釋迦譜 1.417

1.417

爾時太子聞王師語。以深重聲答王師言。我豈不知父王於我恩情深也。但畏生老病死之苦。是以來此為斷除故。若令息愛終日合會。又無生老病死苦者。我復何為來至於此。我今所以違遠父王。欲為將來和合故耳。父王憂愁大火今雖熾然。我與父母唯餘今生有此一苦。將來自當永絕斯患。若如汝言令吾處宮修道業者。如七寶舍滿中焰火。當有人能止此室不。如雜毒食。設有饑人終不食之。我既棄國出家修道。云何令我復還宮城修學道也。世間之人在大苦中。為小樂故尚復耽湎不能暫捨。況我在此極寂靜處。無諸患苦而能棄捐。還就於惡。古昔諸王入山學道。無有中路還受欲者。父王若欲必令我歸。便是違於先王之法。爾時王師白太子言。誠如太子今之所說。然諸先聖一言未來定有果報。一言定無。此二先聖尚不能知。未來世中必定有無。太子云何欲捨現樂而求未來不定果報。生死果報尚不可知決定有無。云何乃欲求解脫果。唯願太子便還宮也。太子答言。彼二仙人說未來果。一者言有。一者言無。皆是疑心非決定說。我今終不隨順彼教。不應以此而見難詰。所以者何。我今不為希慕果報而來至此。以目所見生老病死。必應經之。故求解脫免此苦耳。令汝不久見我道成。我此志願終不可回。還啟父王說如此也。

At that time, the prince heard the royal preceptor's words and answered him in a deep and resonant voice: "How could I not know that my royal father's affection for me is deep? It is only that I fear the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death; therefore I have come here in order to sever and eliminate them. If worldly attachments could cease and we could remain united all day long, and if there were no suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death, why would I have come here? The reason I now part from my royal father is precisely for the sake of future union. Though the great fire of my royal father's sorrow burns brightly now, my parents and I have only this single life with such suffering; in the future, we will certainly be forever rid of this affliction. If, as you say, I should remain in the palace and cultivate the Way, it would be like a house of seven jewels filled with blazing fire—could anyone dwell in such a room? It is like food mixed with poison; even a starving person would ultimately not eat it. Since I have abandoned the kingdom and left home to cultivate the Way, how could you have me return again to the palace city to study the Way? Worldly people, amidst great suffering, for the sake of minor pleasures still become so indulged that they cannot temporarily let them go. How much less could I, in this place of ultimate serenity and free from all afflictions and suffering, cast this aside and return to evil! When ancient kings entered the mountains to study the Way, none ever returned midway to indulge in desires. If my royal father insists on having me return, it would be contrary to the ways of former kings." At that time, the royal preceptor said to the prince: "It is truly as the prince now says. However, of the former sages, one said that in the future there are definitely karmic retributions, while another said there definitely are none. Even these two former sages could not know with certainty whether there is or is not an afterlife. How can the prince wish to abandon present pleasures to seek uncertain future retribution? When it cannot even be determined whether the retributions of birth and death exist or not, how can you seek the fruit of liberation? We pray only that the prince will return to the palace." The prince replied: "Those two ṛṣis spoke of future results, one saying they exist and the other saying they do not, but both were speaking with doubtful minds, not with certainty. I shall never follow their teachings, nor should you challenge me with this. Why is that? I did not come here yearning for karmic retributions. Because of the birth, old age, sickness, and death that I saw with my own eyes, which must inevitably be undergone, I seek liberation to be free of this suffering. Before long, you will see me accomplish the Way. This resolve of mine can never be turned back. Return and report this to my royal father."