四分律刪繁補闕行事鈔 2.58

2.58

Question: Do the seven branches exhaustively subsume the precepts or not? Answer: They exhaust them! Even if some are not exhausted, they are subsumed into the seven, as explained when correlating the kinds of precepts. It is also said: They do not exhaustively subsume the precepts, because the natures of offenses are different; just as killing and beating are distinct, the essences that can guard against them differ. Therefore, the *Upāsakaśīla-sūtra* states: "Aside from the wholesome and unwholesome precepts, there are further karmic precepts, namely wholesome and unwholesome dharmas!" Thus we know that the root [precepts] are subsumed by the seven branches, while the kinds of karmic precepts subsume [the rest]. One should formulate four propositions: First, wholesome but not a precept, referring to the latter three of the ten! The Vinaya does not penalize transgressions of mere thought! Second, a precept but not wholesome, namely evil restraint. Third, both wholesome and a precept, the former seven branches among the ten wholesome deeds! Because one practices them directly without a prior pledge, they are called 'wholesome'! If one exerts effort in contrary to [evil], it is called a 'precept'! Fourth, neither, namely the morally neutral [deeds] of body and speech. Question: What is the distinction in operational characteristics between 'precept' (śīla) and 'restraint' (saṃvara)? Answer: Universal application without boundary is 'restraint'! Restraining oneself in confrontation with an object is 'precept etiquette'! For example, when a bhikṣu has received [the precepts] with conditions complete and, seeing a living being, does not kill it, with respect to this single object it is called 'upholding the precept against killing'; with respect to the remaining four classes of living beings, it is called 'upholding restraint'. If he kills this living being, it is called 'transgressing the precept against killing'; not killing the other living beings, he does not transgress restraint. If explained in terms of evil restraint, with respect to killing a single sheep, it is called 'upholding an evil precept'; with respect to other general kinds, where harm to any living being entails guilt, that is 'upholding [evil] restraint'.