四十二章經 1.15

1.15

The Buddha said, “Bestowing almsfood on one hundred ordinary people is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one virtuous one.

“Bestowing almsfood on one thousand virtuous people is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one observer of the five precepts.

“Bestowing almsfood on ten thousand observers of the five precepts is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one stream-enterer.

“Bestowing almsfood on one million stream-enterers is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one once-returner.

“Bestowing almsfood on ten million once-returners is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one non-returner.

“Bestowing almsfood on one hundred million non-returners is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one arhat.

“Bestowing almsfood on one billion arhats is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on one pratyekabuddha (solitary enlightened one).

“Bestowing almsfood on ten billion pratyekabuddhas is not as worthwhile as converting one’s parents in this life to the teachings of the Three Jewels.

“Converting parents as many as one hundred billion is not as worthwhile as bestowing almsfood on a person who seeks buddhahood and helps other sentient beings (i.e., a bodhisattva).

“The blessings obtained from bestowing almsfood on virtuous people are the greatest. To worship heaven, earth, spirits, and gods is not as worthwhile as being filial to one’s own parents, for parents are most divine.”

[10] The Buddha said, “There are five things in this world that are difficult to do:

“It is difficult to practice giving when one is poor.

“It is difficult to train in the Way when one has wealth and power.

“It is difficult to achieve immortality.

“It is difficult to have the opportunity to read Buddhist sutras.

“It is difficult to be born during the time of a buddha.”

[11] A śramaṇa asked the Buddha, “What conditions are necessary to attain the Way? How does one gain knowledge of one’s previous lives?”

The Buddha replied, “The Way is without form and to know it is of no avail. One must maintain the aspiration to practice. It is like polishing a

mirror. When the tarnish is gone, the mirror shines, and one sees one’s own form. [Similarly,] when one severs desires and maintains [their] emptiness, one sees the truth of the Way and knows all previous existences.”

[12] The Buddha said, “What is virtue? To follow the Way is virtue. What is greatness? When one’s aspirations conform to the Way, that is greatness. What is great power? Patience and forbearance constitute great power. One who is patient harbors no grudge and is certain to be honored by all. What is the pinnacle of brilliance? This is when the impurities of the mind are eliminated, negative actions eradicated, and one inwardly becomes pure,