佛說目連問戒律中五百輕重事 1.58

1.58

問：「結界法云何？」答：「結界法。若山澤無人處隨意遠近，若在城邑聚落不得遠結，亦不得夜結。結時要須比丘在四角頭立，不得使外人入，外人入則界不成。先結界場，僧家白衣奴子盡著界場上，然後規度四方。結界時除四處：一者聚落；二者聚落外俗人田地常作事處；三者若阿練、若獨處山澤，恐說戒羯磨時有種種事難不得來，白眾求別結小界，眾若聽可，彼無五人眾當遣僧與結別界，此謂阿練若坐處。四者受戒場，先結界不均，除結界場。除是結界，以是其事。或先結大界，後結戒場，於中受戒，如卑公所云恐無所獲。然云不知，同於未制賴通。此路可有僥倖。其人云，若有病比丘，不能得往僧中，求索別一屋中結界，僧亦應聽。先解大界與結別界，結別界訖然後還結大界。一切比丘夜不持衣不得入中。有一住處有界，一比丘亦可打揵椎廣說戒，先向四方僧懺悔然後說，亦可三語。三語者，謂三說。」

Question: "What is the method for demarcating a sīmā?" Answer: "Regarding the method for demarcating a sīmā: in uninhabited places such as mountains and marshes, the distance may be as one pleases; if in cities, towns, or villages, one must not demarcate it too far, nor may one demarcate it at night. When demarcating, it is essential that bhikṣus stand at the four corners and prevent outsiders from entering; if outsiders enter, the sīmā is not successfully established. First demarcate the ordination platform (sīmā-maṇḍala), placing all the lay servants belonging to the saṅgha upon the ordination platform, and then measure the four directions. When demarcating a sīmā, four places are excluded: first, villages; second, secular fields outside villages where people regularly work; third, in an araṇya or dwelling alone in mountains and marshes, for fear that during the recitation of the precepts and karman there might be various hindrances preventing them from coming, they inform the saṅgha to request the separate demarcation of a small sīmā—if the saṅgha assents, and they lack a quorum of five persons, the saṅgha should send bhikṣus to demarcate a separate sīmā for them, which refers to the seating place in an araṇya; fourth, the ordination platform—if the sīmā was previously demarcated unevenly, exclude [it and] demarcate the ordination platform. The demarcation of sīmās is carried out with the exclusion of these, based on these matters. Alternatively, one first demarcates the large sīmā, and then demarcates the ordination platform within which ordination is received; but as Master Bei said, it is feared that nothing would be attained [in that way]. However, they say that if done out of ignorance, it is treated like the time before the rule was instituted, relying on general allowance. On this path there may be good fortune. That person said: if there is a sick bhikṣu who cannot go into the midst of the saṅgha, and he asks to demarcate a sīmā within a separate room, the saṅgha should also permit it. First dissolve the large sīmā, demarcate a separate sīmā for him, and having finished demarcating the separate sīmā, afterwards demarcate the large sīmā once again. No bhikṣu at night who does not hold his robes may enter therein. If there is a dwelling with a sīmā, even a single bhikṣu may strike the gaṇḍī and extensively recite the precepts; he should first confess to the saṅgha of the four directions and only then recite, or he may recite three declarations. The 'three declarations' means making three announcements."