經律異相 30.15

30.15

Formerly, there was a man who saw a stūpa monastery and wished to build one, but had insufficient money and silk. He made a vow to enter the sea to obtain gold and jewels, [thinking]: 'I will build a monastery that will be the foremost in the country.' Having obtained gold and silver, he returned and reflected carefully: 'Who shares my intention to build a monastery together?' The king of the country had often said: 'I wish to build a stūpa monastery, but have not yet built one.' [The man thought] he should present the pearls and jewel-ornaments to the king. Delighted to receive them, the king asked: 'Where did you get these?' The worthy person said: 'I wished to build a monastery, but was unable to build it alone. I entered the sea to obtain jewels so as to build a monastery. Now, returning safely is my first benefit. Successfully obtaining gold and jewels is my second benefit. My mind having no greedy attachment and [wishing to] erect a monastery is my third benefit. Relying on the merit of these three benefits, I now wish to build a monastery; only I lack human labor and effort, and so I have informed the king.' The king said: 'I too have three benefits: wishing to build a stūpa monastery, myself having become king to be the highest among men is my first benefit; having an abundance of wealth, jewels, people, and soldiers is my second benefit; and the four quarters all submitting is my third benefit. I shall build the monastery together with you.' The king summoned five hundred consorts to give them pearls. The five hundred consorts all adorned themselves, each wishing to get the pearls. Only the chief consort did not adorn or comb her hair. The king asked why. She replied: 'I too have three benefits, which is why I attained being the king's consort. Being respected in the palace is my first benefit; having given birth to a boy who is crown prince is my second benefit; and constantly delighting in the scriptural Way and wishing to build a Buddhist stūpa monastery is my third benefit.' The king said: 'Excellent!' and gave her the pearls. The chief consort assisted the king in erecting the monastery with a hundred thousand ounces of gold. The king, together with the worthy person of the country, built a monastery a thousand paces wide, all carved and inlaid with gold and silver. The king said: 'Only the three of us have this blessing; shall the people in my country not receive this as well?' He dispatched an envoy to the streets and neighborhoods to proclaim an order: 'Whoever is capable of having much good intention will attain immeasurable blessings.' There was a poor woman with only a single small hut, who begged for clothes and food. Hearing this, she blamed herself: 'In past lives I did not practice giving, which has led to my present destitution.' She untied her cloth skirt and threw it outward to the envoy, wishing to assist the king with the skirt, [saying]: 'My body is naked, with no clothes to go out in.' Hearing this, the king was amazed that someone could have such a good mind, and immediately ordered her brought before him. The envoy said: 'This woman has no clothes to wear.' The king ordered the five hundred consorts each to take one robe and give it to her, and quickly go to welcome and fetch her. The king, upon seeing her, appointed her second consort and had her teach within the palace. (From the fourth fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Avadāna Sūtra)