梵網經菩薩戒本疏 6.130

6.130

初、制意者，以背俗故，不以老少為尊卑；以順道故，但以戒德為長幼。顯出世之勝範，摧我慢於世間，順成三聚之行，故須制也。

First, the intent of the prescription: Because one turns away from secular convention, seniority and juniority are not determined by age; because one accords with the Path, precedence is determined solely by the virtue of the precepts. It displays the supreme model of the world-transcending, destroys arrogance in the mundane world, and accords with and accomplishes the practice of the three clusters of precepts; hence it must be prescribed.