法苑珠林 68.26

68.26

問曰。何故不說作不作相無作相。決定何業中有。何業中無。答曰。唯除邪婬。餘六業中悉皆不定。此義云何。若自作者。成就作業及無作業。若使他作。唯有不作。不得有作。於邪婬中決定有作。不得有不作。何以故。以此邪婬畢竟自作。無使他作。是故經言。頗有非身作業而得成就殺生罪不。答言。有。如口使人作成就殺罪。

Question: Why is it not explained which karmas definitively have or do not have the characteristics of manifest action, non-manifest action, and unmanifest action? Answer: Except for sexual misconduct, the other six karmas are all variable. What is the meaning of this? If one does it oneself, one accomplishes manifest karma and unmanifest karma. If one causes another to do it, there is only non-manifest action; there cannot be manifest action. In sexual misconduct, there is definitely manifest action; there cannot be non-manifest action. Why? Because this sexual misconduct is ultimately done by oneself; there is no causing another to do it. Therefore the sūtra asks: 'Can one accomplish the sin of taking life through an action that is not bodily?' It answers: 'Yes, just as when one verbally commands another to commit it, one accomplishes the sin of killing.'