大通方廣懺悔滅罪莊嚴成佛經 2.39

2.39

The Buddha said: "Excellent, excellent! Good man, you are able to question well, and I am able to answer well. Good man, it is because all sentient beings do not encounter the Buddha that they hold false views, break the precepts, and slander the True Dharma. If the Buddha were in the world, they would never break the precepts or slander the True Dharma. Why is this? It is like an elder who has only one son, whom he loves dearly. When the father is present, he instructs him day and night, and [the son] complies with everything. The son is filial; receiving his father's instruction, he violates nothing at all. If the father travels far away and does not return in time, the son, through forgetfulness and error, commits many violations. Because [the father] does not return in time, [the son] cries out that he is dead; weeping and wailing, he is again like one committing rebellion, distraught with grief, having lost his senses and forgotten his father's original teachings, seeming not to comply, just like slandering the Dharma. After a long time, the father returns from his distant journey, and the son rejoices; remembering his father's original teachings, he accepts and upholds them without violation. Because he sees his father, he has faith and knows he is not dead, so this is not called falling into rebellion. Taking his father's original commands, he acts in accord with the instructions, so this is not called slander. Good man, the elder is the Tathāgata; the only son is all sentient beings; the commands are the disciplinary precepts; travelling far away is [transforming beings] elsewhere; not seeing the father is proclaiming [his] extinction; sorrow and affliction are hindrances; not upholding is breaking the precepts; proclaiming [his] extinction is the unpardonable offense; confusion about the principle is slander. When the Tathāgata, the Bhagavat, returns from transforming elsewhere, sentient beings see him and immediately give rise to faith, knowing that the Buddha does not pass into extinction. When the Buddha preaches the Dharma for them, they regain their original mind, which is not called breaking the precepts. Because they know he does not pass into extinction, it is not called falling into rebellion. Acting in accord with the instructions, they understand the principle, which is not called slandering the Dharma.