經律異相 15.16

15.16

The Buddha was staying in the country of Kosala, where he observed the rains retreat together with many monks. When various laypeople and householders saw the great assembly of monks, they made dwellings and robes for them. In a later year, the Buddha returned to the Jetavana for the rains retreat. At that former place, there were two elder monks remaining. The various householders thought: "Let our giving this year be just like last year's, so that the monks obtain robes and our merit continues unbroken." They brought many robes and other goods to give to the two elders. [The two elders] thought: "These robes and goods are a great portion. If we divide them, who knows what transgression we might incur?" In the end, they did not dare to divide them. Upananda was traveling through various places, everywhere observing whether the donated items were many or few. The two elders saw him from afar, rose from their seats to welcome him, gave him a seat, and exchanged greetings. Upananda asked, "Did the assembly of monks have any offerings during the rains retreat?" They replied, "There were." He asked, "Have they been divided yet?" They replied, "They have not yet been divided." "Why?" The elders replied, "These robes and goods are many, while our persons are few. If we divide them, we do not know what transgression we might incur." Upananda said, "It is well that you have not divided them." The two elders said to Upananda, "Can you divide them?" He replied, "I can." Upananda said, "In this matter, a formal Sangha action (karman) must be performed; they cannot simply be divided directly." Then the two elders brought out all the robes and placed them before Upananda. Upananda divided the robes into three portions. He said to them: "You two sit beside one heap, and I shall sit myself between the other two heaps." He said to them: "Elders, listen single-mindedly to the words of the karman: for you two persons, one heap of robes is called 'three'; for me, one person, two heaps of robes is called 'three'. Is this karman good or not?" They replied, "It is good." He then bundled and tied up these robes, intending to carry them away on a shoulder pole. The two elders said: "This heap of robes we have not yet divided among ourselves. How can you simply leave?" Upananda said: "If I divide them for you, one fine robe among them should be given to the one who knows the Dharma, and only then shall they be divided." They replied, "We give it to you." So he took out one superior precious robe and set it to one side, and divided the remaining robes into two shares, giving them to the two elders. Upananda then bundled up his many robes and goods and carried them on his shoulder to the Jetavana. The monks who were practicing walking meditation saw Upananda coming from afar and said among themselves: "Here comes this shameless, unconscionable man, guilty of offences based on what is seen, heard, and suspected, full of desire and insatiable." When he gradually drew near, they asked: "Upananda, from where did you obtain so many robes and goods?" Upananda recounted the preceding matter at length. Among them were monks of few desires and contentment who practiced dhūta austerities; hearing of this matter, their minds were indignant and they rebuked him in various ways: "How can one be called a monk and yet intentionally seize the goods of two elders?" They reported the matter to the Buddha. The Buddha also rebuked him in various ways, telling the monks: "Not only in this present life has Upananda seized the goods of these two elder monks. In a past life, along a bend in a river, two otters lived in the river. Beside the river they caught a carp, but neither could divide it, so the two otters stayed guarding it. A jackal came to drink water. Seeing them, he asked, 'Maternal uncles, what are you doing?' The otters said, 'Nephew, we have caught this big fish but cannot divide it. Can you divide it for us?' He replied, 'I can. This must be divided according to the teachings of the scriptures; it cannot simply be divided arbitrarily.' The jackal then divided the fish into three portions: the head was one portion, the tail was one portion, and the fat middle was one portion. He asked: 'Who likes to travel near the bank?' One replied, 'That is me.' 'Who likes to plunge into the deep water?' The other replied, 'That is me.' Then the jackal said: 'Listen single-mindedly to what I say. The scriptures say: to the one who travels near the bank is given the tail; to the one who plunges into deep water is given the head; and the middle body portion is given to the one who knows the Dharma.' At that time the jackal took the body of that large fish in his mouth and returned home. His wife saw him and asked, 'Where did you get this?' He replied, 'There were foolish ones who did not know how to resolve a matter, and I got it between them.' Monks, those two otters were indeed these two elder monks now, and the jackal of that time was indeed Upananda now." (Drawn from the Dasādhyāyavinaya, fascicle 3 of the 'Good Recitation' section; also found in the Mahāsāṃghikavinaya.)