分別功德論 4.37

4.37

The reason why Bhikṣu Rohiṇī was praised as foremost in always sitting on a mat of grass is that this bhikṣu constantly sat on a mat of grass to eliminate the mind of craving. How did he eliminate craving? Even if there were golden beds and jade tables, he had no craving or attachment to them at all. Or it is said: if someone offered an exquisite seat, it was no different to him than offering a grass seat. Craving having been exhausted, all fetters were also exhausted; he then took grass in hand and made obeisance toward the grass. Someone asked: 'Why do you make obeisance toward the grass?' He replied: 'Because of this grass, my mind for glory and ornament has been exhausted. Attaining the Path came from this; it is my teacher, and therefore I make obeisance toward it.' The five hundred macaques that attained birth in heaven also scattered heavenly māndārava flowers upon their former corpses. Because they were born in heaven by virtue of those corpses, they came to scatter flowers. Indeed, the noble must take the base as its root; due to these causes and conditions, he was praised as foremost in sitting on a mat of grass.