法界次第初門 3.13

3.13

Second, śīla-pāramitā. Śīla is in Qin language "delighting in the wholesome." Delighting in practicing the wholesome path without self-indulgence or heedlessness is called śīla. Whether receiving the precepts and practicing the wholesome, or not receiving the precepts and practicing the wholesome, both are called śīla. Briefly stated, there are two kinds of śīla: first, lay śīla; second, monastic śīla. Lay śīla refers to the three refuges, the five precepts, and the eight fasting-day precepts. Second, monastic śīla refers to the ten precepts of the monastic śrāmaṇera and śrāmaṇerikā, the six dharma-precepts of the śikṣamāṇā, the complete precepts of the fully ordained bhikṣu and bhikṣuṇī, and up to the three thousand deportments and eighty thousand disciplinary practices. The bodhisattva's ten major and forty-eight minor [precepts] are precepts shared commonly by both lay and monastic. When a bodhisattva upholds such precepts with an upright, straightforward, and pure mind, these are all called śīla. As for pāramitā, the translated name is as before. If a bodhisattva abides in the two kinds of śīla and is able fully to cultivate five kinds of mental states, at that time the śīla is called pāramitā. What are the five? First, knowing that in the true characteristic of śīla, transgressions are ungraspable, yet delighting in practicing the wholesome path and not being self-indulgent or heedless. The remaining four are categorized as distinguished within dāna. If a bodhisattva can fully cultivate these five mental states, then in whatever upholding of precepts and practice of the wholesome, speaking of the fruit within the cause, they all possess the three meanings. Therefore, the bodhisattva's upholding of precepts is called practicing śīla-pāramitā. Only when reaching the fruit of Buddhahood of unsurpassed bodhi is śīla-pāramitā fully consummated.