眾經撰雜譬喻 1.12

1.12

When a poor person cuts back on food and drink to practice dāna, their merit is boundless. For example, in the past a king held an assembly, making various offerings to the Buddhas and the saṃgha. At that time, there was a poor old mother who possessed nothing at all, constantly relying on begging to sustain her life. Hearing that the king had invited the Buddha to hold an assembly, she rejoiced in her heart and wished to contribute. Reflecting that she had no goods, and having only a few beans, she wished to contribute them, but the gatekeepers would not allow her to proceed. Thereupon the Buddha saw her wholesome mind, and by spiritual power caused these large beans to fall everywhere into the food bowls of the saṃgha. Seeing these beans, the king was angry at the kitchen soldiers: "Why have you allowed these beans to be in the food?" The Buddha said to the king: "It is not the fault of the kitchen soldiers! It is the dāna of a poor old mother outside. Hearing that the king had held an assembly and having nothing to contribute, she took these few beans to assist the king, which is why these beans are in the food." The Buddha told the great king: "Although this old mother's gift was slight, the merit she obtained is far greater than the great king's." The king said: "How is it that I provided many various delicacies as offerings yet gained little merit, while this old mother practiced dāna with a tiny amount of things and on the contrary gained much merit?" The Buddha told the king: "Although the king made various offerings, they all came from the common people and caused no loss to the king; this old mother was poor and had only a few beans, but gave them all to contribute, and for this reason gained much, while the king gained little merit." The Buddha explained the Dharma in various ways for the king, and both the king and the old mother attained the path. Therefore, cultivating merit and planting virtue relies solely on an earnest mind; if one thoroughly understands the true nature of phenomena, how could one worry that it will not bear fruit?