四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.24

3.24

"If a monk destroys a village of spirits, it is a prāyaścittika." This complete Prātimokṣa text contains five clauses: first, the person who commits the offense; second, the act of destruction; third, the spirits; fourth, the object harmed; fifth, the determination of the offense. The first clause is self-evident. Second, as for "destroys," the Vinaya states: chopping, cutting off, making fall, or causing to drop are all termed "destroying." Third, as for "spirits," the Vinaya states: these are non-humans. Fourth, as for "village," all grasses and trees serve as dwellings for spirits and animals, and are therefore called a "village." The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states: "Village" refers to mosquitoes, gnats, butterflies, ants, and various insects that make these their dwelling. The Vinaya states: There are five kinds of villages [of plants]: first, root-propagation; second, branch-propagation; third, joint-propagation; fourth, layer-propagation; fifth, seed-propagation. Although there are five kinds of propagating plants, when combined they are three: the first kind grows from roots; the second kind grows from branches; the third kind grows from seeds. Furthermore, roots are divided into two: those that do not depend on joints to grow are treated as root-propagated; those among roots that depend on joints to grow are treated as layer-propagated. Furthermore, branch-propagation is also divided into two: those among branches that do not depend on joints to grow are treated as branch-propagated; those that depend on joints to grow are named joint-propagated, depending on joints. Among seed-propagation, it is established according to its own nature. From beginning to end, these distinctions, when separated, make five; when combined, they are three. These are all called the object harmed. Fifth, as for "prāyaścittika," this is the clause establishing the offense of violation. The Vinaya states: If one destroys these five kinds of propagating plants, whether on the ground or detached from the ground, with a knife or with other implements, it is all called destroying a village and one incurs a prāyaścittika offense. The Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya states: If one digs the earth and destroys grass without stopping all day long, it is one prāyaścittika; if there is an interruption in between, each [act] is a prāyaścittika. It also states: Destroying it oneself or having another destroy it both incur a prāyaścittika. If one drives a stake into living grass or a tree, or burns it with fire, both incur a prāyaścittika. If one destroys mostly living grass and trees, it incurs a prāyaścittika; destroying what is half-dry and half-living incurs a duṣkṛta. If one does not say, "Consider this" or "Look at this," it also incurs a duṣkṛta. Thus, the method for making propagating plants permissible is explained. The Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya states: Root and stem propagations are made permissible by cutting them through the middle with a knife. Joint propagations are also cut with a knife; alternatively, plucking out the sprout naturally renders them permissible. Core propagations—referring to basil, coriander, and the like—are made permissible by tender crushing. Seed propagations—the seventeen kinds of grains—are made permissible by removing the husks. Permissibility through fire applies to all five kinds. Furthermore, among the five fruits, seed-enclosed fruits like dates and apricots are made permissible with fingernails by removing [the pit] to eat, or made permissible by fire to eat together; permissibility by fire refers to roasting raw or ripe dates together with pit and skin. Seed-bearing fruits are eaten together when made permissible by fire, such as piper, mulberries, pears, and crabapples; if when ripe they fall to the ground and are damaged even as slightly as a mosquito's leg, it is called permissible by wound, and one removes the seeds to eat. Grain-enclosed propagations are made permissible by fire, such as coconuts, walnuts, and pomegranates. Juniper-enclosed propagations refer to aromatic, soft perilla and the like; before they have seeds, they are made permissible by fire. Pod-enclosed propagations follow the same method as juniper-enclosed ones: large and small beans, and the like. By this standard, grasses bearing seeds among wormwood should be permissible by fire; so long as they are touched [by fire], the method of permissibility is achieved. Therefore, the Vinaya states: If one throws the five kinds of propagating plants into pools, wells, water, feces, urine, or swept rubbish, it incurs a duṣkṛta; if they fly away, one commits a prāyaścittika. If one walks in the grass intending to kill it, it incurs a duṣkṛta; if it is damaged as slightly as a mosquito's leg, it is a prāyaścittika. Question: If one drives a stake into a tree, each stroke incurs a prāyaścittika; why does killing an animal not incur a prāyaścittika with each cut, but requires taking its life? Answer: Grasses and trees have multiple aspects of life; therefore, wherever they are destroyed, they are obstructed from arising in that portion of life, and so one incurs an offense for each destruction. The karmic fruition of an animal consists of a single nominally designated life; it must be severed before an offense is committed. The Vinaya states: Non-offenses: if one says, "Look at this" or "Consider this"; if one cuts withered and dry grass or trees; if one drags timber or bamboo over living grass and trees; if one adjusts a fence or screen; if one clears a trench or stones; if one takes cow dung; if living grass covers a path and one parts it with a staff to open it; if one props it with tiles or stones and thereby breaks or injures grass or trees; if one clears the ground and soil of a walking path; if one sweeps the walking path; or if one strikes the ground with a staff and mistakenly knocks and breaks living grass and trees—none of these constitute an offense.