菩薩戒義疏 2.3

2.3

First is the precept against killing, the beginning of the ten major [precepts]. In the case of the śrāvakas, unchaste conduct is placed first because people frequently commit faults regarding it and because its realm-bound afflictions are heavy; therefore, it was prohibited first. Although killing is an inherent offense, renouncers commit this offense rarely, and it is also easy to prevent and cut off. Since sexual desire arises easily, prohibiting it is placed at the very beginning. The Dàzhìdù lùn states that the śrāvaka precepts accommodate human sentiments and largely guard against the side that arises easily. Therefore, that which is minor yet arises often is prohibited with gravity; that which is grave yet arises rarely is prohibited with minor offenses. Sexual desire is not an inherent offense, whereas killing is an inherent offense; thus the Mahāyāna prohibits it at the very beginning. Now, killing means severing the life of another. A sentient being exists as the continuum of the five aggregates; to cut off this continuum now is called killing. The Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra states: “Obstructing future continuity is called killing.” It is instituted equally for monastic and lay, like the five precepts and eight precepts. The mahāsattva takes loving-kindness and compassion as the foundation, and therefore it must be severed. The seven assemblies of bodhisattvas all equally commit the infraction. Between them and the five assemblies of śrāvakas there are broad similarities and minor differences: the similarity is that neither permits killing; the differences broadly comprise three matters. First, differences in allowance and prohibition: a mahāsattva, seeing the right occasion, may kill, whereas a śrāvaka, even seeing [the occasion], is not permitted to kill. Second, differences regarding form and mind: the mahāsattva regulates the mind, whereas the śrāvaka regulates physical form. Third, differences in gravity: for a mahāsattva to harm a teacher incurs an anantarya offense, whereas for a śrāvaka it is not an anantarya. Moreover, the gravity of the mahāsattva's [precept] is graver than the gravity of the śrāvaka's.