妙法蓮華經玄贊 9.207

9.207

The commentary states: These six verses summarize distancing from four spheres: first, fostering defilement; second, not being a vessel; third, non-standard behavior; fourth, ridicule and reproach. The text is divided into five: one verse summarizes the two conditions of fostering defilement and not being a vessel. Two verses recapitulate evil deeds. "Kuí" (魁) is pronounced with the fanqie ku-hui (苦迴); it means a head or ringleader. "Kuài" (膾) is pronounced gu-wai (古外); it means to cut, finely slicing is kuài. "Xuàn" (衒) is pronounced hu-lian (戶練); it means peddling on foot or advertising oneself. One verse recapitulates corruption/confusion and fostering defilement. One verse summarizes non-standard behavior. "Bǐng" (屏) is pronounced bi-ying (必郢); it means secluded or concealed. If written as concealed and secluded as "bǐng" (偋), it is pronounced bei-zheng (卑政), or pu-ding (蒲定). One verse summarizes ridicule and reproach. As for "lǐ" (里, village/neighborhood), five households make a lín (隣), and five lín make a lǐ. Twenty-five households constitute a neighborhood dwelling (lǐjū). One resides precisely within one neighborhood. The method of begging for food has thirteen kinds: 1. abiding in proper morality; 2. abiding in proper deportment; 3. abiding in proper mindfulness; 4. abiding in proper views; 5. relying on the Dharma; 6. relying on the proper time; 7. relying on the proper place; 8. relying on the proper sequence; 9. being free from greed; 10. being free from grasping; 11. being free from anger and vexation; 12. being free from coarseness and roughness; 13. being free from a haughty and arrogant mind. Herein, the first four abide in proper begging for food; the next four abide in standard procedures; the last five abandon afflictions. It is explained extensively as in the sūtras. Begging for food is done for two matters: first, to sustain oneself in order to practice the proper path; second, to benefit sentient beings so that they may fulfill giving. The recipient and the giver each accomplish the six perfections; hence one practices begging for food. The Yingluo jing says begging for food is done for twenty matters. The Baoyun jing explains that whatever one receives through begging is divided into four portions: one portion is intended for fellow practitioners of pure conduct (brahmacārin), one portion is intended for giving to impoverished beggars, one portion is intended for giving to creatures of water and land, and one portion is for one's own consumption. Moreover, using a single meal, one makes offerings to all buddhas and the assembly of worthy and noble ones, and only afterward eats it oneself. One should conceive thoughts regarding the food as like eating the flesh of one's own child in the wilderness and so forth, vowing to attain the Dharma-body free of all faults, and being mindful of repaying the kindness of the donor. One should regard the food with such thoughts. Furthermore, it is as when the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa explains Mahākāśyapa inquiring after [Vimalakīrti's] illness, and Vimalakīrti instructing him.