仁王經疏 3.505

3.505

Explanation: Second, establishing the four heterodox teachings. First, establishing administrative officials to regulate the assembly and setting up registers to record the Saṃgha, which is the fault of not relying on the Dharma of the Saṃgha. Second, bhikṣus standing on the ground and white-robed laity sitting high: this is losing the marks of high and low. There are two explanations of this: One says that on the grounds of the Saṃgha, white-robed laity sit high. The other says that in the same place, bhikṣus stand low while white-robed laity sit high. Third, soldiers and slaves becoming bhikṣus directly violates the noble marks of the field of merit. Fourth, those who accept individual invitations lose the marks of the field of merit; it is a non-Buddhist practice, not my Dharma. Therefore the Bhikṣu-yogyadharmacaryā Sūtra says: "If any disciple of mine accepts an individual invitation, this person will certainly lose the first fruit, the second fruit, the third fruit, and the fourth fruit, and is not called a bhikṣu. Such a one cannot walk on the king's land, cannot drink the king's water, and five hundred great ghosts will constantly obstruct them from the front. This bhikṣu will not see a Buddha for seven kalpas, the Buddhas will not extend their hands to him, and he cannot receive donors' goods. Five thousand great ghosts will constantly follow behind him, saying: 'A great thief within the Buddha-Dharma!' Bhikṣus should take invitations to the Saṃgha in proper order; such is the Dharma of the seven Buddhas. Within the Saṃgha invited in order, there is the Saṃgha transformed by Buddhas, the Saṃgha of the four fruits of the path, the Saṃgha of bodhisattvas, the Saṃgha of the seven worthies, and the Saṃgha of ordinary people. In order that donors from the four directions may obtain such a Saṃgha, do not accept individual invitations." It is fully explained like that. Also, the Brahmā's Net Sūtra says: "Under no circumstances may one accept an individual invitation for offerings to enter oneself. Since these offerings belong to the Saṃgha of the ten directions, accepting an individual invitation means taking the goods of the Saṃgha of the ten directions for oneself." It also says: "One who invites in proper order obtains the worthy and sage Saṃgha of the ten directions. But for worldly people to individually invite five hundred arhats is not as good as having one ordinary monk in a Saṃgha order. If one accepts individual invitations, it is a non-Buddhist practice; none of the seven Buddhas had it." It is fully explained like that. The general meaning of the Householder Inviting the Saṃgha as a Field of Merit Sūtra is also the same.