諸經要集 7.49

7.49

'Third, regarding that which is both gentle and harsh together: it refers to the Tathāgata sometimes speaking of wholesome bodily conduct, sometimes speaking of the reward of wholesome bodily conduct, sometimes speaking of wholesome verbal and mental conduct, sometimes speaking of the reward of wholesome verbal and mental conduct; sometimes speaking of unwholesome bodily conduct, sometimes speaking of the reward of unwholesome bodily conduct, sometimes speaking of unwholesome verbal and mental conduct, and sometimes speaking of the reward of unwholesome verbal and mental conduct. Thus it is called the gods, thus it is called humans, thus it is called good destinies, thus it is called nirvāṇa; thus it is called the hells, thus it is called animals and hungry ghosts, thus it is called bad destinies, thus it is called falling into bad destinies. This is the Tathāgata's teaching that is both gentle and harsh.' The horse trainer said to the Buddha: 'Bhagavat, if you use these three skillful means to tame sentient beings and some remain untamed, what do you do?' The Buddha addressed the headman: 'I also kill them. Why? Lest they disgrace me.' The horse trainer said to the Buddha: 'Killing living beings is impure in the Bhagavat's teaching. In the Bhagavat's teaching one also does not kill living beings. Yet now you speak of killing; what is its meaning?' The Buddha addressed the headman: 'In the Tathāgata's teaching one indeed does not kill living beings. However, when under the Tathāgata's three kinds of instruction someone remains untamed, [the Tathāgata] no longer speaks with them, nor instructs them, nor admonishes them—is that not death?' The horse trainer said to the Buddha: 'Truly so, Bhagavat. To no longer speak with them and forever cease instructing and admonishing them is truly death! For this reason, from this day forward I abandon all evil and unwholesome karmas.' Having heard what the Buddha said, he rejoiced and departed.