維摩經略疏 2.6

2.6

Question: If he only creates conditions for being strict in both, how is it that there are still faculties and conditions that are lax with the precepts and strict in the vehicle? Answer: The buddhas, the Tathāgatas, use the tranquil Way to create conditions for them, but because sentient beings' karmic defilements are deep and heavy, when cultivating meditation and contemplation they cannot purely uphold the prohibitive precepts, which results in conditions of being lax with the precepts and strict in the vehicle. Even though they are lax with the precepts and fall into the three evil paths, if they encounter Maitreya or the thousand buddhas and get to hear the gradual or sudden [teachings], they immediately enter the Way. The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra says, "One who is lax with the precepts is not called lax; one who is lax in the vehicle is called lax." Those who are lax in the vehicle and strict with the precepts, though born among humans and devas, do not encounter a buddha or hear the Dharma; when their retribution ends, they transmigrate through birth and death. Hence it is said: better to be Devadatta and die falling into hell, than to be Rāmaputra and be born in heaven to enjoy pleasure. Devadatta originally attained the stage of warmth; due to evil karmic conditions he fell back into hell, but on emerging he will obtain a human body and become a pratyekabuddha, his keen intelligence surpassing Śāriputra. Although Udraka Rāmaputra attained rebirth in heaven, once his heavenly fortune and retribution were exhausted, he fell into the three paths, transmigrating through birth and death without end.