菩薩戒本疏 2.65

2.65

"Disciples of the Buddha! When, with a mind of compassion, one practices the deed of releasing living beings, one should think thus: 'All men have been my fathers, and all women have been my mothers; in life after life, there is none through whom I have not taken birth. Sentient beings of the six destinies are all my parents; therefore, to kill and eat them is to kill my parents and to kill my former body. All earth and water has been my past body; all fire and wind has been my original substance.' Therefore, one should constantly practice releasing living beings, for taking birth life after life is an eternally abiding principle, and teach others to release living beings. If one sees worldly people killing animals, one should skillfully rescue and protect them, liberating them from their suffering and difficulties, and constantly instruct and expound the bodhisattva precepts, rescuing and crossing over sentient beings. On the day a parent or brother dies, one should invite a Dharma master to lecture on the bodhisattva precept scripture, dedicating merit to aid the deceased so that they may see the Buddhas and be born in the human and heavenly realms. If one does not do so, they commit a duṣkṛta offense."