經律異相 17.18

17.18

Cūḍapanthaka's elder brother said, "If you cannot keep the precepts, return to being a layman." Panthaka went to the gate of Jetavana weeping. The Buddha said to him, "Why are you grieving?" He replied with his brother's words. The Buddha said, "Do not be afraid. My attainment of unexcelled, fully enlightened Buddhahood did not depend on your brother." Taking Panthaka by the hand, he led him to a quiet room, taught him to hold a broom, and had him recite. Panthaka chanted "sweep" and forgot "broom"; he chanted "broom" and forgot "sweep". Only after several days [did he grasp it; then the Buddha taught that] "sweeping with a broom" is also called "removing defilement". Panthaka contemplated: "When ashes, dirt, tiles, and stones are removed, there is purity. Fetters are defilements; wisdom can remove them. I now, using the broom of wisdom, sweep away and remove all fetters." (From the first fascicle of the Ekottarika-āgama.)