法苑珠林 62.30

62.30

又婆沙論云。有人不如法求財及其得時。以慳惜故。於己眷屬尚無心與。況復餘人。以無施心故。身壞命終墮餓鬼中。若在本舍邊不淨糞穢廁溷中住。諸親里等生苦惱心。作如是念。彼積聚財物自不受用。又不施人。以苦惱故欲施其食。請諸眷屬親友知識沙門婆羅門施其飲食。爾時餓鬼親自見之。於眷屬財物生已有想。作如是念。如此財物我所積聚。今施與人心大歡喜。於福田所生信敬心若生餘道多不得力。縱令亡人不得此福。故為修善自得大利。如似起慈自常獲福。

Furthermore, the Mahāvibhāṣā-śāstra says: Suppose a person seeks wealth unlawfully, and when obtaining it, due to stinginess, has no intention of giving even to their own family members, much less to other people. Because they lack the intention to give, when the body breaks up at the end of life, they fall among the hungry ghosts. If they reside near their original house in an impure latrine of feces and filth, their relatives give rise to a pained mind and think: "They accumulated wealth and goods without using them themselves, nor did they give them to others." Out of distress, wishing to give them food, they invite relatives, close friends, acquaintances, śramaṇas, and brāhmaṇas to provide food and drink. At that time, the hungry ghost sees it in person and, regarding the relatives and wealth as their own, thinks: "Such wealth was accumulated by me; now it is given to others," feeling great joy in their heart and giving rise to faith and reverence toward the field of merit (puṇyakṣetra). If they are born in other destinies, they mostly do not obtain its power. Even if the deceased person does not obtain this merit, performing wholesome deeds for their sake brings great benefit to oneself, just as giving rise to loving-kindness always brings merit to oneself.