華嚴經內章門等雜孔目章 2.35

2.35

Regarding the five precepts: first is the precept against killing; second is the precept against stealing; third is the precept against sexual misconduct; fourth is the precept against lying; fifth is the precept against drinking alcohol. These precepts may also be taken individually, and they are precepts maintained for the duration of one's life. The [first] four precepts are moral precepts by nature, while abstention from drinking alcohol is a prohibitive precept. The Upāsaka-śīla Sūtra states: "Eating meat incurs the sin of killing living beings. Why? Because out of craving the taste of meat, seeing another kill living beings, one gives rise to approval." These precepts belong to the Triyāna and also apply universally to the Hīnayāna, humans, devas, and the like. A sūtra states: "If one wishes to be born in heaven, one receives and maintains the five precepts together with the ten good deeds. Seeing a painted woman on a wall, if one does not produce the conception of a woman, that person is born in heaven, receives a celestial body, and undergoes apparitional birth." They also apply to the meaning of the Ekayāna, because they are designated by the Ekayāna and because dedicating them toward the Ekayāna serves as an expedient means. Question: Why is alcohol alone singled out as a prohibitive precept? Answer: Because the fault of alcohol is great, a specific prohibition was established regarding alcohol. Thus the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa states: "Alcohol has thirty-five disadvantages." It cites the Buddha's words to the upāsaka Ti-jia that alcohol has thirty-five disadvantages: first, the property of the present life is wasted and exhausted; second, it is the gateway to many illnesses; third, it is the root of disputes and quarrels; fourth, one becomes naked without shame; fifth, one gains an ugly name and bad reputation and is not respected by others; sixth, it obscures wisdom; seventh, what should be obtained is not obtained, and what has already been obtained is dissipated and lost; eighth, hidden matters are entirely disclosed to others; ninth, various enterprises are ruined and not accomplished; tenth, intoxication is the root of sorrow; eleventh, bodily strength progressively decreases; twelfth, bodily complexion is ruined; thirteenth, one does not know to respect one's father; fourteenth, one does not know to respect one's mother; fifteenth, one does not respect śramaṇas; sixteenth, one does not respect brāhmaṇas; seventeenth, one does not respect uncles and elders; eighteenth, one does not respect the Buddha; nineteenth, one does not respect the Dharma; twentieth, one does not respect the Saṅgha; twenty-first, one associates with evil people; twenty-second, one alienates the virtuous; twenty-third, one becomes a breaker of precepts; twenty-fourth, one lacks shame and conscience; twenty-fifth, one does not guard the six sense faculties; twenty-sixth, one indulges in sensual lust and heedlessness; twenty-seventh, one is detested by others and people do not wish to see him; twenty-eighth, respected friends and relatives jointly cast him out; twenty-ninth, one practices unwholesome dharmas; thirtieth, one abandons wholesome dharmas; thirty-first, one is not trusted or employed by wise people; thirty-second, one remains far from nirvāṇa; thirty-third, one plants the causes and conditions for madness and delusion; thirty-fourth, when the body breaks up at the end of life, one falls into evil destinies; thirty-fifth, if born in the human realm, one is constantly afflicted with madness and delusions. It was for this reason that it was specifically prohibited.