量處輕重儀 1.59

1.59

The two items above are needed for counting and calculation. Although their substance is entirely heavy property, they are capable of serving the tasks of the Way. In the Vinaya, for those who do not yet understand numbers and forget or make errors when reciting the precepts, keeping counting rods is permitted. As for strings of wooden beads and treasures made of multicolored imitation jewels, if evaluated by the Mahāsāṃghika's rule that 'all precious items are classified as heavy,' the text would encompass both genuine and imitation. Now, if we seek what is truly essential to the faculties according to situational conditions, nothing surpasses counting methods for receiving and guiding those of inferior capacities, prompting and assigning them to cultivate practice. By analogy with the Upāliparipṛcchā-ṭīkā's rule that 'imitation gems, spurious gems, and multicolored beads are permitted as articles among the one hundred and one items,' if used in accordance with the Dharma, they should be determined to be classified as light property. The remaining wooden, bamboo, and other items are distributed by analogy with this.