菩薩戒義疏 2.11

2.11

Eighth is the precept against stinginess coupled with disparagement. "Stinginess" is the name for possessive attachment; "coupled with disparagement" means heaping insults upon [the person] through body and speech. When another person seeks wealth or requests the Dharma, being stingy and unwilling to give and furthermore adding insult and humiliation runs completely counter to the path of transforming others; therefore one incurs an offense. Members of the seven assemblies equally commit this precept, but it is not entirely shared between the Mahāyāna and the Hīnayāna. A bodhisattva makes no distinction between close and distant, giving to all who ask; refusing to give and adding insult both constitute an offense, because the fundamental vow encompasses all beings. For the śrāvaka, it is only failing to teach the Dharma to a disciple that violates the seventh cluster (duṣkṛta); not giving wealth is not prohibited. In the case of nuns, not giving wealth or Dharma within two years violates the third category (pāyattika); not giving after two years violates the seventh cluster. Adding disparagement is incurred individually according to the circumstance and is not combined into a major [offense]. This precept is complete with five conditions to constitute a major offense: first, that it is a sentient being; second, the notion of a sentient being; third, the mind of stinginess and disparagement; fourth, manifesting the signs of stinginess; fifth, the other person understands. Regarding the first, that it is a sentient being: it means that objects of the upper and middle grades constitute a major offense, while those of the lower grade are minor. Second, the notion of a sentient being is as before. Third, the mind of stinginess and disparagement means that stingily withholding wealth or Dharma out of malice and anger and additionally beating or scolding [the person] constitutes an offense. If the other person is unsuited to hear the Dharma or receive wealth, and it is fitting that they be scolded and humiliated, in neither case is it an offense. Being stingy oneself and disparaging oneself is properly the master of the karma and incurs a minor defilement infraction, because the other person's instructing does not offend against oneself. Fourth, manifesting the signs of stinginess means either hiding away and not giving wealth or Dharma, or claiming to have nothing at all, or driving them away with a staff, or heaping abuse with harsh words, and so forth—all of which are called manifesting the signs. Whether manifesting and doing it with one's own body, or having another beat and scold them, both are major. If the other person sends an emissary to seek wealth or request the Dharma, and one is stingy toward the emissary or harshly scolds them, none of these should be major; since it is not face to face, the harm and distress to the person are slight. Thus the Vinayaviniścaya-sūtra states: "Lay bodhisattvas should practice two kinds of giving: first, wealth; second, Dharma. Monastic bodhisattvas practice four kinds of giving: first, paper; second, ink; third, brushes; fourth, Dharma. Bodhisattvas who have attained forbearance practice three kinds of giving: first, royal thrones; second, wives and children; third, head, eyes, skin, and bones." One should know that ordinary bodhisattvas bestow gifts according to what is appropriate; cutting them off entirely constitutes an offense. Fifth, the other person understands: recognizing the signs of stinginess and receiving the words of beating and scolding; with each circumstance and each utterance a major [offense] is incurred. This precept is likewise determined as major by this rule.