菩薩戒本疏 2.144

2.144

The Dharma of the precepts is venerable and profound; in principle one must screen the vessels. Rashly speaking them to non-vessels conversely generates fault and transgression, which is why [the Buddha] instituted this prohibition. It is prohibited in both the Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna, and applies equally to the seven assemblies. The Bodhisattvabhūmi states: 'Furthermore, regarding the bodhisattvas' ritual rules for the reception of the bodhisattva prātimokṣa, although they have already fully received, upheld, and mastered them, they will never precipitously expound and illuminate them to non-believing sentient beings who slander the Bodhisattva-piṭaka. Why is this? Because upon hearing them, [such beings] cannot believe and understand them; being shrouded by the great obstacle of ignorance, they immediately generate slander. Due to this slander, just as one abiding in the pure ethical precepts of a bodhisattva accomplishes an immeasurable treasury of great merit, that slanderer likewise comes to be pursued by an immeasurable treasury of great sinful karma, up to and including that so long as all evil speech, evil views, and evil thoughts are not eternally abandoned, they will never be free from it.' As for the text's words from 'must not, for the sake of profit and offerings, in the presence of one who has not received the bodhisattva precepts' up to 'also must not speak before people of great wrong views': if it is not for profit, but out of a desire to make one who is about to receive them know the characteristics of the precepts, although one speaks them there is no transgression. Therefore the Treatise [on the Bodhisattvabhūmi] states: 'Furthermore, when bodhisattvas wish to transmit the bodhisattva precepts to a bodhisattva, they should first expound the Bodhisattva-dharmapiṭaka-mātṛkā, the bodhisattva śikṣāpadas, and the characteristics of the points of transgression, causing them to listen and receive them. Through wisdom they observe their own aspirations: if they are capable of deliberating and receiving the bodhisattva precepts, not merely because of another's urging and not to surpass others, you should know that this is called a resolute bodhisattva, capable of receiving the pure precepts of a bodhisattva. Through the ritual for receiving the precepts, properly transmit them in accordance with the rules.' From this we know that for a faithful person who is about to receive them, even before they have received them, one may also expound them in advance; it is not like the śrāvaka [vinaya], which is only spoken after ordination. One who has not received the bodhisattva precepts, even if without divergent views, must not have them spoken to them solely because they have not yet received them. Even if a śrāvaka has the full precepts, since they have not yet received the Great [Precepts], in principle one must also not rashly speak [these precepts] to them. 'Non-Buddhists and evil people' refers to people with divergent views. 'Those of great wrong views' refers to people who slander. 'Excepting only kings': a king possesses sovereign authority; success or failure depends on him. Furthermore, to make him know the Dharma and purify his mind, one may speak them for him. From 'Such evil people' downward, it rebukes those who do not receive them. From 'Yet if a bodhisattva' downward, speaking them rashly constitutes a transgression; all who have no intention to receive them are called evil people. The Bodhisattva-śīla-sūtra states: 'If a bhikṣu listens to the bodhisattva precepts in order to find faults, not faithfully receiving the teachings; or if one has not accomplished the upāsaka precepts, has not accomplished the śrāmaṇera precepts, or has not accomplished the prātimokṣa precepts, they must not listen to the bodhisattva precepts. If they listen, they incur an offense. If a bhikṣu transgresses a prātimokṣa [precept] and, without shame or repentance, listens to the bodhisattva precepts, he incurs a sthūlātyaya offense. If he transgresses a sthūlātyaya and, without shame or repentance, listens to the bodhisattva precepts, he incurs a saṃghāvaśeṣa offense. If he transgresses a saṃghāvaśeṣa and, without shame or repentance, listens to the bodhisattva precepts, he incurs a pārājika offense, which means the eighteen grave offenses; if someone speaks them [to him], they incur a saṃghāvaśeṣa offense. Therefore, in the sūtra it is said: "Those without faith should not listen; to those without faith one should not speak."'