法苑珠林 81.10

81.10

又賢愚經云。佛姨母摩訶波闍波提。佛已出家。手自紡織。預作一端金色之㲲。積心係想唯俟於佛。既得見佛喜發心髓。即持此㲲奉上如來。佛告憍曇彌。汝持此㲲往奉眾僧。波提重白佛言。自佛出家心每思念。故手自紡織規心俟佛。唯願垂愍為我受之。佛告之曰。知母專心欲用施我。然恩愛心施福不弘廣。若施眾僧獲報彌多。我知此事是以相勸。

Furthermore, the Damamūka-nidāna Sūtra states: When the Buddha's maternal aunt, Mahāprajāpatī, saw that the Buddha had left home, she spun and wove with her own hands, preparing in advance a bolt of golden cotton cloth. With an accumulated mind and focused thought, she waited solely for the Buddha. Having obtained sight of the Buddha, joy welled up from her very marrow; she immediately took this cotton cloth and presented it to the Tathāgata. The Buddha told Gautamī: "Take this cotton cloth and offer it to the Saṃgha." Prajāpatī again addressed the Buddha, saying: "Ever since the Buddha left home, my mind has constantly longed for you; therefore, I spun and wove it with my own hands, intending it and waiting for the Buddha. I only pray you will show pity and accept it for my sake." The Buddha told her: "I know that mother's mind was focused on wishing to give it to me; however, the merit of giving with a mind of affectionate attachment is not broad and vast. If you give it to the Saṃgha, you will obtain even greater retribution. Knowing this matter, I therefore encourage you."