諸經要集 10.173

10.173

又大方便報恩經云。菩薩常勤求善知識。為聞佛法。乃至一句一偈一義。三界煩惱。皆悉萎悴。菩薩至心求佛語時。渴法情重不惜身命。設踐熱鐵猛火之地。不以為患。菩薩為一偈故。尚不惜身命。況十二部經。為一偈故。尚不惜命。況餘財物聞法利益故。身得安樂。深生信心。直心正見。見說法者如見父母。心無憍慢。為眾生故。至心聽法不為利養。為眾生故。不為自利。為正法故。不畏王難飢渴寒熱。虎狼惡獸盜賊等事。先自調伏煩惱諸根。然後聽法。

Furthermore, the Mahākāruṇika-upāyakauśalya-sūtra of Repaying Kindness says: The Bodhisattva constantly and diligently seeks good spiritual friends. For hearing the Buddha's Dharma, even a single phrase, a single verse, or a single meaning, the afflictions of the three realms all wither away. When the Bodhisattva with utmost sincerity seeks the Buddha's words, his thirst for the Dharma is so grave that he does not begrudge body or life. Even if he must tread upon ground of hot iron and fierce flames, he does not regard it as hardship. If for the sake of a single verse the Bodhisattva still does not begrudge body and life, how much less for the twelvefold scriptures? If for a single verse he still does not begrudge life, how much less other wealth and property? Through the benefit of hearing the Dharma, his body attains peace and joy; he deeply generates faith, an upright mind, and right view. Seeing one who expounds the Dharma is like seeing his parents, and his mind is free of arrogance. For the sake of sentient beings, he listens to the Dharma with utmost sincerity and not for gain. For the sake of sentient beings, it is not for self-benefit. For the sake of the true Dharma, he does not fear royal perils, hunger, thirst, cold, heat, tigers, wolves, fierce beasts, bandits, and the like. First he tames the faculties afflicted with defilements, and only then listens to the Dharma.