法苑珠林 1.21

1.21

述曰。眾生固執無思悛革。慳貪嫉妬惡業逾盛。所以人情嶮阻凶毒㳂流。令入末法人物俱惡。所有依正兩報致令日夜衰耗。故付法藏經云。阿恕伽王自為僧行食。時賓頭盧用蘇澆飯。阿恕伽王白言。大聖。蘇性難消能不為疾。尊者答曰。不為患也。何以故。佛在時水與今蘇等。是故食之終不成病。爾時尊者。欲驗斯事使手入地下至四萬二千餘里。即取地肥而示於王。王今當知。眾生薄福。肥膩之味皆流入地。是故世間福轉衰滅。王供養已歡喜而退。良由世尊鞱光未盈百年尚有斯徵。況今向有二千。豈有精味。故瑜伽論云。三災起時。爾時有情復有三種最極衰損。壽量衰損。依止衰損。資具衰損。壽量衰損者。所謂壽量極至十歲。依止衰損者。謂其身量極至一搩手。或復一握。資具衰損者。爾時有情唯以粟稗為食中第一。以髮為衣中第一。以鐵為莊嚴中第一。五種上味悉皆隱沒。所謂蘇蜜油鹽等味及甘蔗變味。

Commentary: Sentient beings are obstinate, with no thought of reforming themselves. Stinginess, greed, and jealousy grow ever more prevalent, and evil karma ever more flourishing. For this reason human sentiments become treacherous and fierce, malice runs rampant, and causing the entry into the Final Dharma, both persons and things are depraved. All their dependent and proper fruitions are thereby caused to decline day and night. Thus the Fu fazang jing says: King Aśoka was personally distributing food to the saṃgha. At that time, Piṇḍola poured ghee over the rice. King Aśoka said, “Great sage, the nature of ghee is difficult to digest; might it not cause illness?” The venerable one answered, “It does not cause affliction. Why? When the Buddha was in the world, the water was equal to today's ghee. Therefore, eating it will never result in illness.” At that time, the venerable one, wishing to demonstrate this, plunged his hand into the earth down to more than forty-two thousand li, took up the essence of the earth, and showed it to the king, [saying,] “The king should know now: sentient beings have meager merit, so the rich and fatty flavors have all drained down into the earth. For this reason, the world's merit is gradually declining and extinguishing.” After the king made his offerings, he rejoiced and departed. Indeed, before even a hundred years had elapsed since the World-Honoured One concealed his radiance, there were already such portents; how much more so now, when it is approaching two thousand years—how could there still be refined flavors? Therefore the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra says: When the three calamities arise, at that time sentient beings furthermore have three kinds of ultimate decline and deterioration: deterioration of lifespan, deterioration of the body, and deterioration of resources. As for deterioration of lifespan: lifespan reaches a minimum of ten years. As for deterioration of the body: body size reaches a minimum of one span (diṣṭi), or even one fistful. As for deterioration of resources: at that time sentient beings consider only foxtail millet and barnyard millet to be the foremost among foods; they consider hair to be the foremost among garments; and they consider iron to be the foremost among adornments. The five kinds of superior flavors will all disappear—namely the tastes of ghee, honey, oil, salt, and so forth, as well as the processed taste of sugarcane.