諸經要集 9.85

9.85

Moreover, the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra says: Some become bhikṣus, and the various necessities of life they obtain are all given by faithful dānapatis. Yet these beings either consume them themselves, or give them to others, or share them with many people, stealing, concealing, and privately using them in secret places. Due to such karma, they fall into the three evil destinies and undergo bitter toil for a long time. Furthermore, there are beings who, being poor and lowly, do not have independence; therefore they renounce the household life, hoping to obtain wealth, abundance, liberation, peace, and happiness. Yet having renounced the household life, they are lax and indolent, not reading or reciting the sūtras, abandoning and not cultivating meditation, wisdom, and diligence, but taking pleasure in administering saṅgha affairs. Furthermore, there are bhikṣus who day and night are diligent and vigorous, taking delight in cultivating wholesome dharmas, reading and reciting the scriptures, practicing meditation, and cultivating wisdom without abandoning it for a single moment. Due to these causes and conditions, they inspire the four assemblies to make various offerings. At that time, the administrators of saṅgha affairs, having obtained these offerings, either secretly consume them themselves, or steal and give them to relatives, acquaintances, and laypeople. Because of such causes and conditions, they long abide in the evil destinies; having emerged, they enter again. So blind and foolish are they that they do not fear whether the future retribution will be light or heavy. I now admonish and instruct my śramaṇa disciples to be mindful of preserving the Dharma. Do not call yourself a śramaṇa, a practitioner of the true Dharma, and yet, relying on the saṅgha, receive the faithful offerings of others—whether cakes, vegetables, fruits, or flowers—for whatever is food to be eaten by the saṅgha must not be arbitrarily given to any layperson. Nor may one say, 'This is my personal property,' and eat it apart from the assembly. Nor may one hoard the saṅgha's goods to engage in trade and various forms of commerce, claiming there is profit, thereby inviting the world's censure and ridicule. Nor may one sell at high prices and buy at low prices to compete with the world for profit. Nor may one, on account of food, drink, and saṅgha affairs, cause sentient beings to fall into the three evil destinies. One should encourage, guide, and establish them in wholesome dharmas, causing the community of bhikṣus to have true faith in the Triratna, gathering in sentient beings, up to and including their parents, causing them to attain peace and ease and establishing them in the three liberations.