念佛鏡 2.10

2.10

Answer: "In the teaching of buddhānusmṛti, eating the saṃgha's food, sitting on the saṃgha's beds, and eating after midday are universally permitted. Why is this? Because one who practices buddhānusmṛti is like a king, and also like a prince, worthy of receiving the king's emoluments, and worthy of receiving the Tathāgata's protection. Moreover, the Buddha is like a parent, and practitioners of buddhānusmṛti are like sons and daughters; they rightfully receive their parents' food, drink, clothing, beds, couches, and bedding. Therefore it is universally permitted to sit on the saṃgha's beds, eat the saṃgha's food, and also eat after midday. If one objects: 'Not sitting on the saṃgha's beds and not eating the saṃgha's food constitutes cultivating the path,' then base and lowly people in the borderlands should be cultivators of the path. Why is this? Base and lowly people in the borderlands do not sit on the saṃgha's beds and do not eat the saṃgha's food. Since those base and lowly people in the borderlands are not said to be on the path, these Three Levels are likewise not cultivating the path."