No. 702-A Colophon

When I was living at Jiuhua Mountain, I compiled the *Commentary on the Brahma Net Sutra*, which already incorporated all the precepts, allowances, violations, and offenses from this scripture into the ten major and forty-eight minor precepts. However, as we recite this precept scripture every half month, some still do not fully understand its meaning. They persistently requested annotations. I was concerned about adding unnecessary complexity and declined multiple times. Yet they pleaded again, saying, "In this degenerate age, those with dull faculties may not be able to study the entire commentary. Could you not adapt to the times and provide a brief explanation so that reciters may grasp the general meaning and avoid the fault of ignorance?" Thus, I reluctantly annotated the most essential points to assist beginners. However, for Bodhisattva bhikkhus, they should study both the major and minor Vinaya texts in full. Even Bodhisattva śrāmaṇeras and upāsakas should broadly study the Mahāyāna sutras and precepts. How can one cling to this single drop and abandon the vast ocean of Dharma?

Written by Ouyi Zhixu in the summer of the Xinmao year at the Changgan Retreat.