釋氏要覽 1.356

1.356

報恩經優波離問佛云。若不受五戒十戒。直受具足戒得否。佛言一時得三種戒。又問若爾。何須次第。先受五戒。次受十戒。後受具戒耶。佛言染習佛法。必須次第。謂先受五戒。以自調伏。信樂漸益。次受十戒。善根轉深。後受具戒堅固難退。如遊大海。漸漸深入。入佛法海。亦復如是。

In the Sūtra on Repaying Kindness, Upāli asked the Buddha: 'If one does not receive the five precepts or the ten precepts, but receives the complete precepts directly, is this attained?' The Buddha said: 'One attains all three kinds of precepts simultaneously.' He asked again: 'If so, why is a sequence necessary, first receiving the five precepts, next receiving the ten precepts, and only then receiving the complete precepts?' The Buddha said: 'To be steeped in the practice of the Buddha's Dharma, a sequence is required. That is, first receiving the five precepts to subdue oneself, faith and joy gradually increase; next receiving the ten precepts, roots of goodness become deeper; afterwards receiving the complete precepts, one is firm and difficult to backslide. Just like entering the great ocean, one goes deeper and deeper; entering the ocean of the Buddha's Dharma is also like this.'