法句譬喻經 1.71

1.71

Formerly, in the country of Vārāṇasī there was a mountain forty to fifty li from the city. Five śramaṇas resided on the mountain practicing the Way. In the early morning they would leave the mountain to beg for food among the people; having finished eating, they would return to the mountain, arriving only at dusk. Exhausted from traveling back and forth, they were unable to sit in meditation and contemplate right samādhi. Year after year went by like this, and they were unable to attain the Way. Pitying them for toiling without gain, the Buddha conjured up a practitioner of the Way to go to their place and ask the practitioners: "In your secluded dwelling cultivating the Way, are you not fatigued?" The śramaṇas said, "Our staying here is far from the city; our bodies of the four elements require food and drink. Providing for them daily, we are exhausted from traveling back and forth. Year after year has passed in toil, traveling back and forth by day and always fatigued by evening, with no leisure left to cultivate the Way. We shall simply end our lives like this." The practitioner of the Way said, "For those who practice the Way, morality is the foundation and restraint of the mind is the practice. Despising the physical form and valuing the truth, one casts aside body and life; food is merely to support the body, while one guards the mind in right samādhi. Internally studying calming and insight, through extinguishing desires one attains the Way. If one nourishes the body and yields to desires, how can one escape suffering? I ask that you, practitioners, do not go out tomorrow; I will provide offerings so that you may rest for a day." The five śramaṇas were overjoyed, marveling at this unprecedented event, and set their minds at ease, no longer worrying about traveling. At noon the next day, this conjured practitioner came bringing food. Having finished eating, their minds were tranquil and calm. Thereupon the conjured person spoke this verse for them: