法苑珠林 90.24

90.24

Furthermore, the Bodhisattvapiṭaka-sūtra states: "Moreover, Śāriputra, there are five things pertaining to a renunciant bodhisattva. If someone possesses them, they will not encounter the era of a Buddha, will not draw near to good spiritual friends, will not be free from the [eight] conditions of adversity, will ruin their good roots, will not follow bodhisattvas firmly abiding in the moral disciplines to cultivate and learn the True Dharma, nor will they quickly awaken to unexcelled bodhi. Śāriputra, what are the five things possessed by a renunciant bodhisattva? First, violating śīla; second, slandering the True Dharma; third, craving fame and gain; fourth, obstinately clinging to the view of self; fifth, frequently giving rise to stinginess and jealousy toward other families [of donors]. Śāriputra, these are called the five things possessed by a renunciant bodhisattva by which they will not encounter the era of a Buddha, up to not attaining unexcelled complete and perfect bodhi. Śāriputra, it is like a starving dog frantically roaming along a road that encounters a bare bone that has long lacked meat and fat. Seeing only red paint smeared on it, the dog takes it to be a rich delicacy and grips it in its mouth. Coming to a crowded place at a crossroads, out of craving for its flavor, saliva drools onto the bone, and it deludedly imagines it to be sweet and delicious, gnawing or licking it, biting or sucking it, wrapped in affection with no intention of letting go. At that time, kṣatriyas, brāhmaṇas, and elders—all men of great wealth and nobility—come walking along this road. The starving dog sees them coming from afar, and burning agitation arises in its heart as it thinks: 'Could those people coming along be going to rob me of my treasured delicacy?' Thereupon it gives rise to great wrath toward those people, emits a deeply poisonous growl, casts wicked glances aside, bares its teeth, and bites and attacks them. Śāriputra, what do you think? Would those people coming along have other business, or would they be seeking this meatless, red-painted bare bone?" Śāriputra addressed the Buddha, saying: "No, World-Honoured One! No, Sugata!" The Buddha told Śāriputra: "If so, for what reason did that stingy, starving dog emit a deeply poisonous growl, bare its teeth, and bark?" Śāriputra said: "As I understand it, it feared that those people coming along were greedy for a fine meal and would surely rob it of its delicious ambrosial flavor. It was on account of such an idea that it bared its teeth and barked." The Buddha told Śāriputra: "So it is, just as you have said. In the future, in the final age, there will be bhikṣus who persistently practice stinginess toward other donor families, obsessively attached to feces and urine and deludedly wrapping themselves up in them. Although they have encountered the Tathāgata and are fully free from the conditions of adversity, they immediately abandon this and do not cultivate correct restraint. Regarding such bhikṣus, I say that their conduct is like that of the foolish dog before. Śāriputra, I have now appeared in the world out of pity for sentient beings, and wishing to bring this to an end, I have specifically reflected on this matter and spoken this parable for the sake of such wicked bhikṣus.