分別功德論 2.25

2.25

"Mindfulness of rest" means that the thoughts and ideations of the mind rest; the five desires do not arise, and one is tranquil and eternally settled. Hence it is called "rest." In general, there are two kinds of rest: when non-Buddhist brahmacārins restrain their bodies to seek merit, that too is called "rest"; but when the host of fetters is eternally extinguished in the four fruits of a śramaṇa, that is true rest. How is this known to be so? In the past, there was a monk named Suradha who went to the city of Śrāvastī, walking about to convert and instruct. At that time, to the west of the city of Śrāvastī was the place where Aṅgulimāla used to kill people; the ground there was level and broad, with many trees. There was a brahmacārin sitting in dhyāna under a tree; he did not eat the five grains, but ate only fruits and melons, and if there were no fruit he would eat grass and wild greens to sustain his vital essence. He wore garments of tree leaves, and his body was emaciated and lean, barely supporting itself. At that time Suradha passed by and saw him, took him to be a person of the Way, and sat in dhyāna to test and observe his mind, to know whether he was settled or not. He saw that at root his mind was seeking to become the king of this country. [The monk] thought: "Is this not a great robber?" If he just left, he feared [the man] would later fall into guilt; if he just tried to instruct him, he surely would not follow his words. "I must devise an expedient means to deliver this person." Thereupon he went under a tree not far away and sat in dhyāna, remaining motionless and unshaken for seven days. After seven days passed, he got up, went before the brahmacārin, snapped his fingers to awaken him, and said: "Companion! How is your health?" After a long time, the brahmacārin slowly raised his head and replied: "I am poor and frugal, having nothing to give you. What of it?" The monk further said: "I shall now give you something." He then magically created a chicken [and said]: "You may kill this chicken and eat it." The brahmacārin said in astonishment: "I do not even kill nits or lice, how could I kill a chicken?" The monk said: "At root your mind wishes to kill countless people; killing this chicken—what is it worth mentioning?" The brahmacārin again said: "How could I kill countless people?" The monk said: "When you were originally sitting in dhyāna here, you were seeking to become the king of this country. When a king governs and rules, how many people might he kill in a day? Yet you claim not to kill. This chicken is the consciousness within your mind. Even a chicken can attain the unconditioned Great Way; what use is a king?" He immediately reflected: "This monk actually knows what was thought in my mind. He must surely be a noble person! I should follow his teaching." [The monk] explained the Dharma to him again, and he immediately attained the track of the Way. Although this brahmacārin's physical body had been quiet, his mind had not rested. Only after he was able to kill the chicken of consciousness could he be called at rest. Therefore it is explained afterwards: "the thoughts and ideations of the mind rest."