經律異相 19.60

19.60

In a mountain there was a Buddhist temple with a separate room. In it was an evil ghost who loved to come and trouble people, so the monks abandoned it. A guest monk arrived, and the karmadāna assigned him to stay in this room, saying: "This room has a ghost who playfully comes to trouble people." Relying on the power of his precept-keeping, the guest monk replied: "What can a petty ghost do? I can subdue it." He then entered the room to stay. As the sun was setting, another monk arrived seeking a place to stay. The karmadāna also had him stay in this room and also told him about the ghost. That man likewise said: "I will subdue it." The one who entered first had shut the door and sat upright waiting for the ghost, but it did not come. The one who arrived later knocked on the door at night asking to enter. The one inside thought it was the ghost and would not open the door for him. The one outside knocked on the door with all his might, while the practitioner inside resisted him with his strength. The one outside prevailed, pushed open the door, and entered. The one inside struck him, and the one outside struck back vigorously with all his might. When dawn arrived and they saw each other, they were actually old fellow students! The practitioners apologized to each other with shame. The crowd gathered like clouds, laughing and marveling at them. (Extracted from the ninety-first fascicle of the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa).