法苑珠林 22.7

22.7

As stated in the Sūtra of Mañjuśrī's Questions, the Buddha told Mañjuśrī: "All merits do not equal the mind of leaving the household life. Why is this? Because living in the household entails boundless faults and afflictions, while leaving the household life entails boundless merits. Living in the household has obstacles; leaving the household life is free of obstacles. Those who live in the household practice all evil dharmas; those who leave the household life abandon all evil dharmas. Living in the household is a place of dust and defilement; leaving the household life is where dust and defilement are eradicated. Those who live in the household drown in the mire of desire; those who leave the household life emerge from the mire of desire. Those who live in the household follow the ways of foolish persons; those who leave the household life distance themselves from the ways of foolish persons. Those who live in the household do not attain right livelihood; those who leave the household life attain their right livelihood. Living in the household is a place of sorrow, grief, and affliction; leaving the household life is a place of joy. Living in the household is a place of bondage; leaving the household life is a place of liberation. Living in the household is a place of harm; leaving the household life is not a place of harm. Those who live in the household harbor greed for profit and pleasure; those who leave the household life harbor no greed for profit and pleasure. Living in the household is a place of clamor and tumult; leaving the household life is a place of tranquility. Living in the household is a low and wretched station; leaving the household life is a lofty and supreme station. Those who live in the household are burned by defilements; those who leave the household life extinguish the fire of defilements. Those who live in the household constantly act for others; those who leave the household life constantly act for their own true self. Those who live in the household take suffering as pleasure; those who leave the household life take renunciation as pleasure. Those who live in the household multiply thorns and briars; those who leave the household life are able to eradicate thorns and briars. Those who live in the household accomplish petty dharmas; those who leave the household life accomplish great dharmas. Those who live in the household lack the function of the Dharma; those who leave the household life possess the function of the Dharma. Those who live in the household are disparaged by the three vehicles; those who leave the household life are praised by the three vehicles. Those who live in the household know no contentment; those who leave the household life are constantly content. Those who live in the household are cherished by the Demon King; those who leave the household life cause the demons to be terrified. Those who live in the household are often heedless; those who leave the household life are free of heedlessness. Those who live in the household are servants to others; those who leave the household life are masters of servants. Living in the household is a place of darkness; leaving the household life is a place of radiance. Living in the household increases arrogance; leaving the household life is the place where arrogance is eliminated. Those who live in the household reap meager retributions; those who leave the household life reap abundant retributions. Those who live in the household are often deceitful and crooked; those who leave the household life have an upright and straightforward mind. Those who live in the household constantly harbor anxiety and suffering; those who leave the household life constantly cherish joy and bliss. Living in the household is a deceptive dharma; leaving the household life is a true and real dharma. Those who live in the household have much distraction; those who leave the household life have no distraction. Living in the household is a place of transmigration; leaving the household life is not a place of transmigration. Living in the household is like poison; leaving the household life is like nectar. Those who live in the household lose internal contemplation; those who leave the household life attain internal contemplation. Those who live in the household have no place of refuge; those who leave the household life have a place of refuge. Those who live in the household have much anger; those who leave the household life practice much loving-kindness and compassion. Those who live in the household carry a heavy burden; those who leave the household life lay down the heavy burden. Those who live in the household have transgressions; those who leave the household life are free of transgressions. Those who live in the household transmigrate in birth and death; those who leave the household life reach an end to it. Those who live in the household regard material wealth as a treasure; those who leave the household life regard merit as a treasure. Those who live in the household drift along with the flow of birth and death; those who leave the household life swim against the flow of birth and death. Living in the household is an ocean of defilement; leaving the household life is a great ferryboat. Those who live in the household are bound by fetters; those who leave the household life are freed from fetters. Those who live in the household are disciplined by kings; those who leave the household life are disciplined by the Buddha's Dharma. For those who live in the household, companions are easy to find; for those who leave the household life, companions are difficult to find. For those who live in the household, inflicting harm is valued; for those who leave the household life, gathering and protecting others is valued. Those who live in the household increase defilement; those who leave the household life escape defilement. Living in the household is like a forest of thorns; leaving the household life is emerging from a forest of thorns. Mañjuśrī, even if I were to disparage living in the household and praise leaving the household life until my words filled space, I would still never exhaust them." Such are the faults of living in the household and the merits of leaving the household life.