大般涅槃經集解 9.28

9.28

案僧亮曰：佛以三事證平等也。一以羯磨治罪，不斷其命；二以光照，光是慈果，施無畏也；三治眾得福，不害於慈也。寶亮曰：人若猶有信者，則不得斷命。夫生道萬端，何必苟在斯法？比丘自可依法而立德，豈懼譏呵而壞行耶？

Sengliang comments: The Buddha proves equality through three matters: first, punishing offenses through karmavācanā without terminating life; second, through illumination with light, where light is the fruit of benevolence and confers fearlessness; third, punishing the community brings merit and does not harm benevolence. Baoliang comments: If people still possess faith, one must not terminate their life. Ways of life are myriad; why must one rigidly insist upon this rule? Monks can naturally establish virtue according to the Dharma; why fear criticism and thereby ruin their practice?