我现在给你们讲〈楞严咒〉，这〈楞严咒〉百千万劫也没有人讲一次，也不容易讲一次。这么一个法会是很稀有的，难遭难遇的。在我给各位讲时，我知道没有人听得懂。就是有人自以为懂得，也不是真懂。有人自以为懂了，所以不注意，那也等于不懂。在佛教里头，〈楞严咒〉是最重要的一部咒，是咒中的王，也是咒里边最长的一个咒，这个咒关系整个佛教的兴衰。〈楞严咒〉是支持天地没有毁灭的灵文，〈楞严咒〉是支持世界不到末日的灵文。所以我常说，世界上若有一人会念〈楞严咒〉，这世界就不会毁灭，佛法也不会毁灭的。等到世上没有人会念〈楞严咒〉时，这世界就快毁灭了，因为正法不存在了。
Now I am explaining the Shurangama Mantra for you and it is extremely difficult to encounter such a rare Dharma assembly as this. Billions of eons pass and no one explains the Shurangama Mantra even once. Nor is it easy to explain even once. When I am explaining, I know full well that no one understands what's being said. Even if there are those who think they do, they don't really understand. Some think they already understand and so they don't pay attention, but that's also failing to understood.
Among the Buddha's teachings, the Shurangama Mantra is considered to be the king of mantras because it is the longest and most important. The flourish or demise of Buddhism rests entirely with the Shurangama Mantra. It is the efficacious phrases of the Shurangama Mantra that keep heaven and earth from being destroyed. It is the efficacious phrases of the Shurangama Mantra that keep the world from coming to an end. That is why I often tell you that as long as a single person can recite the Shurangama Mantra, the world cannot be destroyed, nor can Buddhism. But when there is no longer anyone who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, then very quickly the world will be destroyed, because the Proper Dharma no longer abides.
现在便有一些天魔外道说，《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉都是假的，这是天魔外道派出魔子魔孙来造出这些谣言，令人不相信《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉。《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉，这是正法最要紧的一部经和一部咒，《楞严经》就是为〈楞严咒〉而说的，这《楞严经》就是解释〈楞严咒〉的一部经。《楞严经》和〈楞严咒〉的重要性是没有法子能说得完的，尽未来际也说不完它的这种功德和妙用，所以是不可思议。说来说去，归纳起来，《楞严经》就是赞叹〈楞严咒〉的。如果有一个人能在世界上念〈楞严咒〉，这妖魔鬼怪都不敢公然出现于世，因为他们所怕的就是〈楞严咒〉。如果一个人也不会背〈楞严咒〉了，这时候妖魔鬼怪就都出现于世。他们在世界上为非作歹，一般人也不认识他们了。现在因为有人会念〈楞严咒〉，妖魔鬼怪就不敢公然出现于世。所以若想世界不灭，就赶快念〈楞严咒〉、读《楞严经》，这就是正法住世。
Now there are even heavenly demons and externalists who claim that the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra are false. These heaven demons and externalists send their demon sons and grandsons to stir up rumors that cause people to not believe in the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra. This sutra and mantra are critically important to the preservation of the Proper Dharma. The Shurangama Sutra was spoken for the sake of the Shurangama Mantra. There's no way to ever finish expressing the importance of the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra; to the ends of all time their merits, virtues, and wonderful functions could never be told--so absolutely inconceivable and ineffable are they! When all is said and done, the Shurangama Sutra is an ode to the Shurangama Mantra. As long as there is even one person who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, the demons, ghosts, and strange entities don't dare show themselves in this world. They fear the mantra. But when not even one person can recite the Shurangama Mantra by heart, then those weird entities, those demons and ghosts will come out of hiding. Depraved and up to no good, they will not be recognized by most people. At this point in time, since there are still those who can recite the mantra from memory, those malevolent beings haven't made their appearance yet. And so, if you want to keep the world from being destroyed, quickly learn the Shurangama Mantra and read the Shurangama Sutra to keep the Proper Dharma in the world.
今天开始讲〈楞严咒〉，〈楞严咒〉的“楞严”两个字，就翻译成“究竟坚固”。
Today the explanation of the Shurangama Mantra is beginning. The word "Shurangama" translates as "Ultimately firm and strong."
这〈楞严咒〉的名字叫“摩诃萨怛多般怛啰陀罗尼”，又叫“佛顶光明摩诃萨怛多般怛啰无上神咒”。佛顶就是佛的顶上化佛，所以这〈楞严咒〉是微妙不可思议的。〈楞严咒〉里边所说的，都是降伏天魔、制诸外道的，从一开始到终了，每一句都是诸佛的心地法门，每一句有每一句的用途，每一个字有每一个字的奥妙，都具足不可思议的力量。即使只念一字、一句、一会，或念全咒，都是惊天动地，所谓惊天地，泣鬼神，妖魔远避，魑魅遁形。所以佛顶光明，这光明也就是表示咒的力量，是能破除一切黑暗，能成就人一切功德。你若能受持〈楞严咒〉，将来一定是成佛的，一定得到无上正等正觉的。你若常常诵念〈楞严咒〉，就能消除你宿世的业障，往昔的罪业都可以消除。这是〈楞严咒〉的妙用。
The entire title of the Shurangama Mantra is "Great White Canopy of Light Dharani Mantra" (mo he sa dan tuo bo da la tuo lo ni zhou). It is also called "Brilliant Buddha's Crown, Great White Canopy of Light, Unsurpassed Spiritual Mantra." The Buddha's Crown refers to the transformation Buddha atop the Buddha's crown. There is no way to conceive the subtle wonder of the mantra. The content of the Shurangama Mantra subdues heavenly demons and controls externalists. Every line, from beginning to end, is the Buddhas' mind-ground Dharma-door. Each line has its own function; each possesses its own esoteric wonder; and each is endowed with incredible power. The recitation of a single word, a single line, a single assembly, or the recitation of the entire mantra causes the heavens to vibrate and the earth to tremble; it's said that heaven and earth are shocked, the ghosts and spirits wail, the demons keep a wide distance, and mountain and river sprites hide away. That brilliance at the Buddha's crown represents the power of the mantra that can dispel every sort of darkness and that enables people to amass all kinds of merit and virtue. If you can accept and uphold the Shurangama Mantra, then you will definitely become a Buddha in the future. You will certainly attain the Unsurpassed Proper and Equal Right Enlightenment. If you continually recite the Shurangama Mantra, then you can get rid of your karmic obstacles from last life and all past lives. That's the incredible function of the Shurangama Mantra!
摩诃是梵语，翻译中文叫“大”，英文叫 Big。那么什么叫大？就是体、相、用都是大的。体遍十方，所以叫大；这个用是尽虚空遍法界的；相，它是没有相的，可是无相无不相。这个用也可以说它没什么用，尽虚空遍法界无所不用。这用是大用，这个相是大相，这个体也是大体，周遍十方，尽虚空、遍法界，这是摩诃的意思。萨怛多也是梵语，翻译过来叫“白”，就是清净的意思，也就是没有污染的意思。所谓白净法，清净没有染污的法，这〈楞严咒〉是白净法。
Mo he is Sanskrit and means "Great." The substance, appearance and function are all great. The substance is said to be great because it pervades the ten directions; the function fills up empty space and reaches throughout the Dharma Realm; and the appearance--well, there isn't any appearance. You can say that it neither has any appearance nor lacks any appearance. The function also doesn't really exist, yet there isn't any place its function doesn't reach in all of space and the Dharma Realm. That's a great function, a great appearance, and a great substance. Pervading the ten directions, exhausting the limits of space, and filling the Dharma Realm is the meaning of "mo he."
Sa dan tuo, also Sanskrit, means "white" and represents purity and lack of defilement. Pure white Dharma is devoid of filth. The Shurangama Mantra is pure white Dharma.
般怛啰也是梵语，翻译中文叫“伞盖”。伞盖是譬喻，这个伞盖它是用荫万德，这伞盖的用，就是保护一切有德的人，谁有德行，谁就能遇到这种白净法；没有德行的人，是遇不到这种法的。所以才说：
Bo da la is also Sanskrit and translates as "canopy." Canopy is an analogy. This canopy provides shelter for those with myriad virtues. The function of this canopy is to protect those endowed with virtue and those practicing virtuous conduct, meaning anyone who encounters this mantra. Those lacking virtuous conduct won't have an opportunity to meet with this Dharma. It's said:
三光普照透三才
阎浮世界取不来
大德大善能遇得
无德无善不明白
The three lights universally illumine,
permeating the three forces.
In all this world of Jambudvipa
you may not come upon it.
Only those with great virtue and
great goodness will attain it.
Those lacking virtue and goodness
just won't understand it.
“三光普照透三才”，这三光不是日、月、星，是你诵持〈楞严咒〉，身上有身光，口里有口光，你心里头有心光，身、口、意这三业都放光。三才，就是天、地、人。
The three lights universally illumine, permeating the three forces. Here, the three lights do not refer to the sun, moon, and stars. Rather, it means that when you recite the Shurangama Mantra, your body emits light, your mouth emits light, and your mind emits light. It is talking about the light of the three karmas. The three forces refer to heaven, earth, and people.
“阎浮世界取不来”，在阎浮界你找不着，你各处找不着，你一定要受持〈楞严咒〉才能得到这种光。
In all this world of Jambudvipa you may not come upon it. Throughout our world, Jambudvipa, you may seek but not find it. You absolutely must uphold the Shurangama Mantra in order to attain this light.
“大德大善能遇得”，你若有大的德行、大的善，才能得到这种法门。
Only those with great virtue and great goodness will attain it. If you have amassed virtuous conduct and have magnanimous virtue, then you will be able to attain the Dharma-door.
“无德无善不明白”，你若没有德行，没有善功德来栽培着，你就是当面也会错过，交臂也会失之。见到黄金你以为是铜，见到钻石你以为是玻璃，都会不认识。你见到〈楞严咒〉了，以为这是很普通的，没有什么，所以就不知道宝其所宝，不知道妙其所妙！不知道〈楞严咒〉这种的功德，是不可思议的。
Those lacking virtue and goodness just won't understand it. If you don't have sufficient virtue and haven't done enough good deeds, then even if you come face-to-face with it, you'll miss your chance. Right within arms' reach, you'll lose it. Having come upon gold you'll mistake it for copper; having found a diamond, you'll think it's a piece of glass. You'll fail to recognize it. You'll look upon the Shurangama Mantra as nothing at all out of the ordinary, and as a consequence won't realize it's the gem of gems, the wonder of wonders! You won't have any concept of the Shurangama Mantra's unfathomable merit and virtue.
这方才说三光，还不只这个身、口、意三业放出清净的光明，还有红光缭绕。你诵〈楞严咒〉，自然就有红光缭绕。所以才说：
Besides the three lights emitted when the three karmas of body, mouth, and mind are pure, there is also a swirling red light. Recitation of the Shurangama Mantra generates a swirling red light. It's described this way:
千朵红莲护住身
坐驹骑着墨麒麟
万妖一见往远躲
济公法师有妙音
A thousand petaled red lotus supports one's body.
As one sits firmly mounted on a black unicorn.
Seeing this, the hordes of monsters go far away to hide.
Dharma Master Ji, the Venerable,
mastered these wonderful sounds.
“千朵红莲护住身”，有千朵的红莲来护持你的身，红莲华放出红光。你一念〈楞严咒〉最前面二十九句咒文，就会现出这个境界。“坐驹骑着墨麒麟”，一念这〈楞严咒〉，这持咒的人是坐在一个麒麟的身上。“万妖一见往远躲”，什么妖魔鬼怪一见都跑了，他不敢面对这种大威德的相。我们人人都知道佛教里有一位济公，当初济公就是专用这一段咒文来降伏天魔、制诸外道，很灵感的，所以说“济公法师有妙音”。这一段咒文是教我们“皈依尽虚空、遍法界，一切诸佛、一切菩萨、一切声闻缘觉、一切诸天。”这也是护持三宝的一段，所以念这一段咒的时候，一切的妖魔鬼怪都要退避三舍；不止退避三舍，要退到他所不能退的地方去，他们都不敢作怪，都老实了。
A thousand petaled red lotus supports one's body. When you recite the first twenty-nine lines of the Shurangama Mantra a state occurs wherein a red lotus with a thousand petals manifests and emits red light. As one sits firmly mounted on a black unicorn. Upon reciting the Mantra, the person chanting finds himself sitting astride a unicorn. Seeing this, the hordes of monsters go far away to hide. No matter what kind of weird creature or demon or ghost it might be, they all flee, not daring to face such a magnificent and awesome manifestation. The Venerable Ji is a well-known High Master in Buddhism. His expert use of this passage of the mantra to subdue heavenly demons and control externalists was extremely efficacious. And so the last line says: Dharma Master Ji, the Venerable, mastered these wonderful sounds. This passage of the mantra instructs us to "take refuge with all the Buddhas, all the Bodhisattvas, all the Hearers and Condition-Enlightened Ones, and all the gods throughout empty space and the Dharma Realm." It's a passage that protects the Triple Jewel, and so when you recite it the demons flee and the ghosts don't stop running until they're ten miles away. Not just ten miles, they back off until there's no more room to retreat. They don't dare make trouble; they are forced to behave themselves.
这是说这一段咒文大概的意思，至于若详细说，这〈楞严咒〉是妙不可言的，所以又说：
That's a general description of what this passage of mantra is about; the details are even more wonderful.
奥妙无穷实难猜
金刚密语本性来
楞严咒里有灵妙
五眼六通道凡开
Unendingly miraculous and mysterious,
it's extremely hard to fathom.
This vajra secret language wells forth from your own nature.
Inside the Shurangama Mantra is marvelous magic!
Then come five eyes and six penetrations and the Way opens up.
“奥妙无穷实难猜”，这个〈楞严咒〉非常奥妙，它的变化也不可思议，很不容易测度的。“金刚密语本性来”，〈楞严咒〉是密中之密，这是金刚来护持这个咒。本性来，它是从自己那个佛性中生出来的。“楞严咒里有灵妙”，〈楞严咒〉也叫做灵文，因为他特别灵，特别有力量，所以说〈楞严咒〉里有灵妙。“五眼六通道凡开”，你若能常持〈楞严咒〉，专心一致，心不旁骛，你可以得到五眼六通，可以有不可思议的那种境界来变化莫测，所以不是一般凡夫俗子可能知道的。因为这个，所以希望大家都能读诵《楞严经》，背诵〈楞严咒〉。你一诵〈楞严咒〉，为什么妖魔鬼怪不敢出来？因为力量太大了，尽虚空遍法界没有一个地方，不是有这种祥光瑞气弥漫着。所以有人诵〈楞严咒〉，就是补天地正气的不足。你一个人念〈楞严咒〉，就有一个人的力量；百人念〈楞严咒〉，就有百人的力量，这世界妖魔鬼怪都会老老实实的。所以多一点人念〈楞严咒〉是好的。
Unendingly miraculous and mysterious, it's extremely hard to fathom. The Shurangama Mantra is quite esoteric and its changes and transformations are inexplicable; it's not easy to figure out. This vajra secret language wells forth from your own nature. The Shurangama Mantra is the secret within the secret. That's the vajras who come to protect the mantra. Your own nature--it is born from your own Buddha nature. Inside the Shurangama Mantra is marvelous magic! The Shurangama Mantra is called an efficacious language because of its spell-binding power. That's what "marvelous magic" is referring to. Then come five eyes and six penetrations and the Way opens up. If you can continually uphold the Shurangama Mantra--single-mindedly without entertaining other thoughts--then you can attain the Five Eyes and Six Spiritual Penetrations. You will then experience the inconceivable, unfathomable changes and transformations that occur which ordinary people are totally unaware of. And that's the reason why I hope everyone will learn to read the Shurangama Mantra and memorize it. Why is it that the demons, ghosts, and goblins don't dare show themselves when you recite the Shurangama Mantra? It's so powerful that there isn't a place in all of space or the entirety of the Dharma Realm that isn't flooded with auspicious light. Recitation of the Shurangama Mantra patches up the imperfections in the heavens and the earth. One person reciting the Shurangama Mantra creates power equivalent to one person. A hundred people reciting create power equivalent to a hundred people. And the weird beings here in this world become very well-behaved. So it's better if more people recite.
无上神咒，什么叫“无”呢？这个无，就是高明无极，也光明到极点了，没有再超过这种高和光明的，这叫无。“上”呢？是没有再比这更尊贵、更高尚了，这叫上。神就是不可思议，也就是威灵叵测，这叫神。咒就是感应道交，有一种力量，你念这咒就有感应。“佛顶光明摩诃萨怛多般怛啰无上神咒”，这是说佛顶的光明，犹如大白伞盖来荫罩我们一切持咒的人。
It's an unsurpassed spiritual mantra. The negating prefix "un-" actually means "lofty to the utmost; brilliant to the extreme." Peerless radiant illumination piercing the heights is the meaning of "un-". And "surpassed"? Well, there's nothing more esteemed, nothing more venerated. "Spiritual" is what is inconceivable and ineffable, what is awe-inspiring, efficacious and unfathomable. The power of mantras brings a response with the Way. When you recite mantras, something happens. "Brilliant Buddha's Crown, Great White Canopy of Light, Unsurpassed Spiritual Mantra." This means that the light at the crown of the Buddha's head is like a great white canopy that comes to shelter and protect all of us who recite the mantra.
这个咒是没有人明白的，也不能一句一句、一个字一个字去讲，不过你如果想要明白它，我可以勉强讲给你听。单这〈楞严咒〉，一年也讲不完，三年也讲不完，甚至于十年也讲不完。现在我把这个咒的大意讲一讲，它有五会，这五会就表示五方，五方就是东、西、南、北、中。东方就是金刚部，阿閦佛为教主；南方就是宝生部，宝生佛做教主；中央就是佛部，释迦牟尼佛做教主；西方就是莲华部，阿弥陀佛做教主；北方叫羯磨部，成就佛做教主，共有这五部。这五部就是管理这世界五方的五大魔军，因为有这五魔，所以佛也分开五方，镇压这个魔。如果没有佛，那魔就会出现于世了。所以你一诵〈楞严咒〉，这五方的五大魔军就都俯首低头，老老实实，不敢违犯〈楞严咒〉的这种威力。〈楞严咒〉具足这五部，所以这个〈楞严咒〉是最妙不过了；可是你要没有执着，若有所执着，就不会太妙了。
No one understands this mantra, nor can they explain line by line and word by word. But if you want to understand it, I can try my best to explain it to you. The Shurangama Mantra can't be explained in a year's time, or three years' time, or even ten years' time. Now I will explain the general intent of this mantra. This mantra is composed of five assemblies which represent the five directions of east, west, south, north, and center. The east is the vajra division with Akshobhya Buddha as the teaching host. The south is the welling up of jewels division with Welling Up of Jewels Buddha as the teaching host. The center is the Buddha division with Shakyamuni Buddha as the teaching host. The west is the lotus division with Amitabha Buddha as the teaching host. The north is the karma division with Accomplishment Buddha as the teaching host. Altogether these five divisions watch over the five demonic armies that abide in this world. Because of these five demons, the Buddhas split up in five directions to repress these demons. Without the Buddhas, these demons would show themselves here in our world. And so, when you recite the Shurangama Mantra, the five demonic armies in the five directions submit and surrender. They behave themselves and don't dare try to oppose the power of the Shurangama Mantra. The five divisions in the mantra are what make it so fine. But you shouldn't be attached. Your becoming attached won't be so fine.
〈楞严咒〉有五会，其中分出来有三十几部法。我过去在东北的时候，能对治一切人的病痛，都因为〈楞严咒〉的这种力量。可是这〈楞严咒〉不是随随便便人人都可以使用的，若使用也不是全面的，因为分出来有三十几部法。这是大概，若往详细了说，有一百多种。
Within the five assemblies of the Shurangama Mantra are more than thirty sections of Dharmas. Before, when I was in Manchuria, the reason I was able to cure people's illnesses was all because of the power of the Shurangama Mantra. But the Shurangama Mantra cannot be used casually. If used, it's not the entire thing that's used, because within it are, in general, more than thirty different Dharmas. If looked at in detail there are over a hundred.
这个法，有成就法：就是一诵这〈楞严咒〉，你无论修什么法门，求什么事情，求什么愿，都会成就的，这是一种。又有增益法：就是譬如你修道，道心不够，你一诵这个咒，能增益你的智慧，增益你的菩提心，增益你的愿力，一切一切都会增加。你诵这个咒，对你自己有所求，也可以增益；对于旁人也可以增益，这是增益法。
As to these Dharmas, there's the Dharma of Accomplishment. That means by reciting the Shurangama Mantra, whatever method you are practicing will be perfected; whatever thing you want to do will get done. There's also the Dharma of Increasing Benefits. That means, for example, if you don't have enough resolve for the Way in your practice, by reciting the mantra you can increase your wisdom; increase your Bodhi mind; increase the power of your vows; everything will get better. When you recite the mantra, everything you hope increases will surely do so! It will increase for others, too.
息灾法：就是你有什么灾难，你一诵这个咒就没有了，消灾了。譬如本来这个人应该掉海里淹死，一念这个〈楞严咒〉，就把他解过去了，掉到海里也淹不死了。或者你搭船，这个船应该会沉了，念这个咒，这个船也不沉了。或者坐飞机，这个飞机在空中应该爆炸，你一念这个咒，它也不爆炸了。但是你还要靠自己，把你自己心里的灾，也要消除出去。你心里有什么灾呢？譬如你单靠着念咒，你心里还是乱打妄想，尽想一些不好的念头，你有这些不清净的杂念、欲念，那你心里头那根本的灾没有除去，你念什么咒也没有用。所以想要息你的灾，你必须要心里先清净；心里清净了，那是真息灾。你心里要是贪、瞋、痴装满肚子，你念什么咒都不灵的。所以这心是最要紧的，心一定要慈悲良善，愿意帮助其他人，要有一种好心。
The Dharma of Quelling Disasters means that if a calamity is due, reciting the mantra will make it disappear. The disaster will be quelled. Suppose someone is due to drown in the ocean. Reciting the mantra can change the situation so that he doesn't get drowned. Or you're on a boat that's supposed to sink. Recitation of the mantra can keep the boat from sinking. Or the airplane is supposed to crash, but you are reciting the mantra and so it doesn't. Nonetheless, you have to take responsibility for dispelling the calamities in your own mind. What calamities are there in your mind? Well, if you merely rely on the mantra, but inside you are a bundle of false and malevolent thoughts, scattered and impure thoughts, lustful thoughts, then you certainly haven't expelled the calamities in your own mind. In that case, no mantra is going to work. And so if you want to avoid disasters you must first purify your own mind. The purity of your mind is what really dispels calamities. If you are full of greed, hatred, and stupidity, no mantra is going to be efficacious. Our frame of mind is extremely important. We must be kindhearted and filled with goodness, wishing to help others. Our mind should be wholesome.
勾召法：就是遇着天魔外道，你想要把他抓来的时候用。举个例子，就像世间的警察，把那犯罪的人抓来了；勾召法也是这样子的，这妖魔鬼怪，他在这个地方害人，做不对的事情，令人生病，或者生灾难，然后他跑了。你想要把他抓来，一诵这咒，用这个勾召法，他就相离多远，这一切的护法善神、天龙八部、八万四千金刚藏菩萨，即刻就能把妖魔鬼怪抓来。但是抓是抓来，他有时还是不服的，你必须用种种的方法来教化他。你单强压迫他，来降伏他，是下品法，不是一种好的方法。好的方法，不用任何的势力来压迫，也不压迫他，也不和他斗争，不要好像修罗似的，斗争坚固，不要学那样。你明明有力量可以降伏他，也不要用降伏法，要用德行来感化他，来教化他。
The Dharma for Hooking and Summoning is for use when you meet up with heavenly demons and externalists and want to catch them. Just as law enforcement officers catch criminals, so too, the Hooking and Summoning Dharma catches weird creatures, demons, and ghosts. They do something here to harm others or do some bad thing that causes people to get sick and then they run away. But you want to catch them and so you recite the mantra, using the Hooking and Summoning Dharma. Well, no matter how far away from you they are, the Dharma-protecting good spirits, or members of the eightfold division, or some of the eighty-four thousand Vajra Treasury Bodhisattvas will immediately snatch them and bring those demonic beings back. Even then, sometimes they won't give in and you have to use all kinds of expedients to teach and transform them. If you use brute force to subdue them, then that's the lowest grade of dharma, it's not a good method. The best methods don't use any sort of power plays to oppress beings. Don't oppress them and don't contend with them. Don't be like an asura--tough and looking for a fight. Even when you clearly have the power to do so, don't use the dharmas to subdue them. You should use virtuous conduct to influence beings and then teach and transform them.
又有降伏法：魔它也有神通，他也有咒，你念咒，他也念咒。但是你用这个〈楞严咒〉，就把他所有的咒，都给破了，把他降伏了。用这势力把他折伏了，令他老实了。我以前对你们大家都讲过，〈楞严咒〉其中有几句是破魔罗网的一种咒，也是破魔咒术的。为什么这个〈楞严咒〉一念，那个先梵天咒就没有效验了呢？就因为有这个五大心咒。这五大心咒是破天魔外道一切咒术的根本的咒。无论他有什么咒，你一念这几句，就都给他破了，他的咒就没有功效了。我这个法如果要卖钱，几百万我也不卖。不过我看你们都有点诚心，我一个 cent（分）也不要 ，传授给你们。这就是降伏法。总而言之，无论你修什么法，你必须要有无上的菩提道心，大慈大悲、大喜大舍。不可以用你的道力，来压迫任何的人，或来压迫任何的妖魔鬼怪。
And finally, there is the Dharma of Subduing. Demons have spiritual penetrations and they also have mantras. You recite your mantra and they recite theirs. But when you use the Shurangama Mantra, you break through all their mantras and subdue them. You use the power to quell them and make them behave. I've told you all before that the Shurangama Mantra has within it a few lines of mantra that rends the nets of demons. Why was the mantra from the Brahma Heavens rendered useless? It was because of the Five Great Hearts Mantra. The Five Great Hearts Mantra destroys the mantras underlying the demons' and externalists' spells and incantations. It doesn't matter what mantra they use, when you recite these lines, their spells are smashed and their mantras become ineffectual. If I wanted to market this Dharma, a million dollars wouldn't even touch my asking price! But I can see that you have a bit of sincerity and so I am transmitting it to you absolutely free. To sum it up, no matter what Dharma you cultivate, you must have the unsurpassed resolve for Bodhi; you must have great kindness and compassion; you must practice great giving and great renunciation. You must not use the powers you gain in practicing the Way to oppress any other person or to squelch any demon, monster, goblin, or ghost.
又有吉祥法：你念这个咒，一切的事情都随心如意，很吉祥的。这是有这种种的法，我把这几种法的意思给你们讲一讲。
Furthermore, the Dharma of Auspiciousness enables things to go your way when you recite the mantra. Good fortune prevails. Now I've given you an explanation of these Dharmas.
这个咒如果要说它的好处，那就是说几年也说不完的，太多了。所有十方一切诸佛都是从〈楞严咒〉里边生出来的，所以〈楞严咒〉可以说是佛的母亲。十方如来就是藉着〈楞严咒〉，得成无上正遍知觉。十方如来能应身到微尘数那么多国家，去转法轮教化众生，在十方给众生摩顶授记，拔济众生的群苦，令众生一切大小诸横同时得到解脱，都是凭着这个〈楞严咒〉心的力量。假设想得阿罗汉果，你一定要诵这个咒，才能没有魔事。末法的时候，如果有人能背诵〈楞严咒〉，或者叫他人诵读〈楞严咒〉，这样的人火也不能烧他，水也不能淹死他，无论大毒小毒，都害不了他。一切的毒入到诵持〈楞严咒〉这个人的口里，都会变成甘露味。受持〈楞严咒〉的人不会生到不好的地方，就是你想去也不行。为什么呢？这个〈楞严咒〉拉着你，叫你不要去！不要去！诵持〈楞严咒〉的众生纵然他自己不做什么福德，十方如来所有的功德都给这个人。你说这便宜不便宜！只念念〈楞严咒〉而已。你念〈楞严咒〉，就能常常生在佛出世的时候，和佛在一起熏修。
I could talk for several years and never finish describing the good points of this mantra. All Buddhas of the ten directions come forth from the Shurangama Mantra. The Shurangama Mantra is the mother of all Buddhas. It was by means of the Shurangama Mantra that all Buddhas perfected Unsurpassed Proper and Pervasive Enlightened Knowledge. The ability of the Buddhas of the ten directions to create response bodies and go throughout the ten directions turning the Dharma wheel to teach and transform living beings; to rub the crowns of those beings and bestow predictions upon them; to rescue beings from their complex sufferings; to enable beings to escape both large disasters and small calamities--their ability to do all that comes from the power of the Shurangama Mantra Heart. If you want to attain the fruition of Arhatship, you absolutely must recite this mantra to keep demonic things from happening. During the Dharma-ending Age if people can memorize the Shurangama Mantra or encourage others to memorize it, well, fire cannot burn such people and water cannot drown them. No matter how potent a poison, it cannot harm them. For those who recite the Shurangama Mantra, poison turns to sweet dew as soon as it enters their mouths. People who recite the Shurangama Mantra will never get born in bad places, even if they want to. Why is that so? It's because the Shurangama Mantra pulls you back and won't allow you to go. Someone who recites the Shurangama Mantra may never have amassed any blessings or virtue, but, simply because he recites the mantra, the Thus Come Ones of the ten directions will bestow their own merit and virtue upon that person. Wouldn't you call that a bargain? That happens based on the recitation of the Mantra alone. If you recite the Shurangama Mantra, you will continually get to be born at a time when a Buddha is in the world and will be able to immerse yourself in cultivation under that Buddha's guidance.
假设你心念非常散乱，没能专一，而且没有定力。可是你心里想佛所说的〈楞严咒〉，口里就诵持。金刚藏王菩萨就用很精真的这种心，跟着你这个散乱心持〈楞严咒〉的人，暗暗来催速，一点一点令你这个散乱心就没有了，一点一点就可以得到定力。就是在默默中帮助你，令你开智慧，心念专一，从前八万四千恒河沙劫这么长时间的事情，你就一切一切都明了了。
If your mind is terribly scattered so that you can't concentrate and don't have any samadhi-power, but you think about the Shurangama Mantra and recite it with your lips, the Vajra Treasury King Bodhisattvas will very attentively watch for ways to invisibly help you gradually until your confusion has disappeared and you develop samadhi. They will imperceptibly help you open your wisdom and concentrate your mind to the point that you become crystal clear about all the events spanning the previous eighty-four thousand Ganges' sands of eons.
你若能把〈楞严咒〉读会了，能背得出，就像由你自己心里流出来的，〈楞严咒〉也就是你一个心，你的心也就是〈楞严咒〉，得到持咒三昧，诵得犹如流水似的，源源不断。这样子，你最低限度也可以七生都像美国煤油大王那么有钱，七世都做员外，做有钱的人。说：“这么好，我赶快学〈楞严咒〉，好做七世员外。”你要是境界这么小，那就不要学〈楞严咒〉了，七世员外也是一眨眼的期间。那么念会〈楞严咒〉要希望什么呢？要希望究竟作佛，得到无上正等正觉。不要境界那么小，实际上学〈楞严咒〉，就是佛的化身；不但是佛的化身，还是佛的顶上化佛，化佛中的化佛，所以〈楞严咒〉的妙处是不可思议的。有人真能持〈楞严咒〉，在这个地方，虚空里头就有一个大白伞盖。你的功夫若大、若高，你一念这个伞盖，甚至于几千里地以内，都无灾无难了；你功夫若小，那么这个伞盖在你自己的头上，也保护着你。你要是有道德，是一个大德高僧，你这一念，甚至于整个国家都得到好处了，都没有什么灾难了。就有灾难，大的灾难也就化小了，小的灾难就化没有了。
If you can learn the Shurangama Mantra until you have memorized it fluently--so that you become one with the mantra--then you attain the mantra's samadhi and your recitation will be like flowing water, welling up uninterrupted. If you can do that, then at the very least for seven lives to come you will be as wealthy as America's richest oil magnates. And you say, "That's great! I'm going to learn the mantra right away! I wouldn't mind being a magnate of some kind!" Well, if you are that selfish, then don't even bother learning the mantra. Seven lives pass in the blink of an eye anyway. What should those who learn the Shurangama Mantra be hoping for? You should hope for ultimate Buddhahood; hope to attain the Unsurpassed Proper and Equal Right Enlightenment. Don't be so petty! Actually those who are really dedicated in reciting the Shurangama Mantra are transformation bodies of Buddhas. Not just any transformation bodies, but those atop the Buddha's crown--transformation bodies of that transformation body! And so you see that the wonderful aspects of the Shurangama Mantra are difficult to express, difficult to conceptualize. Wherever someone is seriously reciting the Shurangama Mantra, a great white canopy will be there in the space above him. If your skill in reciting the mantra is high-level and far-reaching, then when you recite, the canopy will extend for thousands of miles, preventing any disasters or difficulties. If you only have a little skill, then the canopy will be right above your own head protecting you. If you have virtue in the Way, if you are a High Sanghan, then when you recite, the entire nation will be benefitted and no calamities will occur. Or if disasters are unavoidable, big ones will turn into little ones, and the little ones won't even happen.
无论哪一个国家饥荒、瘟疫传染病，或者有打仗、贼难，所有一切的灾难。你若能写楞严神咒，放到城的四门上，或者有炮台、堡垒那个看岗的地方，使令这个国家所有的众生都迎接这个〈楞严咒〉，叩头顶礼恭敬，一心供养这个〈楞严咒〉，就像供养佛那么样恭敬。使令这个国家的人民，每个人身上都佩带一卷〈楞严咒〉，或者每个人把它放到自己所住的宅子里边。这样，这些灾难的事情都消灭了。如果有〈楞严咒〉在这个地方，天龙就都欢喜，也没有狂风暴雨这种灾害了，所有的五谷也都丰收，一般老百姓都很平安的。所以〈楞严咒〉这个功德是不可思议的，你想也想不到，思也思不到的，它妙的地方也在这个地方。
It doesn't matter if it's a nationwide famine, plague, war, or plunder, all those kinds of disasters will be alleviated. Suppose you were to write out the Shurangama spiritual mantra and place it at the main entrances to the city, or in its watchtowers or other lookout places; suppose you could inspire the nation's inhabitants to show interest in the Shurangama Mantra, so that they bow to and revere it and single-mindedly make offerings to it as if they were offering to the Buddhas themselves; suppose you could get every single citizen to wear the mantra on their person or to keep it in their place of residence; well, if you could do that, all disasters would disappear. Whenever the Shurangama Mantra can be found in a place, the gods and dragons are delighted, and so that place will be free from devastating storms; the crops will produce in abundance; and the populace will be peaceful and happy. That is why I say that the merit and virtue of the Shurangama Mantra is inexpressible; it can't be reckoned in the mind; it can't be cognized in our thoughts. That's the wonder of it!
本来破戒是不可补救的，但是你若能念〈楞严咒〉，还能恢复你戒根清净。但是能念，不是就念一念，一定要得到诵咒三昧。这个咒就是从你心里念出来的，这个咒又能回来到你心里。所谓咒心心咒，这个心和咒合成一个了，没有分别，你想要忘，也忘不了了，这叫不念而念，念而无念。你把一切妄想杂念都念没有了，就是一个诵持〈楞严咒〉的心，这叫打成一团，成一个了，团结起来了。你这思想念头团结起来了，没有第二念了，就像流水源源而来，前浪推后浪，浪浪不断，这样子水流风动演摩诃，水流的声音，和风动的声音，都是〈楞严咒〉的咒心。你能念到这个样子，那时候你就是破戒了，也还能得到戒根清净；你没有受戒，就得到受戒。本来你不向前进步，不研究佛法，一念〈楞严咒〉，念得时间久了，也自然生出一种精进心来；没有智慧的人，也会开智慧。如果你修行不得清净，开斋破戒，但是因为你不忘〈楞严咒〉，所以很快又恢复清净了。如果你在没持咒、没受戒以前，犯过禁戒，那么持咒之后，所有一切破斋犯戒，这一些个罪，不管是轻、是重，甚至于不通忏悔的四波罗夷罪、五逆、四弃八弃，你一念〈楞严咒〉，无论怎么样重的罪都消灭了，连一个头发那么多都没有了，所以〈楞严咒〉的力量是不可思议。
Basically broken precepts cannot be mended. But if you recite the Shurangama Mantra, you can return to purity. But when I say recite, I don't mean you can just do it casually. You have to attain the mantra-recitation samadhi. The recitation of the mantra must flow forth from your mind and the mantra must flow back into your mind. That's called "the mantra is the mind and the mind is the mantra." Your mind and the mantra become united. There isn't any distinction. It reaches the point where you couldn't forget it if you wanted to. That's called even when not reciting, the recitation continues; when reciting there really isn't any recitation. You recite until there aren't any idle thoughts remaining. The only function of the mind is the recitation of the Shurangama Mantra. That's called meshing with the mind. There are no second thoughts. The flow of the mantra's recitation is like water that flows on in uninterrupted waves. At that point, everything expresses the Mahayana--the sounds of the breezes blowing and the water flowing are all the Shurangama Mantra's Heart Mantra. If you can reach that level, then if you have broken precepts, you will be able to return to pure precepts. You will be endowed with the precepts without going through the formal transmission. If you are someone who doesn't want to progress in your practice, who doesn't want to investigate the Buddhadharma, but you recite the Shurangama Mantra for a period of time, quite naturally you will be inspired to be vigorous; those who lack wisdom can open their wisdom. If you are not pure in your cultivation so that you break your vegetarian practices and violate the precepts, but you have not forgotten the Shurangama Mantra, you will be able to quickly return to purity. If you violated precepts before you began upholding the mantra and prior to receiving the precepts, then once you start reciting the mantra you can completely wipe out all those former offenses, no matter how serious they were, including even the Four Parajikas, the Five Rebellious Acts, the Four or Eight Offenses warranting dismissal from the Sangha, which are basically unpardonable. Not even a hair's breadth of an offense will remain. And so I say that the power of the Shurangama Mantra is beyond all conception or description!
有的人听见〈楞严咒〉这么灵，他就单单念咒，也不修行了，这也是一种太过的行为。因为修道，无论修哪一种法，要求中道，不要太过，也不要不及。这个咒固然是灵，但是定力也要修的。《楞严经》说这个咒是灵的，但是反闻闻自性，修耳根圆通这个法门，也是最要紧的。你就诵咒的时候，也应该反闻闻自性，要自己回光返照。前边不是说吗？诵这个咒，咒就是心，心也就是咒，心和咒分不开了，心、咒，二而不二。你能到这个样子上了，你求什么就都能随心如意，一定会成就的。那么你能心和咒都合到一起，这也正是你得到禅定三昧了，得到真正的定力了。所以这一点，我们每一个人要知道的。
Some people who learn how efficacious the Shurangama Mantra is decide to exclusively recite it and ignore all other aspects of cultivation. That's going overboard. In cultivation, no matter what Dharma it is, you have to keep to the Middle Way. Don't do too much and don't fail to do enough. Although the mantra is definitely efficacious, still, you have to develop samadhi. The Shurangama Sutra describes how efficacious this mantra is, but it also explains the method of returning the hearing to listen to your own nature by cultivating perfect penetration of the ear organ. That's also extremely important. While you are reciting the mantra you should be returning your hearing to listen to your own nature. You must reflect within. Didn't I explain earlier how the mantra becomes the mind and the mind becomes the mantra? The mind and the mantra cannot be separated; they are non-dual. When you get there, then you can attain whatever you seek; everything will go the way you want it to; and you will have success in whatever you undertake. When the mind and the mantra merge into one, then you have actually attained the samadhi of Chan meditation and have acquired real samadhi-power. That is something you should know.
〈楞严咒〉每一句都有无量意义，每一义都有无量功能。要明白〈楞严咒〉是天地间的灵文，灵文中之灵文，秘中之秘，无上法宝，是一切众生救命之宝。它包罗万有，上自十方诸佛，下至阿鼻地狱，四圣六凡都要遵从〈楞严咒〉的法，十法界中，无论哪一个法界都没有超出这个范围；所有一切鬼种类、神种类、一切护法诸天的种类、声闻、缘觉、佛乘都在〈楞严咒〉内。〈楞严咒〉所说的都是鬼神王的名字，一念这鬼神王的名字，其余鬼眷属和神眷属就都服服贴贴，循规蹈矩，不敢放肆了。天天念〈楞严咒〉，能令世上的妖魔鬼怪都老实一点，不敢出来害人。〈楞严咒〉是全体大用的，可以说是包括佛教所有的教义，若能明白〈楞严咒〉，就能将佛教秘密精华都明白。天地间的奥妙、天地间不可思议的事情，也是在〈楞严咒〉内。若会〈楞严咒〉，则不必学密宗，白教、黑教、黄教、红教，什么教也不需要学。这是根本的三昧法，最究竟的密法。不过这种密法没有人懂得，也没有人认识。一般人都是学而不化，只知道念，却不知它的意义。本来咒不必知道意义，只要知道它是不可思议的灵文就够了。
Every line of the Shurangama Mantra contains infinite meanings as well as infinite functions. You should realize that the Shurangama Mantra is the most efficacious language in the world--the efficacious within the efficacious, the esoteric within the esoteric! It is an unsurpassed Dharma Treasure--the gem that can save living beings' lives. It embraces all that exists. From the Buddhas of the ten directions to the Avichi Hell, all the four kinds of sages and six sorts of common realms pay homage to the Shurangama Mantra. None of the ten Dharma realms transcends its scope. All categories of ghosts, spirits, Dharma-protecting deities, Hearers, Condition-enlightened Ones, up to the Buddha Vehicle are contained within the Shurangama Mantra. The Shurangama Mantra contains the names of ghost and spirit kings. When the names of those leaders are recited, all the ghosts and spirits in their retinues become very obedient and behave themselves. They don't dare to make trouble. Reciting the Shurangama Mantra every day can cause demonic beings and weird ghosts throughout the world to settle down and stop harming people. The substance and function of the Shurangama Mantra are all-encompassing. It can be said that within the mantra can be found the entirety of Buddhism's teachings and meanings. If you can understand the Shurangama Mantra, then you have understood the essence of Buddhism's esoteric teachings. All the inconceivable wonders and esoteric phenomena in the universe are contained in the Shurangama Mantra. If you master the Shurangama Mantra, then you don't need to study the esoteric school's white teaching, black teaching, yellow teaching, red teaching or any other teaching. This is the ultimate method of samadhi and the most esoteric Dharma. Unfortunately no one really understands this esoteric Dharma; no one even recognizes it. Most people study it but cannot absorb it; they can only recite it but don't know its meanings. Basically it's not necessary to know the meanings of mantras, you need only realize that they are an ineffable efficacious language.
能念〈楞严咒〉就是利益众生，不能念就不能利益众生。各位赶快把〈楞严咒〉学会，背得出，再研究明白了，才是佛教徒所应有的行为。想学〈楞严咒〉，持诵〈楞严咒〉的人最好能发大心，为全世界诵持，把所有的功德回向给全世界。在佛教里再没有比〈楞严咒〉更重要了，〈楞严咒〉是正法的代表，有〈楞严咒〉就有正法，没有〈楞严咒〉就没有正法，不会背〈楞严咒〉不配做佛教徒。〈楞严咒〉叫愣半年，天天念，要念半年才会背。我们能诵〈楞严咒〉的人，都是在无量劫以来培植大善根的人，才能把〈楞严咒〉读得熟，背出来，永远也不忘，这就是善根的表现。若你没有善根，不但不能念，就连〈楞严咒〉的名字也遇不着；就算遇着了也不懂，不会念。所以我们现在能念能背，都是有大善根。
Being able to recite the Shurangama Mantra is a benefit to all beings. Not being able to recite it, you cannot offer that benefit to beings. Quickly learn it, memorize it, investigate and understand it! Then you will be doing what Buddhist disciples should do. The very best is for those who want to recite the Shurangama Mantra to do it for the sake of the entire world; transfer all the merit to the whole world. There isn't anything more important in Buddhism than the Shurangama Mantra. The Shurangama Mantra is a sure sign of the Proper Dharma. The existence of the Shurangama Mantra ensures the existence of the Proper Dharma. When the Shurangama Mantra is gone, the Proper Dharma is gone. Those who cannot recite this mantra are not worthy of being Buddhist disciples. The Shurangama Mantra is nicknamed "six months' stupor" because for most people it takes a half year of diligent recitation to get it memorized. Those of us who can recite the Shurangama Mantra have been planting and nurturing good roots for countless eons. Being able to memorize it perfectly and never forget it is evidence of those good roots. Without good roots, not only will you not be able to recite it, you will never even hear of the existence of the Shurangama Mantra; or if you hear of it you won't understand it and won't be able to recite it. Truly, then, those who can recite it by heart do have great good roots!
楞严法是百千万劫难遭遇的法门，我们学得一句，明白一句的力量，便要照着去实行。但也不是听说法有大灵感妙用及力量，就去用它。你用法，但不持戒，好像一般人什么都不懂，随便杀生、偷盗、邪淫、妄语、饮酒，而在紧要关头时念五大心咒，这是污蔑法；没有功德，却要支配鬼神及护法，那只有增加自己的罪业，自己会遭受飞灾横祸之事。所以修法的人首先要守持戒律，要注重德行，必须要不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不打妄语。你道德不够，就像假传圣旨，冒充国王，这是行不通的。现在人只注重念咒灵验有功力，但不注重自己的品德，即使念也没有功力。
The Shurangama Mantra is a Dharma-door difficult to encounter in billions of eons. For every line we learn and understand, we activate one part of its power. But, then, we must actually put it into practice. However it's not that you try to make use of the mantra's vast efficacy and tremendous power. If you use this Dharma but you don't hold the precepts--like most people who aren't clear about anything and casually kill, steal, are lustful, lie, and indulge in intoxicants, and who only recite the Five Great Hearts Mantra when some crisis happens--then you are defiling the Dharma and there is no merit in that. If you insist on trying to control the ghosts and order the Dharma protectors around, then you're just going to be increasing your own karmic offenses. You will bring calamities down upon yourself. Therefore, the first criterion for people who want to cultivate a Dharma is to hold the precepts and place emphasis on developing virtuous conduct. You must not fight, be greedy, seek, be selfish, pursue your own advantages, or lie. If your virtue in the Way is insufficient but you pretend to be a sage who can transmit teachings, or pass yourself off as the leader of a nation, then your behavior is unacceptable. Nowadays everyone is interested in getting the most magic out of mantras, but they are not attentive to their own moral character. And so in fact their recitation will be ineffectual.
所以学〈楞严咒〉法，所行必须要正，存心要正，不打不清净的妄想，不做不清净的事，要念兹在兹修清净的行门。如果一方面修〈楞严咒〉法门，一方面不好好守规矩，就会有很大的问题发生，这一点大家必须明白。若是你不存正念，不行正行，便会令金刚藏菩萨不佩服你，不保护你，佛菩萨是慈悲的，他不会损害众生，不会瞋害人；可是所有的侍从，一切的护法、天龙、鬼神，都是有很大的脾气。这种恶鬼、恶神，他见到你这修道持咒的人有过错了，他就给你一点灾害，或者令你不自在，令你有很大的麻烦，你便会发生种种灾难，受种种的果报，这是丝毫不可以开玩笑的。所以必须要斋戒沐浴，要心里也清净，不打染污的念头；身上也清净，不行染污的法门，时时刻刻要保持清净，不可以有丝毫不守规矩的行为。
Therefore those who study the Shurangama Mantra Dharma must be proper in their behavior, proper in their intent; must not have defiled thoughts, and must not do impure deeds. They should be very attentive to cultivating purity. If on the one hand they cultivate the Shurangama Mantra and on the other hand they don't follow the rules, then they will get themselves into deep trouble. Everyone should pay close attention to this point. If your intent is not proper and your conduct is not proper, then the Vajra Treasury Bodhisattvas will lose their respect for you and won't protect you. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are compassionate and would not hurt any living being or harm beings out of anger. But their attendants--the Dharma-protectors, gods, dragons, ghosts, and spirits will become enraged. Those evil ghosts and evil spirits, upon seeing you cultivating the mantra while committing offenses, will bring disaster and harm down upon you; will make you feel very uncomfortable; will cause you to get in grave trouble; or make you have to undergo a series of misfortunes or a series of retributions. This is really no joking matter! Therefore you must eat vegetarian food and purify yourself. Most of all your mind must be pure. Don't have defiled false thoughts. Maintain physical purity and don't practice defiling dharmas. At all times guard your purity. Don't commit even the slightest infractions of the rules.
诵持〈楞严咒〉比买卖黄金更赚得多，诵〈楞严咒〉一遍，就等于几万万盎斯的黄金那么有价值，不过不能用贪心来诵持。若能持戒律，无嫉妒障碍，无贪瞋痴，那么诵持〈楞严咒〉就有大感应、大利益；若你有不守规矩的行为，修这个法便没有大的感应力量。并不是咒没有灵验，而是因为你不守规矩，护法善神离得你远远的，有什么事情他也不管。所以凡是读诵〈楞严咒〉的人，不要有一种诡谲的心，不要有一种尽造罪业的行为。任何时候都要正大光明，只知利他，不知利己，存菩萨心肠，行菩萨行门。
Reciting the Shurangama Mantra is more valuable than any amount of gold. Reciting the mantra once is equivalent to tons of gold! But your recitation shouldn't be motivated by greed! If you hold the precepts, then you won't be jealous or obstructive; you won't be greedy or angry and your recitation of the mantra will generate pervasive responses and massive benefits. But if your behavior doesn't accord with the rules, the Dharma protecting good spirits will stay far away from you and when something happens to you they won't pay any attention. Therefore, those who recite the Shurangama Mantra shouldn't be cunning or behave in ways that continually create offenses. At all times they should be open and public-spirited; they should strive to benefit others, not themselves; they should cherish the ideals of Bodhisattvas; and cultivate the practices of Bodhisattvas.
修楞严法是很灵感的，但也不是那么容易，首先要没有自私心，其次要没有自利心，要存大公无私的心，要存至中不偏的心，要存舍己为人的心，要存普度一切众生的心。有以上所说这样的心，便能很快成就。各位要很注意，你一定要守五戒，奉行十善，这是最低限度要遵守的规则。修这个法不守规矩是不行的，你不守戒律，或心里尽打染污的妄想，不单修法没有感应，不能成就，而且会有奇祸。所以修楞严法的时候，要特别注意，要身、口、意三业清净，才可以相应。不可以随随便便讲是讲非，挑拨离间，或令大家在道场住得不安乐。你一定要举动行为管自己，行住坐卧不离家，不可以尽给旁人洗衣服，要自己好好把自己照顾一下，回光返照。
The Shurangama Mantra is extremely efficacious, but it is not that easy to master. First of all you cannot be selfish; next you cannot be out to get your own private gains. You have to be magnanimous and devoid of selfish thoughts. You have to be impartial and not prejudiced. You have to be willing to sacrifice yourself for the sake of others. You have to have the resolve to universally save all living beings. If you can embody the above-listed qualities, then you will have swift success. Pay close attention: you must hold the five precepts and practice the ten good deeds. That's the very least you should do.
It won't work to practice this Dharma if you are not following the rules. If you cultivate this Dharma but you don't behave yourself; if you don't guard the precepts or if you are always having defiled thoughts, then not only will there be no response, not only will you have no success, you will in fact bring disaster down upon yourself. And so when you are cultivating the Shurangama Mantra you must be very attentive to maintain purity with your body, your mouth, and your mind. That's the only way you're going to get a response. You cannot say things that cause schisms or make people in the Way-place uneasy. You must pay attention to all aspects of your behavior, whether walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. It's not all right to always be "washing other peoples' clothes" as it were. Take care of yourself. Look into yourself.
〈楞严咒〉是灵文，每一句有每一句的效力，你不必想：“我持〈楞严咒〉怎么没有什么效验？”不管有没有功效，你就去念，好像打功夫，天天去打拳，不管功夫如何，锻炼就有功夫，不可说不锻炼就有功夫。同理，受持法要天天不间断，在任何情形下，在百忙中都要修法。不要时间久了就生懈怠，对〈楞严咒〉不再有兴趣。这不是说你一念，就见到什么功效，就见、不见什么功效，你也要天天受持读诵。这必须要日久功深，不是一朝一夕就能成就，就有感应的。好像读书要读十年、二十年、三十年，才能真正有学问，修行亦复如是。持诵这个咒，你要念兹在兹的，时时刻刻都诵持这个咒，不要间断，也就像穿衣、吃饭、睡觉那样要紧，一天都不可以少的。不管它有没有功效，你天天受持读诵，时间久了就有基础，自然就有它的功用。
The Shurangama Mantra is an efficacious language. Every line has its own particular efficacy. But you don't need to think: Why don't I get any responses from holding the Shurangama Mantra. Don't pay any attention to whether there are responses or not, just keep reciting it. It's like practicing martial arts, every day you have to practice your punches, regardless of what your skill is like. Skill comes through training. It's impossible to have skill without training. By the same principle, you should cultivate your Dharmas every day, no matter what happens, no matter how busy you are. Don't slack off after you've been at it for a while, losing interest in the Shurangama Mantra. It's certainly not the case that you will have some efficacious response as soon as you begin reciting it. Regardless of whether you perceive any response, you should continue reciting it every day. You must deepen your skill day by day. Success doesn't happen overnight. For instance you have to study for ten, twenty, or even thirty years before you gain real scholarship. It's the same with cultivation. You must keep your mind on your recitation of the mantra, continuing your recitation without ever letting it get cut off. It should be just as important as putting on clothes, eating food, and going to sleep; you shouldn't be able to be without it for a single day. It doesn't matter whether there's any response, because by reciting every day you will gradually have a foundation and quite naturally the mantra will function.
你想成就妙行，得到不可思议的力量，你不要心里总打妄想，想入非非，总是妙想天开。你诵咒若间断了，你三昧就不会成就的。修习楞严法门要拿出真心、诚心来修习。什么叫真心？就是为修持〈楞严咒〉，把时间也忘了，空间也没有了。是日、是夜都不知道，吃饭、没吃饭也不知道，睡觉、没睡觉不知道。什么都忘了，什么都没有了，一念像无量劫那么长，无量劫又为一念。要有这种精神，吃饭、睡觉什么都忘了，只一心来修行〈楞严咒〉，一定成就楞严三昧的。不能这样，就谈不到真正修楞严法门。不只修楞严法是如此，修其他的法门都要如此，行不知行，坐不知坐，渴不知渴，饿不知饿。说：“那不是变成最愚痴的人了吗？”就是要如此，这才叫
If you hope for its wonderful functions and inconceivable power, then you must not keep having false thoughts, always day-dreaming and fantasizing. If you cut off your recitation of the mantra, then you will not be able to attain samadhi. You must use your true mind and practice the Shurangama Mantra with sincerity. What's a true mind? It means that for the sake of reciting the Shurangama Mantra you can forget all about time and even space disappears. You don't know if it's day or night; you don't know if you've eaten or not; you don't know if you've slept or not. You forget everything else. Everything disappears and one thought extends for infinite eons, while infinite eons is one thought. That's the kind of spirit you should have--forgetting to eat and sleep for the sake of cultivating the Shurangama Mantra. In that way you certainly can attain the Shurangama Samadhi. If you cannot be that way, then you aren't really cultivating the Shurangama Dharma-door. You should be that way not only in cultivating the Shurangama Mantra, but in the cultivation of any Dharma door--walking without realizing you are walking; sitting with being aware you are sitting; being unaware that you are thirsty or hungry. "Well," you say, "isn't that just turning into a stupid person?" That's right. It's said,
养成大拙方为巧
学到如愚始见奇
When you learn to be a big idiot, then you start to have some skill;
Studying until you are as if stupid is the beginning of real insight.
你若能学愚痴到这个样子，无论你修那个法门，都能得到三昧，都会有所成就的。就因为你没能愚痴，没能真正深入三昧的境界，所以修来修去也不相应。
If you can learn to be as if stupid, then no matter what Dharma door you cultivate you will attain samadhi and gain some realization. It's just because you are unable to be stupid that you cannot properly enter into samadhi and don't get any response from your cultivation.
你用功持诵〈楞严咒〉的时候，或者会梦见拜佛，或者梦见佛放光，或者梦见佛来摩顶，或者梦见佛和你讲经说法，或者梦见菩萨、缘觉、声闻、圣僧，或天上的天将，或者梦见自己腾身虚空，或者梦见会飞了，这都是好境界；或者骑马，或者渡江，种种祥瑞的光，或者有种种非常出奇的异相。假设得到这样的应验，你更应该很小心的，你要发菩提心，身、口、意三业要清净，更加紧你的功夫来持诵这个咒。可是你不可以对人去宣说，你有什么感应了，有什么灵验，叫人相信你，对你有好感。你有什么感应，自己知道就得了，你尽炫示自己的功德，各处卖广告，满街卖修行，这是不对的。你如果这样，便有了漏洞，魔就得其便。就好像你有了财宝，不把它放在保险箱里，你把它放在门口，一定会被人偷去。所以修佛法要很小心，不要让天魔外道得便。可是和你同道的，就是一同修行，你不是为了名利，或者为了令人恭敬我、赞叹我，你可以说的。
When you are developing your skill in reciting the Shurangama Mantra, you may dream of yourself bowing to the Buddhas; or in a dream see the Buddhas emitting light; or dream that you see the Buddha come as rub the crown of your head; or dream that the Buddhas speak Dharma for you; or dream that you see the Bodhisattvas, or Condition-enlightened Ones, or Hearers, or Sagely Sanghans or gods and heavenly generals; or in a dream see yourself ascending into space; or dream that you can fly. All of these are good experiences. Or you may be riding a horse or crossing a river and encounter all sorts of auspicious lights; or there may be other extremely rare appearances that manifest. If you do attain responses such as these, then you should be very careful. You should bring forth the resolve for Bodhi; guard the purity of the karma created by your body, mouth, and mind; and increase your efforts and tighten your skill in reciting the mantra. You should not tell others what kinds of responses you've had in order to get others to believe in you or to think highly of you. It's enough for you yourself to know what responses you've had. If you keep advertising your own merits and selling your cultivation out on the streets, then you are wrong. If you act like that, you leave yourself open and the demons will attack. That's like failing to put your jewels in a safebox. If you leave them at the doorway, then someone is certainly going to steal them. Therefore, we must be very careful in our cultivation of the Buddhadharma. Don't let the heavenly demons and externalists have their way with you. But you can report your experiences to your fellow-cultivators if you are not doing it in order to get famous or rich or to make people respect and praise you.
在《楞严经》上说：你要是诵持〈楞严咒〉，有了功夫，有了受用，那么八万四千金刚藏菩萨和他的徒众眷属，就都常常随从保护着你，令你遂心满愿。纵然魔王想找一个漏洞，想来找你的麻烦也没法子。在过去五祖弘忍大师在湖北东山那个地方修行，他戒行精严，修行也特别认真。
The Shurangama Sutra says, "If you recite and uphold the Shurangama Mantra until you gain skill and can make it function, then eighty-four thousand Vajra Treasury Bodhisattvas and their retinue of followers will always stay near you and protect you, so that everything you hope for will come true." But the demon kings never give up searching for a hole so they can give you more trouble than you can handle.
有一次土匪把湖北这个城给围上，弘忍大师忍不住了，就想要救这个城里头的老百姓，于是乎他就下山了，从东山那个地方到湖北城里去。土匪一见弘忍大师来了，就吓得丢盔卸甲望影而逃，为什么这样子呢？因为弘忍大师虽然是一个人下山来的，可是土匪就看到完全是穿金盔金甲的天兵天将，好像从天上下来的天神一样，都穿着金盔金甲，手拿着宝剑威武奇扬的。土匪一见到这样的情形就吓得望影而逃，不用一刀、一枪、一箭，他们就撤退了。这是因为弘忍大师他诵持〈楞严咒〉，所以土匪一见着弘忍大师就吓得跑了。这也可以说是金刚藏菩萨显圣，也可以说是弘忍大师修行的威德把他们都慑服了。那么一个修道的人能不用一兵一卒，把这个土匪给吓跑了，这就是有真正的功夫才能这样子，若没有真正的功夫，怎么会有这样的感应道交。
In the past, Great Master Hongren, the Fifth Patriarch, was cultivating in Hubei at East Mountain. He upheld the precepts strictly and cultivated with unusual intensity. Once when a group of bandits surrounded the city of Hubei, Great Mater Hongren could bear it no longer and decided to try to save the people in that city. He came down the mountain and walked into that city. As soon as the bandits saw Great Master Hongren coming, they were terrified, dropped their armor and weapons, and fled. Why? Because although Great Master Hongren came alone into the city, the bandits saw an army of heavenly generals and heavenly troops clad in golden armour. It was as if the gods themselves had come down to earth--all donning golden armour and carrying jeweled swords and other awesome weapons. That's what caused the bandits to retreat in such haste. And so, without the use of a single knife, spear, or arrow, he routed the bandits. It was because Great Master Hongren recited the Shurangama Mantra that the bandits found him to be so terrifying. You could say that was a manifestation created by the Vajra Treasury Bodhisattvas or you could say it was the awesome virtue of Great Master Hongren that frightened them. That a cultivator was able to frighten the bandits into retreat without the use of a single soldier or weapon is verification of his genuine skill. How else could there have been such a response in the Way?
因为释迦牟尼佛为了保护我们现在所有一切初发心的学道人，所以宣示〈楞严咒〉，来帮助我们得到定力，令我们身心泰然，没有什么麻烦。所以我们时时刻刻不要忘了这个法，我们若能诚心专一诵持〈楞严咒〉，就是绍隆佛法，就是正法住世。
Shakyamuni Buddha proclaimed the Shurangama Mantra in order to protect of all of us who have brought forth the initial resolve to study the Way; to aid us in attaining samadhi; to help us be at peace in body and mind; and to keep us out of trouble. Therefore we should never forget this Dharma. We should recite and uphold the Shurangama Mantra with single-minded sincerity. By doing so we are helping to perpetuate the Buddhadharma, to keep the Proper Dharma long in the world.
