Not Fighting, Not Being Greedy, Not Seeking, Not Being Selfish, Not Pursuing Personal Advantage, Not lying
不争，不贪，不求，不自私，不自利，不妄语
Anyone who is able to put the six great principles of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas into practice is qualified to be a Buddhist disciple. These six great principles are not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not pursuing personal advantage, and not lying. You can use the doctrines of Buddhism to explain them. You can also use the doctrines of Taoism to explain them. They can also be explained using the doctrines of Confucianism. In general, you can explain them any way you like. With these principles, there is perfect harmony of all differences without obstruction. They are very logical. These principles encompass the doctrines of all religions. They are very practical methods. The precepts of Buddhism can be explained in many different ways, but they do not go beyond the scope of the six great principles.
谁能实行万佛圣城六大宗旨，就够资格做为佛教徒。这不争、不贪、不求、不自私、不自利、不妄语六大宗旨，用佛教道理来讲也可以，用道教的道理来讲也可以，用儒教道理来讲也可以。总而言之，怎样讲都可以的，这个道理圆融无碍，很合乎逻辑学。此宗旨包括一切宗教的教理，是很实用的方法。佛教所讲的戒律，说来说去都没有离开六大宗旨范围之外。
What are the precepts? They are just: not fighting, not being greedy, not seeking, not being selfish, not pursuing personal advantage, and not lying. That's the precepts. Don't go looking for the precepts in the precept manuals. These things can be done by everyone. Everyone can practice them.
什么叫戒律？就是不争、不贪、不求、不私、不自私、不自利、不打妄语，这就是戒律。你不要到那个戒律本子上去找戒律。这是人人都能做到，人人都可以行的。
1. If you don't fight, then you won't kill. Killing occurs because thoughts of contention take control. When you start fighting, you have the attitude of “Get out of my way or die!” The casualties that result are beyond count.
（一）不争，就不会杀生。杀生就因争心作怪，一争就你死我活，死伤无数。
Not contending means not violating the precept against killing. Why do people kill? Because they want to fight. In fighting with one another, they end up committing murder and arson. If there is no contention, there will be no killing, and the precept against killing will be upheld.
不争，就是不犯杀戒。为什么要杀生？就因为要争，你争我夺，就发生杀人放火的行为。不争就不杀，这样就把杀戒守住了。
2. If you are not greedy, then you won't steal. Why do you want to steal others' things? Because of greed. If you are not greedy, then even if people want to give you something, you won't want it. So you should get rid of greed, and then you won't steal.
（二）不贪，就不会偷盗。为什么要窃盗他人之物？就因为贪。你要是没有贪心，就算人家要给你，你也不会要，所以要把贪心去除，才不会偷。
Not being greedy means not violating the precept against stealing. Why do people steal? Because of greed. They are greedy to possess what belongs to other people. If you are not greedy, you will be able to uphold the precept against stealing.
不贪，就是不犯盗戒。为什么要偷盗？就因为贪的缘故，贪人之物为己有，若不贪就能守持不盗戒。
3. If you seek nothing, you won't have thoughts of lust. Thoughts of lust arise because you seek something. Women seek boyfriends, and men seek girlfriends. Not only do they seek, they plunge headlong into the pursuit as if nothing else mattered. If they didn't seek anything, then how could they have thoughts of desire? Of what use is a handsome man or a pretty woman? They are just stinking skin-bags containing flesh. Are they worth hankering after? If you seek nothing, you won't violate the precept of sexual misconduct.
（三）不求，就不会有淫欲心。淫欲心就因为有所求，女求男朋友，男求女朋友，都是追求异性。不单求，还要「追」求，就好像把头削得尖尖的，往头头钻。若是无所求，还有什么淫欲心？英俊的男人有什么用？漂亮的女人也只是个盖肉的臭皮囊。有什么值得贪恋的？假若无所求了，淫戒就不会犯。
Not seeking means not violating the precept against sexual misconduct. Seeking involves men pursuing women, and women chasing after men. When people cannot obtain what they seek for, they become so obsessed that their pursuit continues even in their dreams and they are physically and mentally restless.
不求，就是不犯淫戒。男人追女人，这是求；女人追男人，也是求。求之不得，就神魂颠倒，甚至在梦中，还在追求，身心不宁。
4. If you're not selfish, then you won't tell lies. People tell lies because they're afraid of losing personal benefits. Overcome by selfishness, they cheat people and tell lies, hoping to hide their true face from others.
（四）不自私，就不会打妄语。人打妄语，就因为怕失去自己的利益，自私心作怪，所以骗人撒谎，想令人不认识自己。
Not being selfish means not violating the precept against lying. Why do people lie? They want to protect their own benefits, so they go everywhere cheating people and lying. If you are unselfish, you will speak the truth wherever you go and won’t behave in deceitful ways.
不自私，就是不犯妄语戒。为什么要打妄语？因为要保持自身的利益，所以到处骗人说假话。如果不自私，到处可说真话，没有欺骗的行为。
5. If you don't pursue personal advantage, then you won't violate the precept against taking intoxicants. Why do people take intoxicants? Because they want to mess up their bodies and confuse their minds, bewildering themselves to the point that they think they've become gods or immortals, enjoying themselves in the heavens. Once intoxicated, they scold people and do as they please, and their lustful desires increase. Some people also want to use intoxicants to speed up their blood and energy circulation. After taking them, they forget everything. It's as exciting as smoking opium. It's all because they are overcome by the wish to benefit themselves that they take intoxicants.
（五）不自利，就不会犯酒戒。人为什么喝酒？就想迷乱自己的身体心性，弄得它恍恍惚惚，以为自己成了神仙，在天上逍遥。喝醉酒又会骂人，又可以为所欲为，又增长淫欲。又想用酒来助血气流通快点，喝了忘记一切，好像抽鸦片烟一样过瘾。这都是自利心作怪，所以才去喝酒。
Not pursuing personal advantage means not violating the precept against taking intoxicants. People who drink alcohol think it’s good for the body and makes them healthy because it improves their blood circulation. When drunk, they feel as if they’re floating through the air like a fairy. Their underlying motive is to seek personal benefit.
不自利，就是不犯酒戒。饮酒的人，认为饮酒能令血液奔腾，对身体有益，一定能健康。喝酒的人喝醉的时候，觉得自己飘飘然成为神仙。这是自利在作祟。
6. Do not lie. Why is not lying also included as one of the six great principles? For added emphasis. If you violate any of the above five principles, you will tell lies. If don't violate them, then you won't lie. Not lying is thus one of the fundamental requirements for people who study Buddhism.
（六）不妄语，为什么六大宗旨又说不妄语呢？特别加重语气。因为你犯了前面的五个宗旨，你就会打妄语；你若不犯，就不会打妄语。所以不打妄语是我们人学佛的根本条件。
Not lying is already included in the previous five aspects. However, to increase people’s awareness and to emphasize the harm of lying, we have added it to the guidelines as a reminder.
不妄语，在前边所说五项之中已包括这项，但为提高大家的警觉，特别强调打妄语的坏处，所以又加这一项，做为警惕。
These six principles are just another name for the five precepts. Actually, everyone has also heard these terms before and understands them, but very few can truly practice them. That is why I am reminding everyone:
Don't fight means don't kill.
Don't be greedy means don't steal.
Don't seek means don't engage in sexual misconduct.
Don't be selfish means don't tell lies.
Don't pursue personal advantage means don't take intoxicants.
这六个宗旨，就是「五戒」的别名。本来人人也听过、也懂得，但是真能去做的少之又少，所以提醒大家：
不争就是不杀生，
不贪就是不偷盗，
不求即是不邪淫，
不自私即是不打妄语，
不自利即是不饮酒。
