佛說目連問戒律中五百輕重事 1.188

1.188

問：「比丘得向師塚作禮不？」答：「得。難曰：『生是我師，已死尚非比丘，唯枯骨而已。何由向禮耶？』答：『佛在世應供養恭敬，般泥洹後亦是枯骨而已，何以故供養耶？師生以法益人，死後敬禮，有何過也！』」

Question: "May a bhikṣu pay homage facing his master's grave or not?" Answer: "He may. Objection: 'In life he was my master; having died, he is not even a bhikṣu, but only dry bones. How can one pay homage facing him?' Answer: 'When the Buddha was in the world, one should make offerings and pay respect. After his parinirvāṇa, he is also just dry bones; why then make offerings? In life the master benefited people through the Dharma; paying homage with respect after his death, what fault is there?'"