Ritual to Observe Eight Precepts

Ritual to Observe Eight Precepts

Translated into English by HE, YUPING (Enid) on June 24, 2024

My name is so-and-so.
I only hope that the master will accept me.
From now on, I will develop pure faith until I sit on the bodhi field and attain the perfect enlightenment.
I vow to take refuge in the Buddha, the supreme being full of Bliss and Wisdom;
I vow to take refuge in the Dharma, the supreme being of detachment from desire;
I vow to take refuge in the Sangha, the supreme being of discipline.
These are the Three Jewels to which I take refuge.
I, so-and-so, a lay Buddhist with pure faith, only hope that the master will remember and protect me.
From this day and this hour, I will develop a pure mind until after midnight and until the sun rises tomorrow morning.
In the meantime, I will observe the eight precepts.
These are:

  1. Do not kill;
  2. Do not steal;
  3. Do not engage in unrighteous conduct;
  4. Do not lie;
  5. Do not drink alcohol;
  6. Do not eat at inappropriate times (One meal per day at the midday);
  7. Do not adorn one’s body with garlands, sing, dance, or play;
  8. Do not sit or lie on a high and wide bed (Pursuit of a cozy even a luxurious life).
    I now abandon all these things and vow not to abandon the eight virtues of pure precepts.
    Quoted from Sutra of the Eight Ways to Cultivate Merits

Merits obtained from Observing the Eight Precepts
“If one sincerely accepts the Three Refuges, the merits and rewards he will receive will be greater than all the treasures in vaults.”
“Wholesome man, if one can take refuge in this pure way and receive the eight precepts, the Five Cardinal Sins will be eliminated, and all other sins will be completely eradicated as well.
“If one can observe the eight precepts, he or she can also enjoy the happiness of humans and gods, and even the supreme bliss.”
Quoted from Upasaka Sūtra

Original Buddhist Transcripts in Chinese
佛说八种长养功德经
西天译经三藏朝散大夫试鸿胪卿传梵大师赐紫沙门臣法护等奉 诏译
归命一切佛。惟愿一切佛菩萨众摄受于我。即说伽陀颂曰
 我今归命胜菩提  最上清净佛法众
 我发广大菩提心  自他利益皆成就
 忏除一切不善业  随喜无边众福蕴
 先当不食一日中  后修八众长养法 
当知八种长养法者。所谓八戒。弟子应于阿阇梨前二三重复。说是伽陀已。次复当称己之名字。我名某甲。惟愿阿阇梨。摄受于我。我从今时发净信心。乃至坐菩提场成等正觉。誓归依佛二足胜尊。誓归依法离欲胜尊。誓归依僧调伏胜尊。如是三宝是所归趣。我某甲净信优婆塞。惟愿阿阇梨。忆持护念我。从今日今时发起净心。乃至过是夜分汔。于明旦日初出时。于其中间奉持八戒。所谓一不杀生。二不偷盗。三不非梵行。四不妄语。五不饮酒。六不非时食。七不花鬘庄严其身及歌舞戏等。八不坐卧高广大床我今舍离如是等事。誓愿不舍清净禁戒八种功德。二三重复作如是说。又言。我持戒行庄严其心令心喜悦。广修一切相应胜行。求成佛果究竟圆满。又说伽陀曰
 我发无二最上心  为诸众生不请友
 胜菩提行善所行  成佛世间广利益
 愿我乘是善业故  此世不久成正觉
 说法饶益于世间  解说众生三有苦

优婆塞戒经 八斋戒品第二十一
  善生言:”世尊,若有人能受三归斋戒,是人当得何等果报?”
  ”善男子,若人能受三归依者,当知是人所得福报不可穷尽。”
  ”善男子,迦陵伽国,有七宝藏,名宾伽罗,其国人民,大小、男女,于七日中,七月、七年,常以车乘、象、马、驼、驴,担负持去,犹不能尽。若有至心受三归斋,是人所得功德果报,出胜彼藏所有宝物。”
  ”善男子,毗提呵国,有七宝藏,名曰半陆迦,其国人民,男女、大小,于七日中,七月、七年,常以车乘、象、马、驼、驴,担负持去,亦不能尽。若有至心受三归斋,是人所得功德果报,出胜彼藏所有宝物。”
  ”善男子,波罗奈国国,有七宝藏,名(注1)(注2),其国人民,男女、大小,于七日中,七月、七年,常以车乘、象、马、驼、驴,担负持去,犹不能尽。若有至心受三归斋,是人所得功德果报,出胜彼藏所有宝物。”
  ”善男子,乾陀罗国,有七宝藏,名伊罗钵多,其国人民,男女、大小,于七日中,七月、七年,常以车乘、象、马、驼、驴,担负持去,亦不能尽。若有至心受三归斋,是人所得功德果报,出胜彼藏所有宝物。”
  ”善男子,若有从他三受三归,三受八戒,是名得具一日一夜优婆塞斋。明相出时,是时则失。是故不得佛像边受,要当从人。根本清净,受已清净,庄严清净,觉观清净,念心清净,求报清净,是名三归清净斋法。”
  ”善男子,若能如是清净归依,受八戒者,除五逆罪,余一切罪,悉皆消灭。如是戒者,不得一时,二人并受,何以故?若一时中,二人共受,何因缘故一人毁犯?一人坚持?是戒力故,后世生时,不能造恶,受已作罪,复不永失。若先遣信,欲刑戮人,信迟未至,其人寻后发心受斋,当受斋时,信至即杀。复一时,以戒力故,不得杀罪。若诸贵人,常敕作恶,若欲受斋,先当敕语,遮先诸恶,乃得成就。若先不遮,辄便受斋,不名得斋。欲受斋者,先当宣令所属国境:我欲受斋,凡是斋日,悉断诸恶、罚戮之事。若能如是清净受持八戒斋者,是人则得无量果报,至无上乐。”
  ”弥勒出时,百年受斋,不如我世一日一夜,何以故?我时众生,具五浊故。是故我为鹿子母说:善女,若娑罗树,能受八斋,是亦得受人天之乐,至无上乐。”
  ”善男子,是八戒斋,即是庄严无上菩提之璎珞也。如是斋者,既是易作,而能获得无量功德。若有易作而不作者,是名放逸。”

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