經律異相 22.22

22.22

Formerly there was a young boy, just seven years of age, who greatly loved the Buddha's Way and became a novice. Following an arhat master to study in the mountains, he was diligent without remiss. By the age of eight, he attained four supernormal powers: first, the eye of penetrating sight; second, the ear of penetrating hearing; third, flying and transformation; fourth, knowing for himself his past lives and whence he came. Sitting and contemplating for himself, he saw what he had undergone in past lives: he had been the son of five mothers. Thereupon he laughed to himself. The master asked why he laughed. The novice said, "How could I dare laugh at my master? Looking at myself in this one body, I have had five mothers, who weep day and night, grieved and bitterly distressed, constantly saying, 'I miss my son and have never forgotten him for a moment.' I think to myself: this one body has caused bitter distress to five families; therefore I laughed. When I was the son of the first mother, a neighbor had a child born at the same time as me. After I died, the one born on the same day walked in and out; when my mother saw him, she said, 'If my son were alive, he would also walk in and out like this.' Thereupon she grieved and pined for me in pain. Next, I was the son of the second mother; not long after birth, I died again. When my mother saw someone nursing a child, she would pined for me in pain, grieving and weeping. Next, I was the son of the third mother, and not long after died again. When my mother came to eat, tears flowed as she thought of me, saying, 'If my son were alive, he would be eating with me; he has abandoned me and died.' Next, I was the son of the fourth mother, and not long after died again. When my peers of that time were betrothed and married, my mother again thought of me, saying, 'If my son had not died, he too would be taking a wife today.' I became the son of the fifth mother, who is still alive today. When I left home to study the Way, my mother wept daily, saying, 'I have lost my son, not knowing where he is, whether hungry or cold, alive or dead, never to see him again.' All of them sighed with deep sorrow. Now if the five mothers were to gather together, each speaking of her lost son, they would face one another weeping and thinking of me alone; therefore I laughed. People of the world do not know there is birth in future lives; they only speak of death. When a person does good, they obtain blessings; when they do evil, they obtain calamity. While people are in the world, good and evil are of their own doing; fearing nothing and doing evil, they later suffer bitter pain, and falling into the evil realms, regret will be of no avail. Weary of the world, I therefore took leave of my parents to seek the Way. Looking upon the hells, animals, hungry ghosts, and poverty, I am terrified on their behalf. Having received my master's kindness and accepted the Buddha's scriptures and precepts, I am now delivered. I think of my five mothers: unable to obtain deliverance, on the contrary they sorrow over me." (Taken from the Wumu ziren jing.)