Sutta 16: The Buddha's Discourse on the Four Classes:

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was in 舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園 [she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan] (Jetavana, Anathapindika's Garden in Sravasti). At that time, a family of the 四姓 [si xing] (Four Classes) suffered from past karmic misfortunes. They were exceptionally poor and distressed, using grass for clothes and mats, and subsisting on vegetable gruel. Though extremely poor, their feet never trod on unrighteous ground, and their hands never accepted unrighteous charity. Their conduct was pure, and no evil could corrupt their minds. They recited scriptures and discussed precepts from morning till night, never letting them depart from their mouths. They were praised by the World-Honored One and revered by the wise. Although their food and clothing were not sufficient for their bodies and mouths, they served the noble Sangha with whatever they had—vegetable gruel and grass mats—never neglecting a single day. The 諸沙門 [zhu sha men] (Bhikkhus) said: "The 四姓 [si xing] (Four Classes) are poor and always look hungry. We cannot constantly accept their offerings. The sutras say that 沙門 [sha men] (Sramanas) should sincerely uphold truth, be complete in precepts, and have high conduct. Their will should be like heavenly gold; they do not value wealth or beauty, only the scriptures are treasures. They cut off the 六飢 [liu ji] (six hungers), therefore they vow to eliminate famine. Why should we be ashamed of alms-gathering and not practice it?" They collectively went to the Buddha and recounted the entire situation. The World-Honored One remained silent.

The next day, the 四姓 [si xing] (Four Classes) themselves went to the monastery, prostrated themselves, and sat to one side. The Buddha, recalling what the 諸沙門 [zhu sha men] (Bhikkhus) had previously reported, asked the 四姓 [si xing] (Four Classes): "Do you offer compassionate charity and support the Bhikkhus daily?"

They replied: "Yes, indeed. Our whole family offers daily, but we regret our poverty, providing only vegetable gruel and grass mats, thus silently imposing upon the venerable ones."

The World-Honored One said: "The act of 布施 [bu shi] (giving) lies in 四意 [si yi] (four intentions): compassion 慈心 [ci xin] towards others, pity 悲心 [bei xin] and commiseration, joy 喜彼 [xi bi] in their accomplishment of the Paramitas, and protection 護濟 [hu ji] of sentient beings. Though the offering may be meager, in future lives, they will constantly be reborn in the heavens or among humans. All their wishes will be fulfilled naturally. Their eyes will see beautiful forms, ears will hear pleasant sounds, noses will smell fragrant odors, mouths will taste delicious flavors, bodies will wear fine clothes, and their hearts will be filled with joy, never fearing scarcity. If the offering is meager and the heart is displeased, the blessings received later will be meager. Official positions and the 七寶 [qi bao] (seven treasures) will not bring sufficient glory. Living in poverty, with a 慳儉 [qian jian] (stingy) heart, not daring to dress or eat well, timid and cautious, never joyful, hungry and cold like beggars, they will be born and die in vain, with no good deeds to protect themselves. If one gives good things but without sincerity, being arrogant and self-important, not humbly serving, seeking false fame and wishing to make oneself widely known: later, they will have little wealth, and people will falsely praise them as possessing immense riches. Inwardly fearing robbery, they will always wear shabby clothes, never taste sweet food, and also be born and die in vain. Bhikkhus will never visit their doors; they will be far from the 三尊 [san zun] (Three Jewels) and always close to evil paths. To give good things with the 四等 [si deng] (Four Immeasurable Minds) and reverence, personally serving, with the intention of the 三尊 [san zun] (Three Jewels), vowing that sentient beings will meet the Buddha and ascend to heaven, and that suffering will be eliminated: then, in future lives, whatever one wishes will be attained, and meeting the Buddha and being born in heaven will certainly be as desired." (This chapter is found after the 薩和檀王經 [sa he tan wang jing] (Sarvadāna King Sutra) in another version).

fú shuō sì xìng jīng

fu shuo si xing jing

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0011c20] wén rú shì:

yī shí fú zài shě wèi guó qí shù gěi gū dú yuán. shì shí sì xìng jiā zāo sù mìng yāng, pín jù yóu kùn, cǎo yī cǎo xí, cài mí zì gōng； suī wèi jí kùn, zú bù dǎo wú dào zhī zhái, shǒu bù zhí wú dào zhī huì, zhì xíng qīng jìng, zhòng xié bù néng rǎn qí xīn. cháo bǐng mù jiǎng, jīng jiè bù shì yú kǒu, shì zūn suǒ tàn, zhòng zhì suǒ jìng, suī yī shí bù gōng yú shēn kǒu, fèng yǎng shèng zhòng, suí jiā suǒ yǒu cài mí cǎo xí, bù hū yī rì. zhū shā mén yuē: “sì xìng pín kùn, cháng yǒu jī sè, wú děng bù kě shòu bǐ cháng shí. jīng shuō shā mén yī xīn shǒu zhēn, jiè jù xíng gāo, zhì rú tiān jīn, bù zhēn cái sè wéi jīng shì bǎo, jué miè liù jī gù shì chú jǐn, hé chǐ fēn wèi ér bù xíng hū?” gòng yì fú suǒ, běn mò chén zhī. shì zūn mò rán.

[0011c20] wen ru shi:

yi shi fu zai she wei guo qi shu gei gu du yuan. shi shi si xing jia zao su ming yang, pin ju you kun, cao yi cao xi, cai mi zi gong; sui wei ji kun, zu bu dao wu dao zhi zhai, shou bu zhi wu dao zhi hui, zhi xing qing jing, zhong xie bu neng ran qi xin. chao bing mu jiang, jing jie bu shi yu kou, shi zun suo tan, zhong zhi suo jing, sui yi shi bu gong yu shen kou, feng yang sheng zhong, sui jia suo you cai mi cao xi, bu hu yi ri. zhu sha men yue: "si xing pin kun, chang you ji se, wu deng bu ke shou bi chang shi. jing shuo sha men yi xin shou zhen, jie ju xing gao, zhi ru tian jin, bu zhen cai se wei jing shi bao, jue mie liu ji gu shi chu jin, he chi fen wei er bu xing hu?" gong yi fu suo, ben mo chen zhi. shi zun mo ran.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0012a02] hòu rì sì xìng shēn yì jīng shě, jī shǒu bì yī miàn zuò. fú niàn zhū shā mén qián suǒ qǐ shì, wèn sì xìng yuē: “níng rì cí shī gōng yǎng bǐ qiū bù?”

[0012a02] hou ri si xing shen yi jing she, ji shou bi yi mian zuo. fu nian zhu sha men qian suo qi shi, wen si xing yue: "ning ri ci shi gong yang bi qiu bu?"

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0012a05] duì yuē: “wéi rán. jǔ mén rì gōng, dàn hèn jū pín, cài mí cǎo xí, wǎng qū shèng xián yǐ wèi mò mò.”

[0012a05] dui yue: "wei ran. ju men ri gong, dan hen ju pin, cai mi cao xi, wang qu sheng xian yi wei mo mo."

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0012a06] zhòng yòu yuē: “bù shī zhī xíng, wéi zài sì yì, cí xīn xiàng bǐ, bēi xīn zhuī mǐn, xǐ bǐ chéng dù, hù jì zhòng shēng. suī shī wēi báo, qí hòu suǒ shēng tiān shàng rén zhōng èr dào wèi cháng, suǒ yuàn zì rán, yǎn sè,, ěr tīng,, bí xiāng,, kǒu wèi, shēn fú shàng yī, xīn jiē xīn yì, bù jù fá wú yě. ruò shī jiān báo, xīn yòu bù yuè, hòu dé qí fú, fú zhōng zhī báo. guān wèi qī bǎo, dé bù zú róng； chù zài báo zhōng, xīn yòu qiān jiǎn bù gǎn yī shí, zhuì zhuì qià qià wèi cháng huān xǐ, fù jī shēn hán yǒu shì qǐ rén, tú shēng tú sǐ, wú shàn yǐ zì yòu yě. ruò shī yǐ hǎo, xīn bù kěn chéng, jiāo ào zì shì, shēn bù gōng kè, qǐ qiú huá míng, yù yuǎn yáng jǐ. hòu yǒu shǎo cái, shì rén kōng chēng, yǐ wèi jù yì； nèi jù jié duó, yī cháng jiān báo, shí wèi cháng gān, yì wèi kōng shēng kōng sǐ. bǐ qiū wèi cháng lǚ qí mén, yuǎn lí sān zūn, héng jìn è dào. huì yǐ hǎo wù, sì děng jìng fèng, shǒu zì zhēn zhuó, cún yì sān zūn, shì lìng zhòng shēng féng fú shēng tiān, kǔ dú xiāo miè, hòu shì suǒ shēng yuàn wú bù dé, zhí fú shēng tiān bì rú zhì yuàn yě.” (cǐ zhāng, bié běn zài < sà hé tán wáng jīng> hòu)

[0012a06] zhong you yue: "bu shi zhi xing, wei zai si yi, ci xin xiang bi, bei xin zhui min, xi bi cheng du, hu ji zhong sheng. sui shi wei bao, qi hou suo sheng tian shang ren zhong er dao wei chang, suo yuan zi ran, yan se,, er ting,, bi xiang,, kou wei, shen fu shang yi, xin jie xin yi, bu ju fa wu ye. ruo shi jian bao, xin you bu yue, hou de qi fu, fu zhong zhi bao. guan wei qi bao, de bu zu rong; chu zai bao zhong, xin you qian jian bu gan yi shi, zhui zhui qia qia wei chang huan xi, fu ji shen han you shi qi ren, tu sheng tu si, wu shan yi zi you ye. ruo shi yi hao, xin bu ken cheng, jiao ao zi shi, shen bu gong ke, qi qiu hua ming, yu yuan yang ji. hou you shao cai, shi ren kong cheng, yi wei ju yi; nei ju jie duo, yi chang jian bao, shi wei chang gan, yi wei kong sheng kong si. bi qiu wei chang lu qi men, yuan li san zun, heng jin e dao. hui yi hao wu, si deng jing feng, shou zi zhen zhuo, cun yi san zun, shi ling zhong sheng feng fu sheng tian, ku du xiao mie, hou shi suo sheng yuan wu bu de, zhi fu sheng tian bi ru zhi yuan ye." (ci zhang, bie ben zai < sa he tan wang jing> hou)