法苑珠林 41.60

41.60

譬如以蚊嘴　猶可測海底
一切天與人　無能量僧者
僧以功德貴　猶尚不分別
而汝以年歲　稱量諸大德
大小生於智　不在於老少
有智勤精進　雖少而是老
懈怠無智慧　雖老而是少

"Just as with a mosquito's proboscis / One might still sound the ocean floor, / So among all devas and humans, / None can measure the saṃgha. / The saṃgha is precious through its virtue, / Yet it still does not discriminate; / And you, by years of age, / Weigh all the great virtues! / Great and small arise from wisdom; / They do not lie in age or youth. / One endowed with wisdom who is diligent and vigorous, / Though young, is an elder; / One who is indolent and without wisdom, / Though old, is young."