法苑珠林 21.10

21.10

Also, the Abhidharmāmṛtarasa-śāstra says: There are three kinds of good fields: first, the field of great virtue; second, the field of poverty and suffering; third, the field of both great virtue and poverty and suffering. What is the field of great virtue? It refers to Buddhas, pratyekabuddhas, the four fruits of the śramaṇa, and so forth. What is the field of poverty and suffering? It refers to animals, the elderly, the sick, and so forth. What is the field of both great virtue and poverty and suffering? It refers to the elderly, the sick, and so forth among holy persons. If one gives to a field of great virtue with a respectful mind, one obtains a great retribution. If one gives to a field of poverty and suffering with a compassionate mind, one obtains a great retribution. If one gives to a field of both great virtue and poverty and suffering with a mind of both respect and compassion, one obtains a great retribution. These are good fields of merit. What are good goods? Goods obtained without killing, stealing, robbing, or cheating; giving according to whatever pure goods one has, whether many or few—these are good goods. If one gives to the Buddha, one immediately obtains all merit. If one gives to the saṃgha, one obtains all merit upon their use of it; before it is used, one does not obtain all merit. If one makes offerings for the sake of the Dharma, one obtains a great retribution. If trainees who are intelligent and endowed with great wisdom make offerings for the sake of the Dharma, this is called making offerings to the Dharma. Giving brings wealth; once the gift is received, one obtains joy, strength, longevity, and the like. When the merit is extraordinary, one obtains a great retributive fruit. If one gives to an animal, one receives retribution for a hundred lifetimes. If one gives to an unwholesome person, one receives retribution for a thousand lifetimes. If one gives to a wholesome person, one receives retribution for ten million lifetimes. If one gives to an ordinary person free from desire, one receives retribution for a myriad kotis of lifetimes. If one gives to a person who has attained the Way, one obtains retribution for countless lifetimes. If one gives to the Buddha, one is enabled to reach nirvāṇa. Furthermore, there are six difficult forms of giving: first, giving out of arrogance; second, giving to seek fame; third, giving for the sake of power; fourth, giving by coercion; fifth, giving due to external conditions; sixth, giving to seek a reward.