法苑珠林 80.38

80.38

又優婆塞戒經云。若有比丘比丘尼優婆塞優婆夷。能教化人具足戒施多聞智慧。若以紙墨令人書寫。若自書寫如來正典。然後施人令得讀誦。是名法施。如是施者。未來天上得好上色。何以故。眾生聞法斷除瞋心。以是因緣。未來世中得成上色。眾生聞法慈心不殺。以是因緣。未來世中得壽命長。眾生聞法不盜他財寶。以是因緣。未來世中多饒財寶。眾生聞法開心樂施。以是因緣。未來世中身得大力。眾生聞法離諸放逸。以是因緣。未來世中身得安樂。眾生聞法除瞋癡心。以是因緣。未來世中得無礙辯才。眾生聞法信心無疑。以是因緣。未來世中信心明了。戒施聞慧亦復如是。故知法施殊勝過於財施。問既知法施勝過財施。今時眾生但學法施不行財施。未知得不。答為不解財施迷心而施。苟求色聲人天樂報。恐墜三塗不成出世。所以聖人殷勤歎法。令其寤解三事體空而行財施。遠成菩提涅槃勝果。自餘戒忍六度萬行。皆籍智慧開道成勝。

Furthermore, the Upāsakaśīla-sūtra states: 'If there is a bhikṣu, bhikṣuṇī, upāsaka, or upāsikā who can instruct and transform people to become complete in morality, generosity, extensive learning, and wisdom; or if, with paper and ink, they cause people to copy, or personally copy the true scriptures of the Tathāgata, and then give them to people to enable them to read and recite—this is called the gift of Dharma. A giver such as this will, in future heavenly realms, obtain an excellent, supreme physical appearance. Why is this? Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, cut off and eliminate their angry minds; due to this cause and condition, in future lives they attain supreme physical appearance. Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, possess minds of loving-kindness and do not kill; due to this cause and condition, in future lives they attain long life. Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, do not steal others' wealth and treasures; due to this cause and condition, in future lives they possess abundant wealth and treasures. Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, open their minds and delight in giving; due to this cause and condition, in future lives their bodies attain great strength. Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, leave behind all heedlessness; due to this cause and condition, in future lives their bodies attain peace and ease. Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, eliminate anger and delusion; due to this cause and condition, in future lives they attain unobstructed eloquence. Sentient beings, hearing the Dharma, develop faith without doubt; due to this cause and condition, in future lives their faith is clear and distinct. The same also applies to morality, generosity, learning, and wisdom. Therefore, know that the gift of Dharma is superior to material giving.' Question: 'Since it is known that the gift of Dharma surpasses material giving, if sentient beings of the present time only practice the gift of Dharma and do not practice material giving, may they do so or not?' Answer: 'Because those who do not understand material giving practice giving with a deluded mind, merely seeking pleasant retributions of sights, sounds, humans, and devas, it is feared that they will fall into the three miserable destinies and fail to attain world-transcending liberation. Therefore, the sage earnestly praised the Dharma so as to lead them to awaken to the emptiness of the substance of the three factors (trimandala-pariśuddha) and thereby practice material giving, ultimately bringing to fruition the supreme fruits of bodhi and nirvāṇa. All other practices—morality, forbearance, the six pāramitās, and the myriad deeds—rely on wisdom to open the path and achieve superiority.'