淨土十疑論 1.34

1.34

「又聞西國傳云：『有三菩薩：一名無著、二名世親、三名師子覺。此三人契志，同生兜率，願見彌勒。若先亡者，得見彌勒，誓來相報。師子覺前亡，一去數年不來。後世親無常臨終之時，無著語云：「汝見彌勒，即來相報！」世親去已，三年始來。無著問曰：「何意如許多時始來？」世親報云：「至彼天中，聽彌勒菩薩一坐說法，旋繞，即來相報。為彼天日長故，此處已經三年。」又問：「師子覺今在何處？」世親報云：「師子覺為受天樂，五欲自娛，在外眷屬。從去已來，總不見彌勒。」』諸小菩薩，生彼尚著五欲，何況凡夫？為此願生西方，定得不退，不求生兜率也。」

"Furthermore, according to accounts from the Western Realm, 'There were three bodhisattvas: the first was named Asaṅga, the second Vasubandhu, and the third Siṃhabhadra. These three made a pact together to be reborn in Tuṣita, wishing to see Maitreya. Whoever died first and succeeded in seeing Maitreya vowed to return and report back. Siṃhabhadra died first; once he departed, several years passed without his return. Later, when Vasubandhu faced impermanence and was on the brink of death, Asaṅga said to him, "When you see Maitreya, return immediately to report!" After Vasubandhu departed, three years passed before he returned. Asaṅga asked him, "Why did it take so long before you returned?" Vasubandhu reported, saying, "Upon arriving in that heaven, I listened to Bodhisattva Maitreya preach the Dharma for one session, circumambulated him, and immediately came back to report. Because the days in that heaven are long, three years had already elapsed here." He asked further, "Where is Siṃhabhadra now?" Vasubandhu reported, saying, "Because Siṃhabhadra took delight in heavenly pleasures, amusing himself with the five desires, he remains among the outer retinue. From the time he departed until now, he has not seen Maitreya at all."' If these lesser bodhisattvas, upon being born there, are still attached to the five desires, how much more so ordinary people? For this reason, one should vow to be reborn in the West, where one is certain to attain non-retrogression, and not seek rebirth in Tuṣita."