三教平心論 1.28

1.28

[Han] Yu also said: 'They prohibit the way of mutual procreation and nurture.' Does this not mean that taking a wife and marrying off a daughter is the means to give birth to and nurture descendants, and because the Buddha prohibits female sexuality, he thereby prohibits their procreation and nurture? But he failed to realize that the Buddha's establishment of precepts naturally contains both sudden and gradual [levels]. How did he ever cause every man to be a bachelor and every woman an unwed maid? When preaching the bodhisattva precepts for those who have left home, he says: 'Stay free from non-brahmacarya'; when preaching the upāsaka precepts for householders, he says: 'Stay free from sexual misconduct.' 'Staying free from non-brahmacarya' means forever cutting off sexual desire; 'staying free from sexual misconduct' means not violating another person's wife or daughter. The Prajñā Sūtra says: 'A bodhisattva who cuts off desire, leaves home, and cultivates pure conduct (brahmacarya) is able to attain bodhi.' The Śūraṅgama Sūtra says: 'If sexual lust is not eliminated, worldly defilement cannot be escaped. If one cultivates dhyāna-concentration without cutting off lust, it is like steaming sand and stones hoping to turn them into rice; though kalpas pass, it will still only be called hot sand.' This was spoken for those cultivating the bodhisattva precepts. The Sūtra on Rebirth in Heaven through the Ten Wholesome Deeds says: 'To the end of one's form, not committing sexual misconduct; therefore one attains rebirth in the heavens.' The Vibhāṣā Śāstra says: 'If one were to prohibit their own wives, then kings, ministers, and elders would be unable to renounce their own wives and households; therefore the Buddha established only staying free from violating another's wife.' This was spoken for those upholding the upāsaka precepts. Even in Confucianism's setting up of teachings, 'guarding against sensuality' is likewise meant to guard against female lust, not to prohibit people from marrying a wife. When Xie served as Minister of Education to teach human relations, it was said: 'Between husband and wife there is distinction.' When the hexagram of the Family was drawn, its meaning lay in rectifying the family, and it was said: 'Let the husband be a husband and the wife be a wife.' When moral transformation prevailed along the Jiang and Han rivers, 'The maiden rambling on the Han was not to be sought.' When 'Guanju' matched 'The Lin's Feet,' the sons of a declining age did not commit impropriety. All these refer to not violating another person's wife or daughter. This is precisely the Buddhist precept against sexual misconduct. Thus Layman Vimalakīrti also 'had a wife and children, yet constantly cherished detachment.' The Śūraṅgama Sūtra says: 'Those who are not yet able to stay detached from their own wives and concubines obtain heavenly blessings.' When did it ever prohibit the way of procreation and nurture?