阿彌陀經通贊疏 1.46

1.46

佛在摩竭陀未遊舍衛，給孤獨長者為兒娶妻遂詣王舍城。時有長者將筵請佛家修供養善施，問其所由，長者具陳請佛。彼聞佛德，深心歡喜。佛在靈鷲山相去五十餘里，遙施光照善施。善施尋光遙見世尊，悲感喜哽如子見父，尋光詣佛路逢天祠，善施禮拜佛光遂滅，善施慚愧光明還照。尋光至佛，請佛：「諸佛國普化有緣，何獨此土？」佛時許可，令舍利子先瞻處所。佛言：「出家當須寂靜，豐德人閙城中小隘，唯城南五六里餘有太子誓多之園，地幽境媚林密華繁壁方十里，可置伽藍。」善施請買，太子不許，因戲言曰：「側布金滿地高敷五寸，時即賣之。」善施許諾，太子辭以戲言固陳不與，善施請為對理。時淨居天恐人遮曲，乃化為斷事者斷與善施，善施得之布金取地。時少五百步未滿十里，一庫金盡使者來報，善施思惟：「當取何藏中金？」太子疑其情悋，悔地而還金。善施具陳：「心非悔悋。」太子知其情懇，自發勝心：「人所貴重莫過金寶，而彼尚能傾庫買地以造僧園，我何所乏而無修建？」請悔先地，長者不從。太子云：「許地取金，未論林樹。地隨汝主，林屬我身，共助成功俱陳供養。」外道心嫉奏王聞勝，六種皆虧，闔國重其釋教。佛後遊此告阿難曰：「園地善施所買，樹林祇陀所施，二人同心崇福，自今已往應謂此地為誓多林給孤獨園。」布金之地自此興焉。

When the Buddha was in Magadha and had not yet visited Śrāvastī, the elder Anāthapiṇḍada went to Rājagṛha to find a wife for his son. At that time an elder was preparing a banquet to invite the Buddha and cultivate offerings in his household; Benevolent Giving asked the reason, and the elder fully explained his invitation to the Buddha. Hearing of the Buddha's virtues, he was deeply delighted in his heart. The Buddha was on Vulture Peak, more than fifty li away, and from afar he cast rays of light upon Benevolent Giving. Following the light, Benevolent Giving saw the World-Honoured One from afar, choked with grief and joy like a son seeing his father. Following the light toward the Buddha, he came upon a shrine to a deva on the road; Benevolent Giving bowed in worship, whereupon the Buddha's light was extinguished; Benevolent Giving felt ashamed, and the light shone again. Following the light to the Buddha, he besought him: 'The buddhas universally transform those with whom they have affinities throughout all realms; why only this land?' The Buddha then consented, ordering Śāriputra to inspect the site beforehand. The Buddha said: 'Those who leave home require quietude. The City of Abundant Virtues is noisy and the interior of the city is narrow; only five or six li south of the city lies Prince Jeta's park, where the ground is secluded, the environment delightful, the grove dense, the flowers lush, and its walls measure ten li square; it is suitable for establishing a monastery.' Benevolent Giving asked to purchase it, but the prince refused, playfully saying: 'Cover the entire ground with gold laid edge to edge five inches deep, and I will sell it immediately.' Benevolent Giving agreed. The prince demurred on the grounds that it was in jest and stubbornly refused to give it up; Benevolent Giving asked for a formal arbitration. At that time the devas of the Śuddhāvāsa heaven, fearing someone might obstruct or distort the matter, transformed into an arbiter and adjudicated the land to Benevolent Giving. Having obtained it, Benevolent Giving spread gold to purchase the land. When five hundred paces remained to complete the ten li, the gold from one treasury was exhausted, and a messenger came to report. Benevolent Giving pondered: 'From which treasury should I take the gold?' The prince suspected he was feeling stingy and regretted buying the land, wishing to return the gold. Benevolent Giving explained in full: 'My heart feels no regret or stinginess.' Knowing his sincerity, the prince himself gave rise to an exceptional thought: 'Nothing that humans value surpasses gold and jewels, yet he can empty his treasury to buy land to build a monastery for the Saṅgha. What do I lack that I should not construct it?' He asked to retract the previous [sale of the] land, but the elder would not comply. The prince said: 'I promised the land and took the gold, but we have not discussed the grove of trees. The land belongs to you, but the grove belongs to me; let us join together to bring it to completion and make offerings together.' The non-Buddhists were jealous and reported to the king, hoping to prevail, but in all six debates they suffered defeat, and the entire kingdom revered the Śākyan teaching. Later, when the Buddha visited here, he told Ānanda: 'The land of the park was purchased by Benevolent Giving, and the grove of trees was given by Jeta. The two men united in mind to elevate merit; from this day forth this place should be called the Jeta Grove in the park of Anāthapiṇḍada.' The land covered in gold flourished from this.