釋氏要覽 1.180

1.180

(The word 'nan' [difficulty] is pronounced in the level tone.) The Saṃyuktāgama states: There was a non-Buddhist named Jambukhādaka who asked Śāriputra: "What is difficult in the noble Dharma and Vinaya?" Śāriputra said: "Only leaving the household is difficult." He asked: "What is difficult about it?" He replied: "Taking joy in it is difficult." He asked: "How so?" He replied: "Taking joy in always cultivating the good is difficult." He asked: "What is called good dharmas?" He replied: "The Noble Eightfold Path. If one leaves the household and cultivates this Path, before long one will swiftly extinguish all outflows." (The Noble Eightfold Path consists of: right speech, right action, and right livelihood—these three pertain to morality, because the Hīnayāna gives priority to morality; right concentration, right effort, and right mindfulness—these three pertain to concentration, because concentration is obtained based on morality, hence it is next; right view and right intention—these two pertain to wisdom, because wisdom is generated based on concentration.) ○ The Qin version of the Saṃyuktāgama states: "Leaving the household is called difficult to obtain. If one gives rise to an evil mind, it is not called difficult to obtain."