English
English version If a lay Bodhisattva attains freedom and becomes the ruler of a great nation, he will protect the people as if they were his own children. He will teach them to turn away from all evil deeds and cultivate good practices. When he sees those who commit evil, he may beat, scold, and insult them, but he will never take their lives. He will collect taxes at a rate of one-sixth of their wealth. When he sees those who are angry and evil, he will teach them to cultivate forbearance and non-negligence. His words in the scriptures will be gentle, and he will be able to distinguish between good and evil people. When he sees those who have committed offenses, he will be patient and not question them. According to his means, he will always practice wisdom and generosity. He will do his best to recite the five divisions of scriptures, be good at protecting his life and property, and be able to transform sentient beings so that they do not commit evil. When he sees the poor, he will generate great compassion. In his own country, he will always cultivate contentment, and he will never believe or accept the slander of evil people. He will not seek wealth through unlawful means. He will protect the country according to the Dharma and stay away from seven evils: first, he does not enjoy gambling with chupu (an ancient game), weiqi (围棋, Go), or liubo (六博, another ancient game); second, he does not enjoy hunting; third, he does not enjoy drinking alcohol; fourth, he does not enjoy lustful desires; fifth, he does not enjoy harsh speech; sixth, he does not enjoy divisive speech; seventh, he does not enjoy acquiring wealth through unlawful means. He always enjoys making offerings to those who have left home, and he can cause the people of the country to always have the same respect and love for the king as they do for their parents. He believes in cause and effect, and when he sees someone who is better than himself, he does not become jealous. When he sees that he is better than others, he does not become arrogant. He knows how to repay kindness, and he repays even small kindnesses with great rewards. He can subdue his senses and purify his three karmas (body, speech, and mind). He praises good people and rebukes evil people, expresses his intentions first, and his words are gentle. When he has no power, he lawfully submits to others. When he takes another country, he does not raise the four armies. When sentient beings are afraid, he can rescue and liberate them, and he always uses the four means of attraction (giving, kind speech, beneficial action, and cooperation) to gather them. He is good at distinguishing various aspects of the Dharma, and for those who do not accept the Dharma, he tames them with gentle words. 'Good man! There are two kinds of Bodhisattvas: one is a layperson, and the other is a renunciate. It is not difficult for a renunciate Bodhisattva to have two disciples; it is difficult for a lay Bodhisattva to have one disciple. Why? Because laypeople are often entangled in various evil conditions.' Upasaka Precepts Sutra, Chapter 14: Receiving the Precepts Shansheng (善生) said: 'World Honored One! How can a lay Bodhisattva receive the Upasaka precepts?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
“善男子！在家菩萨若欲受持优婆塞戒，先当次第供养六方：东方、南方、西方、北方、下方、上方。言东方者，即是父母，若人有能供养父母衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药、房舍、财宝，恭敬、礼拜、赞叹、尊重，是人则能供养东方。父母还以五事报之：一者、至心爱念，二者、终不欺诳，三者、舍财与之，四者、为娉上族，五者、教以世事。 “言南方者，即是师长，若有人能供养师长衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药，尊重、赞叹、恭敬礼拜，早起晚卧，受行善教，是人则能供养南方。是师复以五事报之：一者、速教不令失时，二者、尽教不令不尽，三者、胜己不生妒嫉，四者、将付严师善友，五者、临终舍财与之。 “言西方者，即是妻子，若有人能供给妻子衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药、璎珞、服饰、严身之具，是人则是供养西方。妻子复以十四事报之：一者、所作尽心营之，二者、常作终不懈慢，三者、所作必令终竟，四者、疾作不令失时，五者、常为瞻视宾客，六者、净其房舍卧具，七者、爱敬言则柔软，八者、僮使软言教诏，九者、善能守护财物，十者、晨起夜寐，十一者、能设净食，十二者、能忍教诲，十三者、能覆恶事，十四者、能瞻病苦。 “言北方者，即善知识，若有人能供施善友 现代汉语译本 ‘善男子！如果在家菩萨想要受持优婆塞戒（Upasaka-sila，在家男居士所受的戒律），首先应当依次供养六方：东方、南方、西方、北方、下方、上方。所说的东方，就是父母，如果有人能够供养父母衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药、房舍、财宝，恭敬、礼拜、赞叹、尊重，这个人就能供养东方。父母也会用五件事来回报：第一，真心爱念；第二，始终不欺骗哄骗；第三，舍财物给与；第四，为子女选择高贵的姻亲；第五，教导子女处世的道理。 所说的南方，就是师长，如果有人能够供养师长衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药，尊重、赞叹、恭敬礼拜，早起晚睡，接受并奉行师长的教诲，这个人就能供养南方。师长也会用五件事来回报：第一，尽快教授，不耽误时间；第二，全部教授，不保留；第三，胜过自己时不生嫉妒；第四，将学生托付给严格的老师和善良的朋友；第五，临终时舍财物给与学生。 所说的西方，就是妻子，如果有人能够供给妻子衣服、饮食、卧具、汤药、璎珞（Yingluo，用珠玉穿成的装饰品）、服饰、庄严身体的物品，这个人就是供养西方。妻子也会用十四件事来回报：第一，对于丈夫所做的事情尽心尽力地经营；第二，经常劳作，始终不懈怠懒惰；第三，所做的事情必定使其完成；第四，快速地完成事情，不耽误时间；第五，经常为丈夫照顾客人；第六，打扫干净房舍和卧具；第七，用爱敬的语言，说话柔和；第八，用柔和的言语教导奴仆；第九，善于守护财物；第十，早起晚睡；第十一，能够准备干净的食物；第十二，能够忍受教诲；第十三，能够掩盖丈夫的过错；第十四，能够照顾生病的丈夫。 所说的北方，就是善知识，如果有人能够供养善友
English
English version ‘Good man! If a lay bodhisattva wishes to receive and uphold the Upasaka-sila (layman's precepts), he should first offer to the six directions in order: the East, the South, the West, the North, the Below, and the Above. What is meant by the East is one's parents. If a person can offer his parents clothing, food, bedding, medicine, housing, and wealth, and treat them with reverence, respect, praise, and honor, then this person is able to offer to the East. Parents will also repay with five things: first, sincere love and affection; second, never deceiving or lying; third, giving away wealth; fourth, choosing noble relatives by marriage for their children; fifth, teaching them the ways of the world. What is meant by the South is one's teachers. If a person can offer his teachers clothing, food, bedding, medicine, and treat them with respect, praise, reverence, and honor, rising early and retiring late, accepting and practicing their good teachings, then this person is able to offer to the South. The teacher will also repay with five things: first, teaching quickly without wasting time; second, teaching completely without holding back; third, not being jealous when surpassed; fourth, entrusting the student to strict teachers and good friends; fifth, giving away wealth to the student at the time of death. What is meant by the West is one's wife. If a person can provide his wife with clothing, food, bedding, medicine, Yingluo (necklaces or ornaments made of precious stones), ornaments, and items for adorning the body, then this person is offering to the West. The wife will also repay with fourteen things: first, managing her husband's affairs with all her heart; second, working diligently and never being lazy; third, ensuring that what is done is completed; fourth, completing tasks quickly without wasting time; fifth, always taking care of guests for her husband; sixth, cleaning the house and bedding; seventh, speaking with loving and respectful words, being gentle; eighth, teaching servants with gentle words; ninth, being good at guarding wealth; tenth, rising early and retiring late; eleventh, being able to prepare clean food; twelfth, being able to endure teachings; thirteenth, being able to cover up her husband's faults; fourteenth, being able to care for her sick husband. What is meant by the North is good spiritual friends. If a person can offer to good friends --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
，任力与之，恭敬软言，礼拜赞叹，是人则能供养北方。是善知识复以四事而还报之：一者、教修善法，二者、令离恶法，三者、有恐怖时能为救解，四者、放逸之时能令除舍。 “言下方者，即是奴婢，若有人能供给奴婢衣服、饮食、病瘦医药，不骂不打，是人则能供给下方。奴婢复以十事报之：一者、不作罪过，二者、不待教作，三者、作必令竟，四者、疾作不令失时，五者、主虽贫穷终不舍离，六者、早起，七者、守物，八者、少恩多报，九者、至心敬念，十者、善覆恶事。 “言上方者，即是沙门、婆罗门等，若有供养沙门、婆罗门衣服、饮食、房舍、卧具、病痛医药，怖时能救，馑世施食，闻恶能遮，礼拜恭敬，尊重赞叹，是人则能供养上方。是出家人以五种事报：一者、教令生信，二者、教生智慧，三者、教令行施，四者、教令持戒，五者、教令多闻。 “若有供养是六方者，是人则得增长财命，能得受持优婆塞戒。 “善男子！若人欲受优婆塞戒，增长财命，先当咨启所生父母。父母若听，次报妻子，奴婢僮仆。此辈若听，次白国主。国主听已，谁有出家发菩提心者，便往其所头面作礼，软言问讯，作如是言：‘大德！我是丈夫，具男子身，欲受菩萨优婆塞戒，惟愿大德愍怜 现代汉语译本： ‘如果有人能以力量帮助北方之人，以恭敬柔和的言语对待他们，礼拜赞叹他们，这个人就能供养北方。这些善知识又以四件事来回报他：一是教导他修习善法，二是使他远离恶法，三是在他感到恐惧时能够救助他，四是在他放逸时能够使他去除放纵。’ ‘所说的下方，就是奴婢。如果有人能供给奴婢衣服、饮食、生病时的医药，不骂不打，这个人就能供给下方。奴婢又以十件事来回报他：一是不做罪恶之事，二是不等待教导才去做，三是做事情必定完成，四是迅速完成不耽误时机，五是主人即使贫穷也不舍弃离开，六是早起，七是守护财物，八是给予的恩惠少而回报的多，九是真心敬念主人，十是善于掩盖主人的恶事。’ ‘所说的上方，就是沙门（Shramana，出家修道者）、婆罗门（Brahmana，印度教祭司）等。如果有人供养沙门、婆罗门衣服、饮食、房舍、卧具、生病时的医药，在恐惧时能够救助，在饥荒之年施舍食物，听到恶事能够遮止，礼拜恭敬，尊重赞叹，这个人就能供养上方。这些出家人以五种事来回报：一是教导人们生起信心，二是教导人们生起智慧，三是教导人们行布施，四是教导人们持守戒律，五是教导人们广闻博学。’ ‘如果有人供养这六方，这个人就能增长财富和寿命，能够受持优婆塞（Upasaka，在家男居士）戒。’ ‘善男子！如果有人想要受持优婆塞戒，增长财富和寿命，首先应当禀告父母。父母如果同意，其次告知妻子、奴婢、仆人。这些人如果同意，其次禀告国主。国主同意后，如果有出家发菩提心（Bodhi-citta，觉悟之心）的人，就前往他的住所，顶礼膜拜，以柔和的言语问候，这样说：‘大德！我是丈夫，具有男子之身，想要受持菩萨优婆塞戒，希望大德慈悲怜悯。
English
English version: ‘If someone can assist those in the north with strength, treat them with respectful and gentle words, and offer them reverence and praise, that person can provide for the north. These virtuous friends then reciprocate with four things: first, they teach the practice of virtuous Dharma; second, they enable one to stay away from evil Dharma; third, they can provide rescue and relief when one feels fear; and fourth, they can enable one to eliminate and abandon indulgence when one is being lax.’ ‘What is meant by the 'lower direction' refers to servants and slaves. If someone can provide servants and slaves with clothing, food, drink, and medicine when they are sick, and does not scold or beat them, that person can provide for the lower direction. Servants and slaves then reciprocate with ten things: first, they do not commit offenses; second, they do not wait to be instructed to act; third, they ensure that tasks are completed; fourth, they act quickly and do not miss the opportune time; fifth, they do not abandon their master even if he is poor; sixth, they rise early; seventh, they guard possessions; eighth, they repay kindness with more than they receive; ninth, they sincerely respect and remember their master; and tenth, they are good at concealing their master's misdeeds.’ ‘What is meant by the 'upper direction' refers to Shramanas (Shramana, wandering ascetics) and Brahmanas (Brahmana, priests) and the like. If someone offers Shramanas and Brahmanas clothing, food, lodging, bedding, and medicine when they are sick, can rescue them when they are afraid, provides food during times of famine, can prevent evil deeds, and offers reverence, respect, and praise, that person can provide for the upper direction. These renunciants reciprocate with five things: first, they teach people to generate faith; second, they teach people to generate wisdom; third, they teach people to practice generosity; fourth, they teach people to uphold precepts; and fifth, they teach people to be widely learned.’ ‘If someone provides for these six directions, that person will increase wealth and lifespan, and will be able to receive and uphold the Upasaka (Upasaka, lay male devotee) precepts.’ ‘Good man! If someone wishes to receive the Upasaka precepts and increase wealth and lifespan, they should first inform their parents. If their parents agree, they should then inform their wife, servants, and slaves. If these people agree, they should then inform the ruler of the country. Once the ruler has agreed, if there is someone who has left home and generated Bodhi-citta (Bodhi-citta, the mind of enlightenment), they should go to their place, prostrate themselves, and greet them with gentle words, saying: ‘Virtuous one! I am a man, possessing a male body, and I wish to receive the Bodhisattva Upasaka precepts. I hope that the Virtuous One will have compassion and pity on me.’ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------