菩薩戒義疏 2.17

2.17

Second, the precept against drinking liquor: it is established because liquor opens the door to heedlessness. All seven assemblies commit the offense alike; both the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna prescribe against it; a minor defilement infraction is incurred with every single swallow. The narration of matters has three stages: first, explaining the faults; second, prescribing what is not proper; third, adducing the wrongdoing and concluding the offense. Passing a liquor vessel to another has two interpretations: one says it means holding the cup or liquor vessel to urge them on; the other says it means merely passing an empty vessel for them to pour into. Searching the context of the subsequent comparison, it should follow the latter interpretation. If even passing the vessel is like this, how much more so drinking it oneself? Therefore, in establishing the precept, five periods of five hundred [lifetimes] are mentioned: first, five hundred in the Salty Dregs Hell; second, five hundred in Boiling Excrement; third, five hundred as crooked maggots; fourth, five hundred as flies and gnats; fifth, five hundred as dull-witted and ignorant insects. The present five hundred lifetimes [in the text] perhaps refer to the last one: because one gave a drug causing dullness to others, one is born among dull-witted insects. "Must not teach this" is the second [stage], prescribing that one should not teach it. Giving it to humans or non-humans, as well as drinking it oneself, are all prohibited. From "if intentionally" onward is the third section, adducing the wrongdoing and concluding the offense. Doing it oneself or instructing another are both equally minor defilement infractions. If it is genuinely used as medicine for a severe illness, or if it does not lead to faults and harms, it is entirely permitted. The Adbhutadharma-sūtra mentions a minister's wife drinking liquor; this was seeing the occasion to bring benefit, which is unlike the ordinary rule.