經律異相 18.22

18.22

At that time, in the country of Mathurā, there was a man who left the secular life and went forth under Upagupta. Because of his greed for food, he could not attain the path. Upagupta said to him: 'Tomorrow I will give you food.' When the time arrived, he filled a bowl with milk gruel in one vessel, and also placed an empty vessel beside it before him, saying to him: 'You may take this and eat until this vessel is empty.' He also said: 'Wait until it is cold and eat it gradually.' But this monk's greed was heavy, so he blew on it to cool it, and said to the upādhyāya: 'It is already cold!' and gulped it all down at once. Upagupta said: 'Although the milk gruel is cold, your mind is still hot. You must cool it again. You should take the meditation on impurity as water to remove this heat of the mind, and view food and drink as if taking medicine.' When the monk finished eating, he immediately vomited it out, filling the empty vessel. Upagupta said: 'You may eat it again.' The monk said: 'How could one eat what is impure again?' Upagupta also said: 'You should view all dharmas just like mucus and vomit.' He then explained the Dharma for him. The monk diligently contemplated and observed, and attained the fruit of an arhat. (From the Sūtra of King Aśoka, fascicle 9)