坐禪三昧經 1.3

1.3

When a student of meditation first arrives at the master's place, the master should ask him: "Is your keeping of the precepts pure? Are you free from grave offenses and evil views?" If he says: "The precepts of the five assemblies are pure, and I have no grave offenses or evil views," the master then teaches the path and Dharma. If he says: "I have broken the precepts," the master should question him further: "Which precepts have you broken?" If he says: "The grave precepts," the master says: "Just as a person whose ears and nose have been cut off has no need to look in a mirror, you should go back for now, diligently chant the sūtras, and exhort and convert others to create merit; you may plant causes and conditions for the path and Dharma in future lives, but in this life you are abandoned forever. It is like a withered tree: though it be watered, it will not grow flowers, leaves, or fruit." If he has broken other precepts, he should then be taught to repent in accordance with the Dharma. If he is already pure, then if the master has attained the divine eye and the knowledge of the minds of others, he teaches the method for approaching the path according to his illness. If the master has not yet attained supernormal knowledges, he should observe his characteristics or question him: "Among the three poisons, which is predominant? Do you have much lust, much anger, or much folly?"