金剛般若疏 3.4.5

3.4.5

On the peak of Gandhamādana Mountain is Lake Anavatapta, from which four rivers flow out, and the Ganges is one among these four rivers. Some say: this river is eight thousand li long, forty li wide at its widest, and ten li wide at its narrowest; the sand in it is extremely fine, like roasted flour, and the water is white like milk, so extremely deep that elephants and horses crossing it are submerged. Next, citing the sūtra for comparative assessment, the text can be seen. There are multiple reasons why the gift of wealth does not match the gift of Dharma: First, it clarifies that at the time of giving the gift of Dharma, the person who can give is mostly an aryan or a wise person; if it were the gift of wealth, the one who can give is not so. A foolish person is incapable of practicing [the gift of Dharma]; therefore the gift of wealth is inferior, and the gift of Dharma is superior. Second, it clarifies that the person who receives the gift of Dharma must also be a wise person before they can receive it; the foolish and animals cannot receive this, which clarifies that the gift of Dharma is superior. Third, it clarifies that the attainment of merit is superior: the gift of wealth only explains that the one who can give gains merit, while the one who receives the gift does not; if it were the gift of Dharma, both the giver and the recipient together gain merit, which is why it is superior. Fourth, with the gift of Dharma, both what can be given and what is given are retained without loss; if it were the gift of wealth, the recipient gains the fruit of five things, while the giver loses them. Fifth, the gift of wealth benefits only the physical body, whereas the gift of Dharma benefits the dharmakāya. Sixth, the gift of Dharma can cut off delusion, while the gift of wealth merely suppresses stinginess. Seventh, the gift of Dharma transcends the realm of existence, while the gift of wealth is an outflow of conditioned existence. Eighth, the fruit of the gift of wealth has an end, whereas the fruit of the gift of Dharma is inexhaustible. Ninth, the gift of wealth is not obtained all at once, whereas the gift of Dharma is obtained all at once. Tenth, it clarifies that the gift of Dharma possesses all four articles of attraction, whereas the gift of wealth has only one article of attraction; this is why the gift of Dharma is superior to the gift of wealth.