法苑珠林 42.31

42.31

Furthermore, the Upāsaka-śīla-sūtra states: "If one makes clothing or alms-bowls oneself, one must first offer them to the Buddha, and also let one's parents, teachers, elders, and upādhyāya use them once before wearing them oneself. If offering them to the Buddha, one redeems them with flowers and incense. Whatever food one eats must first be given to śramaṇas and brahmans before one eats it oneself." When taking food, one must also produce mindfulness: When swallowing the first spoonful of rice, vow to eradicate all evils completely; when swallowing the second spoonful, vow to cultivate all goodness to fulfillment; when swallowing the third spoonful, vow to dedicate the roots of goodness cultivated to sentient beings so that all may attain Buddhahood together. If one cannot maintain mindfulness mouthful by mouthful, it is also acceptable to maintain a single comprehensive mindfulness when about to eat. Therefore, the Mātṛkā-śāstra states: "When receiving food, be mindful mouthful by mouthful; when receiving clothing, be mindful garment by garment; when entering a room, be mindful upon entering each time. If one is of dull faculties, generate a single comprehensive mindfulness." Therefore, in the sixth fascicle of the Avataṃsaka-sūtra, the bodhisattva has one hundred and forty vows; whatever one does, one recites verses and remains mindful. Eating in this manner avoids afflictions, benefits sentient beings, and produces good. Therefore, the Ekottarika-āgama states: "Among all gifts, none surpasses the gift of Dharma; among all actions, none surpasses the action of Dharma; among all kindnesses, none surpasses the kindness of Dharma." If one eats to excess, one's breath becomes labored, the body becomes congested and the hundred vessels do not circulate, causing the mind to be blocked and sitting in meditation to be uneasy. If one restricts oneself to too little food, the body becomes emaciated, the mind suspended, and thought unsettled. Therefore, a verse in the Ekottarika-āgama states: