English
English version: 'Virtue (De, merit), by what cause is this obtained?' The Buddha told the king: 'In the past, that king offered food to the Buddha, and in his heart, he thought: 'The Buddha is like a king, and the Shramanas (ascetics) are like subjects.' He planted such a cause, and now he himself reaps the fruit. That person said: 'The Buddha is like an ox, and the disciples are like a cart.' He himself planted the cause of being crushed by a cart, and now in Mount Tai (hell), he is crushed by a fire cart, this is the fruit he himself obtained. This is not something that your majesty's courage and strength could achieve! Doing good, blessings follow; doing evil, disasters pursue, just like an echo responds to a sound, good and evil are like sounds. This is not done by gods, dragons, ghosts, or spirits, nor is it done by ancestral spirits, but it is created by the mind, and accomplished through body and speech!' The Buddha spoke in verse: 'The mind is the root of all dharmas, the mind is honored, the mind is the master. If the mind creates evil, immediately acting upon it, sinful suffering will naturally follow, just like a cart crushing a rut. The mind is the root of all dharmas, the mind is honored, the mind is the master. If the mind thinks of good, immediately acting upon it, blessings and happiness will naturally follow, just like a shadow follows a form.' The World Honored One further told the king: 'Among all evil deeds, the most serious are five. Being unfilial to parents, disloyal to the ruler, killing relatives, killing the ruler, causing the destruction of the family and the chaos of the country, this is the first serious offense. The practice of an Arhat (a saint who has eradicated afflictions), attaining emptiness without desiring Nirvana, reaching the state of non-thought concentration, being in accord with the Buddha's intention, saving sentient beings, yet foolish people slander them, this is the second serious offense. The Buddha, is one who has completed all sins, and accumulated boundless blessings, possessing all the excellent marks and ten powers, guiding sentient beings with the Dharma, protecting sentient beings with loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, his heart surpassing that of a loving mother, yet foolish and evil people slander the Buddha, this is the third serious offense. Pure Shramanas, with pure aspirations and noble conduct; embracing the scriptures and Dharma, helping the Buddha to transform foolish people. The Buddhas appear in succession, and sentient beings are able to be liberated, all relying on the power of the Sangha (monastic community). Yet some use slander to attack each other, leading to disharmony in the Sangha. If the Sangha is not harmonious, the political and legal systems will be ruined, and the people will run wild. If the political and legal systems are ruined and the people run wild, the three evil realms will flourish, harming the Bhikshus (monks), this is the fourth serious offense. The Buddha's temples, treasures, and land, are all offered to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) by sentient beings with sincere hearts, yet foolish people destroy or steal them, this is the fifth serious offense. Committing these five offenses, the sins are so heavy that there is no forgiveness. This is called killing oneself, exterminating one's family, throwing oneself into Mount Tai (hell).'
Chinese
火矣！五罪之重，重于须弥，慎无犯焉！” 佛说经竟，王及群臣皆得须陀洹，受五戒为清信士。国民有作沙门者、守戒为清信士者，遂以五戒、十善为国政，诸天祐护，国遂兴矣！诸天、龙、神、王、臣、黎民，无不欢喜。 佛说自爱经 现代汉语译本：‘火啊！五种罪过的严重性，比须弥山（Sumeru，佛教宇宙观中的中心山）还要重，务必谨慎，不要触犯啊！’ 佛陀说完这部经后，国王和所有大臣都证得了须陀洹果（Sotapanna，佛教修行中的初果），接受了五戒，成为清信士（Upasaka，在家男居士）。国民中有人出家成为沙门（Sramana，佛教出家修行者），有人持守戒律成为清信士，于是国家以五戒和十善作为治国方针，诸天神灵保佑，国家因此兴盛起来！诸天、龙、神、国王、大臣、百姓，没有不欢喜的。 《佛说自爱经》
English
English version: ‘Fire! The gravity of the five offenses is heavier than Mount Sumeru (Sumeru, the central mountain in Buddhist cosmology). Be cautious and do not commit them!’ After the Buddha finished speaking this sutra, the king and all his ministers attained Sotapanna (Sotapanna, the first stage of enlightenment in Buddhism), received the five precepts, and became Upasakas (Upasaka, male lay followers). Among the citizens, some renounced the world to become Sramanas (Sramana, Buddhist renunciates), and some upheld the precepts to become Upasakas. Consequently, the nation adopted the five precepts and the ten virtues as its governing principles. The gods protected and blessed the country, and it prospered! All the gods, dragons, spirits, the king, ministers, and common people were filled with joy. The Sutra of Loving Oneself Spoken by the Buddha --------------------------------------------------------------------------------