法苑珠林 81.54

81.54

Furthermore, the Mahāpuruṣa-śāstra says: If the mind of stinginess is strong, even mud and earth are valued more heavily than gold and jade; if the mind of compassion is strong, even giving gold and jade is treated more lightly than grass and trees. If the mind of stinginess is strong, when losing wealth and jewels, the mind is greatly grieved and distressed. If one practices giving, one causes the recipient to rejoice, and oneself also rejoices. Supposing there is delicious food: if one eats it without giving it away, one does not consider it delicious; supposing there is poor food: if one is able to practice giving and only then eats, one’s heart is joyful, considering it exceedingly delicious. If, having finished giving, one eats what remains, the mind of a good man gives rise to joy, as though attaining nirvāṇa. If one lacks a faithful mind, who will believe these words? Supposing there is coarse food, and a hungry person stands before one, yet one cannot even give it away; how much less could one give other superior things to another? If a person beside a great body of water cannot even give a little water to sentient beings, how much less any fine wealth? For such a person in the world, dung and earth are easier to obtain than water; yet when a stingy and greedy person hears someone begging for dung and earth, they still harbor possessiveness, how much more so toward material goods!