大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 18.7

18.7

Next is not engaging in malicious speech: [The sūtra says,] "Furthermore, Lord of Secrets! A bodhisattva should keep the precept against malicious speech, / Apart from divisive speech and apart from harmful speech; / If one violates it, one is not called a bodhisattva. / The bodhisattva does not generate a mind to divide sentient beings; / Or by other unique skillful means, / Seeing that there are sentient beings who give rise to attachments according to whatever views they hold, / One engages in divisive speech according to their kind, / In order to cause them to abide in the single path, / Namely, abiding in the path of all-knowledge." [The verse says:] "The bodhisattva is without divisive speech and without disturbing speech; / One who violates this does not practice the bodhisattva path. / Toward sentient beings, one does not give rise to a mind of separation; / Or if sentient beings cling to views according to their perspective, / One engages in divisive speech according to their kind, / In order to cause sentient beings to abide in the single path, / Namely, abiding in the path of all-knowledge." This is the sixth precept. The characteristics of malicious speech are fully explained in the Vinaya, including the cause-and-effect story of the jackal and the lion, and so forth. A bodhisattva always cultivates non-injurious conduct, causing all superior, middling, and inferior classes to be joyful and harmonious, without creating causes and conditions for discord. Yet seeing that there are sentient beings with various deviant views, each attached to their own doctrine and unable to escape by themselves, experiencing great suffering on this account, the bodhisattva at that time speaks divisive words in order to lead them to abandon evil spiritual friends. For example, in the past there was a non-Buddhist master who led a thousand disciples and taught deviant path teachings. Observing that they possessed the conditions to be converted, the bodhisattva entered into his esoteric doctrines as a disciple; before long, he mastered all their profundities, his wisdom and discernment being incomparable. That master praised him, saying, "This person has fully received my teachings," and divided his five hundred disciples to be led by him. At that time, the bodhisattva gradually used skillful means, entering into their views and gently converting them. After a long time, knowing that they had generated deep faith and submission toward him, he gradually revealed the profound Dharma. At that time, the minds and views of the five hundred disciples gradually became upright and attained the nature of wisdom. When that master heard that the teachings were different, he came to observe and listen. Because the bodhisattva gave various demonstrations and explanations, the master also awoke and understood. Immediately, the five hundred people also took the bodhisattva as their master and received the new Dharma; thereupon, all thousand people entered the true Dharma. Instances such as this are skillful means for breaking up their harmony. The bodhisattva's practice is exceedingly vast and cannot be described in full. Citing one example illustrates the rest, and they can be understood accordingly.