法苑珠林 65.7

65.7

如梵網經云。若佛子。以慈心故令放生業。一切男子是我父。一切女人是我母。我生生無不從之受生。故六道眾生皆是我父母。而殺而食者。即殺我父母。亦殺我故身。一切地水是我先身。一切火風是我本體。故常行放生。生生受生。若見世人殺畜生時。應方便救護解其苦難。常教化講說菩薩戒救度眾生。若父母兄弟死亡之日。請法師講菩薩戒經律。追福資其亡者。得見諸佛生人天上。若不爾者。犯輕垢罪。

As the Brahmajāla Sūtra says: “If one is a disciple of the Buddha, out of compassion one should engage in the practice of releasing living beings. All men are my fathers; all women are my mothers. In life after life, there is none through whom I have not taken birth. Therefore, the sentient beings of the six destinies are all my parents. If one kills and eats them, that is killing my parents, and also killing my former body. All earth and water are my past bodies; all fire and wind are my fundamental essence. Therefore, constantly practice releasing living beings, taking birth after birth [in pure realms]. If one sees worldly people killing animals, one should use skillful means to rescue and protect them, relieving their suffering and distress. Constantly teach and preach the bodhisattva precepts to deliver sentient beings. When parents or siblings die, invite Dharma masters to expound the bodhisattva precepts and Vinaya, seeking merit to support the deceased, so that they may see the Buddhas and be born among humans or in the heavens. If one does not do so, one commits a light defilement offense.”