樂邦遺稿 1.96

1.96

《龍舒淨土文》曰「飲食男女，人之大欲。制之若無，斯為聖人；節而不縱，可為賢人；縱而不節，是為下愚。蓋此二者，造業之所，更相助發。蓋飲食充則血氣盛使婬欲多，婬欲多則反損血氣，又賴飲食以滋補。若俱能省減，此乃安身延年之道也。慈覺師云：『飲食於人日月長，精麁隨分塞飢瘡，纔過三寸成何物？不用將心細校量。』務實野夫云：『皮包骨肉并尿糞，強作嬌嬈誑惑人，千古英雄皆坐此，百年同作一坑塵。』果戒得此二事，在世何由有疾病夭折、身後何由有地獄鬼畜？若決欲求生淨土，當謹護於此。」

The Longshu jingtu wen states: 'Food and drink, and men and women [sex]—these are human beings' great desires. To restrain them so that they are as if nonexistent is to be a sage; to moderate them without indulgence is to be a worthy; to indulge them without moderation is to be the lowest fool. These two are the site of karma-creation, mutually stimulating each other. When food and drink are abundant, blood and qi flourish, causing sexual desire to increase; when sexual desire is excessive, it in turn damages blood and qi, and one relies again on food and drink to nourish and replenish them. If one can reduce both, this is the way to preserve the body and prolong life. Master Cijue said: "Food and drink for humans last through long days and months; fine or coarse, according to one's lot, it stops the wound of hunger. Once it passes three inches down, what does it become? There is no need to deliberate closely with one's mind." The rustic fellow of practical matters said: "Skin wraps bones and flesh, together with urine and feces; yet forcing a bewitching charm, it deceives and deludes people. Heroes of a thousand ages have all fallen to this; in a hundred years they all become a pit of dust." If one truly refrains from these two matters, why would there be disease and untimely death in this life, and why would there be hells, hungry ghosts, or animals after this life? If you are determined to seek rebirth in the Pure Land, you should carefully guard against these.'