法苑珠林 19.44

19.44

As the Xiangfa jueyi jing states: Even down to all secular people, regardless of noble or base status, they must not beat the slaves, maidservants, or livestock of the Three Jewels, nor receive prostrations from the slaves and maidservants of the Three Jewels; all [such acts] incur calamity and blame. Therefore, the Satyaka-nirgrantha-sūtra states: 'If one destroys stūpas and temples, or takes the property of the Buddha, or teaches others to do so, or rejoices in it; or if there is a śramaṇa whose body wears dyed robes, whether maintaining or breaking the precepts, and one ties them up, beats them, imprisons them, forces them to return to lay life, or cuts off their life—if one commits such root major offenses, one will definitely fall into hell and suffer the torment of Avīci. Because such unwholesomeness is practiced within the kingdom, all the ṛṣis and holy ones will leave the country, the mighty spirits will not protect the realm, ministers will dispute and fight, and uprisings will arise from all four directions. Floods and droughts will be unregulated, winds and rains will lose their season, the people will starve, bandits will run rampant, pestilence and diseases will claim countless lives, and without knowing that this was caused by themselves, they will blame the gods.'