法苑珠林 88.122

88.122

又智度論。問曰。五戒一日戒。何者為勝。答曰。有因緣故。一戒俱等。但五戒終身持。八戒一日持。又五戒常持。時多而戒少。一日戒時少而戒多。若無大心。雖復終身持。不如有大心一日戒也。譬如懦夫為將雖復將兵終身卒無功名。若英雄奮發禍亂立定一日之勳名蓋天下。八戒比於餘戒亦復如是。

Furthermore, the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra asks: "Between the five precepts and the one-day precept, which is superior?" Answer: "Due to causes and conditions, they are equal. However, the five precepts are maintained throughout life, whereas the eight precepts are maintained for one day. Moreover, the five precepts are maintained constantly: the time is long, but the precepts are few; the one-day precept has little time, but the precepts are many. If one lacks a great aspiration, then even if one maintains them for a lifetime, it does not compare to the one-day precept observed with a great aspiration. For example, if a coward serves as a general, even though he commands soldiers his entire life, in the end he has no merit or fame. But if a hero exerts himself, calming calamity and chaos immediately, the merit of a single day will cover the world. The eight precepts in comparison to other precepts are just like this."