法苑珠林 52.58

52.58

"What thing is higher than the sky? Self-conceit is higher than the sky. / What thing is heavier than the earth? The virtue of the precepts is heavier than the earth. / What thing has more grasses and trees? Wandering thoughts have more grasses and trees. / What thing is swifter than the wind? Mental thought is swifter than the wind. / What thing causes rebirth in heaven? The ten virtues cause rebirth in heaven. / What thing puts on a human body? The five precepts put on a human body. / What thing falls into hell? The ten non-virtues fall into hell. / What thing falls into animal rebirth? Headstrong belligerence falls into animal rebirth. / What thing is hard as vajra? Non-attachment is hard as vajra. / What thing is soft as crane down? The mind is soft as crane down. / What thing is fragrant as sandalwood? Upholding the precepts is fragrant as sandalwood. / What thing is brighter than sun and moon? The Buddha's light is brighter than sun and moon. / What thing is more peaceful than a mountain? Sitting in meditation is more peaceful than a mountain. / What thing moves on the earth? The triple realm moves on the earth. / What thing is the purest? Nirvāṇa is the purest. / What thing is the most defiled and turbid? Birth and death is the most defiled and turbid. / What thing is the highest? Family harmony is the highest. / Which mountain is the brightest? Mount Sumeru is the brightest. / Which kingdom is the most delightful? Śrāvastī is the most delightful. / Which kingdom is abundant in people? The land of Kapilavastu is abundant in people. / What thing roams in the deep mountains? The elk and deer roam in the deep mountains. / What thing delights in the thickets and groves? Foxes and raccoon dogs delight in the thickets and groves. / What thing falls in the wind-blown dust? Sand and gravel fall in the wind-blown dust. / What thing frolics in the deep abyss? Carp frolic in the deep abyss."