陀羅尼雜集 8.30

8.30

The Buddha was in the country of Magadha, on Mount Yinmiaojiu. At that time the Buddha's son, Rāhula, accompanied the Buddha on the mountain. As Rāhula lay sleeping at night, he was harassed and startled awake by ghosts and spirits. The next morning he went before the Buddha, paid homage to the Buddha, and sat down to one side under a tree. Rāhula rested his cheek in his hand, hanging his head in dejection, remaining silent without speaking. The Buddha then asked Rāhula: "Why do you hang your head and hold your cheek as if terrified?" Rāhula said: "Last night while sleeping, I was harassed by ghosts and spirits." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "In the world, there are mountain spirits that harass people, ghosts and spirits by roads and ditches that harass people, ghosts and spirits of those who died under ill stars that harass people, or ghosts and spirits of those who died peaceful deaths that harass people; they come wishing to test a person's scriptural practice, fearing or testing to know whether their resolve is steadfast or weak." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "Take the sūtra of mantras for ghosts and spirits from behind the wall of the Buddha. In the future, should ghosts and spirits come to harass you, hold to the names of these ghosts and spirits, and recite them with a compassionate mind: