法苑珠林 90.25

90.25

"Moreover, Śāriputra, these bodhisattva-mahāsattvas seek the wisdom of the Buddha in order to benefit and bring peace and happiness to immeasurable sentient beings, practicing vīryapāramitā. Those bodhisattva-mahāsattvas would even make an offering of the flesh of their own bodies, how much more so should they seek after wicked flesh of delusion, or give rise to stinginess and jealousy toward other families? Śāriputra, regarding those bhikṣus who are stingy toward other families, I say that such persons are foolish fellows, mere subsisters, servants and slaves guarding property and grain, prisoners bound by craving who value wealth and jewels, those who admire only food and clothing, who give rise to stinginess and jealousy in pursuit of deluded desire and craving for foul meat. Śāriputra, I now further preach this True Dharma: Those bhikṣus, having arrived first at another's house, should not look upon other bhikṣus and give rise to jealousy. If there is a bhikṣu who disobeys my Dharma teachings, seeing another bhikṣu, he might say: 'This donor's family was known to me first. Where have you come from to be here? I am extremely close with this family, bantering and exchanging regards. Where have you come from to brazenly encroach upon me?' Śāriputra, for what reason does that stingy bhikṣu give rise to partial jealousy toward the latecomer? Śāriputra, because the donor families promised him robes, bowls, food, drink, bedding, medicines for illness, and requisites for personal support, he thinks: 'I fear that the donor will give the items previously promised to the latecomer.' For this reason, this bhikṣu gives rise to three grave faults regarding the donor's family: First, he gives rise to the fault regarding the dwelling place—seeing other bhikṣus, he might resentfully say, 'I should now leave this place'; second, regarding whatever familiarity he had, he would say it is uncertain whether anything should be given; third, regarding families that are not fixed, he deludedly gives rise to various faults. Śāriputra, that stingy bhikṣu utters three types of evil speech against the latecomer: First, he speaks of the faults of the dwelling place, adding evil rumors to the family so that the later bhikṣu takes no pleasure in staying; second, whatever true words the later bhikṣu speaks, he counters by calling them falsehoods; third, he falsely assumes an appearance of goodness to flatter and attach himself to that person, watching for the slightest flaw to publicly expose and accuse him. Śāriputra, such a bhikṣu who gives rise to stinginess and jealousy toward other donor families will quickly extinguish all good worldly qualities he possesses, entirely and without remainder.