法苑珠林 93.7

93.7

The commentary states: This single teaching has the provisional and the real. The provisional is the instruction of gradual inducement, using the light to escape the heavy; at first permission is granted without an offense. But based on its principle of obscuration, it is not without fault. If considered according to the real teaching, both light and heavy are forbidden; from beginning to end without violation is what is called holding the precepts. Regarding the initial provisional explanation, the Scripture on What Has Never Been Before states: At that time, the King's crown prince, named Jeta, heard the Dharma of the ten paths of wholesome action explained by the Buddha, whose retributions are boundless. Kneeling long with palms joined, he addressed the Buddha: 'Formerly, the Buddha had me receive and uphold the five precepts; now I wish to return and renounce them. Why is this? Among the five precepts, the precept against alcohol is difficult to uphold, and I fear incurring transgression.' The World-Honoured One said: 'When you drink alcohol, what evil do you commit?' Jeta addressed the Buddha: 'The powerful and wealthy of the state from time to time gather together, bringing alcohol and food to amuse themselves together and bring about joy. In itself there is no evil. Why is this? When obtaining alcohol, I am mindful of the precepts, so there is no heedlessness. When drinking alcohol, I do not commit evil.' The Buddha said: 'Excellent, excellent! Jeta, you have now attained wisdom and skillful means. If people of the world could be like you, what evil would there be in drinking alcohol throughout life? For such a practitioner, it will rather generate merit and there will be no sin. If a person drinks alcohol without giving rise to evil karma, because of a joyful mind they do not give rise to afflictions; through the causal condition of a wholesome mind, they receive wholesome retribution. As when holding the five precepts, what loss could there be? Drinking alcohol while mindful of the precepts increases their merit even more. Having previously held the five precepts and now receiving the ten wholesome actions, the merit is twice as superior as the retribution of the ten wholesome actions.'