺骗迷惑人，心会把人带到地狱，心会把人带到饿鬼道，心会把人带到畜生道，心会把人带到天道和人道，一切形貌的产生，都是心所造作的，能够降伏自己的心而修行佛道的人，他的力量才是最大的。我与心斗争，经历了无数劫，现在才得以成佛，独自在三界中行走，这都是心所造作的。一切香中，没有比得上栴檀（candana，檀香）的；它的香味无量无边，香的价格比阎浮提（Jambudvipa，南赡部洲）的金子还要贵重。而且还能治疗人的疾病，人如果中了毒，头痛发热，磨一些栴檀的粉末，涂抹在患处，或者服用下去，病立刻就能痊愈，一切众生，没有不希望得到的。有人’