四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 1.400

1.400

Regarding slaves: The Mahāsāṃghika-vinaya says: If born in the house, purchased, or captured in a raid, they cannot [be ordained] either here or there. A slave given by another or a slave who came on his own is permitted to be ordained elsewhere. Nowadays, there are people who release slaves to let them go forth; if one follows the Sūtra on the Merits of Leaving the Household, if one releases male and female slaves as well as sons and daughters, one obtains immeasurable merit. The Vinaya does not clarify those who are released, but merely speaks of those who come on their own to seek refuge in the Dharma, discussing the propriety of ordaining them; by analogy with slaves and sons, both here and there are permitted. In the Five Hundred Questions: If one knows he is a slave of the Buddha and ordains him, one commits a grave offense; if one did not know at first, but learns of it later and does not send him away, it is also grave. Question: Is that person a great practitioner? Answer: He is not. The saṃgha's slaves are treated likewise, and return to their original slave status.