經律異相 11.10

11.10

In the past, the Bodhisattva was a great judge who had accumulated wealth of hundreds of millions. He always revered the Three Honoured Ones and harboured compassion toward sentient beings. Going to the market to watch the spectacles, he saw a turtle and felt sorrow for it. He asked its price, high or low. The turtle's owner knew that the Bodhisattva had the virtue of universal kindness, was always saving sentient beings, had incalculable wealth, and never argued over the price. He answered: 'One million. If you can take it, well and good; if not, I shall eat it.' The Bodhisattva replied: 'Very well.' He took the turtle home, washed and cared for it without harming it. Coming to the water to release it and watching it swim away, he made a vow in sorrow and joy: 'May all beings like those in Taishan and the hungry ghosts, as well as those in the earthly ruler's prisons, swiftly obtain escape from distress, with their bodies at peace and their lives preserved, just like you today!' Bowing toward the ten directions with joined palms, he vowed: 'Sentient beings are restless and their suffering is immeasurable. I shall be the ground for them, moisture for drought, a raft for flood, food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, clothing for the cold, coolness for the heat, a physician for the sick, and light for the dark. If there be an age of turbidity and inversion, I shall become a Buddha in its midst to deliver those sentient beings.' The Buddhas of the ten directions all praised his vow, extolling: 'Excellent! You shall surely attain your aim.' Later at night, the turtle came and bit at his gate. Surprised by the sound at the gate, [the Bodhisattva] sent someone out, who saw the turtle and returned to report the matter. The Bodhisattva looked at the turtle, which spoke in human tongue: 'I received your great favor, and my life was preserved. I have nothing with which to repay you. A creature that dwells in water knows its waxing and waning: a deluge is about to arrive, which will surely bring great disaster. Please quickly prepare a boat, and when the time comes, I shall come to meet you.' He replied: 'Very well.' The next morning he went to the palace gates and reported the matter to the king. The king said: 'The Bodhisattva has long had a reputation for goodness; I trust his words and will move from the lowlands to the heights.' Then the turtle came and said: 'The deluge has arrived! Quickly board [the boat] and follow where I go, and you will surely be free from harm.' The boat followed behind it. There was a snake rushing toward the boat. The Bodhisattva said: 'Take it.' The turtle said: 'Very well.' He also saw a floating fox and said: 'Take it.' The turtle also said: 'Good.' He then saw a drowning man, beating his cheeks, crying out to Heaven, and pleading to save his life. [The Bodhisattva] again said: 'Take him.' The turtle said: 'Beware, do not take him! The human heart is deceitful and false, seldom keeping faith to the end. It turns its back on kindness to chase after power, delighting in evil and rebellion.' The Bodhisattva said: 'Even crawling creatures have all been saved; yet to cast aside a man who seeks help—how could that be benevolence? I cannot bear to do so.' Thereupon he took him. The turtle said: 'What a regret!' They then arrived at fertile land. The turtle took its leave, saying: 'My debt of kindness is fulfilled; please allow me to withdraw.' [The Bodhisattva] replied: 'When I attain [the state of] a Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha, I will surely deliver you.' The turtle said: 'Very well.' The turtle withdrew, and the snake and the fox each departed. The fox made its dwelling in a burrow and found a hundred catties of purple-gold hidden by ancients. Rejoicing, it said: 'I must repay that kindness!' It ran back and reported: 'This little insect received your favor and had its meager life saved. A creature dwelling in holes, seeking a hole to settle itself, found a hundred catties of gold. This hole was neither tilled nor inhabited, nor was it robbed or stolen; it was brought about by my sincere devotion. I wish to offer it to the worthy one.' The Bodhisattva reflected deeply: 'If I do not take it, it will simply be wasted, offering no benefit to the poor. Taking it to give in charity so that sentient beings may be saved—is that not good?' Soon he took it. The drowning man saw it and said: 'Share half with me.' The Bodhisattva immediately bestowed ten catties upon him. The drowning man said: 'You dug and excavated to plunder gold; what should your crime be? If you do not divide it equally in half, I will surely inform the authorities.' [The Bodhisattva] replied: 'I wish to bestow it equally upon the destitute and poor. You wish to monopolise it—is that not biased?' The drowning man then informed the authorities. The Bodhisattva was arrested and had no one to appeal to. He simply took refuge in the Three Honoured Ones, repenting of his faults and reproaching himself, and compassionately vowed: 'May sentient beings swiftly escape the eight difficulties, and let there be no resentful enmity such as mine today!' The snake and the fox met and said: 'What can be done about this matter?' The snake said: 'I will save him.' It then held an efficacious herb in its mouth, unbarred the gate, and entered the prison. Seeing that the Bodhisattva's complexion was impaired, it felt sorrow and grief. It said to the Bodhisattva: 'Keep this herb with you. I will bite the crown prince; the venom will be so extreme that none will be able to save him. When the worthy one applies the herb himself, he will immediately recover.' The Bodhisattva remained silent. The snake did as it had said. The crown prince was on the verge of death. The king issued a command: 'If anyone can save him, I will enfeoff him as chancellor and let him participate in ruling with me.' The Bodhisattva reported this [from prison]; he applied [the medicine], and [the prince] immediately recovered. The king rejoiced and asked about the cause, whereupon [the Bodhisattva] recounted the whole matter from beginning to end. The king was filled with regret and reproached himself; he immediately executed the drowning man, proclaimed a great amnesty throughout his realm, and enfeoffed [the Bodhisattva] as chancellor. Taking him by the hand into the palace, they sat side by side, and the king said: 'What texts does the worthy one expound, and what Way do you embrace, to show the benevolence and kindness of Heaven and Earth and reach sentient beings?' He replied: 'I expound the Buddha's scriptures and embrace the Buddha's Way.' [The king] asked: 'Does the Buddha have essential instructions?' He answered: 'Yes. The Buddha spoke of the four impermanences; for those who preserve them, manifold blessings will flourish.' The king said: 'Excellent! I wish to receive the reality of them.' The Bodhisattva expounded them. The king said: 'Excellent! The Buddha's teaching that the body is not the self—my heart now believes it. Even the body cannot be preserved, how much less the kingdom? How lamentable that the former kings did not hear the teaching of the unsurpassed, truly enlightened one on impermanence, suffering, emptiness, and non-self!' The king then emptied his treasury to give in charity to the poor and needy, cherishing widowers, widows, and orphans like his own children. The whole country was jubilant, smiling as they walked, looking up to Heaven and sighing: 'The divine transformation of the Bodhisattva has reached such a height!' The four quarters praised his virtue, and great peace was achieved. The Buddha said to the monks: 'The Bodhisattva was myself. The king was Maitreya. The turtle was Ānanda. The fox was Śāriputra. The snake was Maudgalyāyana. The drowning man was Devadatta.' (Taken from the Scripture on the Perfection of Giving).