法苑珠林 68.46

68.46

Question: What is meant by 'definite or indefinite perception of a sentient being'? Answer: As for 'definite perception of a sentient being': for instance, if there are a hundred thousand people and one forms the intention among them definitely to kill a particular person, one incurs the sin of killing. If one kills another person, one does not incur the sin of killing. As for 'indefinite': because one abandons all, whichever one kills, one incurs the sin, because in that case it is not divorced from the perception of a sentient being.