龍舒增廣淨土文 9.26

9.26

I have often said: the reasons why Confucius became a sage are certainly not singular. Yet the essential point lies in: "When three people walk together, there must be a teacher for me among them." Even the evil are teachers; where could one go that is not a teacher? With insight such as this, how could he not become a sage? I have also often said: the reasons why Śākyamuni Buddha became a Buddha are certainly not singular. Yet the essential point lies in the time when he was cultivating in the mountains: a king went hunting and asked where the beasts were. If he told him the truth, it would harm the beasts; if he did not tell him the truth, it would be false speech; so he hesitated and did not reply. The king in anger severed one of his arms. He asked again; [the bodhisattva] again hesitated and did not reply, and [the king] severed another arm. Thereupon he made a vow, saying: "When I become a Buddha, I will first liberate this person, so that the people under Heaven do not imitate him in doing evil." Harboring such an intention in mind, how could he not become a Buddha? Later, when he appeared in the world as a Buddha, the first one he liberated was Kauṇḍinya, who was that very king at that time. If one cultivates the Pure Land like this, one will instantly be equal to all the great bodhisattvas.