天台菩薩戒疏 3.12

3.12

第四十四、不敬經律戒。解不孤然，依教而得，法身父母、諸佛所師，經卷所在之三寶具矣。身有微解，責彼私恭，解從教生，於教輕忽，自他失敬，功福沈淪，故制罪也。別罪也。別具四緣：一、有佛經律，二、不寫傳持，三、不生尊重，四、安處卑微，便犯。就文為四：初標名勸持，次「剝皮」下示書寫法，三、「常以」下勸盛持供養，四、若不違制結犯。初如文。「剝皮」等者，先舉難行而誡心。如《大論》云：樂法梵志於十二年遍閻浮提求知聖法而不能得。時世無佛法，佛法亦盡。有婆羅門言：「我有佛偈，若實樂者，當以與汝。」答言：「實樂。」婆羅門言：「若實樂者，當以皮為紙，以骨為筆，以髓為水，以血為墨。」即如其言，書得佛偈。偈云：「如法應修行，非法不應行，今世及後世，行法者安穩。」「木皮」下，次舉易行以勸寫。三、勸盛持中，言七寶者，或七中之一，或具於七，為經函等。無價香華者，唯貴為珍，乃言無價。故《法華》云：「此香六銖，價直娑婆世界」等。四、結犯，如文。

Forty-fourth: The precept against disrespecting the sūtras and vinaya. Understanding does not arise in isolation; it is obtained by relying on the teachings. They are the parents of the dharmakāya and the teachers of all Buddhas; wherever the sūtra scrolls reside, the Three Jewels are fully present. If one has slight understanding oneself and demands private respect from others, yet understanding is born from the teachings and one treats the teachings with negligence, then both self and others lose respect, and merit and blessings sink into ruin; therefore, an offense is instituted. Specifically, it possesses four conditions: (1) there are Buddhist sūtras and vinaya, (2) not copying or transmitting them, (3) not generating reverence, and (4) placing them in a lowly position; then one incurs an offense. The text has four parts: first, stating the title and encouraging upholding; second, from 'flaying the skin' downward, showing the method of copying; third, from 'constantly with' downward, encouraging preserving and making offerings; fourth, establishing the offense for violating the prohibition. The first is as in the text. Regarding 'flaying the skin' and so forth: first, difficult practices are cited to admonish the mind. As the Dazhidulun states: A brahmacārin who loved the Dharma sought to know the noble Dharma throughout Jambudvīpa for twelve years without obtaining it. At that time, there was no Buddha Dharma in the world, and the Buddha Dharma had vanished. A brāhmaṇa said, 'I have a Buddha verse; if you truly delight in it, I shall give it to you.' He replied, 'I truly delight in it.' The brāhmaṇa said, 'If you truly delight in it, you must use your skin for paper, your bones for pens, your marrow for water, and your blood for ink.' Acting precisely according to his words, he was able to write down the Buddha verse. The verse said: 'One should practice according to the Dharma; one should not practice what is not Dharma. In this world and in future worlds, the practitioner of Dharma rests in peace.' From 'bark of trees' downward, it next cites easy practices to encourage copying. Third, in encouraging preserving [the texts], the 'seven jewels' refers either to one among the seven or all seven, used to make sūtra cases and the like. 'Priceless incense and flowers' means that because they are singularly precious and treasured, they are called priceless. Thus the Lotus Sūtra says: 'This incense of six zhu is worth the sahā world,' and so forth. Fourth, the offense is established, as in the text.