法苑珠林 82.61

82.61

又成實論云。惡口罵辱小人不堪如石雨鳥。惡口罵詈大人堪受如華雨象。行者常觀前人本末因緣。或於過去為我父母養育我身。不避罪福。未曾報恩。何須起瞋。或為兄弟妻子眷屬。或是聖人昔為善友。凡情不識何須加毀。

The Tattvasiddhi-śāstra also says: 'Small people cannot bear harsh speech and revilement, like birds rained on by stones; great people can bear harsh speech and cursing, like an elephant rained on by flowers. The practitioner should constantly observe the past and present causes and conditions of the person before him: perhaps in the past they were my parents who raised my body without avoiding guilt or seeking merit, and I have not yet repaid their kindness—why should I give rise to anger? Or they were brothers, wife and children, or relatives; or they were noble persons or former good friends. If worldly sentiment fails to recognize this, why should one add slander?'