【RELYING ON THE TEACHER】- do not possess the precepts but only seek scriptural learning

[As the King of Concentrations Sutra states: In later times there will be

Many monks without vows.

Wanting to say, “I am learned,”

They will praise ethical discipline,

But will not strive diligently at their own ethical discipline.]

So in the text, it says in degenerate times, the monastics do not possess the precepts but only seek scriptural learning. The precepts and being learned in the scriptures here, we may take them as two separate things. Certainly, if you do not understand them, then they are two different things. If you truly understand, you will know that they are the same thing. If you truly aspire to study the precepts well, proper recognition is required. This proper recognition arises from study. Now you understand and study more and after that, if you do not apply it, it is of no value and useless! So the preceding concept was already repeatedly mentioned. This vow or precept does not mean that we shaved our heads today and asked, “What is your monastic age?” “I am ten and you are fifteen years.” This is the external appearance. There is a special meaning behind it. This is what sila truly is, what the precepts are. So I wrote these terms on the board. You can take a look. Ancient practitioners explained “essence of the precepts” as “the invisible moral essence of ethical discipline.” Why is it called the “invisible moral essence of ethical disciple”? Why can the precepts prevent wrongdoings and stop non-virtues? Why is it to truly study the three precious trainings, we must begin from here? This is where the key lies for us. The reason why they mention sila here – if you speak of it in its entirety, it is Buddha Dharma. It is because this is a necessary entry point for Buddhism. If this is missing, then there is no need to talk about anything else. If you have this, then the rest will naturally follow.

SOURCE 来源 :

15A 20’42” Vol 2 of Master Jih-Chang’s Discourse P228 LL3
English Lamrim Vol 1 P74

日常师父法语📡15A 20’42”手抄稿第2册P228 LL3

依师 : 没有戒，只求多闻

【《三摩地王经》云：“末世诸苾刍，多是无律仪，希欲求多闻，唯赞美尸罗，然不求尸罗。”】

末法的时候苾刍都是没有戒，只是求多闻。这个戒跟多闻在这个地方我们感受当中好像是两件事情，是的，你不了解是两件事情，你真正了解的话是一件事情。你要想真正地戒学得好，这一定要有正确的认识，这个正确的认识要透过多闻。现在呢你了解了以后多闻，闻了以后，你不去做，那没有用、没有用！所以前面已经一再地说，这个戒、这个律仪，不是说我们今天剃了头了，说：“你戒腊几年了？”“我是十年，你十五年。”这个是形相，真正有它特别的内涵，这个才是真正的尸罗、律仪。所以我在黑板上写这几样东西，你们看一看。这个古人解释“戒体”叫“无作戒体”。为什么叫“无作戒体”？为什么戒能够防非止恶？真正要学的三学，为什么一定要从这个地方开始？这个就是我们的关键所在。所以它这个地方讲的尸罗，整个地来说就是佛法，因为这个佛法一定是从这地方进去的。如果这个都谈不到的话，下面根本就不谈；这个有的话，下面跟着自然会来。