楞伽阿跋多羅寶經註解 4.273

4.273

In the text, the phrase 'there is no fish or meat that exists without being ordered, without being sought, and without being intended' should possess two meanings: First, it means that butchers not only kill by themselves but also teach others to kill—this is 'ordering'; taking those sentient beings with hooks and nets for the sake of wealth and profit—this is 'seeking'; seeing their forms and giving rise to consciousness, their bodies becoming attached to the taste—this is 'intending'. Second, it means that although foolish meat-eating sentient beings do not kill by themselves, by eating meat they give rise to butchers' trade, which is the meaning of 'ordering to kill'; using money as a net to capture meat is the meaning of 'seeking'; the meaning of 'intending' is the same as above. However, the five constants of Confucianism place benevolence at the head: phrases such as 'he fished but did not use a net; he shot with an arrow but not at roosting birds', 'do not kill embryos; do not destroy the young', and 'the gentleman stays far away from the kitchen' are all beginnings of benevolence, yet they do not prohibit the eating of meat. Our Buddha directly establishes the non-killing of sentient beings as the first precept, viewing tiny insects and flitting creatures as no different from his own children; holding that if one does not abstain from this, the seed of compassion is severed. Is this benevolence not vast indeed!