法苑珠林 88.16

88.16

As for the Sarvāstivāda-śāstra, it asks: 'Among the five precepts, how many are primary precepts?' Answer: 'The first four are primary; the last one is prohibitory. The reason they are formulated together is that it is the root of heedlessness and can cause the violation of the four precepts. As in the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, there was an upāsaka who, due to drinking liquor, committed adultery with another's wife, stole another's chicken, and killed it. When another person came to question him, he replied that he did not do it, thus violating the precept against false speech. It can also cause the commission of the four heinous sins; only the causing of schism in the Saṃgha can it not do.' If one receives the precept against killing, down to all crawling insects with form, one must not inflict harm on any of them; and eating mixed meats, pungent roots, and the like must not be violated.