四分律行事鈔資持記 1.183

1.183

《涅槃經》有南北二本，此引北本第十七〈梵行品〉文。今但括意，文少不等。初二句舉因果索機；必下，示修證之法。若下，出其違行；我亦下，遮其受經。所以然者。經明眾生佛性，如雜血乳；停搆煎煖，乃出醍醐。佛性亦爾，為煩惱雜；三學修治，漸至佛果。欲斷煩惱，先須止業。止業之要，豈過戒律。今時濫染大乘，便言不拘不檢，無持無犯，何善何罪。師徒傳妄，作惡無窮。又云：持戒人天果報。請詳佛語，宜息邪情。況《華嚴》圓頓上乘，《涅槃》終窮極唱；金言猛勵，可不信乎！

There are two editions of the Nirvāṇa-sūtra, the Southern and the Northern; this quotes the text of the seventeenth chapter, "Pure Conduct", in the Northern edition. Here, only the general meaning is summarized, so the wording is slightly different. The first two lines raise causes and fruits to seek responsive capacities; from "Must..." onward, it indicates the method of cultivation and realization. From "If..." onward, it presents contrary practices; from "I also..." onward, it bars their receiving of the sūtras. The reason for this is: the sūtra explains that the buddha-nature of sentient beings is like milk mixed with blood; only after resting, processing, boiling, and heating does it yield ghee. The buddha-nature is also like this, mixed with afflictions; through the cultivation and regulation of the three learnings, one gradually reaches the fruit of buddhahood. If one wishes to sever afflictions, one must first stop karmic actions. As for the essentials of stopping karmic actions, how could anything surpass the Vinaya precepts? Nowadays, people indiscriminately dabble in the Mahāyāna, and then claim to be unconstrained and unexamined, with neither maintenance nor violation, neither good nor sin. Masters and disciples transmit this delusion to each other, committing boundless evil. They also say: "Maintaining the precepts merely yields retributions in the human and heavenly realms." Please examine the Buddha's words carefully, and put an end to heterodox inclinations. Moreover, the Avataṃsaka is the perfect and sudden supreme vehicle, and the Nirvāṇa is the ultimate, final proclamation; can one not believe these fierce and urging golden words?!