觀心論疏 1.22

1.22

Question: How do these three kinds of transgressions differ? Answer: The Dazhidulun states: 'Just as cutting grass and taking the life of a sentient being both incur a pāyattika offense, when repenting face-to-face, both transgressions of violating non-informing [form] that obstruct the Way are extinguished, but the retribution for killing a living being is not extinguished.' Therefore, we know that killing a living being belongs to transgressions by nature; regardless of whether one has received the precepts or not, committing it incurs guilt. For the precept against cutting grass, receiving [the precept] and violating it incurs guilt; if one has not received it, there is no guilt; the same applies to the other precepts. Hence we know the two transgressions are distinct. Transgressions of defilement are delusions that obstruct the principle, belonging to transgressions of defilement. Thus, since the three transgressions differ, the three repentances are also distinct.