釋氏要覽 1.364

1.364

報恩經云。眾僧者。出三界之福田。謂比丘具有戒體。戒為萬善之根。是故世人歸信供養種福。如沃壤之田。能生嘉苗故。號良福田。

The Sūtra on Repaying Kindness states: 'The saṃgha is the field of merit for transcending the three realms.' This means that bhikṣus fully possess the essence of the precepts, and the precepts are the root of ten thousand virtues. Therefore, when worldly people take refuge with faith and make offerings to plant merit, it is like a field of rich soil that can grow fine sprouts; hence they are named 'good fields of merit.'