經律異相 18.12

18.12

In the country of Śrāvastī there was a wealthy elder. He had a son whose face was handsome. The heavens rained down numerous flowers that piled up and filled the house. They named this child Phubati (in Liang language: Huatian, Puṣpadeva). When the boy grew older, he went to the Buddha's place. He thought to himself: 'Having come into this world, I have been able to meet the Holy Honored One.' He then stepped forward and addressed the Buddha, saying: 'I pray only that the Bhagavat and the assembly of monks would condescend tomorrow to visit my humble house and receive a modest vegetarian meal.' The Buddha accepted the invitation. Puṣpadeva returned home and miraculously transformed jeweled couches throughout the house, setting them in orderly array. The Buddha and the assembly of monks took their seats; by virtue of Puṣpadeva's merit, food and drink were spontaneously provided. When the Buddha and the monks had finished eating, the Buddha extensively explained the essentials of the Dharma for Puṣpadeva. Puṣpadeva's entire family attained the fruit of stream-enterer (srotāpanna). Puṣpadeva then took leave of his parents to seek renunciation from secular life, and his parents permitted it. The Buddha said: 'Welcome!' His hair and beard fell off spontaneously, and kāṣāyas clothed his body. Following and cultivating the Buddha's teaching, he attained the status of an arhat. Ānanda addressed the Buddha: 'What merit did Puṣpadeva have to attain this?' The Buddha said: 'In the past, there was a Buddha named Vipaśyin who appeared in the world to deliver sentient beings. At that time, the noble clans all made offerings. There was a poor man who rejoiced upon seeing the monks; he went to the wild marshes, gathered various wild flowers, and scattered them over the great assembly. The Buddha told Ānanda: 'The poor man of that time is now this monk Puṣpadeva. By the virtue of scattering flowers, for ninety-one kalpas his body has been handsome, and whatever his mind desired would appear just as thought.' (From the Sūtra of the Wise and the Foolish, fascicle 2)