恭敬乞者品第七
Chapter 7: Reverence for Beggars
菩薩思惟：「因彼乞者得證菩提，我當以此菩提迴與一切眾生，以報恩故。我今因施眾生得無比樂，因此樂故得成菩提，如此菩提我當施與乞者。我今因施乞者得於快樂勝解脫樂，因中施樂猶尚如是，況無上菩提？我當捨之施諸乞者。如是乞者其恩甚重無以可報，如此乞者乃能與我作大樂因，若以財寶不足報恩，當以所得無上菩提而施與之。以我福故，願使乞者於將來世亦如我今成大施主。」菩薩內自思惟：「因於乞者得施快樂，使乞者得無上菩提為法施檀越。」諸乞求者見菩薩大施而問之言：「為求何等而等行大施？」菩薩各答言：「我今不求人天果報、聲聞涅槃，願得無上菩提拔濟一切眾生。」諸慳貪者而作念言：「菩薩云何能行大施心不疲厭？」菩薩答言：「我師三界尊，悲念一切眾生。我今無以報師恩，故施無疲厭。一切之樂無勝解脫樂者，我愛眾生勝愛解脫。我以愛念眾生欲令得解脫，故修種種施。若生死不極苦者，我施終不求菩提，以生死苦故我施求菩提。」拔生死苦者誰之所作？煩惱以業之所造作。使一切眾生以悲心為體，常樂惠施。
The bodhisattva reflects: “Because of this beggar, I may attain enlightenment. For this reason, I will dedicate this enlightenment to all beings, in gratitude for his kindness. Right now, because I give, beings receive incomparable joy. From this joy, I will achieve enlightenment, and I will then give that enlightenment to this beggar. Already, by giving to this beggar, I attain a happiness greater than the bliss of liberation. If even the joy born from giving in this way is so great, how much greater must the supreme, perfect enlightenment be? I should give that enlightenment to all who ask. These beggars have shown me such immense kindness that it cannot be repaid with material gifts. Through my merit, may these beggars, in future lives, become great givers just as I am now.” The bodhisattva thinks within: “Because of these beggars, I experience the joy of giving. May these beggars receive supreme enlightenment as the ‘field’ of my spiritual generosity.” Some who ask him for things ask, “What are you seeking, that you give so greatly?” Each time, the bodhisattva replies, “I seek neither heavenly rewards, human pleasures, nor the peace of an arhat. I wish only to attain supreme enlightenment, to rescue all beings from suffering.” Those who are stingy think: “How can the bodhisattva give so greatly, without becoming weary?” The bodhisattva answers: “My Teacher is the Honored One of the Three Realms. With compassion, he regards all beings. I have no other way to repay his kindness, so I give tirelessly. No pleasure surpasses the joy of liberation—yet I love beings even more than I love liberation. For this reason, I cultivate all forms of generosity, wishing them to attain liberation. If the cycle of birth and death were not so extremely painful, I would not seek enlightenment through giving. But because of suffering, I give, seeking enlightenment.” Who is it that rescues beings from the pain of birth and death? This suffering is created by afflictions and karma. One who makes compassion the very core of their being will always delight in giving.