分別功德論 4.28

4.28

The reason why the bhikṣu Nandi is called foremost in begging for food is this: other bhikṣus, though they also beg for food, may not keep the precepts fully, may have greedy minds, may look to the left and right without a focused mind, or may avoid the cold or heat. But when this bhikṣu begged for food, he had none of these faults. His alms-gathering being pure and meticulous, the donors gained great merit. Now an analogy is drawn to illustrate the greater and lesser. Someone asked about archery: 'One person shoots a dark hair at a hundred paces; another person shoots the ground, raising dust. Which is more difficult?' The reply: 'The dark hair is difficult, for though one shoots, one might not hit the mark.' This is beyond dispute. If one gives food to an alms-beggar or gives to the assembly of monks, which is greater? Giving to a true āraṇyaka is likened to the dark hair in the analogy; if the recipient is not genuine, it is like shooting into empty space. Though the matter is difficult, there is gain and loss. The arrow striking the ground is likened to giving to the assembly of monks: shooting at a hair, though precise, often misses; shooting at the ground, though easy, never misses the ground. Because the ground of the field of merit is thick, there is neither increase nor decrease; but because an āraṇyaka may be pure or coarse, there is gain and loss. Since Nandi achieved purity, he is called foremost.