分別功德論 3.10

3.10

Mindfulness of the body means discerning the four great elements and understanding the five aggregates as being all the same, like an illusion or a dream. How is it known that mindfulness of the body allows one to reach nirvāṇa? Formerly, one hundred years after the Buddha had passed away, there was King Aśoka, who ruled Jambudvīpa, with eighty-four thousand ministers, consorts, elephants, and horses each. At that time, the king was touring his realm, and he saw that King Yama had eighteen hells, where there were also official ministers who interrogated and punished guilty prisoners. The king asked his attendants, “What kind of person is this?” They replied, “This is the king of the dead, who is in charge of discerning good and evil.” The king said, “Even the king of the dead can build hells to punish guilty people. Am I, a king of the living, unable to build a hell?” He asked his ministers, “Who can construct a hell?” The ministers replied, “Only an extremely wicked person could construct a hell.” The king ordered his ministers to search for an evil person. A minister then went in search and saw a man sitting on the ground weaving coarse woolen cloth. Beside him were a bow and arrows as well as a fishhook, and he was also feeding sparrows with poisoned rice, weaving cloth while fishing, shooting birds, and catching sparrows all at once. The minister returned and reported the situation to the king, saying that an evil person was indeed like this. The king said, “This person is extremely wicked; he will surely be able to manage the affairs of a hell.” The king sent someone to summon him, saying, “The king wishes to see you.” The evil man said, “I am a lowly person without knowledge. What would the king use me for?” The messenger said, “The king specifically wants you to manage the affairs of a hell.” The man then returned home. He had an elderly mother at home and told her, “The king has summoned me.” The mother said to her son, “Why has the king summoned you?” The son said, “The king wishes to make me manage the affairs of a hell.” The mother said, “If you leave, how will I survive?” The mother then embraced her son’s feet and would not let go. The son, determined to go, immediately drew a knife and slashed his mother, killing her before departing to the king’s place. The king asked, “Your mother would not let you go; how were you able to come?” He replied, “I killed my mother and came.” The king said, “Truly an evil person! He will surely be able to manage the affairs of a hell.” He then entrusted this person with constructing a hell city, installing cauldrons of boiling liquid and forests of sword-trees. He then appointed this person as the king of the hell, establishing officials and assistants for him, each with their own duties, just like King Yama. The king made a compact and ordered: “If anyone enters this city, regardless of whether they are noble or base, seize and punish them immediately.” The king also said, “Even if I myself should enter, do not allow me to leave either.” At that time, an old monk named Subodhaka was regularly begging for food. Coming outside the gate of this city, he saw fine flowers and incense, thought there were people inside, and immediately entered the city. He saw only people being punished, became terrified, and wished to turn back and leave. The hell wardens would not allow him to leave and wanted to take him to the boiling cauldron. The śramaṇa begged, “Grant me a brief reprieve until midday.” A moment later, a man and a woman who had committed sexual misconduct were brought in to be punished. They were placed in a mortar and pestle and pounded, and in an instant turned to foam. Seeing this, the śramaṇa initially recalled the Buddha’s words: “The human body is like a mass of foam. How true are these words!” A moment later, it turned white again, and he further reflected that the human body is like a heap of white ash, undergoing manifold transformations. It is like an illusion, like a phantom; when thoroughly examined, it is unreal. He was instantly enlightened, his outflows were exhausted, and his fetters were severed. The hell wardens again urged him into the boiling cauldron, at which the monk smiled. The hell wardens became furious and had four men grasp him under his arms and throw him upside down into the cauldron. Instantly the boiling liquid turned cold, and the monk transformed into a thousand-petaled lotus flower, sitting cross-legged within the lotus flower. The hell wardens were astonished and reported to King Aśoka, “Now there is a strange event in the hell. We request the king to deign to come and see.” The king said, “I previously had an agreement: even if I were to enter, I must not be allowed to leave. How could I enter now?” The official told the king, “Just enter; there will be no harm.” The king then followed him in. Seeing the śramaṇa sitting upon the lotus flower, he asked, “Who are you?” He replied, “I am a śramaṇa.” The śramaṇa said to the king, “You are a foolish man.” The king said, “Why do you call me a foolish man?” The śramaṇa said, “Originally, when you were a boy, you offered a handful of earth to the Buddha. The Buddha accepted it and gave a blessing, saying: ‘Later you shall rule over Jambudvīpa as an iron-wheel-turning king named Aśoka, and in a single day you shall erect eighty-four thousand stupas.’ Is this hell a stupa?” The king was instantly awakened, came forward to repent, and took Subodhaka as his master. Thereupon he dismantled the hell, cultivated merit, and erected eighty-four thousand stupas and shrines. Thus it is said that through mindfulness of the body one attains nirvāṇa; this is its meaning.