龍舒增廣淨土文 9.16

9.16

飲食男女，人之大欲存焉。制之若無，斯為聖人；節而不縱，可為賢人；縱而不節，可為下愚。蓋此二者皆造業之所。殺生以資口腹，非造罪而何？婬慾以喪天真，非造罪而何。況二者更相助發，因美飲食則血氣盛，血氣盛則婬慾多，婬慾多則反損血氣，血氣損則又賴飲食以滋補，是二者更相造罪也。若欲省口腹，必先節婬慾。若能節婬慾，即可省口腹。此乃安身延年之道。若能節而絕之，則麁糲亦自美矣。若縱之，則人生受用之數有限，限盡則早終也。慈覺禪師云：「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。」若能如是思省，自可省口腹矣。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。」若能如是思省，自可省婬慾矣。果了得此二者，在生何由有疾病夭折、身後何由有地獄畜生？雖不免此，而修淨土亦脫去輪迴。然修上品者，不可不戒此。

In food, drink, and sex lie the great desires of human beings. To restrain them as though they were non-existent—this is to be a sage; to moderate them without indulgence—one can be a worthy; to indulge them without moderation—one is an utter fool. For these two are both the places where karma is created. Slaying living beings to supply the mouth and stomach—what is this if not creating sin? Engaging in sexual desire to destroy one's heavenly genuine nature—what is this if not creating sin? Moreover, the two mutually stimulate each other: due to fine food and drink, the blood and qi flourish; when blood and qi flourish, sexual desires increase; when sexual desires increase, this in turn damages the blood and qi; when blood and qi are damaged, one relies again on food and drink for nourishment. Thus the two mutually create sin. If one wishes to cut down on food and drink, one must first moderate sexual desire. If one can moderate sexual desire, one can immediately cut down on food and drink. This is the way to preserve health and prolong life. If one can moderate and cut them off, then coarse grain will naturally become delicious. If one indulges them, the allotted measure of human life and enjoyment is limited; when the limit is reached, one dies prematurely. Chan Master Cijue said: "Food and drink for humans last through the days and months; / fine or coarse, according to one's lot, it merely fills the wound of hunger. / Once past three inches [down the throat], what does it become? / There is no need to weigh it so carefully in mind." If one can reflect in this manner, one will naturally be able to cut down on food and drink. The Practical Rustic said: "Skin wraps around bones, flesh, urine, and feces, / forcefully feigning seductive charms to deceive and bewitch people. / The heroes of all ages have succumbed to this, / after a hundred years turning together into a pit of dust." If one can reflect in this manner, one will naturally be able to cut down on sexual desire. If one truly resolves these two matters, how could there be illness and premature death in this life, and how could there be hells and animal destinies after death? Even if one cannot avoid these completely, yet cultivates the Pure Land, one will still escape transmigration. However, those cultivating for the highest grade must not fail to abstain from them.