四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.14

3.14

"If a bhikṣu recites together with a person who has not received the upasampadā precepts, it is a prāyaścittika." This complete Prātimokṣa text contains four phrases: first, the person who commits the offense; second, the unordained person; third, reciting together; fourth, declaring the offense. The first two phrases are obvious. Regarding the third phrase, "reciting the Dharma together": "reciting" means reciting words and sentences simultaneously, neither before nor after. In the extracts of the precepts, reciting either before or after is also called reciting together. As for the word "Dharma": that spoken by the Buddha, that spoken by śrāvakas, that spoken by ṛṣis, and that spoken by the devas are all the true Dharma. Regarding the fourth phrase, "prāyaścittika": this is the offense of transgression. Hence the Vinaya states: "If spoken by śrāvaka disciples or other persons, and endorsed by the Buddha, it is named the Dharma." If one speaks this Dharma either ahead of or behind [the other], in both cases one commits a prāyaścittika offense. Therefore the Vinaya states: "Reciting together refers to reciting phrase-meanings, phrase-syllables, and word-meanings; it is also like this for non-phrase-meanings." Regarding "phrase-meaning": two persons chant in unison with identical voices, the phrases expressing the three kinds of practice and the principle being identical; this is called "phrase-meaning," and one commits a prāyaścittika. The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states: "If the voices are in unison but the phrases differ, it is a duṣkṛta." Regarding "non-phrase-meaning": the first person says, "Refrain from all evil," and before he finishes, the second person cuts in ahead, saying, "Refrain from all evil," causing the first person's verbal teaching expressing correct practice not to be complete; therefore it is called "non-phrase-meaning," and one also commits a prāyaścittika offense, because the phrases are joined with identical voices. Regarding "phrase-syllable": a phrase expresses the principle of impermanence, perfectly endowed with the benefit of nourishing the spirit; this is called "phrase-syllable." Cutting in and seizing the preceding words fails to express the principle completely and has no function of nourishing the spirit; therefore it is called "non-phrase-meaning." Regarding "word-meaning": chanting in unison expresses the name and essence, with the principle being complete; this is called "word-meaning." Cutting in and seizing the preceding words leaves the name and essence incomplete; therefore it is called "non-word-meaning." The Samantapāsādikā states: "All the Vinayapiṭaka, Abhidharma, and Sūtras were spoken by the Buddha, and later compiled by the five hundred arhats; reciting this Dharma together all incurs prāyaścittika offenses." The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states that for each and every chapter, section, and passage, one incurs a prāyaścittika offense respectively. If one compiles written compositions from one's own ideas, down to secular books, because they are not spoken by the Buddha, there is no offense. Among the non-offenses, the Vinaya states: one should say, "When I have finished speaking, you speak"; if one person finishes reciting and the other writes; if two persons have the same occupation and recite together; or if there is an error in speaking by one or the other—in all such cases there is no offense.