佛祖歷代通載 5.58

5.58

問曰。孔子稱。奢則不孫儉則固。與其不孫也寧固。御孫曰。儉者德之共。侈者惡之大也。今佛家以空財布施為名。盡貨與人為貴。豈有福哉。牟子曰。彼一時也。此一時也。仲尼之言疾奢而無禮。御孫之論刺莊公之刻桶。非禁布施也。舜耕歷山恩不及州里。太公屠牛惠不逮妻子。及其見用。恩流八荒惠施四海。饒財多貨貴其能與。貧困屢空貴其履道。許由不貪四海。伯夷不甘其國。虞卿捐萬戶之封。救窮人之急。各其志也。僖負羈以盤飱之惠。全其所居之閭。宣孟以一飯之故。活其不貲之軀。陰施出於不意。陽報皎如白日。況傾家財發善意。其功德巍巍如嵩泰。悠悠如江海矣。懷善者應之以祚。挾惡者報之以殃。未有種稻而得麥。施禍而獲福者也。

Question: "Confucius stated, 'Extravagance leads to insubordination, and frugality leads to stinginess. Rather than be insubordinate, it is better to be stingy.' Yusun said, 'Frugality is the common denominator of virtue; extravagance is the greatest of vices.' Now the Buddhists take giving up wealth through generosity as their reputation, valuing giving away all goods to others. How could there be any blessing in this?"

Mouzi said: "That was one time, and this is another time. Confucius's words were displeased with extravagance without ritual propriety; Yusun's discourse criticized Duke Zhuang for carving the rafters, not prohibiting generosity. When Shun farmed on Mount Li, his kindness did not reach his village; when the Grand Duke butchered cattle, his favor did not reach his wife and children. But when they were employed, their kindness flowed across the eight wildernesses and their favor was bestowed upon the four seas. When one has an abundance of wealth and goods, one values being able to give; when one is impoverished and constantly empty, one values treading the Way. Xu You was not greedy for the four seas, and Boyi did not covet his state. Yu Qing gave up a fiefdom of ten thousand households to relieve a destitute man in distress. Each followed his own aspiration. Xi Fuji, with the favor of a plate of food, preserved the neighborhood in which he lived. Xuan Meng, for the sake of a single meal, saved his invaluable life. Secret giving arises from what is unexpected; manifest retribution is as clear as the bright sun. How much more so when one empties family wealth and generates virtuous intentions—the merit and virtue are lofty like Mounts Song and Tai, boundless like rivers and oceans. Those who cherish goodness are answered with blessings; those who harbor evil are recompensed with calamity. There has never been one who planted rice and reaped wheat, or inflicted misfortune and obtained blessings."