法苑珠林 42.35

42.35

The commentary states: The reason why a renunciant, when wishing to eat, must first receive it from another with clean hands is that renunciation is elevated and noble, unlike the common and lowly; therefore, one must receive it before eating. Therefore, the Sarvāstivāda-śāstra gives five reasons why a monk receives food: First, to sever the conditions for theft (taking and eating by oneself resembles the appearance of stealing). Second, to provide witness (if something is lost or misplaced, it does not concern the monk). Third, to stop slander (a renunciant taking food by himself is not an elevated practice). Fourth, to cultivate having few desires and knowing contentment (if one does not receive it, it does not accord with frugality). Fifth, to give rise to faith and reverence in others (seeing that it is received before being eaten, non-Buddhists give rise to faith). Formerly, there was a monk who was traveling with a non-Buddhist, and they stopped under a tree. There was fruit on the tree, and the mealtime was approaching. The non-Buddhist said to the monk, "Climb the tree and take the fruit." The monk said, "In my Vinaya rules, one should not climb a tree taller than a person." He said again to the monk, "Why not shake the tree to get the fruit?" The monk said, "In my Vinaya rules, I may not shake a tree myself to make fruit fall." Hearing this, the non-Buddhist climbed the tree himself to pick the fruit, threw it to the ground for him, and said to the monk, "Take the fruit and eat it." The monk said, "In my Vinaya rules, I cannot eat without having it formally offered to me." The non-Buddhist descended the tree, picked up the fruit, and presented it to the monk. Seeing that even regarding a single fruit there were such dharmic regulations, how much more so for the supramundane Dharma! The non-Buddhist then gave rise to faith and reverence, knowing in his heart that the Buddhadharma is pure and unlike the non-Buddhist teachings. Thereupon he followed the monk, went forth into homelessness within the Buddhadharma to cultivate the Way, and soon attained the destruction of the outリークs (āsrava).