法苑珠林 80.26

80.26

As the Nirvāṇa-sūtra states: 'When a bodhisattva practices giving, he does not see whether the recipient keeps the precepts or breaks the precepts, whether it is a field [of merit] or not a field, whether this is an acquaintance or not an acquaintance. When giving, he does not see whether [the recipient] is a suitable vessel or not a suitable vessel; he does not select the date and time, whether it is a proper place or an improper place; nor does he calculate famine or abundance and joy; nor does he consider causes and effects, whether this is a sentient being or not a sentient being, whether it is merit or not merit. Although he does not see the giver, the recipient, or the goods, nor does he even see cessation or karmic fruits, he constantly practices giving without interruption. If a bodhisattva saw keeping precepts or breaking precepts, or even karmic fruits, he would ultimately be unable to give. If he does not practice dāna, he will not fully achieve the dānapāramitā. If he does not fully achieve the dānapāramitā, he cannot accomplish anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi. For example, if a man has been struck in the body by a poisoned arrow, his relatives, wishing him to be safe and sound, in order to remove the poison immediately summon a skilled physician to extract the arrow for him. But that man says: "Wait a moment, do not touch it! I must first see from which direction this poisoned arrow came, and who shot it: was it a kṣatriya, a brāhmaṇa, a vaiśya, or a śūdra?" Furthermore, he thinks: "What kind of wood is this? Is it bamboo or willow? As for its iron arrowhead, from which forge did it come? Is it hard or soft? As for its feathers, what kind of bird's wing is it? A crow, a kite, or a vulture? As for the poison on it, was it concocted, or does it exist naturally? Is it human poison or vicious snake poison?" Before this foolish man could ever find out, he would immediately die. The bodhisattva is also like this: if when practicing giving he discriminates whether the recipient keeps the precepts or breaks the precepts, or even calculates karmic retribution, he will ultimately be unable to give. If he cannot give, he will not fully achieve the dānapāramitā, or even achieve bodhi.'