梵網經菩薩戒本疏 3.58

3.58

Ninth, concerning permissible and non-permissible cases, there are two parts: first permissible, then non-permissible. As for the permissible, there are three. First, explaining praising oneself, there are also three: 1. praising the dharmas one practices in order to cause others to cultivate and learn them; 2. in order to cause sentient beings who have not yet believed to generate faith; 3. [in order to cause] those who have already believed to increase [it]. If there is genuinely this benefit and it is not mixed with greed or arrogance, praising oneself is not an offense, and not praising would be a fault, because it would run contrary to benefitting [others]. Second, explaining disparaging others, there are also three: 1. disparaging deviant paths to cause [others] to return to right view; 2. disparaging attached views to cause [others] to abandon attachments; 3. disparaging evil actions to cause [others] to cast them aside. If it is not mixed with anger or arrogance and is timely and beneficial, disparaging others is not an offense, and not disparaging would be a fault. Third, seeking fame and profit, there are two: 1. for the sake of benefitting sentient beings; 2. seeking true, supramundane fame and profit. This seeking is not an offense, and not seeking would be a fault. One should infer accordingly. Second, as for the non-permissible, either generally or specifically regarding the above three situations, if one gives rise to a thought intending to transgress with a mind associated with the defilements, although it has not yet reached a major [offense], it constitutes an offense, because these are dharmas that cause harm; hence, one must deeply guard against them. The remaining points can be known.