觀無量壽佛經疏 2.38

2.38

答曰：「餘戒稍寬，時節長遠，恐畏中間失念，流轉生死。其八戒者，如餘佛經說，在家人持出家戒。此戒持心極細極急。何意然者？但時節稍促，唯限一日一夜，作法即捨。云何知此戒用心行細？如戒文中具顯。云：佛子，從今旦至明旦，一日一夜，如諸佛不殺生，能持不？答言：能持。第二又云：佛子，從今旦至明旦，一日一夜，如諸佛不偷盜、不行婬、不妄語、不飲酒、不得脂粉塗身、不得歌舞唱伎及往觀聽、不得上高廣大床，此上八是戒非齋。不得過中食，此一是齋非戒。此等諸戒皆引諸佛為證。何以故？唯佛與佛正習俱盡。除佛已還，惡習等由在。是故不引為證也。是以得知此戒用心起行極是細急。又此戒，佛說有八種勝法。若人一日一夜具持不犯，所得功德超過人天二乘境界。如經廣說，有斯益故，致使父王日日受之。」

Answer: 'The other precepts are slightly broader and their duration is long; he feared that in the interval he might lose mindfulness and wander in saṃsāra. As for the eight precepts, as explained in other Buddhist sūtras, they are the precepts of the monastic life upheld by householders. In upholding these precepts, the mind is extremely meticulous and extremely urgent. Why is that? The duration is rather brief, limited only to one day and one night, and upon performing the ritual they are relinquished. How is it known that the mental application and practice of these precepts are meticulous? As clearly revealed in the text of the precepts, it says: "Disciple of the Buddha, from this morning until tomorrow morning, for one day and one night, just as all Buddhas do not take life, are you able to uphold this?" The answer is: "I am able to uphold it." The second says: "Disciple of the Buddha, from this morning until tomorrow morning, for one day and one night, just as all Buddhas do not steal, do not engage in unchaste conduct, do not speak falsely, do not drink alcohol, must not apply rouge or powder to the body, must not sing, dance, perform, or go to watch and listen, and must not mount high, broad, and large beds—these above eight are precepts and not fasting. Must not eat past midday—this one is fasting and not a precept." All these precepts cite all the Buddhas as witness. Why? Only Buddha and Buddha have both active defilements and residual tendencies exhausted. Except for Buddhas, evil tendencies and the like still remain. Therefore, they are not cited as witness. From this, it is known that the mental application and arising of practice for these precepts are extremely meticulous and urgent. Moreover, regarding these precepts, the Buddha explained that there are eight kinds of superior qualities. If a person completely upholds them for one day and one night without violation, the merit obtained exceeds the realms of humans, devas, and the two vehicles. As broadly explained in the sūtras, because there is such benefit, it caused the father-king to receive them day after day.'