眾經撰雜譬喻 2.22

2.22

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!