釋氏要覽 1.70

1.70

The Mahīśāsaka-vinaya states: "At what point is one called an elder? The Buddha said: 'One who has no one senior above him is called an elder.'" The Vinayamātṛkā states: "From no summer retreats up to nine summer retreats is a junior seat; from ten summer retreats to nineteen summer retreats is a middle seat; from twenty summer retreats to forty summer retreats is an elder; from fifty summer retreats and above, one who is venerated and respected by all śramaṇas is called a venerable elder (according to the Baiyi jiemo, even if one has sixty summer retreats, one must still be one who understands the vinaya and has moral conduct before being called a venerable elder)." The Mahāvibhāṣā states: "There are three kinds of elders: 1. elders by birth-years, which means the senior and aged who uphold the precepts, being truly born [in the Dharma]; 2. elders by worldly status, which means those who understand the law and are wealthy and noble, having great wealth, high office, a great clan, great power, and a large retinue; even if only twenty years of age, all should harmoniously nominate them as elders; 3. elders by Dharmatā, which means arhats." A verse states: "With a restless mind and much frivolous talk, an afflicted mind and disordered thoughts, though one dwells long in the grove, one is not a true elder. Endowed with precepts, wisdom, and right mindfulness, with a tranquil mind and liberation, able to contemplate the Dharma—such a one is called a true elder." The Daśādhyāya-vinaya states: "Endowed with ten qualities, one is called an elder: namely, possessing an abiding place (regarding 'abiding place,' the Vibhāṣā says it refers to the path and fruits, and the samādhi of emptiness; being able to produce its superior power and cause body and mind to abide securely and unshakeably, it is called the elder's abiding place); being fearless; being free of defilements; having many spiritual companions; having broad learning; possessing eloquent speech; having clear comprehension of principles; being trusted and accepted by those who hear; skillfully bringing peace and composure when entering other households; being able to teach the Dharma to white-robed laity to make them abandon evil and follow good; and possessing within oneself the joy of the Dharma of the four truths without lacking anything—such a one is called an elder." In the vinaya, there are the elder of the monastery (namely, the elder among the three administrators in the vinaya), the elder of the saṃgha (namely, the elder on the platform or the head of the hall), the elder of individual quarters (namely, the current head monk of the various cloisters in Chan residences), and the elder of the household (namely, the elder who counts seats at meals). The Vibhāṣā states: "As for an elder, because their mind abides securely, it is not swayed by worldly favor or adversity; this is called an elder."