眾經撰雜譬喻 2.18

2.18

昔有屠兒，欲供養道人，以其惡故而無往者。後見一新學沙門威儀詳序，請歸飯食種種餚饍，食訖還請此道人：「願終身在我家食。」道人即便受之。玩習既久切見在其前殺生，不敢呵之。積有年歲，後屠兒父死作河中鬼，以刀割身即復還復。道人渡河，鬼捉船曰：「沒此道人著河中乃可得去。」船人怖曰。鬼言：「吾家昔日供養此道人，積年不呵我殺生，今受此殃，恚故欲耳！」船人曰：「殺生尚受此殃，況乎道人？」鬼曰：「我知爾恚故耳！若能為我布施作福呼名呪願，我便相放。」船人盡許為作福，鬼便放之。道人即為鬼作會呼名呪願，餘人次復為作會，詣河中呼鬼曰：「卿得福未？」鬼曰：「即得，無復苦痛。」船人曰：「明日當為卿作福，得自來不？」鬼曰：「得耳！」鬼旦化作婆羅門像來，手自供養，自受呪願，上座為說經，鬼即得須陀洹道，歡喜而去。是以主客之宜理有諫正，雖墮惡道故有善緣，可謂善知識者是大因緣也！

Formerly, there was a butcher who wished to make offerings to a renunciant, but because of his evil occupation, none would go. Later, he saw a newly trained śramaṇa whose deportment was grave and orderly, and invited him home to eat, offering various fine delicacies. When the meal was finished, he further requested this renunciant, "May you eat in my home for the rest of your life." The renunciant accepted. Having grown familiar with him over a long time, he saw slaughtering taking place before him, yet did not dare to admonish him. Years accumulated. Later, the butcher's father died and became a ghost in a river, whose body was cut with knives and immediately restored. When the renunciant crossed the river, the ghost seized the boat and said, "Only if you drown this renunciant in the river may you cross!" The boatmen were terrified. The ghost said, "Formerly, my household made offerings to this renunciant. For years he never admonished me against taking life. Now I suffer this calamity, and out of resentment I desire this!" The boatmen said, "If taking life brings such calamity, how much more so [killing] a renunciant?" The ghost said, "I know that, but it is just out of resentment! If you can make dāna and create merit on my behalf, calling my name and making aspirational prayers, I will let you go." The boatmen all promised to create merit for him, and the ghost released them. The renunciant immediately held an assembly for the ghost, calling his name and making aspirational prayers. The others in turn also held an assembly for him, went to the middle of the river, and called to the ghost, "Have you obtained merit yet?" The ghost said, "I obtained it immediately, and have no more pain." The boatmen said, "Tomorrow we will create merit for you; can you come yourself?" The ghost said, "I can!" In the morning, the ghost transformed into the likeness of a brāhmaṇa and came, offering dāna with his own hands and receiving the aspirational prayers himself. The senior monk expounded the sūtra for him, and the ghost attained the path of a srotāpanna and departed joyfully. For this reason, between host and guest there is a duty to admonish and correct. Even though one has fallen into an evil destiny, good conditions may still remain; thus it can be said that a good spiritual friend is a great cause and condition!