四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.104

3.104

The fifty-second precept on sporting in the water. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā states that it was instituted on account of four meanings: 1. The Buddhadharma is revered, and in principle one ought to manifest respect; now entering the water to play damages it not lightly. 2. In principle one ought to have serene comportment, externally increasing faith and reverence; entering the water to play breaches bodily comportment and invites worldly criticism and fault. 3. One ought to cease worldly affairs to cultivate the path; entering the water to play hinders and abandons proper practice. 4. One ought to cultivate right mindfulness; entering the water to sport and joke makes the mind scattered, causing the loss of right mindfulness. For these reasons the Sage instituted it. The specific conditions are three: 1. It is water; 2. Absence of a cause; 3. Sporting immediately constitutes the offense. This precept was instituted because the group of seventeen were sporting in a river, King Prasenajit saw them from afar and criticized them, and the Buddha then instituted it.