仁王護國般若經疏 2.19

2.19

"Worthies of the five precepts" next lists their names. "Five" has the sense of a number. "Precepts" has the sense of prevention. In Sanskrit, upāsaka; here translated as man of pure faith, because he gives rise to pure faith in the Buddha's Dharma. It is also called man who serves closely, because by relying on the Three Jewels, drawing near to teachers and elders, he serves them without fault. Refraining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct—these three prevent the karma of the body; the single precept of false speech prevents the karma of speech; the single precept of drinking alcohol prevents both karmas generally. For a broad explanation of the characteristics of the precepts, it is as spoken in the Śīlapāramitā of the Da zhidu lun, and so forth. Trapuṣa and Bhallika asked the Buddha: "Why do you not preach four or six precepts for us?" The Buddha answered: "Five is the great number under heaven: in heaven it is the five planets; on earth it is the five sacred peaks; in man it is the five viscera; in yin and yang it is the five elements; in rulers it is the five sovereigns; in the world it is the five constants; in color it is the five colors; in the Dharma it is the five precepts." Correlating non-killing with the east: the east is wood; wood governs benevolence; benevolence takes the nurturing of life as its meaning. Correlating non-stealing with the north: the north is water; water governs wisdom; the wise person takes non-stealing as its meaning. Correlating non-sexual misconduct with the west: the west is metal; metal governs righteousness; one who has righteousness does not commit sexual misconduct. Correlating non-drinking of alcohol with the south: the south is fire; fire governs propriety; propriety prevents mistakes. Correlating non-false speech with the center: the center is earth; earth governs trustworthiness; a person of false speech deviates into the two extremes and does not accord with the central and correct; the central and correct takes not being biased or deviant as its meaning. The Way approaching neighboring sagehood is called worthy, designating the rank of the nominal practitioner.