法苑珠林 46.25

46.25

As the Saṃyuktāgama states: At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the bhikṣus: "Suppose an iron ball were thrown into fire, becoming the same color as the fire, and was then placed inside karpāsa cotton. What do you think, bhikṣus, would it burn quickly or not?" The bhikṣus addressed the Buddha: "Indeed, World-Honoured One." The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "A foolish person lives dependent on a settlement. In the morning, putting on his robes and taking his bowl, he enters the village to beg for food. He does not guard his body well, does not protect the sense faculties, and does not fix his mindfulness. If he sees a young woman, he engages in improper reflection, grasps at her appearance, and gives rise to lustful desire. Desire burns his mind; desire burns his body. When body and mind are burned, he abandons the precepts and regresses. This foolish person will long obtain disadvantage and lack of benefit. Therefore, bhikṣus, you should train thus: guard the body well, protect the sense faculties, and enter the village with mindfulness fixed." At that time, the World-Honoured One told the bhikṣus: "In past times, there was a cat, hungry, thirsty, and emaciated, that watched a hole seeking a young mouse: 'When the young mouse comes out, I will seize and eat it.' At some time, the young mouse came out of the hole to play. At that time, the cat quickly seized and swallowed it. The young mouse, being small, entered the belly alive. Having entered the belly, it ate the internal organs. While it ate the internal organs, the cat became frantic and bewildered, running wildly east and west through empty houses and cemeteries, not knowing where to stop, and finally died. In the same way, bhikṣus, there is a foolish person who lives dependent on a settlement. In the morning, putting on his robes and taking his bowl, he enters the village to beg for food. He does not guard his body well, does not protect the sense faculties, and does not fix his mindfulness. Seeing women, he gives rise to improper reflection, grasps at their appearance, and arouses lustful desire. When the fire of desire blazes and burns his body and mind, he runs wild and unrestrained, takes no delight in the vihāra, abandons the precepts, and regresses. This foolish person will long obtain harm and suffering. Therefore, bhikṣus, you should train thus: guard the body well, protect the sense faculties, and enter the village to beg for food with the mind fixed in right mindfulness."