Those Who Cling to Non-Liberating Precepts Not Established by the Buddha Cannot Attain Liberation from Samsara

Original text from the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra: O Mahāmati, what is meant by "prohibitive precepts"? The Srotāpanna does not grasp at prohibitive precepts. This is because they clearly perceive the suffering inherent in the state of rebirth. Therefore, they do not grasp at them. O Mahāmati, those who grasp are foolish beings who will inevitably accept and practice asceticism, seeking worldly pleasures as their goal. Thus, they will seek rebirth. But the Srotāpanna does not grasp at such things, except when redirecting their merit toward supreme self-enlightenment. Having transcended deluded views, with minds that have eradicated afflictions and attained the non-outflow Dharma characteristics, they may skillfully manifest the practice of upholding precepts as a means to guide sentient beings. This is called the Srotāpanna severing the characteristic of grasping at prohibitive precepts.

Explanation: The Buddha said, "O Mahāmati, what is meant by 'grasping at prohibitive precepts'? The Srotāpanna does not grasp at non-precepts or uphold precepts that cannot lead to liberation. This is because the Srotāpanna skillfully observes the suffering consequences and karmic results of upholding unreasonable precepts, which fail to liberate one from birth and death. Therefore, they do not grasp at non-precepts nor uphold unreasonable precepts. O Mahāmati, those who cling to non-Buddhist precepts that cannot lead to liberation are foolish ordinary beings. They will inevitably accept and practice asceticism, aiming to attain worldly pleasures, and thus will be reborn again.

However, the Srotāpanna does not cling to non-precepts, unless they turn their minds toward the path of Buddhahood, having already transcended deluded views, with minds eradicated of afflictions and attained the non-outflow state. Only as a skillful means to guide sentient beings do they conditionally manifest upholding non-Buddhist precepts. This illustrates that the Srotāpanna has severed the grasping at prohibitive precepts."