萬善同歸集 2.83

2.83

「或盡忠立孝，濟國治家，行謙讓之風，履溫恭之道，敬養父母，成第一之福田；承事尊賢，開生天之淨路。《賢愚經》云：『佛語阿難：「出家在家，慈心孝順，供養父母，計其功德，殊勝難量。所以者何？我自憶念，過去世時，慈心孝順，供養父母，乃至身肉，濟活父母危急之厄，以是功德，上為天帝，下為聖王，乃至成佛，三界特尊，皆由斯福。」』

Or exhausting loyalty and establishing filial piety, helping the state and managing the family, practicing the customs of modesty and deference, treading the path of gentleness and respect, reverently caring for parents, one accomplishes the foremost field of merit; serving elders and the worthy, one opens the pure path to rebirth in heaven. The Damamūka-nidāna Sūtra says: 'The Buddha said to Ānanda: "For those who have left home and those who remain at home, with a compassionate heart to be filial and obedient in supporting parents, the merit thereof is exceptionally great and immeasurable. Why is this? I myself recall that in past lives, with a compassionate heart being filial and obedient in supporting parents, even using my own flesh to sustain my parents through grave perils, by this merit, above I became the heavenly lord and below I became a holy king, up to attaining Buddhahood, the supremely revered in the three realms—all arose from this blessing."'