釋氏稽古略 4.264

4.264

Offering Food and Gold to Monks: The Layman of Liantang, Hong Qingshan, bearing an envoy's credentials in Jiangdong, stayed overnight at Mount Mei in Chizhou. Chan Master Yuqiu Zong welcomed him, and they conversed through the night. Hong asked, "In what sūtra does offering food to monks appear, and what is its essential meaning?" Zong said, "The Sūtra of Forty-two Chapters says: 'Feeding one hundred ordinary people is not as good as feeding one good person... up to, feeding a thousand billion Buddhas of the three times is not as good as feeding one person who is non-abiding, non-acting, and non-realizing.' Being non-cultivating and non-realizing means right mindfulness standing uniquely detached. If one can feed such a person, the merit surpasses that of all Buddhas. Many predecessors understood this meaning." Hong said, "Who were they?" Zong said, "To speak of recent ones, for example, Qin Shaoyou wrote his own elegy while exiled in Tengzhou, which contains the line, 'Who will offer food to the yellow and the black [clergy]?' When Dongpo heard the news of Qin's death, he sent a letter with five ounces of silver, entrusting Fan Yuanchang to feed monks on Qin's behalf. And when Dongpo returned north and reached Piling, he became ill and could not recover; students of the Imperial Academy gathered money and fed monks at Huilin Monastery in the Eastern Capital. Su Huangmen composed the epitaph for Dongpo and recorded this at the very beginning." Hong said, "Is there textual evidence for presenting cash offerings?" Zong said, "Have you not seen the 'Luming' in the 'Minor Odes' of the Classic of Poetry, feasting the ministers and fine guests? After feeding them and giving them drink, they also fill baskets and hampers with coins and silk to express their deep sincerity. For food and drink are insufficient to fully convey respect, so gifts are added to show attentiveness." Thereupon, he recited Ding Jinggong's prayer for vegetarian offerings to monks: "The Buddha bestows all-encompassing knowledge; the Way nurtures all living beings. Whenever wishing to rescue from ruin and peril, he always manifests auspicious gifts beforehand. An ordinary person seeking official salary, I improperly assumed the heavy authority of Prime Minister; imperial grace proclaimed on the red steps, I unworthily received the generous favor of the late Emperor. Repairing Zhongshan's royal robes, I exhausted my subtle mind; harmonizing Fu Yue's soup, it was difficult to suit all palates. Once in quiet sleep, I suddenly dreamed of a serene countenance; marvelous instructions were clear and cool, causing my worldly mind to awaken early; tributary rites were veiled, and I regret my mortal eyes could not recognize them. Since wisdom could not preserve my body forever, affairs went contrary to avoiding harm; when disaster arrived, it could not be anticipated, turning into catastrophe. Banished to the Western Capital in an extraordinary manner, I was moved by the sagely grace that treated me with leniency; exiled to the southern frontier, I willingly accepted the loyal statutes. The blame is truly self-brought; the karma was not made by others. Thinking of my family scattered, looking ten thousand miles away, where can I return? Having become a minister who failed the state, the skills to manage the country are permanently cut off. My journey passed through the Xiang territory; my path relied on Vulture Peak. Right when this body was full of afflictions, I suddenly met the assembly of cool purity. Only then did I know that wealth and rank can hardly be preserved from beginning to end; even with the glory of dining from cauldrons, how could it match the beauty of a bowl of soup? Specially taking refuge, I respectfully generate pure sincerity, devoutly offering white silver to furnish pure offerings, to feed the high virtue of the bhikṣus and repay the deep compassion of Lancan, hoping this journey will be protected and begging to be free of other misfortunes. I humbly pray that Heaven turns its southern gaze and bestows grace below, exempting me from staying among frontier barbarians, where the bright day is already like the ghostly realms; and granting me return to the central realm, so that even in the Yellow Springs I may again feel heavenly grace. Devoutly exhausting my red sincerity, I forever rely upon the Dharma's power." Hong said, "In the past I read the Biographies of Eminent Ministers and only saw the couplet about 'repairing Zhongshan's royal robes and knowing Fu Yue's soup.' Now having heard it all, his sincere prayer was indeed like this!" (Ganshan yunwo jitan). An eminent monk of Hengyue Temple named Mingcan was lazy by nature and ate scraps; people of the time called him Lancan ("Lazy Remnants"). Li Mi marveled at him and went to visit him; digging a taro out of the fire, Lancan gave half of it to Mi to eat, saying, "Take it and become Prime Minister for ten years."