法苑珠林 49.67

49.67

如雜寶藏經。爾時世尊而作是言。恭敬宿老有大利益。而常讚歎恭敬父母耆長宿老。不但今日。我於過去久遠。有國名棄老國。彼國土中有老人者。皆遠驅棄。有一大臣。其父年老。依如國法應在驅遣。大臣孝順心所不忍。乃深掘地作一密窟。置父著中隨時孝養。

As stated in the Saṃyuktaratnapiṭaka-sūtra: At that time, the World-Honoured One spoke these words: 'Respecting elders brings great benefit.' And he constantly praised respecting parents, seniors, and elders. 'Not only today: long ago in the past, there was a country named the Land of Abandoning the Old. In that land, whenever there was an old person, all were driven away and abandoned afar. There was a minister whose father was old; according to the state law, he was due to be driven away. The minister was filial and his heart could not bear it, so he dug deep into the earth and made a secret cavern, placing his father inside and filially nurturing him according to the seasons.'