諸經要集 2.18

2.18

Furthermore, the Suvarṇaprabhāsa-sūtra says: "Those who preach the Dharma have five qualities. First, the gift of the Dharma benefits both oneself and others, while the gift of material wealth does not. Second, the gift of the Dharma can cause sentient beings to emerge from the three realms, while the gift of material wealth does not take them out of the desire realm. Third, the gift of the Dharma benefits the dharmakāya, while the gift of material wealth merely nourishes the physical body. Fourth, the gift of the Dharma increases inexhaustibly, while the gift of material wealth is bound to run out. Fifth, the gift of the Dharma can cut off ignorance, while the gift of material wealth only suppresses greed." Thus we know that material giving does not equal [the giving of] the Dharma. Within the gift of the Dharma itself, there are gradations: if someone has an understanding and does not want others to know it, fearing that others will surpass them and concealing it without speaking, then throughout their future lives they will never hear the Dharma.