緇門警訓 3.24

3.24

資持引標宗云。是汝大師以能軌物也。或云。人足能有所至也。或云。大地生成住持也。道品樓柱聖道所依也。禪定城郭定慧所憑也。乃至如池如鏡。如纓絡如頭如器。又智論中如重寶如命。如船如鳥翅等。尋之可知。又篇聚中先明戒護。具列八喻。如王小子如月光。如如意珠如王一子。如人一目如貧資糧。如王好國如病良藥。又戒大序如海無涯如寶無厭。僧祇戒本如猿猴鎖如馬轡勒。廣在經律不復繁引。良以戒德高廣故。非一物可喻。偏舉諸像各得一端。不能全似。

The Zichi cites the Biaozong, saying: They are your Great Master because they can regulate beings. Or it is said: they are human feet, able to reach somewhere. Or it is said: they are the great earth, giving birth to and upholding things. They are the pillars of the path factors, that on which the noble path relies. They are the walls of dhyāna-concentration, that on which concentration and wisdom depend. Up to: like a pond, like a mirror, like a necklace of jewels, like a head, like a vessel. Also, in the Dazhidulun, they are like precious jewels, like life, like a boat, like the wings of a bird, and so forth, which can be known by investigating them. Moreover, in the Pianju, it first clarifies the protection of precepts, fully listing eight metaphors: like the young son of a king, like the light of the moon, like a wish-fulfilling jewel, like the only son of a king, like a person's single eye, like provisions for the poor, like a king's fine country, like good medicine for the sick. Furthermore, the Great Preface to the Precepts says: like the ocean without shore, like jewels of which one never tires. The Mahāsāṃghika prātimokṣa says: like chains for a monkey, like a bridle and bit for a horse. These are extensively found in the sūtras and vinayas and need not be cited again in full. Truly, because the virtue of the precepts is lofty and vast, it cannot be illustrated by a single object. Citing various images individually, each captures one aspect, but cannot fully resemble it.