佛祖統紀 33.23

33.23

Vegetarian Feasts for the Saṃgha: The Buddha said, "Offering food to the Saṃgha brings five kinds of merits: complexion, strength, lifespan, peace, and eloquence." When offering food, the senior monk should recite this verse: "The giver and the receiver both attain the five constants: / Complexion, strength, lifespan, peace, and unhindered eloquence." (Wufude jing) The Buddha said, "Offering food brings five blessings: the gift of life, the gift of complexion, the gift of strength, the gift of peace, and the gift of eloquence. What is meant by the gift of life? Without food for seven days, a person's life ends. When a wise person gives food, this is the gift of life. The one who gives life will, in life after life, enjoy longevity and boundless wealth. What is meant by the gift of complexion? Without food, a person's complexion becomes haggard. When a wise person gives food, this is the gift of complexion. The one who gives complexion will, in life after life, be handsome and dignified, with a radiant complexion. What is meant by the gift of strength? Without food, a person is incapable of any action. When a wise person gives food, this is the gift of strength. The one who gives strength will be born in heaven or among humans with peerless strength. What is meant by the gift of peace? Without food, a person's mind is sorrowful, their body endangered, unable to find peace. When a wise person gives food, this is the gift of peace. The one who gives peace will, in life after life, abide in tranquility and never encounter manifold calamities. What is meant by the gift of eloquence? Without food, a person's body is emaciated, their mind weak, and their mouth unable to speak. When a wise person gives food, this is the gift of eloquence. The one who gives eloquence will possess penetrating wisdom and eloquence, bringing joy to all who hear. These are the five blessings." (Shishi wufu jing) There are three methods of giving: first, delivering food to the monastery is called superior; going to a home to receive offerings is called middling; building a shelter to beg for alms and initiating offerings is called inferior. (Ekottarika Āgama) If a donor prepares food and invites the Saṃgha, but stations guards at the gate to bar aged, sick, poor, or mendicant monks from entering the assembly, they waste their food and drink in vain, gaining no share of goodness whatsoever. (Xiangfa jueyi jing) When disciples of the four classes observe the vegetarian fast, they should reflect in their minds: inviting the Saṃgha of the ten directions without discriminating between good and bad, whether they uphold or break the precepts, or whether their conduct is high or low. When going to stupas and temples to invite the Saṃgha, making offerings in the order of the Saṃgha yields the greatest merit. (Puguang jing) When a donor comes to invite the Saṃgha, visiting monks are entitled to a share of the offerings. The monastery prior should dispatch them according to proper sequence. (Ibid.) When worldly people make special invitations to five hundred arhats or bodhisattva-monks, it is not as good as offering to a single ordinary monk according to the order of the Saṃgha. (Brahmajāla Sūtra) Once, when the Buddha entered the city of Śrāvastī to beg for food, a brāhmaṇa, seeing that the Buddha frequently came to his house, thought to himself, "Why does this śramaṇa keep coming so often, as if I owed him a debt?" The Buddha then spoke a verse: "Seasonal rains fall again and again; / The five grains ripen again and again; / Again and again one cultivates meritorious deeds; / Again and again one receives karmic fruits." Hearing this, the brāhmaṇa felt ashamed, took his bowl, filled it with food to offer to the Buddha, repented, renounced the household life, and attained arhatship. (Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa) If a person can make it a daily rule to first offer food to the Saṃgha before eating oneself, this is the highest among gifts. (Upāsakaśīla Sūtra; the practice of setting out rice-bowls [for offerings] in cities today originated from this.)