法苑珠林 55.98

55.98

十九依仙公請問經云。復有凡人行是功德。願為沙門道士大博。至後生便為沙門。大學佛法為眾法師。復有一人見沙門道士齋請讀經乃笑曰。彼向空吟經欲何希耶。虛腹日中一食。此罪人耳。道士乃慈心喻之。故報意不釋。死入地獄。考毒五苦。

19. According to the Scripture of the Immortal Lord's Inquiries (Xian gong qingwen jing): Furthermore, there are ordinary people who practice this merit and vow to become śramaṇas or Daoist priests of great erudition; upon their subsequent rebirth they become śramaṇas, profoundly studying the Buddhadharma and serving as Dharma masters for the multitude. Moreover, there was a man who, seeing śramaṇas and Daoist priests being invited to fasts to chant scriptures, laughed and said, "What are they hoping for by chanting scriptures facing empty space? With empty bellies, eating only once at midday, they are merely guilty offenders!" A Daoist priest kindly admonished him, but his resentful attitude remained unresolved. Upon death he entered hell, being interrogated and tormented by the five sufferings.