大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 18.6

18.6

Next is the precept against harsh speech: [The sūtra says,] "The bodhisattva with a gentle mind receives with faith and gathers in sentient beings. / Furthermore, Lord of Secrets! Keeping the precept against harsh, abusive speech, / One should gather in all sentient beings with a gentle and pliable mind, / Speaking in language that accords with their kinds (reading the syntax in reverse order, meaning words that comply with them). / Lord of Secrets! The foremost practice of a bodhisattva is what is called benefiting sentient beings (this practice comes first). / Or another bodhisattva abiding in evil destinies / Speaks harsh words on account of sentient beings, / Using language that accords with their forms and classes. / Why is this? This is the bodhisattva's foremost practice for the sake of sentient beings; / Or a bodhisattva in evil destinies, on account of sentient beings, / Abides in harsh and evil speech." This is the fifth precept. "Harsh" refers to making statements that can cause another's mind not to comply, provoking unwholesome thoughts in them, or manifesting coarse traits with a loud voice; so-called rough, coarse speech and the like are all described as such in the Vinaya. A bodhisattva should always be gentle, kind, and compliant rather than abrupt and violent, proclaiming what delights the minds of others; by this means, one can gradually gather them in and cause them to enter the Buddha Path. But to cause offense and distress runs contrary to the skillful means of the four ways of gathering [sentient beings]; hence it is an offense. However, there are also skillful means for employing harsh speech. As told in the Great Text on Bodhisattva Precepts, there was a man who habitually engaged in harsh speech by nature, and none could convert him. The bodhisattva transformed himself into a man whose conduct was precipitous, violent, and wicked, exceeding the other's by immeasurable multiples. Seeing him, the man was delighted: "This person's conduct surpasses mine in all respects; I used to think none could equal me, yet now what he does is worthy of being my teacher." He then requested, saying, "Let me be your disciple." Having shared tasks for a long time, the bodhisattva gradually showed revulsion, gently praising gentle and compliant conduct and reprimanding harsh and violent deeds. Later, having reformed himself, he urged the other to reform, but the man had not yet complied. Later, having demonstrated the abandonment of evil conduct, the bodhisattva gradually cultivated the path by himself, attained great benefits of the Dharma, and manifested spiritual penetrations. The man gave rise to a feeling of wonder: "In the past, this person's conduct exceeded mine, yet he was able to reform himself and attain this Dharma. Why should I not do so?" He took him as his teacher once again and entered into the benefits of the Dharma. This is how a bodhisattva displays harshness and evil through wisdom and skillful means.