法苑珠林 81.6

81.6

Furthermore, the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra asks: "How does giving reach the other shore, and how does it not reach the other shore?" The answer says: For instance, when Śāriputra practiced the bodhisattva path for sixty kalpas wishing to cross over to the other shore, a beggar came to ask for his eye. Śāriputra said: "An eye is of no use [to you]; why do you seek it? If you need my body or my wealth, I will give them to you." He answered: "I do not need them; I only wish to have your eye. If you truly practice dāna, give me your eye!" At that time, Śāriputra gouged out one eye and gave it to him. Having received the eye, the beggar smelled it in front of Śāriputra, disliked its foul smell, spat, threw it to the ground, and trampled it with his foot. Śāriputra thought: "Such vile persons are difficult to deliver! An eye is truly of no use, yet he forcibly demanded it; having obtained it, it was of no use and he discarded it, further trampling it with his foot. How exceedingly vile! Such people cannot be saved. It is better to discipline myself and cross over birth and death quickly." Having thought this, he retreated from the bodhisattva path and turned toward the Hīnayāna. This is called not reaching the other shore. If one is able not to regress and completes the Buddha path, it is called reaching the other shore.