大乘入道次第開決 1.128

1.128

能離不善防護受持等者。能離不善謂即是戒。此能防護諸惡不善。於此防護諸惡不善。淨戒法中常受持也。七眾謂即近圓男近圓女正學眾求寂女近事男近事女。若兼近住即為八眾。以非常時但日夜戒。是故經論但言七眾。

Regarding "being able to separate from the unwholesome, guarding, receiving, and upholding, etc.": "being able to separate from the unwholesome" refers to moral discipline. This can guard against all bad and unwholesome deeds. One always receives and upholds this within the pure discipline of guarding against bad and unwholesome deeds. The "seven assemblies" refers to fully ordained monks, fully ordained nuns, female probationers, female novices, male novices, laymen, and laywomen. If one also includes those observing the one-day vows, there are eight assemblies; but because it is not a permanent commitment, being only a day-and-night precept, the sūtras and treatises only mention seven assemblies.