法苑珠林 93.9

93.9

述曰。此第二約其實說。輕重不犯。真名持戒。故大聖知時量機通塞。通則開禁。隨時量前損益。如匿王欲殺厨監太子欲害其父。此因酒忘忿得全身命免其大罪。以輕脫重不受累殃。然非無飲酒之咎來報之罪。不得見有前開遂即雷同總犯。各須量其教意。復省己身行德優劣。得預聖人。斯匿末利開禁以既不同。此即須依經纖毫勿犯。最為殊勝。故四分律云。是我弟子者。乃至不以草頭滴酒入口。何況多飲。是故咽咽結提。

Commentary: This second [perspective] is stated according to the definitive truth: not violating precepts, whether light or heavy, is truly called upholding precepts. Therefore the Great Sage knows the proper times, weighs the capacities [of beings], and understands when to open or close [the precepts]. When opening, he relaxes the prohibition, weighing the pros and cons in advance according to the occasion. Just as King Prasenajit wished to kill the kitchen supervisor and the prince wished to harm his father, in these cases, through liquor they forgot their anger, preserved lives, and avoided great guilt; by using a light offense to escape a heavy one, they did not suffer cumulative disasters. However, it is not that there is no fault in drinking liquor or retribution of guilt in the future. One must not, seeing the previous opening, indiscriminately follow suit and universally violate [the precept]. Each person must weigh the intent of the teaching, and also examine whether the virtues of one's own conduct are superior or inferior, and whether one is counted among the sages. The circumstances under which the prohibitions were relaxed for King Prasenajit and Mallikā were not identical [to ordinary situations]. Thus one must rely on the scriptures and not violate even the slightest bit; this is the most sublime. Therefore the Sifen lü says: 'Those who are my disciples shall not even use the tip of a blade of grass to drip liquor into their mouths, how much less drink a lot.' For this reason, with each swallow a pātayantikā is incurred.