法苑珠林 83.6

83.6

Now, the sentiment of practicing patience is still obscure, and its precise purport has not yet been clarified; therefore we spur on laxity so that the mind does not slacken. For this reason the sūtra says: "You monks should be diligent and vigorous. The sun of wisdom of the Ten Powers having already set, you will be covered by ignorance." It also says: "When an icchantika lies like a corpse all day long, to say that he will accomplish the Way is impossible." The Treatise says: "For the householder, laziness causes the loss of worldly benefits; for the monastic, laxity causes the forfeit of the Dharma jewel." Thus was Śroṇa's courage extolled by the Buddhas, and Kāśyapa's exquisite dedication praised by the Tathāgata. The Book says: "Rising early and going to sleep late, exhausting one's strength in devotion to duty: only then is one called a loyal minister, only thus is one praised as a filial son." Hence we know that negligence and laziness are not valued, while diligence and hard toil are suitable at all times. How could one indulge one's foolish thoughts and give free rein to arrogance and dissipation, causing the seeds of good roots to bloom no more and the branches of the Bodhi-tree to become ever more withered? How much more so when one's life belongs to the King of Death and one's name is bound to the nether realms: suddenly returning to the long night and abruptly depleted of provisions, how will one answer the interrogations of the underworld tribunals? When that time comes, how could regret avail? Therefore, practitioners are now exhorted: while you still have remaining bodily strength, prepare provisions for what lies ahead. You must constantly inspect your three actions (trividhadvāra) and not allow them to violate the six periods of the day. Every day and night—from dawn to noon, from noon to dusk, from dusk to night, from night to dawn, down to a single hour, a single moment, a single thought, a single kṣaṇa—inspect the three actions: How many minds cultivate good? How many minds cultivate evil? How many minds cultivate filial piety? How many minds cultivate rebellion? How many minds cultivate revulsion and detachment from wealth and sex? How many minds cultivate greedy attachment to wealth and sex? How many minds cultivate the karma of good roots for humans and devas? How many minds cultivate the unwholesome karma of the three destinies? How many minds cultivate revulsion and detachment from renown and attachment to the self? How many minds cultivate greedy seeking of renown and attachment to the self? How many minds joyfully cultivate the world-transcending mind of the three vehicles? How many minds show contempt for the three vehicles and take deep pleasure in the world? As good and evil thus conflict day and night, the practitioner must constantly examine himself and not allow negligence to let him fall into the net of heresy. Constantly examine the three actions, mutually warning and exhorting them, with mind and mouth mutually admonishing each other: the mind says to the mouth, 'Always speak good and do not speak what is contrary to Dharma'; the mouth replies to the mind, 'Contemplate the true Dharma and do not contemplate what is contrary to Dharma'; the mind further says to the body, 'Be diligent and vigorous, and do not practice laziness.' In this way, my mind restrains itself, my mouth guards itself, and my body controls itself. Spurring oneself on in this manner, one will surely attain high elevation; why trouble others to rein one in and give rise to pointless resentment? Therefore the sūtra says: 'If the body does good, the mouth does good, and the mind does good, one will definitely be born in good destinies. If the body does evil, the mouth does evil, and the mind does evil, one will definitely be born in bad destinies.' Moreover, it is like a fine steed that gallops at the sight of a shadow, unlike an inferior draft animal that requires the application of whips and beatings. If one does not admonish oneself and must rely on the scolding of others, it will instead increase annoyance and multiply offenses all the more.