法苑珠林 50.10

50.10

又舍利弗問經云。佛言。夫受戒。隨其力辦。可以為施。不限多少。文殊師利白佛言。云何如來說父母恩大不可不報。又言師僧之恩。不可稱量。其誰為最。佛言。夫在家者。孝事父母在於膝下。莫以報生長與之等。以生育恩深故言大也。若從師學開發知見。次恩大也。夫出家者。捨其父母生死之家。入法門中受微妙法。師之力也。生長法身出功德財養智惠命。功莫大也。追其所生乃次之耳。

Furthermore, the Śāriputra-paripṛcchā-sūtra says: 'The Buddha said: "In receiving the precepts, one should provide according to one's ability, which can serve as dāna, regardless of how much or how little." Mañjuśrī addressed the Buddha, saying: "Why did the Tathāgata say that the kindness of parents is so great that it must be repaid, and also say that the kindness of masters and monks cannot be measured? Which of them is foremost?" The Buddha said: "For householders, serving their parents filially at their knees—nothing can equal the repayment of being born and raised by them; because the kindness of giving birth and raising them is deep, it is called great. If one learns from a master to unfold knowledge and vision, that is next in greatness of kindness. For renunciants, abandoning the household of birth and death of their parents, entering the Dharma-door, and receiving the subtle and wonderful Dharma is due to the power of the master. It brings forth and nurtures the Dharma-body, generates the wealth of merit, and sustains the life of wisdom; no merit is greater. Repaying those who gave one birth is secondary to this."'