菩薩戒義疏 2.24

2.24

Ninth, the precept against not attending to the sick: it is established because it contravenes compassion. All seven assemblies commit the offense alike; the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna do not entirely share it. A mahāsattva should care for all; for śrāvakas, it is restricted to teachers, friends, companions, roommates, monks, and nuns, and beyond these it is not prohibited, because fundamentally they do not embrace all beings. The narration of matters has three layers: first, mentioning the sick person as a supreme field of merit; second, what is proper: saying that providing for a sick person is like providing for the Buddha is an expression of the utmost respect. This explains that it depends on the mind, not on the field: just as Ānanda shared food with a starving dog, because this mind was clear and excellent, it was equal to the Buddha. When a bodhisattva sees any sick person, they should attend to them according to their ability. In the text, mentioning parents, teachers, and disciples starts from what is close at hand. At the end it says "in cities and in the wilderness": whenever anyone is sick, one should save them, so one knows it applies to all. If out of anger one abandons them, a minor defilement infraction is concluded for each person. If one lacks the ability and arouses a mind of compassionate concern, there is no offense. The minute details are as explained in the vinaya texts.