天台菩薩戒疏 1.47

1.47

Tenth: the precept against assisting in slandering the Three Jewels. Superior virtues worthy of veneration are termed "Jewels"; to unreasoningly sully and defile them is therefore called "slander". It specifically possesses six conditions: first, assisting in slander before an assembly; second, the object is the Mahāyāna identical-essence and distinct-characteristics Three Jewels; third, giving rise to the above two conceptions; fourth, having the intention to slander; fifth, the speech is clear and distinct; sixth, the other person understands, whereupon the offense is committed. If any condition is lacking, one commits a minor offense. As for the text, it likewise has three parts: first, stating the title to enjoin the cessation of evil; next, enjoining the practice of the good; third, from "how much more so with the mouth..." onward, adducing the fault and concluding the offense. The first text also has two aspects: first, explaining the act of violation; slandering oneself or instructing others both constitute a major offense. Next, explaining the consummation of the karma: the internal mind is the cause, false views and the like serve as conditions, skillfully contriving falsities serves as the method, and engaging this mind in the practice of the method is called karma. Next, in "Yet a bodhisattva..." onward, within enjoining the practice of the good: regarding "outsiders" (tīrthikas), those whose minds wander outside the perfect principle, up to and including the three doctrines external to the external, are all termed "outsiders". At even a single word slandering the Buddha, one should always feel poignant sorrow; thus it is compared to the thrust of a pike. A pike is a weapon over two chang in length, mounted upon war chariots. Third, concluding the offense, as in the text.