佛說處處經 1.62

1.62

佛言：「有一比丘到優婆夷家分衛，因為說經。優婆夷便長跪淚出；比丘說經至夜半，優婆夷長跪不起。比丘言：『我行說經，未曾見人精進乃爾。』優婆夷報言：『我家有一驢，鳴至夜半便死，是故淚出耳。』」佛言：「人說經不在為多，但問解慧不也。」有一比丘，聞佛說是事，便往問佛言：「為我說一要法，令我得道。」佛言：「非汝物莫取，是汝物便取。」於是，比丘即自思念：「天下萬物皆非我許，獨善是家物。」於是，比丘因白佛言：「我已解。」佛言：「解是便為道耳。」時有一比丘，聞佛說此語，便往問佛：「舍利弗為得是未？」佛言：「舍利弗悉得。」比丘言：「舍利弗何以罵我，持袈裟拂我面？」佛言：「呼舍利弗來問之。」舍利弗言：「我無惡意，所以罵者，欲令忍辱。所以持袈裟拂面者，欲令眼耳鼻口淨故。」佛語比丘：「是舍利弗善權方便所作。」於是比丘歡喜，即得阿羅漢道。

The Buddha said: 'There was a monk who went to an upāsikā's home for piṇḍapāta, and expounded the scripture for her. The upāsikā knelt down on both knees and wept. The monk expounded the scripture until midnight, and the upāsikā knelt without standing up. The monk said: "In my practice of preaching the scripture, I have never seen anyone so vigorous." The upāsikā replied: "In my home there was a donkey who brayed until midnight and then died; this is why my tears flowed." The Buddha said: 'Preaching scriptures does not lie in quantity; it is only a question of whether one has understanding and wisdom or not.' A monk, hearing the Buddha relate this matter, went and asked the Buddha: 'Explain to me an essential teaching that will enable me to attain the Way.' The Buddha said: 'Do not take what is not yours; take only what is yours.' Thereupon, the monk thought to himself: 'None of the myriad things in the world belong to me; goodness alone belongs to my family.' The monk then addressed the Buddha: 'I have understood.' The Buddha said: 'Understanding this is indeed the Way.' At that time, a monk who heard the Buddha speak these words went and asked the Buddha: 'Has Śāriputra attained this or not?' The Buddha said: 'Śāriputra has attained it completely.' The monk said: 'Why did Śāriputra scold me and brush my face with his kāṣāya?' The Buddha said: 'Call Śāriputra here and ask him.' Śāriputra said: 'I had no ill-will. The reason I scolded him was to cause him to practice forbearance. The reason I brushed his face with my kāṣāya was to purify his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.' The Buddha said to the monk: 'This was done through Śāriputra's skillful means.' Thereupon, the monk rejoiced and immediately attained the path of an arhat.