經律異相 22.18

22.18

Śāriputra had a novice named Cunda who, at the age of eight, had attained the six supernormal powers and flew through the air to Lake Anavatapta. There was a brahmacārin with five supernormal powers named Subhadra who also went to that lake. At that time, beside that lake, blue-clad ghosts guarding the lake drove away the brahmacārin of five supernormal powers, throwing tiles and stones so as not to allow him to approach the divine lake. When the novice Cunda arrived flying through the air, those blue-clad ghosts, several hundred in number, all came forward to welcome him: some came forward to hold his robes, some held pure water to wash his hands and feet, some wiped his head and face with pure cloths, and some bathed his body with fragrant warm water. The brahmacārin Subhadra raised his voice and said, "I have now attained the five supernormal powers and my spiritual virtue is immeasurable; my power can move mountains, halt flowing waters, and rotate heaven and earth like turning a pearl in my palm. Since studying the Way for over one hundred and twenty years, I have toiled my form and tormented my body, exhausted in form and spirit: sometimes serving the five fires, lighting fires in four places with the sunlight shining from above; sometimes lying in ashes and dung, or lying amid thorny and rugged perils—there is no path I have not studied. Yet I was driven away and not allowed to reach the lake. But this little black-robed boy, aged seven or eight, not yet separated from nursing, his body foul and stinking, is treated with such excessive reverence. For what reason is this?" Then the blue-clad ghosts said to the brahmacārin, "Although this scholar's form and age are small, his practice transcends the three realms, having attained the noble eightfold path. You do not have this now, which is why we do not pay reverence." There was a brāhmaṇa named Yakṣa who established a monastery, also called Yakṣa, and constantly supplied clarified butter and oil to supply the monastery for lighting lamps. At that time, a brāhmaṇa from a distant place came to that monastery; having also heard of the brahmacārin Yakṣa's eminent talent and bright virtue, and that he especially believed in the Buddha's Dharma and had established a divine shrine, he met with him. At that time, a novice came to receive the butter and oil to supply the monastery for lighting lamps. The many brahmacārins said to the brāhmaṇa Yakṣa, "Do you really bow down to this man in dyed robes?" Before the words were finished, the novice had already arrived, and [Yakṣa] immediately bowed to him again. The many brahmacārins said to this brahmacārin, "You come from the four castes with talent and skill surpassing others; there is nothing in astronomy or geography you have not mastered; your divine spells move the spirits and there is nothing you cannot accomplish. Now this person in dyed robes comes from among many castes and his lineage is not pure. Why do you violate our original tradition to reverently bow to him? Moreover, you, brahmacārin, maintain pure conduct, cultivate the inner treasury of diagrams, prognostication texts, and secret records; in practicing the Way to accomplish merit, what wish is not fulfilled? You are fully versed in texts, seals, and tallies. The Buddha's practice is scant and rare; what is there to value in it? Abandoning the root to take up the branches is what I despise. We have heard that śramaṇas are base and lowly, their deceit and artifice flourish, and they delude the people of the world; what they practice is short-lived, sufficient only for the glory of a single life, and cannot bring about brahmic blessings. Even if you meet, you should merely raise folded hands and no more; why cast your five limbs to the ground and pay homage with reverence? We have seen it ourselves and are extremely astonished at the reason. How much less could the elders of our previous tradition pardon you for this offense?" Yakṣa answered the many brāhmaṇas, "Be quiet, all of you, and listen to what I say: