諸經要集 2.112

2.112

Furthermore, the Sūtra of the Ten Wheels states: The Buddha said, "If bhikṣus go forth in reliance upon the Buddha-Dharma, all devas, humans, and asuras should make offerings to them. If they preserve and maintain the precepts, they should not be penalized, imprisoned, bound, or have their hands and feet severed, nor their lives taken—none of these is lawful. Even if there are bhikṣus who break the precepts, like rotten pus and decay, who lack pure conduct yet claim to have it, who have fallen and degenerated from the noble path, fruits, and realizations, and who are ruined by the afflictions and fetters, they are still able to disclose the hidden treasure of immeasurable merits and gems to all devas, nāgas, humans, non-humans, and others. Therefore, whether those who go forth under me keep the precepts or break them, I do not permit wheel-turning kings, great ministers, or chancellors to penalize, bind, whip, cut off their hands and feet, or even take their lives. How much less for other minor infractions of minor deportment! Although a precept-breaking bhikṣu is like a dead person, the remaining power of their precepts is like bezoar (ox gallstone): though the ox is dead, people still take it; or like musk, which is still useful after death, capable of greatly benefiting all living beings. Although a bhikṣu of evil conduct breaks the prohibitive precepts, the momentum of their precepts is still able to benefit immeasurable devas and humans. Just like burning incense: although the body of the incense is destroyed, it perfumes others with fragrance. Precept-breaking bhikṣus are also like this: though they fall into the evil destinies themselves, they are able to cause living beings to increase their wholesome roots. For this reason, white-robed laypeople should not encroach upon, ruin, or disparage precept-breaking bhikṣus; they must protect, respect, and make offerings to them, and are not permitted to penalize, bind their bodies, or take their lives." At that time the World-Honoured One spoke in verse: