Buddhism says that now is the Age of Dharma Ending, but why do you feel that Buddhism is very prosperous now and there are many people studying Buddhism. Is the prophecy of Buddha Camel inaccurate?

The prophecy of the World-Honored One - Causes and Causes of the Destruction of Righteous Dharma

Translator's Preface:

Venerable Mahakassapa is the chief disciple of the Buddha. He is mentioned in many classics It can be seen that the Buddha placed special reliance on him. For example, in a Dharma assembly, the Buddha once gave up half of his seat to His Holiness. Such high courtesy and honor are enough to demonstrate His Holiness's compassion, wisdom, moral conduct, meditation, etc., which are all highly affirmed by the Buddha.

In this sutra, the Buddha has predicted that the righteous law will gradually disappear as all living beings turn upside down and commit evil. All dharmas are impermanent, and the Dharma is no exception. However, there are still five concrete and feasible ways to prevent the Dharma from disappearing so quickly. One of them is to "respectfully make offerings to the Brahma practitioners praised by the Buddha." However, in later generations, Ignorant sentient beings have many criticisms and misunderstandings about the Venerable Maha Kassapa, such as thinking that the Venerable is arbitrary. In fact, the behavior of the saint is beyond the imagination of ordinary people like us. Even the Venerable Ananda did it before he became an Arhat. Rebuked by the Venerable Maha Kassapa. If ordinary people who have not yet attained the purity of Dharma eyes are quick to criticize His Holiness based on their own subjective likes and dislikes, if you think about it carefully, wouldn’t this just fulfill the Buddha’s prophecy of “being disrespectful to the Brahma practitioners praised by the Buddha?”, and more. Has it accelerated the demise of the righteous law? Will he also fall into the evil realm and suffer for a long time?

Translated from the "Za Agama Sutra" → the counterpart of Maha Kassapa

Translated on the Eight Pass Fasting Day

This is what I heard:

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Once, the Buddha stayed in a monastery in the Solitary Garden of Savatthi State in ancient India. At that time, the Venerable Maha Kassapa happened to be in the Luzimu lecture hall.

The Venerable Maha Kassapa came out of deep meditation and went to Jishugui Garden to see the Buddha. As soon as he saw the Buddha, the Venerable Mahakassapa immediately bowed to the Buddha. After bowing, the Venerable stepped aside respectfully to ask the Buddha for advice.

The Venerable asked: "World Honored One, before you established so many precepts, there were more monks in the Sangha performing and observing them. But now, the number of precepts established by the World Honored One is gradually increasing. There are fewer monks who can abide by the law and fulfill it. What is the cause and condition of all this?"

The Buddha replied: "Kashyapa, you asked very well! This is all because of the five turbidities. Kashyapa, just like every time the world faces destruction, before the real treasures are destroyed, some fake treasures will appear; once these fake treasures fill the whole world. , the real treasure will disappear completely. Similarly, when the Tathagata's Dharma is about to disappear, some specious remarks about the Dharma will gradually appear; until everyone believes in and follows the Dharma, the Dharma will completely disappear."

The Buddha continued: "Kasyapa! It's like a ship loaded with jewelry, floating in the vast ocean. If the ship cannot bear the weight of the jewelry, then the ship is likely to sink at once. "However, the Tathagata's dharma does not disappear like this ship, but gradually disappears in this world of five turbidities."

The Buddha also said: "The dharma of the Tathagata will not disappear because of the physical world." The four major factors become bad and disappear. Instead, it is because sentient beings have committed various evil deeds, calling evil dharma as righteous dharma, but regard righteous dharma as illegal; or grasping wrong precepts as pure precepts, but judging pure precepts. Because of incorrect precepts, such specious and confusing dharma meanings are everywhere, and the Tathagata's true dharma is lost in the world of evil."

The Buddha finally concluded with emotion: "O Kasyapa! Specifically, there are five causes and conditions that can cause the Tathagata's righteous teaching to be submerged in this evil world of five turbidities. What are the five causes?

1. Not respecting the Buddha, but relying on Buddhism? Inside (hanging sheep heads and selling dog meat).

2. Not respecting the Dharma.

3. Not paying attention to the precepts.

4. Following the Buddha. The teachings given by one’s faculties are disrespectful.

5. The teachings given by the Buddha are disrespectful.

On the contrary, if you want the Tathagata's righteous Dharma to live in the world for a long time, you only need to do the opposite according to the five causes and conditions mentioned above, and the righteous Dharma will not be forgotten or disappear.

So, Kasyapa! The Tathagata specifically instructs you here to lead the public well and teach them:

1. Respect the Buddha.

2. The method of respect.

3. Pay attention to the precepts.

Fourth, the Tathagata’s special teachings on following the instincts of all living beings must be followed in accordance with the law.

5. We should respect and make offerings to the Brahmacharyas praised by the Buddha.

In this way, the righteous law can live in the world for a long time! ”

After listening to the Buddha’s teachings and instructions, the Venerable Mahakassapa felt joy in his heart, bowed to the Buddha and left.

When the Buddha formulated the precepts, he mentioned that the purpose of formulating the precepts is to maintain the righteous Dharma for a long time. Therefore, the importance of precepts to Buddhism is irreplaceable. Whether it is the Dharma Ending Period or not, you only need to compare the Vinaya of the original Buddhist era with the existing precepts and forms.