勝鬘寶窟 1.55

1.55

Tenth, the section on the Small and the Great. The Hīnayāna has no second reception of the precepts, whereas the Mahāyāna has reception again. The Hīnayāna allows relinquishment of the precepts, whereas the Mahāyāna has no relinquishment of the precepts. The Hīnayāna screens candidates, whereas the Mahāyāna does not screen candidates; thus slaves, maids, and animals who understand the Buddha's words can all receive the precepts. The Hīnayāna requires two masters, ten masters, or twenty masters, whereas the Mahāyāna requires only one master. The Hīnayāna guards against two karmas [body and speech], whereas the Mahāyāna guards against three karmas [including mind]. The Hīnayāna lasts for a single lifetime, whereas the Mahāyāna extends to the fruit of Buddhahood. The Hīnayāna formulates precepts gradually as offenses occur, whereas the Mahāyāna formulates them abruptly prior to offenses. The Hīnayāna precepts have fixed numbers, from ten precepts up to five hundred; the Mahāyāna is not fixed: sometimes six major; sometimes eight major and twenty-eight minor; sometimes forty-two kinds; sometimes ten major and forty-eight minor. The Nirvana Commentary fully harmonizes their similarities and differences.