經律異相 25.16

25.16

Having reflected thus, he called for someone to bring a knife and cut the flesh of his own thigh to give to the hawk. The hawk said to the king, 'Although the king gives me warm meat, you must act according to principle and make the meat equal in weight to the dove.' The king said, 'Bring a balance to weigh the flesh against the dove.' The king's flesh was cut away entirely, and only then was it equal to the dove. He rebuked himself in his mind, 'You must be firm; do not become confused and faint. All sentient beings have fallen into the great ocean of suffering, and you vowed to deliver them across. Why grow indolent and faint? This suffering is very small; the sufferings of hell are manifold. Even though I have wisdom, vigor, morality, and meditation, I still suffer from this pain; how much more so for those in hell who lack wisdom?' When his mind became settled, heaven and earth shook in six ways, waves rose in the great ocean, withered trees bloomed with flowers, devas rained down fragrant rain and scattered famous blossoms, and heavenly maidens sang praises that he would surely attain buddhahood. Śakra said to the king, 'Suffering the pain of cutting your flesh, is your mind not distressed or depressed?' The king said, 'My heart is joyful; it is neither distressed nor depressed.' Śakra said, 'Who will believe you?' Then the king vowed, 'If, while my flesh was cut and my blood flowed, I was neither angry nor distressed, and with a single mind was not depressed, in order to seek buddhahood, may my body immediately be restored.' Instantly, it became as it was before. (Drawn from the fourth fascicle of the Da zhidu lun.)