緇門警訓 4.14

4.14

The Zichi [ji] states: "In the Sarvāstivāda Vinaya, the monastic rule requires that before a bhikṣu reaches five summer retreats, he should specialize exclusively in the Vinaya section. Only if he understands upholding and infraction and manages the affairs of a bhikṣu may he afterward study the sūtras and treatises. Nowadays, they study out of sequence, and since practice has lost its proper order, there is no way to enter the Way. The Great Sage's reprimand was never in vain! Furthermore, that Vinaya states: 'When the Buddha saw that the bhikṣus were not studying the Vinaya, he praised the Vinaya and openly praised Upāli as foremost in upholding the Vinaya. Later, the senior sthavira bhikṣus all learned the Vinaya from Upāli.' Nowadays, as soon as they have barely received the precept rank, they immediately listen to doctrines and engage in Chan inquiry, completely ignorant of the deportment and rules of a monk. What is more, they slight the precept standards and slander the Vinaya, disparaging the study of the Vinaya as Hīnayāna and disregarding the upholding of precepts as clinging to marks. Thereupon, they run wild in the dust of the world, indulging in unrestrained arrogance and cruelty, addiction to wine and meat, declaring themselves to be free of attachments. Committing lust and speaking with wrath, they claim to have attained the Way. Failing to fathom the Sage's intent, they misunderstand the True Vehicle. Moreover, if the precepts must be despised, why did you mount the platform to receive them? If the Vinaya must be reviled, why did you shave your hair and dye your robes? Thus, despising the precepts is entirely despising yourself; reviling the Vinaya turns out to be reviling yourself. Delusive feelings are easily habitualized, but the Supreme Way is difficult to hear. Those who surpass the worldly and transcend the crowd are not one in ten thousand. I ask you to examine the Sage's instructions closely: can you fail to comply with them?"