菩薩戒本疏 2.48

2.48

Setting fires rashly without choosing the time and place harms and damages very many real things; therefore it is prohibited and cut off. Both the Mahāyāna and the Lesser Vehicle prohibit it. Among the seven assemblies, for the five renunciant assemblies, in terms of time it is completely cut off in all seasons; in terms of place, the open is prohibited while covered places are permitted. For the two lay assemblies, in terms of time it is forbidden in the heat and permitted in the cold because they have occupations and property; in terms of place, both the open and covered are permitted, but they must not allow it to spread and cause harm. Deducing the principle of this precept, it is intended to prevent two parājika offenses: first, to prevent the killing of living beings; second, to prevent theft and damage. In accordance with what the text states, this should indeed be the case in principle. This precept specifically forbids pramāda of the body. In the text, 'with an evil mind, sets a great fire': not considering harm to others' lives or property, rashly setting fire so that it spreads—hence it says 'evil mind.' 'Burning mountain forests and wildernesses from the fourth month up to the ninth month': specifically intended for the harm to life, hence it prohibits the hot season. From 'or burns another person's houses and residences' downward: specifically intended for damage to property, hence it is prohibited at all times. If due to setting fire one harms life or damages property, killing and stealing are charged separately. Here it only forbids the setting of fire, so it is charged as a duṣkṛta offense. 'One must not intentionally burn any property that has an owner': an old commentary changed this to 'living beings' (yousheng wu), which is wrong. Failing to understand the sectioning of the text, they still raised an objection, saying: If it refers to property that has an owner, why specify from the fourth month to the ninth month? As sectioned above, it is only in harming life that the fourth to the ninth months are prohibited; in damaging property, it is not limited to months or seasons. How could one make such a confused adoption and rashly alter the sūtra text?