釋氏要覽 2.280

2.280

寶積經。廣博仙人問。佛滅度後。云何種植。獲福報耶佛言。諸如來者。皆是法身。若在世。或滅後。所有供養。福無有異。又問。福為積聚耶。佛言。譬如甘蔗未壓之時。汁不可見。彼於一節二節之中。求汁積聚了無見者。然彼汁不從外得。福德果報亦復如是。不在施主手中。心中身中。亦不相離。猶影隨形○大集經。商主天子問。佛在世日供養。世尊是受者。而施者獲福。世尊滅後。供養形像。誰是受者。佛言。諸佛如來法身也。若在世若滅度。所有供養。其福無異○善生經云佛言如來即是一切智藏。是故智者。應當志心勤修供給。生身滅身。形像塔廟既供養已。於己身中。莫生輕想。於三寶所。亦應如是。若我現在。若涅槃後。等無有異○優婆塞戒經。佛言有人言。供養施於塔像不得壽命色力安樂辯才以無受者故是義不然有信心故用施主信心布施是故得是五常福報。譬如比丘修習慈心。實無受者。而亦獲得無量果報。

In the Ratnakūṭa-sūtra, the Rishi Vyāsa asked: 'After the Buddha's extinction, how should one plant [merit] to obtain blessed retribution?' The Buddha said: 'All Tathāgatas are the dharmakāya. Whether while I am in the world or after my extinction, whatever offerings are made, the merit is without difference.' He also asked: 'Is merit an accumulation?' The Buddha said: 'For example, before sugar cane is pressed, its juice cannot be seen. If one seeks an accumulation of juice within one or two of its nodes, none is seen at all. Yet that juice is not obtained from outside. The retribution of merit is also like this: it is not in the donor's hands, mind, or body, nor is it separated from them, just as a shadow follows the form.' In the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, the Devaputra Śreṣṭhin asked: 'When the Buddha is in the world, offerings are made, the World-Honoured One is the recipient, and the donor obtains merit. After the World-Honoured One's extinction, when making offerings to images, who is the recipient?' The Buddha said: 'All Buddhas and Tathāgatas are the dharmakāya. Whether while in the world or after extinction, for all offerings made, the merit is without difference.' The Upāsaka-śīla-sūtra states that the Buddha said: 'The Tathāgata is the treasury of all knowledge. Therefore, the wise should diligently cultivate and supply offerings with devoted minds. Having made offerings to the living body, the extinct body, images, and stūpas, one should not generate light thoughts toward one's own body, and one should do likewise toward the Three Jewels. Whether I am present now or after nirvāṇa, it is equal and without difference.' In the Upāsaka-śīla-sūtra, the Buddha said: 'Some say that making offerings and gifts to stūpas and images does not yield longevity, physical strength, peace, or eloquence because there is no recipient. This meaning is incorrect. Because of faithful devotion, the donor gives with a faithful mind; therefore, one obtains these five constant retributions of merit. For example, when a monk cultivates a mind of loving-kindness, there is truly no recipient, yet he still obtains immeasurable fruition.'