經律異相 44.72

44.72

五百幼童相結為伴。日日遊戲俱至江水。聚沙興塔各言塔好。雖有善心宿命福薄。時天卒雨江水暴漲漂流溺死。佛告眾人。五百童子生兜術天。皆同發心為菩薩行。佛放光明令其父母見子所在。佛遙呼五百幼子來。尋時皆至住於虛空中。散華於佛下稽首禮言。蒙世尊恩。雖身喪亡得見彌勒。佛言善哉。卿等決計知道至真興立塔寺。因是生天見於彌勒諮受法誨。佛為說經咸然歡喜立不退轉。各白父母勿復愁苦。努力精進以法自修。父母皆發道意。稽首足下遶佛三匝。忽然不現還兜術天（出生經第四卷）。

Five hundred young boys joined as companions. Every day they played together, going to the river, gathering sand to build stūpas, each saying that his stūpa was fine. Although they had wholesome intentions, due to their past lives their merit was slight. At that time, it suddenly rained, the river swelled violently, and they were swept away and drowned. The Buddha told the assembly: "The five hundred boys were born in Tuṣita heaven, and all together resolved their minds to practice the bodhisattva path." The Buddha emitted light, allowing their parents to see where their sons were. From afar, the Buddha called the five hundred young boys to come. Immediately, they all arrived and stayed in midair. Scattering flowers upon the Buddha, they bowed down, prostrated, and said: "Relying on the Bhagavat's grace, though our bodies have perished, we were able to see Maitreya." The Buddha said: "Splendid! You resolved your minds to know the most genuine Way and built stūpa monasteries; because of this, you were born in heaven, saw Maitreya, and received teachings of the Dharma." When the Buddha preached the sutra for them, all were joyful and established in the stage of non-retrogression. Each said to their parents: "Do not grieve anymore; strive diligently to cultivate yourselves with the Dharma." The parents all brought forth the intention for the Way. Bowing their heads at his feet, they circumambulated the Buddha three times, and then suddenly vanished and returned to Tuṣita heaven. (Taken from the Sūtra of Births, fascicle 4.)