金剛經纂要刊定記 3.16

3.16

Furthermore, that the Buddha begged for food himself has ten meanings according to the Yingluo jing: First, to end suffering—meaning the blind gain sight. Second, to bestow joy—meaning that a single gaze and a single prostration produce immeasurable merit. Third, to eliminate pride—meaning that sentient beings, seeing him, do not give rise to egotistical pride. Fourth, to fulfill wishes regarding the bowl—if the rich wish to give much, the bowl remains empty; if the poor wish to give little, the bowl becomes full. Fifth, to accept offerings from ghosts and spirits. Sixth, to allow the obstructed to see the Buddha—the elderly, the sick, the impoverished, and the lowly are all able to see the Buddha. Seventh, to display the bowl offered by the heavenly kings. Eighth, to establish a standard model. Ninth, to put an end to slander. Tenth, to cause his disciples not to hoard the eight impure things. It is because of these ten meanings that he begged for food himself.