Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Ch枚dr枚n | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes 鈥渋mpure morality (sasravashila)鈥� as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. 鈥渢he treatise on the great virtue of wisdom鈥�) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
IV.4. Impure morality (蝉腻蝉谤补惫补艣墨濒补)
Question. 鈥� We accept that pure morality (补苍腻蝉谤补惫补艣墨濒补) must be praised by the sages; but why praise impure morality (蝉腻蝉谤补惫补艣墨濒补)?
Answer. 鈥� Impure morality is similar to pure morality and, in harmony with it, implements causes and conditions [for salvation]. This is why the sages praise it jointly. Suppose that, in a band of brigands, someone rebels and comes to confide in me. Brigand though he was, now he is coming to me and I must welcome him. I am able to use him to destroy the thieves. Why should one not remember that these thieves that are the negative emotions (办濒别艣补) are in the ramparts of the threefold world (迟谤补颈诲丑腻迟耻办补苍补驳补谤补)?
These roots of good (办耻艣补濒补尘奴濒补) constituting impure morality (蝉腻蝉谤补惫补艣墨濒补) that are called heat (耻峁补驳补迟补), summits (尘奴谤诲丑补苍), patience (办峁Ｄ乶迟颈) and supreme worldly dharmas (濒补耻办颈办腻驳谤补诲丑补谤尘补) are indeed superior to other [good]-impure (办耻艣补濒补蝉腻蝉谤补惫补) dharmas. This is why the yogin uses them: it is thanks to them that he can destroy the brigands that are the disturbing emotions (办濒别艣补) and that he can obtain the precious pure dharma (补苍腻蝉谤惫补诲丑补谤尘补) that is the du岣he dharmaj帽膩na办峁Ｄ乶迟颈. That is why [this impure morality] is praised by the sages.
This is the recollection of morality (艣墨濒腻苍耻蝉尘峁泃颈).