法苑珠林 66.41

66.41

又涅槃經云。若外道自餓苦行得道者。一切畜生悉應得道。是故外道受自餓法。投淵赴火。自墜高巖。常翹一脚。五熱炙身。常臥灰土棘刺編㭬樹葉惡草牛糞之上。麁服麻衣糞埽氀褐欽婆羅衣。茹菜噉果藕根油滓。若行乞食限至一家。主若言無即便捨去。設復還喚終不迴顧。不食鹽肉五種辛味。常飲噉洮糖沸汁。乃云是等能為無上解脫因者。無有是處。不見菩薩摩訶薩人行如是法得解脫者。是故先須調心。不偏苦身即得道果。又修行道地經云。譬如小兒捕得一雀執持令惱。以長縷繫放之飛去。自以為脫。不復遭厄。詣樹池飲自恣安隱。縷盡牽還持弄惱苦。如本無異。修行如是。自惟念言。雖至梵天當還欲界受苦如故。於是頌曰。

Furthermore, the Nirvāṇa-sūtra says: 'If non-Buddhists who practice self-starvation and austerities could attain the Way, then all animals should also attain the Way. For this reason, non-Buddhists adopt practices of self-starvation, casting themselves into abysses, throwing themselves into fire, leaping from high cliffs, constantly standing on one leg, exposing their bodies to the five fires, and constantly lying on ashes, thorns, wooden stakes, leaves, noxious weeds, and cow dung; wearing coarse garments, hemp clothes, rags from dunghills, coarse woolen fabrics, and kamala robes; eating wild vegetables, feeding on fruits, lotus roots, and oil dregs; when begging for food, limiting themselves to a single household, and if the owner says there is none, immediately turning away, never looking back even if called back; abstaining from salt, meat, and the five pungent roots; constantly drinking and eating gruel, cane sugar, and boiling liquids. To claim that these things can serve as the cause for unsurpassed liberation is impossible. One never sees bodhisattva mahāsattvas practicing such methods and attaining liberation. Therefore, one must first tame the mind; not exclusively tormenting the body, one will then attain the fruits of the Way.' Furthermore, the Yogācārabhūmi-sūtra says: For example, a young boy catches a sparrow and holds it, tormenting it; binding it with a long thread, he lets it fly away. Thinking it has escaped and will no longer face distress, it goes to a tree or pond to drink, enjoying itself in peace. When the thread runs out, he pulls it back and torments it as before, without any difference. The practitioner is like this, reflecting to himself: 'Though I reach the Brahmā heaven, I will still return to the desire realm to suffer as before.' Thereupon he spoke a verse: