四分律行事鈔資持記 3.743

3.743

次科，初牒世事。依下，引勸；《中含》，明亡者不必受享；入處，即餓鬼居處之名。前若字下，宜加為字助之。《雜含》，勸營福。言廣明者，彼云：有一梵志白佛，我有親族命終，欲為設食，彼得食不？佛言：餓鬼趣中，有一處，名為入處；餓鬼即得，餘處不得，以各有食故。不生入處，謂生餘趣者。自得功德，謂由施心力故，任運冥資。持戒，即五戒。但得人身，且據近報，顯須施福。《譬喻經》。彼因目連見已問佛，佛答如鈔。顯知施福，冥拔幽靈；但可修崇，不勞祭祀。

In the next section, first worldly affairs are taken up. From "relying on" downwards, it cites encouragement. The Madhyama-āgama clarifies that deceased persons do not necessarily receive and enjoy [the offerings]; the "entry place" (āyatana) is the name of the dwelling place of hungry ghosts (pretas). Below the preceding character "ruo" (if), it is appropriate to add the character "wei" (for) to aid the meaning. The Saṃyukta-āgama encourages cultivating merit. Regarding "extensive explanation": that text states that a brahmin said to the Buddha, "I have relatives who have died; I wish to set out food for them—do they obtain the food or not?" The Buddha said, "In the realm of hungry ghosts, there is a place called the 'entry place'; hungry ghosts obtain it, but in other places they do not obtain it, because each has its own food." "Not being born in the entry place" refers to those born in other realms. "Naturally obtaining merit" means that through the power of the generous mind, they are imperceptibly assisted spontaneously. "Maintaining precepts" refers to the five precepts. Merely obtaining a human body considers only the immediate retribution, showing that the merit of giving is necessary. The Dṛṣṭānta-sūtra: that circumstance was when Maudgalyāyana, having seen [the pretas], questioned the Buddha, and the Buddha replied as in the Manual. This clearly shows that the merit of giving imperceptibly rescues spirits of the deceased; one should only cultivate and venerate [merit], without troubling with sacrifices.