菩薩瓔珞本業經 2.60

2.60

"Disciples of the Buddha! Having received the ten inexhaustible precepts, the recipient transcends the four Māras and crosses beyond the sufferings of the three realms. From rebirth to rebirth, one does not lose these precepts; they constantly follow the practitioner until the attainment of Buddhahood. Disciples of the Buddha! If all sentient beings of the past, future, and present do not receive these bodhisattva precepts, they are not named beings with conscious awareness; no different from beasts, they are not named humans; they are perpetually separated from the ocean of the three jewels; they are not bodhisattvas, not men, not women, not ghosts, and not humans; they are named beasts, named those with wrong views, and named non-Buddhists who are devoid of human feeling. Therefore know that bodhisattva precepts have a method of reception, but no method of renunciation; even if there is a transgression, they are not lost, down to the limit of the future. If someone wishes to come and receive them, the bodhisattva Dharma master should first explain, read, and recite [them] for them, causing that person's mind to open and intention to understand, generating a mind of delight and attachment; only then bestow them upon the person. Furthermore, if a Dharma master can transform and guide one person in all lands to go forth from the household life and receive the bodhisattva precepts, the merit of this Dharma master surpasses building eighty-four thousand stupas, how much more so for two persons, three persons, or even hundreds and thousands—his meritorious fruits cannot be measured. As for the preceptors, husbands and wives and the six relations may mutually serve as preceptors and bestow them. Those who receive the precepts enter the realm of the Buddhas and the count of bodhisattvas, surpassing the suffering of birth and death for three kalpas; therefore, they should receive them. Having them and transgressing them is superior to having none and not transgressing; having transgressions, one is named a bodhisattva; having no transgressions, one is named a non-Buddhist. For this reason, receiving one part of the precepts is called a one-part bodhisattva, up to two parts, three parts, four parts; and ten parts is called complete reception of the precepts. Therefore, regarding the bodhisattva's ten grave precepts and eighty thousand deportment precepts: for the ten grave precepts, if there is a transgression without repentance, one can be made to receive the precepts again; the eighty thousand deportment precepts are all called minor—if there is a transgression, one can be made to repent and eradicate it face-to-face. For all bodhisattvas, both ordinary and noble, the precepts have the mind as their essence; therefore, if the mind were exhausted, the precepts would also be exhausted, but because the mind is inexhaustible, the precepts are also inexhaustible. Sentient beings of the six destinies who can receive the precepts, as long as they understand speech, obtain the precepts and do not lose them. Disciples of the Buddha! All Buddhas throughout the kalpas of the three times constantly make this statement. I now, beneath this tree, speak for fourteen hundred million people the method for initial reception of the precepts by bodhisattvas of faith and thought prior to the abodes. Disciples of the Buddha! These bodhisattvas of faith and thought, practicing the dharma of the ten precepts for ten thousand kalpas, will enter the mind of the ten abodes. Disciples of the Buddha! You should first transmit the bodhisattva precepts to the great assemblies, and only then expound the Necklace Sūtra, having the same view and the same practice."