經律異相 12.20

12.20

Formerly, in a certain country, grain prices soared, and the people were starving. At that time, a śramaṇa entered the city on his alms round, but obtained nothing. Next, he came to the gate of an elder of great nobility and wealth, where he received coarse, poor-quality food. Just as he was about to leave the city, within the gate he met a hunter and slaughterer who killed living beings, carrying a pup he was bringing home to kill. Seeing the śramaṇa, he rejoiced, came forward, and paid homage to him. The śramaṇa gave a blessing for longevity and long life. The śramaṇa knew that he had a pup and wished to kill and eat it, so he asked what he was carrying. He answered: 'I travel empty-handed.' The śramaṇa asked again: 'I have already seen the sin of killing living beings; it is extremely unwholesome. I wish to exchange my food for this pup so that its life may be saved; your merit will be boundless.' The man would not give it to him. The śramaṇa earnestly reasoned with and begged him, but he would not comply. The śramaṇa said again: 'If you are unwilling, you can at least show it to me.' The man then brought it out to show the śramaṇa. The śramaṇa took the food and fed it to the pup, stroked it with his hand, made a wish, and shed tears: 'It is the result of your own sins that you have received this dog's body, lacking freedom and facing being killed and eaten. May your sins be extinguished and blessings arise from life to life; may you leave the body of a pup, be born as a human, and encounter the Dharma wherever you are.' Having received the food, the pup gave rise to a wholesome mind, leaping with joy. After this, [the man] took it away, went home, and killed and ate it. When the pup's life ended, it was born into the family of a wealthy and noble great elder. As soon as it fell to the ground at birth, it had a compassionate mind. At that time, that śramaṇa on his alms round happened to arrive at the elder's gate. When the elder's son saw that śramaṇa, he remembered his past conditions; he then came forward, bowed his head, paid homage at the śramaṇa's feet, and invited him forward to make offerings of food of a hundred flavours. He came forward and addressed his parents: 'Now I wish to follow this great Upādhyāya, receive the sūtras and precepts, and become his disciple.' Cherishing him dearly, his parents would not allow it: 'Now our entire family has only you, a single son, who should continue our lineage. As master of the household, for what reason do you now wish to abandon us and depart?' The young child wept, refused to eat or drink, [saying]: 'If you do not wish to permit me, I will simply face death.' Seeing this, the parents then permitted him to go. Following his master to study the Way, he shaved his beard and hair, donned the three Dharma robes, chanted the Buddha's sūtras, deeply understood their meaning, attained samādhi, and stood in non-retrogression, inspiring and converting all beings and generating the great intention for the Way. The śramaṇa immediately recognized past lives, generated the bodhisattva mind, and stood in non-retrogression. How much more so would it be for someone who makes offerings to and serves the Three Jewels, and recites the Mahāyāna! (Extracted from the Sūtra on the Deliverance of the Pup)