諸經要集 5.65

5.65

Furthermore, the Nirvāṇa-sūtra says: Because the wilderness spirit had already been conferred the precept against killing, from not eating meat its vital breath and strength grew weak, and its life was about to end. The Buddha told the spirit: 'I instruct my śrāvaka disciples that wherever there is the Buddha-Dharma, they must give food to you all. If there is a dwelling place where they are unable to give, they are the retinue of Māra, not my disciples, not true śrāvakas.' However, when setting out food for sentient beings, there must be proper bounds. If one eats the food of another donor, one must rely on the Mahīśāsaka-vinaya, which says: 'If giving to beggars, birds, dogs, and the like, one should estimate and reduce from within one’s own share to give to them; one must not take from outside one’s share to give.' (Lately, one sees among monastics and laity that when it comes to a vegetarian feast, the donor is frugal and does not give to his wife and children, first offering to the monastic Saṃgha, regarding them as a field of merit. The Saṃgha and others do not consume all the food before them, yet there are monks who first gorge themselves and then take the donor's leftovers to give to beggars, birds, dogs, and the like. This harms the donor, and they themselves incur guilt. If one reduces from within one’s own share to give to others, whatever the amount may be, there is no restriction.) Furthermore, relying on the Dvādaśadhūta-sūtra, it says: 'When one obtains food, one should form this thought: Seeing sentient beings who are thirsty and destitute, I give a portion to them; I am the donor and they are the recipients. Having given, one makes this aspiration: "May all sentient beings generate merit and be rescued from destitute conditions, never falling into stinginess." Bringing it to an empty and quiet place, one breaks off a piece and places it upon a clean stone to give to the birds and beasts, also making the aspiration as above. Just as one is about to eat, one forms this thought: "Within my body are eighty thousand families of worms. When the worms obtain this food, they will all be at ease. I now give food to these worms; later, when I attain the Way, I shall give you the Dharma." This is not abandoning sentient beings.' Furthermore, the Guan fo xingxiang jing says: 'The Buddha told the great assembly: "There are many people in the world who generate the intention to seek what they wish for. On the day of giving, they do not calculate whether it is little or much, aiming only to make it abundant. When the task is finished and there are leftover provisions and food uneaten, they must all be sent and given to the Dharma-holding śramaṇas guarding the temple. The monks themselves shall share it together. Because when giving things away, one should expect to generate merit, they should not each contend to divide it and take it home to their wives and children. That would be like planting upon a stone; the roots and stems would be scorched and withered, and in the end there would be no time of sprouting. Cause them to take the surplus merit of what was given and give it again to the Saṃgha; this is giving one and obtaining a ten-thousand-fold reward."'