佛說心明經 1.5

1.5

「假以馬百疋，金銀挍鞍勒，
用惠施於人，不如杓飯汁；
設以七寶車，載滿諸珍琦，
杓飯汁施佛，其福過於彼；
若施白象百，明珠瓔珞飾，
供佛一杓汁，其福超彼上；
如聖轉輪王、普賢玉女后，
端正無有比，七寶瓔珞身。
如是之妙類，其數各有百，
悉以配施人，不如一杓汁。」

“Though one were to give a hundred horses, / with saddles and bridles adorned in gold and silver, / and bestow them in charity upon others, / it would not equal a single ladle of rice broth. / If one were to give seven-jeweled carriages, / filled with all kinds of precious treasures, / offering a ladle of rice broth to the Buddha / produces merit far exceeding that. / If one were to give a hundred white elephants, / decorated with bright pearls and necklaces, / offering a single ladle of broth to the Buddha / produces merit surpassing them all. / Even like a holy wheel-turning king, / or the wondrous Queen of the Jade-Maiden Jewel, / beautiful beyond compare, / her body adorned with the seven jewels and necklaces— / if one had a hundred of such marvelous things / and gave them all away to people, / it would not equal a single ladle of broth.”