眾經撰雜譬喻 2.22

2.22

昔波羅奈國有五百盲人，周行乞索，值世饑儉無所得，自共議曰：「佛在舍衛教人惠施，當詣彼國可得濟命。」各曰：「當雇一人牽吾等到彼。」五百盲人各許一銀錢，其人即許將到彼國，便爾進路。受雇者語諸盲人曰：「此下道險，卿等各以錢付我，若逢寇賊我當藏之。」盲人盡以錢付之，其人得錢便爾捨去。諸盲人週遊數日，飢渴不知道路，即共同時歸命於佛，言：「佛神聖當哀我等令免此厄。」佛即忽然現神在前，手摩盲頭皆得眼明，飢渴飽滿。五百人歡喜，踊躍願為弟子，鬚髮即落，衣鉢法服。佛重為說法，皆得應真，飛隨佛還詣祇洹。阿難白佛：「此五百人宿命有何罪福？」佛言：「昔過去世有長者，雇五百人作，先取作直各散捨去，然後歷世故受此厄。是時長者今擔錢去者是也！債解值吾開悟，今皆得道。」罪福如是，是以人之造業不同，或是造業，或是報業，不可不慎也。

Formerly, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, there were five hundred blind men who traveled around begging. Encountering a time of famine, they obtained nothing. They conferred together: "The Buddha is in Śrāvastī teaching people to give generously. If we go to that country, our lives can be saved." Each said, "We should hire someone to lead us there." The five hundred blind men each promised one silver coin. The man agreed to lead them to that country, and they set out on the road. The hired man said to the blind men, "The road ahead is treacherous. Hand over your money to me; if we meet bandits, I will hide it." The blind men gave all their money to him. Having obtained the money, the man simply abandoned them and left. The blind men wandered for several days, hungry, thirsty, and not knowing the road. They simultaneously took refuge in the Buddha, saying, "The Buddha is holy and divine; may he pity us and deliver us from this distress!" The Buddha suddenly manifested his spiritual presence before them, stroking the blind men's heads with his hand. All of their eyes became clear, and their hunger and thirst were satisfied. The five hundred men were overjoyed, leaped with joy, and wished to become his disciples. Their hair and beards fell out spontaneously, and robes and bowls appeared on their bodies. The Buddha expounded the Dharma to them again, and they all attained arhatship, flying with the Buddha back to the Jetavana. Ānanda asked the Buddha, "What offenses and merits did these five hundred men have in their former lives?" The Buddha said, "Long ago, in a past age, an elder hired five hundred people to work. They took their wages in advance and then scattered and abandoned him. Because of this, they underwent this distress through successive lifetimes. The elder of that time is the one who carried off the money today! Now that the debt has been resolved, they encountered my awakening and have all attained the Way." Offenses and merits are like this; therefore, people's creation of karma is not the same: some create karma, and some receive the retribution of karma. One cannot but be cautious!