經律異相 13.33

13.33

Ānanda said to the Buddha, "How does what Aniruddha sees with his divine eye differ from what the Buddha sees?"
The Buddha told Ānanda, "What the Tathāgata sees is not something arhats or pratyekabuddhas can know, much less you, a monk still bound to birth and death. How could you know my, the Tathāgata's, penetrating vision? Going east from here through buddha-lands equal [in number] to the sands of the Gaṅgā—by 'Gaṅgā' is meant [a river] from the Anavatapta lake to the great ocean, forty leagues wide, whose sands in all directions reach down to the bottom, measuring one hundred and twenty hu; if one passed one buddha-land and deposited one grain of sand until all those sands were exhausted—all kinds of people and creatures, the darkest places and obscurest things, and even the minutest bodies of sentient beings in those buddha-lands are seen completely. All around in the ten directions, it is also like this. How could what Aniruddha sees be worthy of comparison with the Buddha?"
Ānanda said, "What past causes did Aniruddha have that his vision should be like this?"
The Buddha said, "Long ago, after the parinirvāṇa of the Buddha Vipaśyin, a robber carrying the loot from a robbery passed through a stūpa. He wished to steal items in the sacred shrine. At that time, the lamp before the Buddha was on the verge of going out, and it was so dark nothing could be seen. The robber straightened the wick of the lamp with an arrow, causing the light of the lamp to burn brightly. Seeing the awe-inspiring radiance dazzling his eyes, his hair stood on end with dread. He thought to himself, 'Other people even offer precious things to seek merit; how could I steal from it?' He immediately abandoned [his intent] and left.
For ninety-one kalpas, his unwholesome deeds gradually diminished, and his blessings and protection increased day by day. The robber at that time was Aniruddha. Because of the merit of straightening the lamp, he was constantly reborn in good destinies, met with buddhas, left home, attained the Way, and became foremost in penetrating vision. How much more so for one who, with utmost sincerity, gives up what he treasures and lights a lamp before the Buddha—his merit is immeasurable!" (Extracted from the second fascicle of the Avadāna-sūtra).