四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.3

2.3

Therefore, the precept on intentional emission is the first. Because this precept is easily transgressed by people, it comes first. 1. The intention behind establishing the precept: desire is an unwholesome dharma, the very source of birth-and-death and the root of obstructing the Path; by principle it should be prohibited and severed to render celibate conduct pure. The Vibhāṣā states: the Buddha established this precept for three reasons: first, to cause the true Dharma to abide long; second, to rectify slanders; third, to engender thoughts of faith and reverence in gods, nāgas, and benevolent spirits. In the Vinayas of the four schools, the Buddha uniformly rebuked [them], saying: "How can one receive people's offerings of faith with such an impure hand?" 2. Explaining the name: moving by expedients with the determined intent of completion is called "intentional"; the substance discharging and overflowing is called "emission"; hence it is called the precept on intentional emission. 3. Possessing the conditions: the general conditions are as above; the specific conditions are three: first, the intention of completion; second, moving by expedients; third, upon emission, an offense is committed. 4. Incomplete conditions: if lacking the first two, there is no offense; if lacking the third, it is either a grave or light sthūlātyaya. Below, the Prātimokṣa text is directly clarified; the passage has three sections: first, brief establishment; second, subsequent allowance; third, full establishment. Regarding "brief establishment": initially, because the bhikṣu Kālodāyin committed a fault, the Buddha briefly established this precept. Later, because other bhikṣus emitted semen in dreams, the Buddha assembled the saṅgha and, because there was originally no intent, allowed an exception for dreams; this is called subsequent allowance. Regarding the full Prātimokṣa text: