弘明集 5.57

5.57

問曰。佛經以殺生罪重地獄斯罰。冥科幽司應若影響。余有疑焉。何者。夫四大之體。即地水火風耳。結而成身以為神宅。寄生栖照津暢明識。雖託之以存。而其理天絕。豈唯精麁之間。固亦無受傷之地。滅之既無害於神。亦由滅天地間水火耳。

Question: The Buddhist scriptures state that the sin of killing living beings is grave, and that hell is its punishment; the dark regulations and unseen officers correspond like shadows and echoes. I have doubts about this. Why? The substance of the four great elements is merely earth, water, fire, and wind. They knot together to form a body, serving as the dwelling of the spirit, lodging life, harboring illumination, and circulating clear sentience. Although it relies on this to survive, in principle they are as far apart as heaven and earth. How could it merely be a difference between fine and coarse? There is originally no ground for receiving injury. Since destroying it causes no harm to the spirit, it is also just like extinguishing water and fire between heaven and earth.