釋氏要覽 1.437

1.437

(The character chang 長 is read in the level tone [meaning regular/constant]). The Mātṛkā says: "In a layperson's house, when they rise early and finish cooking the food, before eating, they first set aside a portion for the renunciants; this is called 'constant food'." The Upāsaka-śīla Sūtra says: "If a person can make a daily vow to first offer food to the Saṃgha and only then eat themselves, if they do not violate this, it is a cause and condition for wondrous wisdom. Such a donor is the foremost among donors, and is also called a superior donor." (The Sanskrit term is dānapati, which in the Tang language means 'donor'. Calling them danna 檀那 nowadays is an error, taking da 陀 for tan 檀, dropping the pati 鉢底, and keeping only the na 那. The Mahāyānasaṃgraha says: "Because they can break miserliness, jealousy, and the suffering of poverty and low status, they are called da; because they later attain great wealth and can attract the provisions of merit and virtue, they are called na." They are also called danyue 檀越: tan [dāna] means giving; this means that because this person practices dāna, they can cross over (yue) the ocean of poverty. As for junzi 君子 [nobleman]: the Liji says: "One who is broadly learned, has a strong memory, and is deferent is called a junzi." As for zhangzhe 長者 [elder]: Hanzi says: "One who conducts oneself with gravity and sincerity is called a zhangzhe." In Tianzhu, all those who are very wealthy are called this. As for jushi 居士 [householder/layman]: the Dazhidulun says: "Except for the four varṇas, they are generally called jushi." This is not essential here, but fearing that someone might suddenly ask when an invitation notice arrives, it is also provided here to fill the gap.)