梵網經菩薩戒本疏 3.12

3.12

Ninth, regarding antidotes and practices: these are distinguished according to the three clusters [of pure precepts]. First, with respect to the precepts of restraining conduct, there are two: First, with respect to the object: that is, the contemplation of impurity, observing that this is truly feces, urine, and impurity, which is explained fully here. In addition, the five kinds of impurities and others in the Dazhidulun are recorded in detail. Second, with respect to the mind: that is, these thoughts of desire all arise from improper reflection (ayoniśomanaskāra); if one ceases this reflection, desire will not arise. As the verse says: "Desire, desire, I know your root: / you only arise from conceptual thinking; / now I will not think of you, / and you will no longer be able to arise." Furthermore, these forms and objects are all the false and deceptive manifestations of one's own mind, as the Mahāyānasaṃgraha says: "Regarding the body of a single comely courtesan, / a renunciant, a lustful person, and a hungry dog, / view it respectively as a foul corpse, a charming beauty, and delicious food; / the three kinds of distinctions are all different." Therefore, know that greedy attachment grasps only one's own mind, like a dog gnawing on a dry bone, licking only its own saliva. Moreover, know that both the grasper and the grasped are this falsehood, empty and without existence; thus there is nothing that cannot be relinquished. Second, with respect to the precepts collecting good qualities: a bodhisattva should properly cultivate the right wisdom and right contemplation of the perfections and boundless good roots; how could one practice such an unchaste defilement? Third, with respect to the precepts benefiting sentient beings: a bodhisattva ought by principle to benefit sentient beings with countless mundane and supramundane wholesome dharmas; if sentient beings give rise to such afflictions, one should properly rescue them, so how could one personally inflict unchaste defilement upon them? Therefore, the sūtra says: "It is better to sacrifice one's life than to inflict evil upon others; that one should inflict evil upon others is impossible." The Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna Sūtra states: "Even a painting of a woman, / the eyes do not wish to view; / destroying desire with firm and luminous wisdom, / one is therefore called liberated."