法苑珠林 37.25

37.25

The Buddha said: "One may also build caityas. One with relics is called a stupa; one without relics is called a caitya. Such are the place of the Buddha's birth, the place of attaining the Way, the place of turning the wheel of the Dharma, the place of the Buddha's nirvāṇa, images of bodhisattvas, images of pratyekabuddhas, and the place of the Buddha's footprints. These various caityas may have the Buddha's flower-canopies installed to make offerings. If among offerings there are superior ones, they are to be offered to Buddha stupas; inferior ones are to be offered to caityas. If sudden wind and rain arrive, one should collect the offering implements and place them in the nearest shelter. One must not say, 'I am a senior elder, I am a forest-dwelling (āraṇyaka) begging venerable,' and so forth; doing so incurs an offense of vinaya transgression (duṣkṛta). If thieves arrive urgently when the stupa and Saṃgha property [are in danger], one must not hide or discard them. The Buddha's property, the ornaments of the Buddha images, and the Saṃgha's seats and mats should be laid out and arranged with various foods and drinks to let the thieves see them. If they give rise to thoughts of compassion, the thieves will ask the bhikṣus, 'Do not fear, come out; the young men ought to watch.' If the thieves arrive suddenly and one cannot hide the property, one should say, 'All conditioned things are impermanent.' Having spoken these words, one should let it go and leave. This is called the dharma for facing disasters."