經律異相 30.4

30.4

Formerly, King Aśoka had not yet understood the Buddha's teachings. He built various hells; whoever entered them was inevitably punished, cruelly afflicted with numerous tortures. Later, he gained faithful trust, whereupon he abandoned all misdeeds and served the Sambuddha. When a pestilence struck the people, the king severed communication between the inside and outside, fearing that the disease would reach the palace. He dispatched a messenger to inform the holy assembly, requesting that they bestow blessings from afar and send one monk to enter the palace, to give a gift of the Dharma (dakṣiṇā) so that the realm would find peace and the disease would be eliminated. The assembly of monks took pity on this and granted his request. Thereupon, the holy assembly sent a novice monk who was eight years of age, named Miaoyan (Suvaktra), who had already attained arhatship and was fully endowed with supernatural powers. He flew to the royal palace to see the queen and court ladies to declare the words [of Dharma], and to provide what they lacked while manifesting the virtue of the Path, so that they might know the supremacy of the Buddha, let alone his disciples. Miaoyan, having received the instructions, flew into the royal palace and stood before the chief queen. The chief queen bowed in homage, raised her arms, and wished to embrace him, saying: “Master Miaoyan, how could you deign to come yourself and display such spiritual feats?” Miaoyan addressed the queen, saying: “Step back! Step back! It is not appropriate to approach a śramaṇa bodily.” The queen replied: “You are very young, just turning eight years old. In my heart, I cherish you like my own son. Though I draw near to you bodily, what harm could there be?” The novice answered: “Bodily closeness is perceived just as you describe, my Lady. Yet passions arise from subtle beginnings, just as a spark as small as a millet grain can burn a wild plain of ten thousand leagues; and just as water dripping from a fingertip can pierce through jade and stone, or can fill a vessel. All matters develop by degrees: from little comes much, and from small emerges great. Therefore, the wise keep far from suspicion and avoid doubt, so as to guard against what has not yet occurred.” As the novice and the queen debated back and forth, their voices eventually grew loud, reaching the main hall. The king asked his attendants: “Whose voice is that, sounding as though there is a dispute?” An attendant minister replied: “The novice Miaoyan just arrived in the palace and is speaking with the chief queen; his voice is so clear and resonant that it is heard here.” The king immediately arose and went to meet him, bowed in homage, and inquired: “Over what are you disputing?” The novice replied: “The noble queen saw Miaoyan, and looking upon me with pity and affection, she wished to approach and meet me. But the norms of the Path do not permit this; therefore, I objected and kept her back, that is all.” King Aśoka said: “You are still young, like my own son. If she lovingly embraces you, what reproach could there be? Why do you rebuke her with such harsh words?” The novice answered: “It is not as the King says. The ancient sages instituted rituals to forestall what had not yet sprouted and to caution from beginning to end: a girl at age seven does not play upon her father's stool; a boy at eight years of age does not sit arrogantly upon his mother's bed. Under a fruit tree, one does not adjust one's cap; in a melon patch, one does not bend to arrange one's shoes. Why is this so? It is to keep far from suspicion, avoid doubt, stop beginnings, and eradicate sprouts. By encouraging and guiding future generations, one guards against what has not yet occurred. My own mind is already pure, without the slightest blemish, like a lotus flower unstained by mud and water, or a vessel of crystal and lapis lazuli. Indeed, as the Tathāgata spoke, it is just like mother and son, with no difference whatsoever. Yet though one knows there is no fault, one must act as an exemplar for those who are not yet capable.” When the king and the queen heard his words, they were astonished and marvelled at him: “Just as Miaoyan said, even at the young age of eight, he still takes heed of all reproaches; how much more so for those of advanced age whose three poisons are not yet extinguished!” Thereupon, the novice expounded the sūtras and teachings for them. The queen and more than five hundred court ladies all attained the trace of the Path (stream-entry), and the chief queen, the attendant ministers, and the crown prince all gave rise to the aspiration for the Path, promptly attaining the stage of non-retrogression. (Extracted from the Sūtra of the Eight-Year-Old Novice Enlightening the King.)