三寶感應要略錄 3.5

3.5

Tradition says: in the past, there was a poor woman who, meeting with the convening of a vegetarian gathering, came from the south. She arrived at the monastery at dawn carrying two children in her arms, with a dog following her. Having no other resources on her person, she cut her hair to offer as alms. Before the assembly's meal was served, she said to the head monk, "I wish to eat first and hurry on my way." The monk consented and ordered an attendant to provide food, giving her a triple portion, intending that the poor woman and her two children would all have enough. The woman said, "You must also give some to the dog." The monk reluctantly gave more. The woman said, "I have a child in my womb, and must have another portion of food." The monk then angrily said to her, "You are insatiable in seeking the monastic food! If it is in your womb and not yet born, why must it have food?" He scolded her and told her to leave. Having been reprimanded, the poor woman immediately left the ground, suddenly transforming her body: it was the image of Mañjuśrī, the dog became a lion, and the children were Sudhana and the King of Khotan. Five-coloured clouds and vapors thickly filled the sky. Thereupon he left a verse, saying: "Bitter gourds are bitter down to their roots; / Sweet melons are sweet through to their stems. / Here am I, who have transcended the three realms, / Yet despised by this monk!" Having spoken the verse, the bodhisattva then disappeared from sight. Monastics and laypeople in the assembly were all astonished and sighed in admiration. The head monk regretted failing to recognize the true holy one, and wished to gouge out his eyes with a knife, stopping only when the assembly strenuously dissuaded him. At that time, noble and base alike viewed poverty and wealth without distinction, and with the hair offered by the poor woman, they erected a stūpa to make offerings at the place where the bodhisattva mounted the clouds and ascended.