廬山蓮宗寶鑑 6.6

6.6

在家菩薩念佛高流，日赴檀信之齋，坐享人天之供，皆非常道，不若治生。有意修行，豈妨作務？或田疇播種、或市井經營、或富有家資、或日求升合，應思勤則不惰、儉則有餘，以此修身方為佛子。若也奢華懶惰、生事蕭條，雖欲修行，不可得也。信知治世資生皆順正法，工巧伎藝饒益群生。欲修淨業正因，當以資生助道。所以潭州黃老常打鐵以修行，居土龐公賣笟籬而養道，喻彌陀畫像為業，戴佛庵發燭資身。可謂一日不作，一日不食矣。

For lay bodhisattvas and eminent practitioners of buddhānusmṛti, attending the vegetarian feasts of donors daily and sitting idly enjoying offerings from humans and gods is not the ordinary path; it is not as good as managing a livelihood. When one has the intention to cultivate, how could work and chores interfere? Whether sowing seeds in the fields, doing business in the marketplace, possessing abundant family wealth, or daily seeking a pint or a peck, one should consider that diligence brings no indolence and frugality yields surplus; using this to cultivate oneself makes one a true child of the Buddha. If one is extravagant and lazy, with one's livelihood bleak and destitute, then even though one wishes to cultivate, it cannot be achieved. Know with certainty that governing the world and supporting life both accord with the right Dharma; skills and crafts bring abundant benefit to all beings. If one wishes to cultivate the right cause of pure karma, one should use livelihood to support the path. Therefore, Old Huang of Tanzhou always cultivated while smithing iron; Layman Pang made a living supporting the path by selling bamboo baskets; Yu [Mi] painted images of Amitābha as his trade; and Dai Fo'an made matches to sustain his body. Truly, it may be said: 'A day without work is a day without food.'