道場聖刊      經典寶藏

What is the eleven solemn oaths

現在是白陽期，道降火宅，大開普度，上天慈悲讓我們可以先得

而後修，想要拜師求道的人，由引保二師的引度，在佛前保證大家是身家清白、品行端正的人，並且宣誓今天帶大家來求的九蓮聖道乃是正法，絕不是邪教或左道旁門，更沒有騙大家的錢財，否則會受雷律察咎。

  It is the “White Era” at present. The worldwide salvation has been opened to everyone as the Tao descended to household level. With the mercy of Heaven, we may attain the message of TAO first, then cultivate ourselves. For those who wish to attain the message, they must be led by an introducer and a sponsor. The introducer and sponsor guarantee that those people have honourable background and good character, and pledge to them that the Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus is the true dharma, not any cult or heretical sect, and do not defraud their money, or else, the introducer and sponsor will be subject to Heavenly law investigation and serious thunder punishment.

同樣的，我們來求道，就是要學成仙作佛的，所以方才我們也跪在佛前立下誓愿，向上天表明了對道的十二萬分誠心，道師才將三寶傳給我們。自古以來歷代的聖賢仙佛，每一位都是立愿、守愿、行愿、了愿才成就的，所以我們要成佛，也要像往聖仙佛一樣立愿。立什麼愿呢？立「十一條大愿」。

In the same token, the purpose to attain the initiation in TAO today is to attain Buddhahood. W humbled ourselves to kneel down in front of Buddha to take an oath, to show our deepest sincerity. The priest would then pass on the message of three treasures to us. As all previous Sages or Buddha in ancient, took the oath, honoured the oath, practiced according to the oath, and finally enlightened. Therefore, we are required to take an oath as well. What oath should we take then? The eleven solemn oaths. 

大家要知道，『愿』是成佛的必要條件，有愿才能感應仙佛為大家加靈、加智慧，才能感應上天幫大家躲劫避難。自古以來佛有三不度：「無緣不度、無信不度、無愿不度。」今天大家有緣，讓引保師引進道門，並且相信九蓮聖道不是邪門歪教，接著方才又立下十一條大愿表明心跡，才能夠成為一代祖師的座下弟子，往後只要我們能夠照著心愿去行，保證我們都能夠成道。

As we all know, Oath is the necessary requirement to achieve enlightenment. After we took an oath, we can sense the induction from Buddha and let us regain the wisdom. The Heavenly induction will then help us avoid and prevent catastrophe. Buddha cannot liberate three types of beings: those without affiliated fate, those without faith and those without a will of oath. Today we are fortunate to be led by our introducer and sponsor to enter The Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus which is not a cult or heretical sect. We took the eleven sacred oaths to show our sincerity, to become the disciple of the present Patriarch. To achieve enlightenment, we simply need to keep and carry out our oaths from now onwards.

那麼，十一條大愿是什麼呢？今天道師要傳給大家三寶之前，大家跪在佛前有念了一連串的愿文：

乾（坤）○○○虔心跪在

明明上帝蓮下（坤：皇蓮下），今天願求九蓮聖道，性理真傳，得道以後，誠心保守，實心懺悔（坤：實心修煉），如有虛心假意，退縮不前，欺師滅祖，藐視前輩，不遵佛規，洩漏天機，匿道不現，不量力而為（坤：不實心修煉），不實行民主辦道者，願受  雷律察咎。

What is the eleven solemn oaths then? Today before the priest passed on the three treasures to us, we knelt in front of Buddha and read aloud a series of oaths:

Male (Female) _________ humbly knelt down in front of

The Holy God (M: Ming Ming Shang Di - F: Huang Mu), today wish to pursue The Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus, the true path of nature. after the initiation of TAO, will sincerely uphold, truly repent (F: truly practice), if otherwise, I, not being sincere, cower and hold back, deceive the Patriarch and disrespect the ancestors, scorn on the elders, disobey the buddha’s regulation, divulge the heavenly secret, not propagating TAO, not fully commit to TAO (F: not truly practice), not becoming a democratic Tao practitioner, will be fully scrutinized by your conscience.

以下我們就將這十一條愿文，作一個簡單的解說，讓大家明瞭：

Below is a brief explanation for understanding of our eleven solemn oaths:

一、           誠心保守：抱道奉行，為道而生，為道而死。

「上士聞道，拳拳服膺，須臾不離。」意思就是說，有智慧的人得道之後就會以真實無妄的心抱道奉行，至死不渝。以前大家因為不知『道』、失了『道』，所以才會在四生六道生死輪迴，今天大家有幸聞了道，就要抱著像與顏回夫子一樣「得一善，則拳拳服膺，而弗失之」的精神，用心去體悟。又俗話說：「一心可以上天堂，一心可以下地獄」，因此可以知道，成道唯在誠心，祖師開示：「如果修辦道能永遠保持著一顆初發心，那麼一定會開悟。」由此可見，「誠」是成佛的必要條件，是修辦道的必要精神，今天大家不費功夫就得了大道，就要誠誠懇懇，精進不懈，行仁義事，度人來求道；在順境之中不沉淪，在逆境中任考不變，始終如一，不要敷衍應付、潦草欺偽，否則得了道又失了道就太可惜了。

1. Sincerely uphold: to embrace and pursue TAO unconditionally, life or death.

When a great man heard of TAO, he held it firmly and never let go.’  It means when a wise person acquires TAO, he will forever embrace and pursue TAO with upmost sincerity.

We are reincarnating within the six domains of samsara and four types of birth because we have lost the precious TAO within us and we do not know TAO. Today, we are fortunate to acquire TAO. We should follow Sage Yan Hui’s spirit, when he learns of one good deed, he embraces it fully and never let go’, to realize it.

Another common saying is: “our thought can take us to heaven or take us to hell”. Therefore, we should know that to reborn in Tao can only be achieved through sincerity.  The Patriarch instructed us: “if we can maintain an incipient heart during TAO cultivation and propagation, we will eventually become enlightened.” Therefore, sincerity is crucial to become a Buddha, and also essential for Tao cultivating and propagating.

Today all of you have obtained precious TAO with no effort, you must be sincerely, diligently, and act according to benevolence and righteousness. Try to liberate others to obtain TAO as well. You must not get lost during good times, have faith at adversity. Behave consistently. It would be a great pity if you lose TAO again due to your perfunctory, careless and deceitful acts.

二、           乾：實心懺悔：實實在在懺前愆，悔後過。

     坤：實心修煉：實實在在去毛病，改脾氣。

今天求道，就是希望能夠成仙作佛，仙佛乃是覺行圓滿的人，因此今天我們要成佛，就要先立下重新做人的大決心。那麼，要如何重新作人呢？首先，要懺悔自己未求道前的過錯，並且下定決心勇於改過，今後處事也要常常迴光返照，想想自己在與人相處當中是否起了是非心、分別心、妄想心，是否有脾氣毛病未除掉，而當人家勸誡我們的時候，我們要能夠虛心接受、實心受教。祖師說：「上果修道在細微處。」如果大家能夠這樣自我反省，懺悔過愆，不貳過，存好心，說好話，做好事，精進自己，修煉自己的話，這一生一定有機會達到覺行圓滿，流露無上的菩提智慧，菩提智慧自然流露時，就是成佛了。

2. Male: Sincere repent: In the name of goodness, repent past transgressions, regret present faults.

Female: Sincere cultivation: In the name of goodness, eliminate shortcomings, change bad tempers.

Our purpose of attaining TAO is to learn to be a Buddha, who is fully enlightened. To achieve this, we must be determined to turn over a new leaf. What must we do then? First, we need to repent past transgressions before we attain TAO and regret present faults. Next, we must always reflect and mindful of our attitude and behave around others, whether we dispute right and wrong being discriminative and illusive thoughts. We must also get rid of our temper, and humbly accept and follow the advice to us. The Patriarch once said: “The highest level of TAO cultivation is paying attention to its subtlety”. If we can reflect and repent our past transgressions, never repeat the same mistake twice, be kind, say nice things, do good deeds, always pursue to be better, and keep on self-cultivation, we will definitely reach enlightenment, and let our bodhi wisdom flow naturally. When our Bodhi wisdom flows naturally, we become Buddha. 

三、           不虛心假意：真心真意，不虛偽，老實修行。

一切的迷惑癡愚，是讓我們見不到自性佛，不能常生智慧的源頭。在六萬年前我們初降人間為人之時，我們的心就是仙佛菩薩的心，是純真無邪、無欲無求的，當時的世界，人就是佛，佛就是人，但是六萬年來，我們受了氣稟所拘，染著了虛假的惡習，失掉了佛的本來面目，成了眾生，沈淪了苦海，讓虛情假意障蔽了我們的自性佛，用妄想邪心對待他人。今天大家都很有智慧，知道道好而來求道，可以說都是上根器者，求道之後，要常抱佛心，顯現佛的本來面目，以智慧理性降伏邪心，斬斷言行不一、口是心非的惡習，不要再帶著面具自欺欺人，要腳踏實地，老實修行才可以。

3. Be Sincere: Be truthful, not being hypocritical, honestly cultivate in TAO.

Our nuisance and stupidity are the roots for us not being able to see our Buddhahood, and the source to prevent us from showing constant wisdom. Sixty thousand years ago when we first descend upon earth, our mind is as Buddha, pure in heart, free from desire and craving. Human and Buddha are the same then. However, during the sixty thousand years on earth, we let our temperament control us, attach to bad habits, and lost our Buddhahood. We become mortal beings suffering in the bitter sea. Our Buddhahood has been concealed by our stupidity and we treat others with illusive and evil thoughts. Today, we are wise to know Tao is good and come and obtain TAO initiation. After obtaining TAO, we have to behave as Buddha to show our true self. Use our natural wisdom to subdue our evil thoughts, stop insincere act, be true to our self and practice cultivate in TAO honestly.

四、           不退縮不前：勇往直前，遇考驗不退大志。

求道之後，要發心盡道學習，以「實」與「盡」的功夫要求自己，抱著精進、忍辱、持戒、布施、智慧等修持自身，在遇到困境以及種種考驗、磨練的時候，也不放棄修道行道。若懷這樣的精進心，就是沒有「退縮不前」，如果一直都能抱著勇往直前的心念去精進正道，不但能感應仙佛來助道，邪魔魍魎亦不敢來侵。

4. Never cower and hold back: Courageously move forward.  Will not back up during difficult times

After obtaining TAO, we must be practical and strive for the best when learning TAO, adopt practice including diligence, forbearance, discipline, alms and devotion, wisdom to demand ourselves. We must never abandon TAO cultivation and practice even when we endure difficulties and ordeals in life. If we can maintain a positive attitude to learn TAO as stated above, it is “Never cower and hold back”. With that kind of determination to pursue the Tao, we will sense the presence of Buddha helping us and prevent the disruption from evil spirit.

五、           不欺師滅祖：繼師之志，行師之道。

    欺師滅祖的含意很廣泛，簡單來說就是違逆天命祖師、不尊重道師、講師、引保師，或是離開一代祖師，另投他教。再深入細微處來說，就是不能契會祖師救世之心，不能領悟大道無窮之真義，不代天傳佈真理。

今天大家既然都已經成為  圓普老祖師、  淨蓮祖師的弟子，就應該謹記師恩、體師之心、遵師之訓、繼師之志、效師之行、行師之道、了師之愿、永不變心永不變節，如此才是沒有欺師滅祖。

5. Will not cheat and disrespect the Patriarch: carry on the Patriarch’s ambition and follow the Patriarch’s guidance in TAO

They are many meanings as to not cheat and disrespect the Patriarch. In simple terms, it means not to betray the Patriarch with Heavenly mandate, not to disrespect the priest, instructor, introducer and sponsor, or to leave the Patriarch and join another religion. In subtle terms, this means we are unable to understand the Patriarch’s vision, unable to understand the meaning of TAO and unwilling to propagate the truth.

Today as we have become the apprentice of Patriarch Yuan Pu and Patriarch Jing Lian, we should always remember their grace, understand their thoughts, comply with their teaching, continue their ambition, follow their task, practice their message of TAO, fulfil master’s wish, devote and remain loyal to the Patriarch. With this, we are then considered not being cheat and disrespect the Patriarch.

六、 不藐視前人：感謝前人、敬重前人、追隨前人。

前人即是前輩。我們看，在佛堂的這些前輩，都是一心為救度眾生脫離苦海而到處奔波普度眾生的大德者，他們的慈悲心懷，連三界聖佛神袛等都為之動容，也是因為他們無私的犧牲奉獻，我們今天才有這個機會求得大道，因此我們要知恩報恩，不可輕視不敬、目無長上。更甚者，我們還要抱著偉大志向，追隨前人的腳步繼往開來，護持天命、宏揚真理，承上啟下，肩擔開荒佈種的工作廣度有緣佛子，如此才是實踐不藐視前人的大愿。

6. Do not scorn on the elder: Be grateful, be respectful, follow the elder

The elder referred as the senior in the temple. With a noble heart for the sake of freeing living beings from "sea of bitterness; ocean of suffering", they dedicate whole-heartedly and undergo long and exhausting journey to carry out universal salvation. Even the sage, Buddha and divine beings from the divine realm are moved by their benevolence. We are here today to acquire the eternal Tao is due to their selfless scarification and dedication, therefore we express our gratitude and repay them for their grace, we must not disrespect and disdain them. Instead we should embrace great ambition, follow these elders’ footstep to continue their path, to protect and maintain and propagate the ‘Truth’, maintain good relationship with elder and junior, shoulder the responsibility to develop and create new territory of faith, to liberate those possess the willingness to pursue Tao. With this, we can truly say we practice “Do not scorn on the elder.”

七、 遵守佛規：實踐修道者成佛應遵守的規矩戒律 

遵守佛規是修道者必要的行為，佛規不僅僅是指佛堂的禮儀節度，還指一代祖師配合上天所頒佈的所有規誡。古來修道人能成佛，都是因為懂得嚴謹的遵守規誡而達到自然的流行天心，今天我們不用苦修苦煉就輕易得了大道，也因為未修，所以容易因為一時的方便而放縱自己，做出不合理的事情。今天求道修道，就是要修改掉不合理的行為，照著祖師所頒佈的「十五條佛規」「十誡」「八正道」「六至」「八覺」這些佛規來做，在起心動念、行住坐臥當中謹慎自己，做一個修道人的標竿，做他人的榜樣。

7. Obey and uphold rules of Buddhahood: A practitioner of Tao should obey and uphold the rules and commandments in order to achieve Buddhahood.

To Obey and upheld rules of Buddhahood is a necessity requirement as a practitioner of Tao, as they not only referred to precise Etiquette in the temple, it also includes rules and commandments announced in concert with Heaven promulgated by the present Patriarch. From ancient, cultivators achieved Buddhahood went through rigorously obeying and upholding the rules and commandments. Nowadays we do not need to endure such hardship yet easily attain the great Tao. Since we did not cultivate in Tao, we may easily overindulge ourselves due to momentarily conveniences, and behave unreasonably. The reason we pursue Tao and cultivate Tao today is to amend our unreasonable behavior, via following ’Fifteen Rules of Buddhahood’, Ten Commandments, ‘Eight Noble Ways, ‘ Six Ultimateness’, ‘Eight Awareness’ promulgated by the present Patriarch, to prudent our thought and manner in daily Iife, as well as being a role model of practitioner of Tao for others. 

八、 不洩漏天機：道師所傳之三寶，不可洩漏。

三寶乃是上天不輕傳的密寶，只有求過道的人才可以知道，如果隨便向他人或親友等公開三寶，就是洩露天機。即便是來到佛堂，就算是點上佛燈也是不能說的，一定要經過請壇的儀式，如果未請壇就用文字或言語透露三寶，這也是洩露天機，洩露天機，必遭  雷律察咎，所以大家不可洩漏三寶。

8. Do not divulge the Heavenly secret: The three treasures passed down by the priest must not be divulged.

The three treasures are Heaven secret that is not easily passed down, we can only make known to those attained Tao. If we unmindfully disclosed it to our friends and family or any third party, it is divulging the Heavenly secret. Only we after we go through the ‘QING TAN’ ceremony we can reveal the three treasures, otherwise even if we are at the temple with the altar lamps on, revealing the three treasures either through words or writing is considered as divulging the Heavenly secret. Those whom divulge the Heavenly secret will certainly leads to thunder law’s investigation Therefore, we must not divulge the Heavenly secret.

九、 不匿道不現：廣度眾生靈根慧命，救人一命，功德無量。

「天下溺，援之以道」。天時緊急，上天慈悲降下大道，讓大家以先得後修之法門超生了死，為了感謝天恩，大家要效天之行、繼師之志，將九蓮聖道宣揚出去，廣度有情眾生。佛說：「救人一命，勝造七級浮屠」，天上沒有無功德之佛聖，大家有幸得了道，就要效法佛的慈悲心，普度眾生脫離生死苦厄，讓眾生超生了死，況且我們自身也有一個主人翁，那就是上帝賦予我們的自性良心，我們要讓他示現，行道德仁義之事，貢獻道場，服務社會，這樣才不是匿道不現。

9. Do not hide away from Tao: Save all beings to regain their original nature and wisdom. Save a person’s spiritual life accumulates immeasurable merits.

[Great Tao is the salvation for mankind during the age of Jeopardy]. “When the world is sinking, save it with Tao.” During this time of great urgency, the Heaven benevolently bestow Tao to the world, so that we can achieve eternality via first attain the essence of Tao and then cultivate in Tao. To express our gratitude to Heavenly grace, we must follow suit Heavenly way and carry on the ambition of our Patriarch, to propagate the Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus to the world and carry out universal salvation to all beings. Buddha states, “saving a person life is better than building Seven story pagoda.”  There is no Buddha or Sage in Heaven without any merits. Since we are fortunate to attain the essence of Tao, we should follow suit Buddha’s benevolence, free living beings from suffering of life and death and calami, to attain eternality. Moreover, we all have a Master living inside of us, it is the original nature bestowed by the Creator of the Universe. We must let it step out to act according to its ethics and benevolence, dedicate to Temple undertakings, service the society. This is what it means by “Do not hide away from Tao.”

十、           乾：量力而為 -- 素位而行，鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已。

     坤：誠心修煉 -- 認理實修，信心堅定，內外兼修。

簡單來說，不量力而為以及不誠心修煉，就是不盡心盡力修辦道，而以種種藉口理由說難、說忙，沒空聽道、修道、辦道，不研究道理，不常親近道場道親，疏於叩首燒香，疏於精進修持。自古以來得道不易，上天慈悲大開普度，如果不量力而為，不誠心修煉，那就太可惜了。

10. Male: act to the best of one's ability --- act according to one’s duty, give one's best until death.

Female: practice and cultivate in Tao sincerely --- Hold onto the truth and cultivate accordingly with firm faith. Cultivate both within and without.

Simply stated, Not acting to the best of one's ability and do not practice and cultivate in Tao sincerely is not doing one’s best in cultivation and practice. All sorts of excuses or reasons to say that; it is too difficult and too busy to study, cultivate and practice in Tao.  Fail to study principles, do not get close to the members in the Temple, no worship or ceremony in the Temple, it is imposable to make any progress in Tao. From ancient, it is not easy to acquire the message of Tao, yet Heaven benevolently carry out universal salvation now, It would be a great pity if we do not act to the best of one's ability, do not practice and cultivate in Tao sincerely.

十一、    實行民主辦道：自由、平等、虛位。

民主辦道之修子就是以『忠恕』做為中心思想，不以是非之心來辦道。民主辦道就是見道成道，一切圓滿，惦念後學，體恤後學，照顧後學，不自高自大，一切平等，不自我權力中心，不以喜惡私心對待他人，不壓制後學，後學有才能就讓他盡情發揮，藉此成就他，讓身為九蓮聖道的每一份子，都能人盡其才，貢獻自己的才華，將大道宣揚出去，這就是實行民主辦道。

11. Implementation of democracy in propagation of Tao: liberty, equality, Virtual position:

The main ideology in Democracy in propagation of Tao is ‘Loyalty and merciful’ instead of preference of one’s judgment. Democracy in propagation of Tao advocates the following principles; when the opportunity to propagate Tao arise, we naturally have the urge to assist others to attain enlightenment, make every aspect satisfactorily, be concerned, mindful, and care for posterity’s needs, must not behave arrogantly, provide equality in every aspect, must not be a self-centered authority, or treat others based on our selfish preference, nor suppress posterity’s development. With that they are able to unleash their full potential, and achieve accomplishment subsequently become part of the Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus, thus employ their full potential and contribute their talent to propagate Tao. This is the true meaning of implementation of democracy in propagation of Tao.

很多人聽到「雷律察咎」這四個字，就很害怕、很惶恐，認為求了道不精進就會遭受天打雷劈，於是半途怯步不敢來。其實所謂的雷律察咎，就是受自己良心的譴責。在日常生活中我們一旦犯了錯，或做了對不起他人的事，良心就會譴責自己，嚴重的話甚至還要接受國家法律的制裁，死後還要入地獄審判，這就是雷律察咎，可見雷律察咎是自己造成的，不是求了道才會這樣。大家來求道，拜一代祖師為師，上天慈悲，為了讓世人不再受輪迴果報，因此規定得道前要先在佛前立愿以表決心，如果大家都能照愿行，自然就不會受雷律察咎，百歲年老之後還能往生觀音淨土，所以大家不用擔心。

When people learned about “thunder law’s investigation”, they feared that if they pursued Tao but later on do not strive to cultivate Tao, retribution will fall upon them hence hesitate to pursue Tao. Thunder law’s investigation is only a self-conscience reproachful process. If we made a mistake or did things awful against others, we would be condemned by our guilty conscience.  For in more severe cases, we will be tried in court on earth, and undergo judgment after death. This is the true meaning of “thunder Law’s investigation”. As you can see, this investigation is entirely our own doing, not as a result of pursuing Tao. When we pursue Tao and become disciple of present Patriarch, in order to free us from further reincarnation or Saṃsāra, to indicate our determination to pursue Tao, Heaven benevolently stipulated that one must vow before attaining the essence of Tao. As long as we carry out our oaths, naturally we will not be subject to thunder law’s investigation. We will enter the Pure Land of Guan Yin upon our physical death, hence worry free.

祖師所頒佈的十一條大愿，乃是圓滿的修行準則，既具體又實在，今天我們在佛前發出十二萬分的誠心，求了九蓮聖道，並為成佛的志向立下了宏誓大愿，既然立了愿就要去了愿才能成真。道師點道前有說：「你若愿不能了，難把鄉還」，因此大家要記得照愿去行，否則百年之後還是落空，原本可以成佛的機會，卻因為自己的不在意而輕易失去，到時後悔就來不及了。

The eleven solemn oaths promulgated by the Patriarch is the perfect criterion to practice Tao, it’s specific and realistic. Today, in front of Buddha we pledged with utmost sincerity to pursue the Sacred Tao of Nine Lotus, and took an oath to accomplish Buddhahood. and Since we have made a pledge, in order to realize it, we must follow through. the ceremony, the priest proclaimed, “If your oath is not fulfilled, it is difficult to return to Heaven.” Therefore we must remember to follow through our pledge, or else when death falls upon us, we will end up with nothing. Originally, we have the opportunity to accomplish Buddhahood, yet due to our own negligence, it will be too late to regret then.