法苑珠林 24.45

24.45

Furthermore, the Shan gongjing jing states: The Buddha said, “If there is a monk who, although having spent [many] rains-retreats, is unable to understand such Dharma phrases, he too should rely on another for guidance. Why is this? He himself does not yet understand, so how could he become a mentor upon whom others rely? Even if he is a senior monk of a hundred rains-retreats, if he cannot understand the confidential matters of a śramaṇa and does not understand the Dharma and Vinaya, he too should be said to require reliance. If there is a monk who receives the Dharma from another, he should give rise to an attitude of honor and reverence toward that teacher. When wishing to receive the Dharma, being before the teacher, he must not laugh lightly, must not expose his teeth, must not cross his legs, must not gaze at his feet, must not fidget with his feet, and must not swing his legs. If the teacher does not ask, he must not speak casually. Whatever he is sent to do, he must not disobey instructions. He must not stare at the teacher's face. Sitting three cubits away from the teacher, when told to sit he should sit immediately, not disobeying instructions. Toward that teacher, he should give rise to a mind of benevolence. If he has any doubt, he should first make an inquiry, and only when seeing that the teacher permits it may he request a resolution. You should know that three times a day he should pay respects to check on the teacher's comings and goings. If during the three periods of the day he does not pay respects to check on his comings and goings, the teacher should discipline him according to the Dharma. If he pays respects and does not see the teacher, he should take a clod of earth, a piece of wood, or grass as a token. If he sees the teacher inside the chamber, the student at that time should sincerely circumambulate the chamber three times, make prostrations to the teacher, and only then return. If he does not see the teacher, all tasks should be stopped and must not be done, except for urinating and defecating. Furthermore, a disciple must not speak coarsely to his teacher. When reprimanded by the teacher, he should not answer back. The bed and seat where the teacher sits or lies should first be spread and dusted to be free of dust, dirt, insects, ants, and the like. When the teacher sits or lies down, and until the teacher rises, he should cultivate his recitation practice. At that time, when the sun is in the east, that student should go to the teacher's place; being well aware of the proper time, he should frequently go to the teacher's side to inquire about necessities: ‘What shall I do?’ Furthermore, a disciple must not snivel or spit before the teacher. When walking inside the monastery, out of respect for the teacher, he should not cover both shoulders with his kāṣāya and must not cover his head. If the weather is hot, he should fan the teacher three times a day, offer water three times for bathing, and offer cold drinks three times. Whatever task the teacher undertakes, he should assist with all his physical strength.” The Buddha told Ānanda, “If in future ages there are monks who do not show reverence toward their teacher and speak of the shortcomings of their teacher or the saṃgha, that person is neither a srotāpanna nor an ordinary person. That foolish person should be disciplined in this way. Even if the teacher truly had faults, one would still not be permitted to speak of them, let alone when there are none! If there is a monk who is disrespectful toward his teacher, I say there is a separate minor hell named Huopu into which he will fall. Having fallen into that place, he will have one body and four heads, his body blazing all over like a mass of fire, emitting great fierce flames blazing without cessation, burning and burning again. In that hell, there are also worms named Gouzhi; those poisonous worms constantly gnaw at the root of his tongue. When that foolish person casts off his body from there, he will be born among animals—all because of the fault of his tongue root in reviling the teacher in the past—and will constantly eat excrement and urine. After casting off that body, although born among humans, he will constantly be born in borderlands, fully endowed with evil practices. Although obtaining a human body, his skin will not resemble a human's, and he will not be endowed with human features and complexion; he will constantly be utterly despised, slandered, and humiliated. Separated from the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, he will constantly lack wisdom. After dying there, he will fall back into hell, undergoing further immeasurable and boundless suffering.”