法苑珠林 89.70

89.70

According to the Brahma Net Sūtra and the Bodhisattvabhūmi-śāstra, when one has received these bodhisattva precepts, there are forty-two minor defilement precepts that one must not violate. We shall briefly present three or five essential ones; the rest are in the extensive text. Therefore the sūtra states: ‘Disciples of the Buddha, you should always single-mindedly receive, maintain, read, and recite this precept: flaying your skin for paper, piercing your blood for ink, using your marrow for water, and breaking your bones for pens to write down the Buddha’s precepts; you should also write and uphold them on hemp, bark, paper, silk, and so forth. You should always use the seven treasures, priceless incense and flowers, and all kinds of precious gems to make chests to hold the scrolls of sūtras and vinaya. If you do not make offerings according to the Dharma, you commit an offense of minor defilement.’ ‘Disciples of the Buddha, you must not keep knives, staves, bows, or arrows; trade with light scales or small bushels; rely on official power and influence to seize others’ property; bind or destroy the successful accomplishments [of others] with a harmful mind; or raise cats, foxes, pigs, and dogs. If you intentionally raise them, you commit an offense of minor defilement.’