三教平心論 1.16

1.16

The heavenly vehicle refers to the ten wholesome deeds. First, not killing; second, not stealing; third, not committing sexual misconduct; fourth, not speaking falsely—these four have the same meaning as in the five precepts. The fifth is not speaking frivolous words, meaning not making up words to cover up wrongs. The sixth is not being double-tongued, meaning not saying one thing to a person's face and another behind their back. The seventh is not using harsh speech, meaning not scolding or speaking of what is unrighteous. The eighth is not coveting/jealousy, meaning being free of jealousy. The ninth is not harboring malice, meaning not keeping resentment and hatred in one's heart. The tenth is not being deluded, meaning not being blind to good and evil. Jointly cultivating these ten wholesome deeds is the retribution by which one is born in heaven. The Daoist 'Nine Perfected Wondrous Precepts' are precisely this meaning. The human vehicle is that by which one plants human causes; the heavenly vehicle is that by which one may obtain heavenly fruits. Mundane dharmas reside in this; this is what is attained in common by all Three Teachings. As for the latter three vehicles, they lead their disciples to transcend and leave the world, causing them to forget both good and evil and proceed directly toward the true reality, acting with spiritual penetration in a manner that the mundane cannot fathom.