[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [法苑珠林](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122) › 42.12 # 法苑珠林 42.12 法苑珠林 42.12 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [42.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.42.12) 如涅槃經云。因曠野鬼神為授不殺戒。已以不食肉故氣力虛弱命欲將終。佛告鬼言。我勅聲聞弟子。隨有佛法處。悉施汝等食。若有住處不能施者。是魔眷屬。非我弟子真聲聞也。然出眾生食時須有分齊。若食他施主食。即須依五分律。云若與乞兒鳥狗等。並應量己分內減施與之。不得取分外施（比見道俗至於齋上施主儉約不與妻兒。先供眾僧將為福田。僧等不量。前食多少。先自飽食。多將施食。乞飼鳥犬損他施主。又自得罪。若取分內。或將己食。任意多少。不論限約）又十二頭陀經云。若得食時應作是念。見渴乏眾生以一分施之。我為施主。彼為受者。施已作是願言。令一切眾生興福救之。莫墮慳貪。持至空靜處減一段著淨石上施諸禽獸。亦如上願。正欲食時作是念言。身中有八萬戶蟲。蟲得此食皆悉安隱。我今以食施此諸蟲。後得道時當以法施汝。是為不捨眾生。 > As the Nirvāṇa-sūtra states: Because the spirits and ghosts of the wilderness were conferred the precept against killing, and subsequently, having ceased to eat meat, their vital breath and strength grew weak and their lives were about to end, the Buddha told the ghosts: 'I command my śrāvaka disciples: wherever there is the Buddha's Dharma, they must all give food to you. If there is a residence where they are unable to give, they are the retinue of Māra, not my disciples, not true śrāvakas.' However, when dispensing food to sentient beings, there must be a proper measure. If one eats the food of other dānapatis, one must then follow the Mahīśāsaka-vinaya, which says: 'If one gives to beggars, birds, dogs, and the like, one should estimate within one's own allotted portion, reducing it to give to them; one must not take from outside one's allotted portion to give.' (Lately I have seen monastics and laity attending vegetarian feasts where the dānapati was frugal and did not provide for his wife and children, first making offerings to the monastic community to serve as a field of merit. The monks, without estimating the quantity of food beforehand, first gorged themselves and then took much to distribute as food, giving it to feed birds and dogs. This harms the other dānapati, and they also incur sin themselves. If one takes from within one's own portion, or uses one's own food, one may do as much or as little as one pleases, without being subject to restrictions.) Furthermore, the Twelve Dhūta Sūtra states: 'When obtaining food, one should form this thought: seeing sentient beings who are thirsty and destitute, give one portion to them. I am the dānapati, and they are the recipients. Having given, one makes this vow: "May all sentient beings generate blessings to save them; let them not fall into stinginess and greed." Carrying it to an empty and quiet place, take off a morsel and place it on a clean rock to bestow upon birds and beasts, also making the vow as above. Just as one is about to eat, one forms this thought: "Within the body there are eighty thousand families of worms; when the worms obtain this food, they will all be at peace and ease. I now give food to these worms; when I attain the Way in the future, I shall bestow the Dharma upon you." This is not abandoning sentient beings.' > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 42.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.42.11) - [Next: 42.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.42.13) - [Up: 42](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.42) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122~en-mt.42.12) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [諸經要集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2123.5.65) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.42.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2122.42.12) · Pramāṇa