法苑珠林 89.61

89.61

The third inquires about gradual or sudden. According to the Bodhisattva-śīla-sūtra, Upāli inquired about the rules of the bodhisattva precepts: for a bodhisattva-mahāsattva who accomplishes the rules of the precepts to benefit sentient beings, he must first fully study the upāsaka precepts, the śrāmaṇera precepts, and the bhikṣu precepts. For one who does not possess the upāsaka precepts to obtain the śrāmaṇera precepts is impossible. For one who does not possess the śrāmaṇera precepts to obtain the bhikṣu precepts is likewise impossible. For one who does not possess these three kinds of precepts to obtain the bodhisattva precepts is also impossible. This is like a four-story tower with four successive stages: that one does not go from the first stage to the second stage is impossible; that one does not go from the second stage to the third stage, or from the third stage to the fourth stage, is likewise impossible. According to the Sarvāstivāda-śāstra, if one wishes to receive the śrāmaṇera precepts, one first receives the five precepts of an upāsaka; if one wishes to receive the complete precepts of a bhikṣu, one first receives the ten precepts of a śrāmaṇera. Just as a person entering the ocean proceeds from the shallow to the deep, so too should it be for one who enters the great ocean of the Buddha's Dharma. If there are adverse conditions such that one cannot receive them gradually, and one receives the complete precepts of a bhikṣu suddenly, one also obtains the three kinds of precepts; however, the conferrer incurs a minor offense. (By analogy with the aforementioned, the bodhisattva [precepts] should also be like this. According to the Bodhisattvabhūmi, suddenly arousing the Mahāyāna mind and directly receiving the bodhisattva precepts is also permissible.)