天台菩薩戒疏 3.15

3.15

第四十七、立制滅法戒。有力之人受佛付囑，既能稟戒應護三寶，庶得佛法長存，為五乘之軌導。今乃恃勢立制非法，違佛付囑，乖受本心，致令日隱舟沈，蒼生眼滅，是故制犯。別具四緣：一、信心受戒，二、自恃高威，三、立非法制，四、損滅佛法，便犯。就文為三：初標有戒之人。言「四部」者，比丘等四皆有力能滅法者。次「自恃」下出非法制，制於如法比丘四，拘繫帳籍闕於剃髮出家，已出家者不得習學決疑修福，但為營理俗務，故云「不聽出家」乃至「非法非律」。三、「而菩薩」下，違制結犯。

Forty-seventh: the precept against establishing regulations to destroy the Dharma. Persons of power have received the Buddha's entrustment; since they are capable of taking up the precepts, they should protect the Three Jewels, hoping to allow the Buddha-Dharma to abide long and serve as the guiding track for the five vehicles. If they now rely on their influence to establish unprincipled regulations, violating the Buddha's entrustment and running counter to their original mind when receiving [the precepts], causing the sun to be concealed and the boat to sink, extinguishing the eyes of the populace, an offense is therefore established. It specifically comprises four conditions: (1) having received the precepts with faithful mind; (2) relying on high prestige and power; (3) establishing unprincipled regulations; (4) damaging and destroying the Buddha-Dharma, upon which one commits the offense. As for the text, there are three parts: first, stating the person possessing the precepts. "Four assemblies" means that all four, such as bhikṣus and so on, have the power to destroy the Dharma. Next, from "relying on prestige" down, setting forth the unprincipled regulations: imposing restrictions on the four [assemblies] of lawful bhikṣus, binding them to official registers so they lack [the freedom for] shaving the hair and leaving household life, and forbidding those who have already left household life from studying, resolving doubts, and cultivating merit, making them manage only secular affairs; hence it says "not permitting leaving household life" down to "unlawful and non-vinaya." Third, from "if a bodhisattva" down, concluding with the offense of violating the regulation.