今天（农历十一月十七日）是阿弥陀佛圣诞，我要对十方诸佛发一个誓愿，发什么誓愿呢？我所发的愿，是关于《楞严经》真伪的问题。
Today (the seventeenth day of the eleventh lunar month) is Amitabha Buddha's birthday. I shall now make a vow regarding the Shurangama Sutra 's authenticity before the Buddhas of the ten directions.
近来有几个博士和学者们，批评《楞严经》不是释迦牟尼佛金口所说的，而是后人伪造的。他们这么大肆宣传、破坏，引起对佛法不求甚解的佛教徒，生起怀疑之心，人云亦云，就跟着人家后边吶喊，这实在是很可怜！
Recently, some Ph.D.'s and scholars have criticized the Shurangama Sutra . They claim it was invented by later generations and not spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha. They have spread this rumor and tried to destroy this Sutra, causing Buddhists who lack true understanding to doubt. These people, who stir up a fuss by repeating what others say, are truly pathetic.
今天我对大家保证《楞严经》是真的！不但《楞严经》是真的，就是〈楞严咒〉也是真的。《楞严经》是佛的真身，是佛的舍利，任何人也破坏不了。有《楞严经》，就有正法；没有《楞严经》，就没有正法。如果《楞严经》是假的，我愿意堕拔舌地狱，受无间的痛苦。
Today, I will vouch for the authenticity of the Shurangama Sutra before the assembly. Not only the Shurangama Sutra , but also the Shurangama Mantra is authentic. The Shurangama Sutra is the Buddha's “true body” and the Buddha's sharira; no one can destroy it. If the Shurangama Sutra exists, then the Proper Dharma exists. If the Shurangama Sutra ceases to exist, then the Proper Dharma will also vanish. If the Shurangama Sutra is inauthentic, then I vow to fall into the Hell of Pulling Tongues to undergo uninterrupted suffering.
我希望大家以后要有择法眼，不要再跟着邋遢博士，或者垃圾学者去研究是否《楞严经》是伪造的问题，不要被垃圾的境界所转；要有定力，来转垃圾的境界。他们为什么说这部经是假的呢？因为他们的心，邋遢到极点！不愿正法住世，所以故意来破坏，不教人修行。
In the future, I hope that everyone will use their Dharma-selecting vision and not follow any careless Ph.D.'s or irresponsible scholars who do research on how the Shurangama Sutra is counterfeit. Don't let that rubbish influence you. Use your samadhi power to turn those states around. Why do some people claim that the Shurangama Sutra is false? Because their minds are not clear. They don't want the Proper Dharma to remain in the world. Instead of telling people to cultivate, they try to destroy the Dharma.
《楞严经》上说：“淫心不除，尘不可出。”从这两句经文，就可以证明，这部经千真万确是佛所说的妙理。若是不除掉淫欲心，就不能超出三界；也就是说不断欲去爱，根本就不能证果。
The Shurangama Sutra says, "If one doesn't cut off lust, one won't be able to leave the dust." This sentence alone is enough to prove that this Sutra is definitely and beyond a shadow of doubt the wonderful doctrine spoken by the Buddha. If one doesn't cast out thoughts of lust, one cannot transcend the Three Realms. If one doesn't cut off desire and love, it's impossible to attain the fruition of sagehood.
《楞严经》上又说：“若不断欲。修禅定者。如蒸沙石。欲其成饭。无有是处。”由此观之，就能知道正法眼藏所在之处。
The Shurangama Sutra also says, "Trying to cultivate samadhi without cutting off lust is like cooking sand trying to obtain rice. It can't be done." If we contemplate the truth of this, we will know where the Treasury of the Proper Dharma Eye lies.
凡是真正的佛教徒，一定要拥护《楞严经》，诵持〈楞严咒〉，它的力量是不可思议的，这是我亲身的经验。
A genuine Buddhist will most assuredly support and protect the Shurangama Sutra and recite and uphold the Shurangama Mantra. From personal experience, I know that this Mantra's power is inconceivable.
我再发愿，我要特别强调《楞严经》是真经，不是伪经；如果这点有错误，我愿堕拔舌地狱。希望大家认清这个问题，自己要有正见，不要辜负我这番苦心。
I repeat my vow in order to emphasize that the Shurangama Sutra is an authentic, not a counterfeit, Sutra. If I am mistaken, then I vow to fall into the Hell of Pulling Tongues. I hope everyone is clear on this issue. Hold proper views and don't disappoint me!
一九七八年一月二十一
A talk given on January 21, 1978
