大方廣佛華嚴經隨疏演義鈔 81.26

81.26

On the commentary's: "The Tathāgataguhyakośa-sūtra clarifies cursing medicine," and so forth: in full it is called the Buddhāvataṃsaka-tathāgataguhyakośa-sūtra, and this is the lower fascicle. "Mahākāśyapa asked: 'I pray only that you speak this Tathāgataguhyakośa Dharma.' The Buddha said: 'Kāśyapa! What do you think? Do you suppose that when I practiced the bodhisattva path, when I relinquished hands, feet, head, eyes, ears, nose, skin, flesh, bones, marrow, blood, wife and children, and briefly up to all wealth, those sentient beings who harassed and vexed the bodhisattva in every way did not fall into hells, animals, hungry ghosts, and the various evil destinies? Why is this? Because when originally practicing the bodhisattva practice, the resolve was pure; because of the gathering of pure precepts of great vows; because great compassion towards all sentient beings was unadulterated and steadfast patience was firm; because of great benevolence; because of the dharmas of great merit; because of firm and stalwart vigor directed toward the Mahāyāna; because the tranquil mind was pure; because the great vows were to benefit; and because I took no pleasure in my own joy. If there were sentient beings who provoked the bodhisattva and reviled or cursed him, by virtue of the bodhisattva's power they did not fall into evil destinies. Kāśyapa! I now adduce a simile to clarify this meaning. Kāśyapa! Just like a sick person to whom a good physician gives medicine, and this sick person intentionally curses this medicine and the good physician; having first cursed them, he then takes this medicine. Kāśyapa! What do you think? Because of being cursed, is the medicine not medicine? Is the disease not eliminated?' 'No, World-Honoured One! Although cursed, the medicine does not lose its efficacy and can eliminate the disease.' 'Just so, Kāśyapa! The bodhisattva is like the medicine and that good physician: even if they do not give rise to reverence and cause various vexations, this bodhisattva's pure resolve has no diminution.'" It also adduces that a great jewel has great power, and someone reviling it does not cause it to lose its jewel power; and cursing a bright lamp, even if it burns, it can also dispel darkness. As for "cursing agarwood": this is a paraphrase; that [sūtra] says: "If one curses red sandalwood, beats it with the hands, burns it and casts it away, what fragrance does it make? Kāśyapa answered, saying: 'It makes the fragrance of sandalwood.' It also says: 'If a person holds excrement and casts it away, and makes offerings of flowers and incense, what kind of odor does this person have?' He answered: 'He has a foul odor.' The Buddha said: 'Making offerings to non-Buddhists brings only fears of wrong views, hells, animals, hungry ghosts, and so forth.'"