法苑珠林 88.48

88.48

又優婆塞戒經云。佛言。智者當觀戒有二種。一世戒。二第一義戒。若不依於三寶受戒。是名世戒。是戒不堅。如綵色無膠。是故我先歸依三寶。然後受戒。夫世戒者。不能壞先諸惡業。受三歸戒則能壞之。雖作大罪亦不失戒。何以故。戒力勢故。如俱有二人同共作罪。一者受戒。二者不受戒。已受者犯則罪重。不受者犯則罪輕。何以故。毀佛語故。罪有二種。一者性重。二者遮重。是二種罪復有輕有重。或有人能重罪作輕輕罪作重。如鴦掘魔受於世戒伊羅鉢龍受於義戒。鴦掘魔破於性重。不得重罪。伊羅鉢龍壞於遮制。而得重罪。是故不應以戒同。故得果亦同。

Furthermore, the *Upāsaka-śīla-sūtra* states: The Buddha said: "The wise should contemplate that there are two kinds of precepts: first, worldly precepts; second, precepts of ultimate meaning. If one receives the precepts without relying on the Three Jewels, these are called worldly precepts. These precepts are not firm, like colors without glue. For this reason, I first take refuge in the Three Jewels, and afterward receive the precepts. Now worldly precepts cannot destroy past bad karma, but the precepts of receiving the three refuges can destroy it. Even if one commits a grave sin, one does not lose the precepts. Why? Because of the power and momentum of the precepts. For instance, suppose two people commit a sin together: one has received the precepts, and the other has not received the precepts. When the one who has received them violates them, his sin is grave; when the one who has not received them violates them, his sin is light. Why? Because of violating the Buddha's words. There are two kinds of sins: first, sins that are inherently grave; second, sins grave by prohibition. These two kinds of sins further have light and grave aspects. There may be someone who can make a grave sin light, or a light sin grave. For example, Aṅgulimāla received worldly precepts, while the dragon Elāpattra received precepts of ultimate meaning. Aṅgulimāla broke what was inherently grave, yet did not incur grave sin; the dragon Elāpattra violated a prohibitive rule, and yet incurred grave sin. Therefore, one should not think that because the precepts are the same, the retribution obtained is also the same."