Question: Are the precepts taught in the Brahma Net Sūtra’s Bodhisattva Precepts’ Text《梵网经菩萨戒本》for monastics or laypeople?
Answer: As taught by Śākyamuni Buddha (释迦牟尼佛) in the Text itself, all sentient beings, be they monks or nuns, humans or animals, royals or officials, ghosts or gods, who can understand the Precepts, can receive, attain and uphold these Precepts. (However, some Precepts’ details are applicable for monastic practices only.)
佛子谛听，若受佛戒者，国王、王子、百官、宰相、比丘、比丘尼、十八梵天、六欲天子、庶民、黄门、淫男、淫女、奴婢、八部鬼神、金刚神、畜生，乃至变化人，但解法师语，尽受得戒，皆名第一清净者。
The Buddhas’ disciples should attentively listen. If there are those who receive the Buddha Precepts, as countries’ Kings, Princes, a hundred officials and ministers, Bhikṣus and Bhikṣuṇīs, Eighteen Brahma Heavens’ beings, Six Desire Heavens’ children, common people, the impotent, libertine males and libertine females, slave servants, Eight Divisions’ ghosts and gods, vajra gods, animals, and even transformed persons, only with understanding of the Dharma Teacher’s words, all can receive and attain these Precepts, with all named as those foremost pure.
Of beings in the six paths (六道), although asuras (阿修罗) and hell-beings (地狱众生) were not mentioned, they should be understood to be included too. This is so as asuras are a kind of (demi)-gods who can exist in each other path as those with much power and jealousy. As for hell-beings, although with many karmic obstacles (业障) that make it more difficult to hear these Precepts, some can give rise to the Bodhi Mind (菩提心) too.
