經律異相 18.32

18.32

In Southern India, there was a man who renounced household life in the Buddha-Dharma. His body was bound by attachment; he rubbed his body with clarified butter and oil, bathed in hot water, and nourished himself with all kinds of fine food and drink. Because his body was bound by attachment, he could not attain the noble Way. He went to Upagupta in the country of Mathurā, paid homage at his feet, and said, “I wish to hear the essentials of the Dharma.” Upagupta saw that this latter-born body of his was bound by attachment, and said to him, “Man, if you can accept my instructions, I shall explain it to you.” He replied that he could. Upagupta led him into the mountains, and using supernatural powers, transformed [a spot] into a great tree, saying, “You must climb this great tree.” The monk then climbed the tree. Beneath the tree, Upagupta also transformed [the ground] into a great pit, a thousand cubits deep and wide. He said again, “Let go of your two feet.” He immediately let go of his feet. He was then told to let go of one hand, and he let go of one hand. When told to let go of the other hand, the monk replied, “If I let go of this hand too, I will fall into the pit and die.” Upagupta said, “We previously agreed that you would accept all my instructions. Why do you not accept them now?” At that moment, his bodily attachment was extinguished; he let go of his hand and fell, yet saw neither tree nor pit. Upagupta expounded the Dharma for him, and through diligent contemplation, he attained the fruit of arhatship (from the tenth fascicle of the *Aśokarāja-sūtra*).