諸經要集 17.92

17.92

又叔迦經中說。叔迦婆羅門子。白佛言。在家白衣。能修福德善根勝出家者。是事云何。佛言。我於此中不定答。出家或有不修善根。則不如在家。在家能修則勝出家（為判而言出家之人明解法多故勝在家希故故說不如出家人也）又三千威儀云。出家人所作業務者。一者坐禪。二者誦經法。三者勸化眾事。若具足作三業者。是應出家人法。若不行者。徒生徒死唯有受罪之因。又百喻經云。昔有一人。事須火用及以冷水。即便宿火以澡灌盛水置於火上。後欲取火而火都滅。欲取冷水而水復熱。火及冷水二事俱失。世間之人。入佛法中出家求道。既得出家。還念妻子五欲之樂。由是之故失其功德之火。兼失持戒之水。念欲之人亦復如是。

It is also said in the Shujia jing that the young brahmin Śuka addressed the Buddha, saying: "If a white-robed layperson can cultivate merit and roots of goodness superior to those of a monastic, what about this matter?" The Buddha said: "In this regard, I do not give a definitive answer. If a monastic does not cultivate roots of goodness, then he is inferior to a layperson; if a layperson can cultivate them, he surpasses a monastic." (To explain definitively: because monastics clearly understand many Dharmas, they generally surpass laypeople, who are rare [in doing so]; hence it is said that laypeople are inferior to monastics.) Also, the Sanqian weiyi says: As for the duties practiced by monastics, the first is sitting in meditation (dhyāna); the second is reciting the scriptures and Dharmas; the third is exhorting and transforming the assembly in various affairs. If one fully practices these three karmic activities, this complies with the Dharma for monastics. If one does not practice them, one lives in vain and dies in vain, having only causes for receiving suffering. Also, the Hundred Parables Sūtra says: In the past there was a man who needed both the use of fire and cold water. He thereupon kept a fire burning overnight, filled a pitcher with water, and placed it on top of the fire. Later, when he wanted to take the fire, the fire was entirely extinguished; and when he wanted to take cold water, the water had become hot. Both the fire and the cold water were lost. People of the world enter the Buddha's Dharma, leave the household life (pravrajyā), and seek the Path. Having already left the household, they still reminisce about the pleasures of wives, children, and the five desires. Because of this, they lose the fire of merit and also lose the water of upholding the precepts. Those who think of desires are just like this.