廣弘明集 26.132

26.132

The edict further addressed Zhou She, saying: "The reason why sentient beings must not be killed is that every single sentient being possesses eighty thousand families of worms; the sūtras also state that there are eighty billion families of worms. If one cuts off the life of one sentient being, that is cutting off the lives of eighty thousand families of worms. As for why sentient beings that died of themselves also must not be eaten: although the worms previously attached to it have already perished, the worms attached to it afterward are again multitudinous. If boiled or roasted, these attached worms are severed, and none retain life. Benefiting the tip of the tongue with a fleeting flavor harms countless sentient beings. Among them, the smaller ones cannot be observed with the physical eye; among them, the larger ones are clearly visible to all. It extinguishes the mind of compassion and increases malignant poison. In truth, it is not what śramaṇas and disciples of the Śākya should practice."