諸經要集 8.86

8.86

If one wishes to build or fabricate [images or texts], it must by principle accord with the Dharma. Even if the making is small, the merit obtained will be boundless; if it does not accord with the Dharma, even if vast, it is of no benefit. Therefore, the Fozai jinguanguan jingfu jing says: "The commissioner of sūtras and images must not haggle over price; the artisan hired for sūtras and images must not treat it as mere wage labor. When one makes a Buddha [image] and gives it away, both persons obtain immeasurable merit. If one wished to expound that merit, kalpas would be exhausted before one finished. Those who accept my injunctions are true children of the Buddha. With such devotion and sincerity, though the production is small, the merit is great." Question: "Concerning the artisan's method: when he makes sūtras and images and receives goods, is it permissible to take a price?" The Buddha said: "He must not take a price. To take goods like one selling one's parents is an outrage surpassing the three thousand [punishments]; such a person is truly a heavenly Māra. Let him quickly depart from my Buddha-Dharma; he is not of my retinue. Those who drink alcohol, eat meat, and consume the five pungent roots do not rely on the holy teachings; though they make sūtras and images numerous as grains of sand, their merit is exceedingly small—scarcely worth mentioning. At the time of the kalpa-fire, they will not enter the palace of the Ocean Dragon King; they will toil with little result. For the sin of irreverence, upon death they enter hell; it is of no benefit to either patron or artisan, and the devas will not protect them. It would be better not to make them, but simply worship with a straightforward mind—one will then obtain immeasurable merit. As listed above, much is made but little merit gained. If an image-maker crafts an image and fails to make the marks complete, for five million lifetimes his sense faculties will be incomplete. Utmost devotion is foremost; the wondrous fruit will be attained first."