[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [弘明集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102) › 12.20 # 弘明集 12.20 弘明集 12.20 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [12.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.12.20) 答曰。前論已包。此通上人意強氣猛弗之尋耳。戒以防非。無非何戒。故愚惑之夫其戒隨俗變律。華夏本不偏企。則聚骨交脛之律。故可得而略。手食之戒。無用匙筯之文。何重偏坐而輕乎手食。律不得手近女人。尋復許親溺可援。是為凡夫之疑。果足以改聖人之律。益知二百五十非自然定法。如此則固守不為全得師心。未足多怪。夏五闕文固守不為疑。明慎所見苟了。何得顧眾而動。企之為義意在宜進。欲速則事不得行。端坐則不安其居。時有倨傲之夫。故非禮法所許一堂兩制。上人之同泯焉莫逆。弟子之和了然單獨。何敢當五十大陣。是用畏敵而默。庶乎上善之救。 > I reply: My previous essay had already covered this; it is only that the Venerable One's intent was strong and his vigor fierce, so that he did not examine it. Precepts are meant to prevent wrongdoing; if there is no wrongdoing, what need is there for precepts? Therefore, for foolish and confused people, the precepts adapt to customs and modify the vinaya. The Central Land originally did not squat with one leg raised; thus the vinaya concerning gathering the bones and crossing the shins can properly be omitted. In the precept about eating by hand, there is no text about using spoons and chopsticks; why do you place weight on the squatting posture while making light of eating by hand? The vinaya forbids approaching women by hand, yet soon after permits rescuing a drowning relative; this was due to the doubts of ordinary people, which indeed sufficed to alter the sage's vinaya. It is all the more evident that the two hundred and fifty precepts are not natural, immutable rules. If so, stubbornly upholding them does not count as complete attainment, and relying on one's own mind is not something to be heavily blamed. The missing text of 'Xia fifth month' was stubbornly kept without doubt; once what is clearly and prudently seen is understood, how could one act simply out of regard for the multitude? The meaning of raising one leg lies in readiness to advance; if one desires haste, affairs cannot proceed, but if one sits properly, one cannot remain at ease. Sometimes there are arrogant men, so it is not permitted by ritual and law to have two systems in one hall. The Venerable One's conformity is seamlessly unified, while this disciple's harmony is clearly singular. How would I dare confront your battle array of fifty men? Therefore, out of fear of the adversary, I fell silent, hoping for rescue from the highest good. > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 12.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.12.19) - [Next: 12.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.12.21) - [Up: 12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.12) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102~en-mt.12.20) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.12.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2102.12.20) · Pramāṇa