經律異相 36
English (machine translation) 36
- Language
- English
36.1
Compiled by the Liang dynasty śramaṇas Sengmin, Baochang, and others
36.2
1. Jīva-to-water (Jalavāhana) saves ten thousand fish / 2. Jyotika is born among humans and receives the heavenly retribution / 3. A gṛhapati's hands are able to rain jewels / 4. A gṛhapati gives a bird a full meal to make it discharge a pearl from its belly / 5. Suddenly getting up to make a gathering for a transient poor guest and immediately obtaining the flower retribution / 6. Causes and conditions from past lives for having no ears, eyes, or tongue / 7. Yinyue receives four kinds of retribution from past lives in his present body / 8. Jiuliu meets a tree spirit while starving and thereby attains faith and understanding / 9. Rinandai possesses hundreds of millions in wealth, but is stingy and does not give alms, becoming poor and blind in future lives / 10. An elder arouses the bodhisattva mind and leads the poor to obtain precious jewels / 11. An elder becomes poor later, borrows wealth to make offerings, and while plowing finds a thousand cauldrons, which he uses without exhausting them / 12. The wife of Elder Fragrant Body is seized by a king / 13. An elder's wife becomes pregnant and her breath becomes fragrant / 14. Stinginess with wealth leads to rebirth in the Wailing Hell / 15. Giving a laundry stone to someone to build a stupa leads to rebirth in heaven / 16. Sudatta's three sons believe only when their affairs are exhausted / 17. The son of Śuddhadana is greedy for wealth and kills his younger brother / 18. The wife of Ṛṣidatta's seventh son gives birth to thirty eggs, and each egg produces a boy / 19. A foolish son is slow in selling incense and burns it into charcoal to sell it quickly
36.3
1. Jalavāhana Saves Ten Thousand Fish
36.4
The elder's son Jalavāhana cured the countless sufferings and afflictions of all sentient beings in the kingdom of King Devendrāvabhāsa, restoring their bodies to health. Because their illnesses were eliminated, they performed many meritorious deeds, saying, "Excellent, O elder! You are able to extend the countless lifespans of sentient beings. You must surely be a bodhisattva who understands all medicinal remedies." At that time, the elder, together with his two sons, Jalagarbha and Jalamambara, gradually travelled through cities, towns, and villages. At last they came to a large, empty marsh, where they saw tigers, wolves, dogs, birds, and beasts all fleeing in one direction. The elder followed and observed them, and saw a pool whose water was dried up, containing a great many fish. Seeing these fish, he felt great compassion. At that time, a tree spirit revealed half of its body and spoke these words: "Great good man, these fish are pitiful; you should give them water. For this reason you are named Jalavāhana ('Water-Bearer'); you should now act in accord with your name and fulfill its reality." Then the elder's son asked the tree spirit, "How many fish are there in number?" The tree spirit replied, "A full ten thousand." His great compassion increased. At that time, this dry pool was baked by the sun, with only a little water remaining. These ten thousand fish were on the verge of entering the gate of death, writhing in all directions. Seeing the elder, their minds placed their reliance upon him; whichever direction the elder went, they followed and gazed at him, their eyes never leaving him. Then the elder hurried in all four directions, seeking water, but was completely unable to find any. Seeing a large tree, he immediately took branches and leaves, returned to the pool, and made shade and coolness for them. Again he searched to discover where the water in this pool originally came from. He went forth, searching everywhere in all four directions, but found no water source. Running swiftly again, he saw a great river named Waterspring. Evil people, in order to catch these fish, had breached and diverted the water upstream at a precipitous place, preventing it from flowing down. The elder went to the king and explained the circumstances: "I only pray that the great king will lend twenty great elephants to carry water to save the lives of those fish, just as I have given life to sick people." The king ordered his ministers to supply them swiftly: "You may now go to the elephant stables and select them as you wish, to benefit sentient beings." Then Jalavāhana and his two sons took twenty elephants, borrowed leather bags, hurried to the river, filled them with water, and loaded them onto the elephants. The water thereupon filled the pool, restoring it to its original state. Then the elder's son paced back and forth along the four sides of the pool, and the fish followed along the banks. Then the elder's son had this thought: "These fish must be tormented by the fire of hunger; they are again seeking food from me. I should now give it to them." Then the elder's son said to his son, "Take one of the strongest elephants, go quickly to our home, gather all edible things—even the portions of food and drink for my parents, and the portions for my wife, children, male and female servants—load everything onto the elephant, and return in haste." Then the two sons went to the house, reported the matter to their grandfather, collected the edible things in the house, loaded them onto the elephant's back, and swiftly returned to their father at the pool in the empty marsh. When the elder's son saw his sons return, he was boundlessly overjoyed. He took the food and drink from the sons and scattered it into the pool. After feeding the fish, he reflected: "I have now been able to give food to these fish and satisfy them. In future lives, I should give them the food of the Dharma. I once heard that in an empty, quiet place in the past, a monk was reciting Mahāyāna Vaipulya sūtras, in which it was said that if any sentient being at the point of death hears the name of the Tathāgata Ratnaśikhin, they will immediately be reborn in heaven. I should now explain the profound twelve links of dependent origination to these ten thousand fish, and also proclaim the name of the Buddha Ratnaśikhin." He then entered the water and said: "Homage to the past Tathāgata Ratnaśikhin, who formerly, when practicing the bodhisattva path, made this vow: 'If any sentient beings in the realms of the ten directions hear my name at the point of death, I shall cause them immediately to be reborn in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three.'" He further explained this profound and wondrous Dharma—namely, the twelve links of dependent origination—to the fish. Having spoken this Dharma, they returned home together. At a later time, when guests were gathered, the elder's son became drunk with wine and lay asleep. At that time, the earth suddenly shook violently. The ten thousand fish died on the same day and were reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. Having been born in heaven, they reflected: "By what wholesome karma have we been born in heaven?" They said to one another: "Formerly, in Jambudvīpa, we fell among the animals and received the bodies of fish. The elder Jalavāhana gave us water and food, explained the twelve links of dependent origination to us, and proclaimed the name of the Tathāgata Ratnaśikhin. By these causes and conditions, we have been born in this heaven. We should now repay his kindness and make offerings." At that time, the elder's son was sleeping out in the open on the upper terrace of his multistoried house. The ten thousand devaputras placed ten thousand heavenly, wondrous necklaces of genuine pearls by his head, ten thousand by his feet, ten thousand on his right side, and ten thousand on his left side. They rained down māndārava and mahāmāndārava flowers until they piled up to his knees. Various kinds of heavenly music produced wondrous sounds, so that everyone in Jambudvīpa who was asleep woke up. The elder's son Jalavāhana also woke from sleep. The ten thousand devaputras flew and travelled through the sky above, raining down heavenly, wondrous lotus flowers everywhere within the kingdom of King Devendrāvabhāsa. The devaputras then went to their original place at the pool in the empty marsh, rained down heavenly flowers again, and then disappeared from there to return to the palace of Trāyastriṃśa, enjoying the five heavenly desires at will and with sovereignty. When the night had passed, King Devendrāvabhāsa asked his ministers, "For what reason did such pure and wondrous auspicious signs appear last night?" A minister replied, "The great king should know: the devas of Trāyastriṃśa rained down forty thousand pearl necklaces and immeasurable māndārava flowers at the house of the elder's son Jalavāhana." The king told the minister, "You may go to that elder's house and summon him here." He immediately went to his house and proclaimed the king's order. The elder then came to the king. The king asked the elder, "For what reason did such auspicious signs appear?" The elder's son said, "I know for certain that those ten thousand fish have died." The great king said, "Now we should send someone to verify this matter." Jalavāhana then sent his son to the pool to see whether the fish were dead or alive. His son went to the pool and saw that there were many mahāmāndārava flowers piled up into a mound, and the fish had all died. He returned and told his father, "Those fish have all died." Then Jalavāhana went again to the king [and told him] that the ten thousand fish had all died. Hearing this, the king rejoiced. At that time, the Bhagavat told the Goddess of Good Fortune (Śrīmahādevī): "The elder's son Jalavāhana at that time was myself. The eldest son, Jalamambara, was Rāhula. The second son, Jalagarbha, was Ānanda. The ten thousand fish were these ten thousand devaputras; therefore, I now confer prophecy upon them. The tree spirit who revealed half of her body at that time was you" (from the fourth fascicle of the Suvarṇaprabhāsa Sūtra).
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2. Jyotiṣka receives the heavenly karmic retribution while born among humans
36.6
Formerly, there was an elder named Jyotiṣka. His storehouses were overflowing and fully supplied with gold and silver; his male and female servants stood in rows, and he lacked nothing. A white cotton hand towel was hanging by a pool. When a heavenly wind arose, it blew it before the king's palace hall. The ministers deliberated and divined the reason. The ministers all said, "The state is about to flourish, and Heaven has bestowed white cotton." The minister Jyotiṣka remained silent. The king asked, "Why are you silent?" Jyotiṣka replied, "I dare not deceive the king. This is a towel from my house for wiping the body, which was hanging by the pool; a heavenly wind arose and blew it before the hall." A few days later, a nine-coloured flower as large as a chariot wheel was also blown before the king's hall by a heavenly wind. The king again deliberated and divined with his ministers. Jyotiṣka replied, "This is merely a wilted and fallen flower from my garden blown here by the wind." The king asked Jyotiṣka, "Since your house is like this, I wish to lead two hundred thousand people to your house to see it." Jyotiṣka replied, "I invite the king to accompany me at once." The king then led two hundred thousand people to Jyotiṣka's house. Entering directly through the south gate, there were thirty youths of handsome appearance. The king asked Jyotiṣka, "Are these your sons and grandsons?" He replied, "They are my family's gatekeeping slaves." Advancing to the middle chamber, there were twenty young maidens of handsome appearance. The king asked, "Are these your womenfolk?" Jyotiṣka replied, "They are my family's maidservants guarding the chamber." Advancing to his rooms, the walls were of white silver and the floor of crystal. Seeing the water flowing, the king hesitated, suspecting [it was water] and unable to advance. Jyotiṣka led the king forward into the room, where there was a bed of yellow gold and a table of white jade. Jyotiṣka's wife had a hundred and twenty layers of gold and silver curtains, and was peerlessly beautiful. When she bowed to the king, tears came from her eyes. The king asked, "Seeing me, what displeasure do you have that tears come from your eyes?" Jyotiṣka replied, "The king's clothes have the smell of smoke, and therefore tears come forth." The king said, "Commoners burn animal fat, feudal lords burn wax, and the Son of Heaven burns lacquer, which also produces no smoke. How could tears come forth?" Jyotiṣka replied, "My family has a bright-moon divine pearl hanging in the hall. Day and night are no different; we have no need for firelight. The king is a king amid smoke; therefore, she smelled the smoke."
36.7
In front of the hall of Jyotiṣka's house, there was a twelve-story tower. He led the king to the top; looking east, one forgot the west; looking south, one forgot the north—all was peaceful and quiet. The king thought, "After a brief moment, it will be somewhat tolerable." Going to the back garden, with flowing springs and bathing pools, they ate various melons and fruits, pleasantly sweet and delicious, so delightful that they stayed for a month. The ministers addressed the king, "It is time to return to the kingdom." Jyotiṣka then distributed gifts of gold, silver, rare gems, silks, and gauzes. The two hundred thousand people, horses, and carriages returned to the state at the same time. The king then assembled his ministers, resenting the reason: "Jyotiṣka is my subject, yet his women and residence far surpass mine. I wish to attack him; can he be taken or not?" The ministers all said, "He should indeed be taken." The king then set out with four hundred thousand men, beating drums and sounding gongs, and surrounded Jyotiṣka's residence, destroying a hundred layers of walls. At Jyotiṣka's gate, there was a strongman holding a golden staff, which he pointed toward the four hundred thousand men; all at once they fell to the ground asleep and unable to rise. Jyotiṣka, riding in a flying cloud chariot in the sky, asked, "When you people came, why did you fall asleep on the ground and not rise?" The people answered as above. Jyotiṣka asked, "Do you wish to rise?" They all said, "We wish to." Jyotiṣka opened his great divine eyes and cast a single glance, and the four hundred thousand men arose all at once and returned to their own state. The king then dispatched an envoy to summon Jyotiṣka and went together with him to the Buddha's presence, asking: "Bhagavat, Jyotiṣka is my subject. What merit did he have in a former life that his women and residence far surpass mine?" The Buddha replied, "The merit of Jyotiṣka's giving was seen and delighted in by the heavens. In the past, a caravan leader of five hundred merchants led the merchants carrying heavy treasures through an empty mountain, where they encountered a sick man of the Way. They provided him with a thatched hut, spread thick mats and mattresses, gave him water, broth, cooking pots, and grain, and gave him lamps and candles. At that time, he made a vow wishing for heavenly offerings; now he has obtained such karmic retribution." The Buddha said, "The donor of that time was none other than the present Jyotiṣka and his wife. The sick man of the Way at that time was none other than myself. The five hundred merchants all attained the path of arhatship" (from the Jyotiṣka Sūtra).
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3. The gṛhapati whose hands were able to rain jewels
36.9
Formerly, in the kingdom of King Aśoka, there was a householder (kulapati) who made offerings to twenty thousand monks, inviting them constantly for a whole year. His renown reached the king of the country. The king summoned and received him, saying, "I hear that you are exceedingly rich. What manner of things do you possess?" He replied, "In truth I have nothing at all." The king did not believe him, so he detained the householder and sent men to inspect his house. They saw that his gate had seven tiers of residences, halls, and buildings, all made of the seven treasures, surpassing the royal palace, and his womenfolk were also superior; yet there were neither grains, silks, nor coins and goods. They then returned and reported to the king, and the king's doubts were gradually dispelled. At that moment the householder smiled. The king asked, "Why do you smile?" He replied, "Only because Your Majesty did not believe me." The householder pointed his finger to the east, and it was filled with the seven treasures; pointing south, it was also thus. The king then sent him back. Now the monastery of the saṃgha was not far from the palace. The king proceeded to the monastery, saw the community of monks, made reverent prostrations, and asked the senior monk (sthavira), "What past merit does that householder have, such that natural rare treasures arrive as soon as he thinks of them?" The senior monk entered samādhi, saw the objects across four hundred yojanas conceived in mind, and saw that during the time of Vipaśyin Buddha, four men jointly erected a stūpa-monastery. Among them, one man was earnest and diligent in mind. After the stūpa-monastery was completed, he combined gold, silver, the seven treasures, and various fine flowers, climbed atop the three-tiered stūpa, and scattered them in the four directions, making a vow: "May I constantly enjoy unceasing merit in the future." The one who now obtains natural treasures is this very person. Hearing this, the king cultivated great merit (extracted from the first fascicle of the Avadāna-sūtra).
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4. A Householder Feeds Birds to Satiety to Make Them Expel Pearls from Their Bellies
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Formerly there was an elder householder who was intelligent and widely learned, with wealth amounting to billions. He lived near the seashore and planted many trees that flourished and reached the heavens. At that time, upon an island in the sea, there were great quantities of rare treasures worth thousands of billions; yet humans could not approach, and only birds came and went. They ate only bright-moon pearls, entering in the morning and leaving in the evening, roosting in the elder's grove. The elder was full of wisdom and devised an expedient: he prepared food of a hundred flavours and gave it to the birds. When the birds had eaten to satiety, they vomited the pearls, covering the ground. The elder gathered them and thereupon became exceedingly wealthy (extracted from the seventh fascicle of the Avadāna-sūtra).
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5. The Sūtra of the Sudden Rise: For a Brief Period a Poor Hired Laborer Prepared an Offering-Feast and Immediately Obtained the Blossoming Retribution
36.13
In the kingdom of Śrāvastī there was a householder who lost his fields and houses, and whose family incurred punishment, died, and perished entirely, leaving only one son who had nothing left to rely upon. The son heard people say that one who provides meals to the Buddha and the saṃgha is reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. He then vowed to provide meals to the Buddha and the saṃgha, thinking he must work as a hired laborer to fulfill this vow. There was a householder (the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya says: a great minister) who possessed many fields and houses. Although this boy was young, he had many arts and skills, and sought to be hired. The householder asked, "What can you do?" He replied, "I am capable of writing, reckoning, literary meaning, discerning gold, silver, pearls, shells, money, and feathers, and overseeing fields. Sitting in a market stall, there is nothing I do not understand." He asked, "How much do you demand per year?" He replied, "One thousand gold coins a year." The householder said, "These days there is famine; I will hire you for five hundred, paid all together when the year is complete." The boy said, "My talents cannot be cheapened, but as my need is urgent, I will agree for you." He then had him sit in the market stall. Barely a month had passed, and upon calculating the earnings, they had already tripled. He took only one meal a day, saving the other portion. He was further made to oversee the fields, and by the winter harvest the yield had again tripled. When the year was complete, he asked for the gold and the food. The householder, fearing that he would leave, repeatedly made excuses that he was not present. Later he said to him, "Why do you demand it so urgently?" The boy said, "I wish to provide meals to the Buddha and the saṃgha." Hearing this, the householder immediately gave rise to faith. He further asked, "Where do you wish to do it?" He replied, "I wish to go to the Jetavana." The householder said, "Just stay at my gate; I will assist you with vessels and utensils." The boy addressed the Buddha: "May you accept my meal tomorrow." The Buddha and the saṃgha remained silent. (The Mahīśāsaka Vinaya says: He immediately took the wealth and goods to the Buddha's place, preparing rare delicacies of utmost worldly sweetness; because his intention was sincere, ghosts and spirits assisted him, and in an instant he was able to prepare everything completely.) It coincided with a festival day, and many layfolk sent pork, dry cakes, and various kinds of food and drink. The community of monks received them and said among themselves, "Today a poor boy is exerting all his strength to make an offering-feast. Everyone should eat only a little of his food for his sake." When they arrived at the householder's house, the boy personally served the food with his own hands. All the monks said, "Give only a little," so the food did not diminish. The poor boy asked the monks, "Is the food coarse and unpalatable, or are you pitying my poverty?" They replied, "Today is a festival day. People sent food early in the morning. At first we took only a little, but as the households were many, we became completely full." The poor boy was sorrowful, fearing that his intended goal would not be accomplished. Weeping, he asked the Buddha. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for him, saying that he would certainly obtain rebirth in heaven: "You should quickly return." The poor boy rejoiced and again served the food to the monks, letting the monks take as they pleased: "I exerted my strength wishing to make a complete offering. Although the Venerables cannot eat now, take it away as you please." At that time, five hundred merchants arrived in the late afternoon from the country of Ujjayinī. The road had been long and remote, and their provisions had been exhausted for three days. They entered the city to buy food, but it was a time of famine and the weather was exceedingly hot, so they could obtain nothing at all. The merchant leader sighed, "There is no lack on the sea, yet there is no food in the great city. We should search further everywhere, whatever the cost." The poor boy had wept before the Buddha, and at that time many people had seen him and told the merchants, "Such-and-such a house has food." They immediately went to the householder's house and said to the boy, "We need food." The boy asked, "How many people are there?" They replied, "There are five hundred." "You may call them all; what need is there to discuss the price?" When they arrived, he set out the food, and all were filled to satiety. There was a large bronze basin. One merchant leader untied a pearl from the corner of his garment worth one hundred thousand gold coins and placed it in the basin. The rest of the merchants all untied pearls and cast them into the basin. The boy said, "I am not selling food. Why do you suddenly give pearls? Stay a little while, guests, and wait for me to ask the Buddha." The Buddha said, "Simply take them; it will not obstruct your rebirth in heaven. This is the blossoming retribution; the karmic fruit will come later." He returned and accepted the treasures. The merchants further asked, "Householder, previously there was a certain person in this city; where is he now?" He replied, "He has passed away." They asked again, "Are there any children or grandchildren?" He replied, "The donor just now is his son." The merchants said to the boy, "Your father was our teacher," and gave him another hundred thousand liang of gold to strengthen their past friendship. At that time the householder had no son, but only a daughter who was upright and exceptionally beautiful. He sought to marry her to the boy, presenting one hundred thousand liang of gold. After the householder died, King Prasenajit asked, "Did he have a son? Who will manage his affairs?" They replied, "He had only a son-in-law." The king ordered that the affairs be managed and the property belong entirely to the son-in-law, appointed him as a great minister, and then bestowed on him the title of Great Elder within the city of Śrāvastī (the Daśabhāṇavāra Vinaya says: the rank of householder). At that time, the people of the country called him Elder Sudden Rise (extracted from the sixth fascicle of the second recitation of the Daśabhāṇavāra Vinaya, and also from the tenth fascicle of the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya).
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6. Past-Life Causes and Conditions of Having No Ears, Eyes, or Tongue
36.15
At that time, in the country of Śrāvastī, there was a great elder who possessed immeasurable wealth but had no sons, only five daughters who were upright, intelligent, and perceptive. His wife was pregnant when the elder died. According to the law of the land, if there was no son, the wealth and property reverted to the king. The king dispatched a great minister to confiscate his property. The daughters thought to themselves: "Our mother is pregnant, and it is not yet known whether it will be a boy or a girl. If it is another girl, the property should belong to the king. If it is a boy, he should be the owner of the property." They went and informed the king. At that time, King Prasenajit governed with fairness, and so he granted their petition. Soon after, when her months were fulfilled, the mother gave birth to a child. His body was an undifferentiated lump, devoid of ears and eyes; he had a mouth but no tongue, and he had neither hands nor feet—only a male organ. They forthwith gave him a name, calling him Mañjūpikā. At that time, the daughters went and reported the matter in full to the king. The king told the daughters: "The property belongs to your brother. I will not take it." At that time, the eldest daughter went to marry into another family to serve her husband, being humble, reverent, and attentive as if she were a maidservant. When her master, the elder, saw this, he found it strange and questioned her. The woman replied: "When my father died, our family had immeasurable wealth. Although there were five daughters, it was still about to revert to the king. It happened that my mother was pregnant and gave birth to my one brother. Though completely lacking in human features, having only a male organ, he was able to become the owner of the property. Thus, having many daughters is not as good as having a single son." Having heard this, the elder immediately went with the woman to the Buddha's dwelling, and addressed him, saying: "Bhagavat, by what karmic causes and conditions is this child of the elder like this?" The Buddha said: "Long ago, in the past, there were two elder brothers. The elder was named Dhanyasaṃpatti and the younger was named Śīlasaṃpatti. The elder brother, from his youth, was loyal, trustworthy, and honest, and constantly took pleasure in giving, so that the entire kingdom praised him. The king appointed this man as the judge of the kingdom. According to the kingdom's law, when borrowing or lending, taking or giving, there were no written deeds; all went before the judge. At that time, a merchant borrowed a large sum of money from the younger brother, Śīlasaṃpatti. At that time, the younger brother, the elder, had only one son who was young of years. Taking his son together with the lent money, he went to the judge's dwelling and said: 'Elder brother, this merchant's son has borrowed money from me. When he returns from entering the sea, he should repay such-and-such an amount. If I should pass away, please testify so that he may receive it.' The judge said: 'So be it.' Soon after, the younger brother, the elder, passed away. The merchant entered the sea, encountered a windstorm, and lost his cargo, but the merchant escaped with his life. At that time, when the elder's son heard that he had returned empty-handed, he thought to himself: 'Although this man owes me, by what means could I obtain it? I must wait until he has the means to repay.' At that time, this merchant borrowed again from others, and once more entered the sea, where he obtained great and precious jewels and returned in safety. He thought to himself: 'Although that elder's son previously did not demand repayment of the debt for the money I borrowed—at that time this person was young and perhaps now does not remember; or perhaps seeing my former destitution, he did not press me? Now I should test him.' Forthwith, he adorned fine horses and wore garments decorated with many jewels. When the elder's son saw this, he immediately sent someone to say to him: 'You owe me money; now you should repay me.' The merchant answered: 'Very well.' The merchant thought to himself: 'What I borrowed was very large, and with the principal and accumulated interest compounded, there is no way it could be settled. I must devise a strategy to bring it to an end.' Holding a precious pearl, he went to the judge's wife and said: 'Lady, I originally borrowed money and goods from Śīlasaṃpatti. His son has come to press for it. Now I present a pearl worth one hundred thousand; if he presses me, please entreat the judge on my behalf.' The wife replied: 'The elder is sincere and honest; he will certainly not agree to this. But I will try to speak to him.' She forthwith accepted the pearl. When the judge returned in the evening, the wife reported everything to him. The elder replied: 'How could there be such a thing? It is because I am loyal, trustworthy, and do not speak falsely that the king established me as the judge of the kingdom. To speak falsely even once—this matter is unthinkable.' The next day, when the merchant came, she told him the situation in full and immediately returned his pearl. At that time, the merchant presented another pearl worth two hundred thousand, saying: 'I beseech you to intercede. Since this is a minor matter, with just a single word you will gain three hundred thousand.' At that time, the woman, craving the precious pearls, accepted them for him. In the evening, she again spoke to her husband: 'Regarding what I spoke of yesterday, please fulfill my wish.' The elder replied: 'There is absolutely no reason for this.' At that time, the elder had an only son. His wife wept, saying: 'If you do not comply with me, I will first kill our son and then kill myself.' When the elder heard this, he was like a choking man. He thought to himself: 'I have only one son; if he should die, my wealth will have nowhere to be entrusted. If I comply with her words, people will not trust me, and I will suffer pain in the future.' Being incessantly pressured, he forthwith consented to it. The wife told the merchant: 'The elder has already consented.' The merchant was overjoyed. Returning, he adorned a great elephant with many jewels, put on magnificent jeweled garments, and rode the elephant into the marketplace. When the elder's son saw him, he immediately went and said to him: 'The money you previously owed should now be repaid.' The merchant said in astonishment: 'I do not remember at all when I owed you anything.' Thereupon, they went together to the judge's dwelling. The elder's son said: 'In the past, this man personally borrowed such-and-such an amount of money from my father. Uncle was the judge at the time; was it not so?' The judge replied: 'I do not know.' His nephew said in astonishment: 'Uncle, did you truly not see or hear it at that time?' The judge again replied: 'No, I did not.' The nephew said angrily: 'Because my uncle was loyal and good, the king made him judge, and the people of the country placed their trust in him. Even toward me, his own brother's son, he acts unlawfully like this; how much more so toward outsiders—can those who are wronged be few? The truth or falsehood of this will be known for itself in future lives.' The Buddha told the elder: 'If you wish to know who the judge elder of that time was, it was this Mañjūpikā. Because of that single false word at that time, he fell into the great hell and suffered much bitter torment. After emerging from hell, throughout five hundred lifetimes he has constantly received such a body. Because he planted the cause of taking pleasure in giving, he has constantly been born wealthy and noble, able to be the owner of property.' (Extracted from the Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra, fascicle 7.)
36.16
7. Yinyue Receives in His Present Body Four Kinds of Retribution from Past Lives
36.17
There was an elder named Yinyue. His wealth was immeasurable, but he was old and without sons, on account of which he was sorrowful. Nevertheless, overtaken by merits from past lives, he received four retributions: first, his wife gave birth to a boy; second, five hundred white mares gave birth to foals at the same time; third, the king of the country sent an envoy to confer a gold seal upon him; fourth, five hundred treasure-ships arrived together at the same time. The Buddha said to Ānanda: “In a past life, the elder Yinyue sent five hundred men by ship into the sea, who obtained many treasures and returned safely home. Therefore, the Tathāgata says that these four blessings converged all together.” The elder thought: “Heaven has sent down blessings and good fortune, gathering them in my courtyard. I must prepare sweet delicacies to celebrate with my household and clan.” At that time, the Four Heavenly Kings, Śakra, Brahmā, the various devas, nāgas, spirits, ghost kings, asuras, and others, each with their retinues, crowded and filled empty space. The Tathāgata, by his divine penetration, knew that this elder was leaping with joy; taking advantage of his delight, he went thither to praise him, [thinking that] if he attained understanding, blessings might be cultivated. Thereupon he sang auspicious eightfold sounds. Leaping with joy, the elder addressed Gautama, saying: “Truly it is wondrously divine! Knowing that my household has boundless good fortune, you have condescended your venerable divinity to come and praise me.” With fine white cotton cloth worth ten million liang of gold, he offered it to the Tathāgata, and the Buddha accepted it. The Buddha said to the elder: “Wealth has five perils. If you are able to act [generously] now, you will certainly obtain a reward like a shadow [following the form]; wherever you are born, the blessings will naturally return to your person.” The elder said to the Buddha: “What are the five perils?” The Buddha said: “First, burning by fire; second, washing away by water; third, [confiscation by] government officials; fourth, an evil son whose spending is boundless; fifth, bandits and thieves. When any one of these five arrives, it cannot be held back.” Hearing this expounded, the elder leaped with even greater joy. Thereupon the Tathāgata suddenly returned to Gṛdhrakūṭa Mountain. At that time, in the kingdom there was a non-Buddhist Nirgrantha named Pūraṇa Kāśyapa. Hearing that the Tathāgata had gone to the elder's house, chanted a verse, and obtained ten million liang of gold from the elder, [he thought:] “If even a śramaṇa can obtain gold, how could I not obtain any if I went to beg?” He also thought to himself: “I should go and seek the verse spoken by the śramaṇa Gautama; after that, when I go to beg, I will surely obtain rare treasures. My fitting praise will certainly surpass Gautama's.” Harbouring this foolish and jealous intention, Pūraṇa Kāśyapa went to ask the Buddha: “Word has it that you, Gautama, went to the elder's house, chanted a verse, and obtained great treasures. Could you take pity and bestow the verse you spoke, so that I may recite it in hope of obtaining treasures?” The Tathāgata, with his threefold knowledge, knew that after a while the elder's wealth and treasures would scatter; and that Pūraṇa Kāśyapa did not know the proper time, and if he spoke of good fortune in a house suffering calamity, he would certainly receive countless painful beatings with staves from the elder. The Tathāgata said to him: “I do not begrudge this verse, but you do not know the time. If you speak this verse, you will certainly suffer bitter pain. Therefore I go against your wish. If you wish to obtain an exposition suited to the time and of matchless, wondrous phrases, I shall give it to you. That will allow the elder to hear true words and also spare you the pain of poisonous beatings.” Pūraṇa Kāśyapa thought to himself: “The śramaṇa Gautama does not want me to go and beg for rare treasures; therefore, out of stinginess, he refuses to give it to me.” He then made his request again: “Just give it to me; why concern yourself with anything else?” Out of compassion, the Tathāgata admonished him up to three times, but in the end he did not believe or understand. The Buddha also knew beforehand that by conditions from a past life, Pūraṇa Kāśyapa was destined to suffer this pain. The Tathāgata also thought: “Sin cannot be dissuaded.” The Buddha then spoke the auspicious verse for him. The Nirgrantha recited it for a whole year before mastering it. Later, the elder suffered a fire that burned down his house, and all his rare valuables were utterly destroyed; the five hundred foals were burned to death at the same time; the wondrous son born to him suddenly died one day; the king sent an envoy to seize back the gold seal; and later, after sending ships to the sea to gather jewels, they returned safely, but while anchored at the shore, the five hundred treasure-ships were suddenly submerged and lost in a single day. Young and old in the household were all bitterly grieving. Pūraṇa Kāśyapa went to his gate and chanted the Tathāgata's auspicious verse as told above. When the elder heard it, his whole household was enraged: “No calamity in the world surpasses ours! Why does this shameless naked man perform witchery here, proclaiming good fortune to us to increase our distress?” He immediately came out and beat him, from head to foot, so that he crawled back home. The leaders of the six teachers and others came to inquire about his condition, and he answered: “This misfortune was caused entirely by Gautama!” Unable to discipline himself within, he instead resented the World-Honoured One. The Buddha told the assembly: “Earlier, Pūraṇa Kāśyapa sought a verse from the Tathāgata, wishing to go to the elder to chant it and seek treasures. The Tathāgata admonished him, but he did not believe it. Now he has already suffered poisonous affliction and pain there.” Ānanda said to the Buddha: “What past causes and conditions did Pūraṇa Kāśyapa have with this elder that led him to suffer this affliction?” The Buddha said to Ānanda: “Long ago in the past, an asaṃkhyeya of kalpas ago, there was a king who was also named Yinyue. There was also a bird named a parrot, which sang with a harmonious and fine voice above the royal palace. At that time the king was napping during the day; hearing the bird's song, he awoke with a start and asked those around him: ‘What bird is this with such a wondrous voice?’ An attendant said: ‘There was an extraordinary bird, brilliant with five colours, which was just above the palace; having sung, it departed.’ The king sent infantry and cavalry to pursue and seek it. After searching for a very long time, they captured it and presented it to the king, who immediately adorned its body with the seven treasures and always kept it by his side, watching it day and night without leaving it. After a short while, there was another bird named an owl, which came above the palace. Seeing that the parrot alone received exceptional favour, it asked the parrot: ‘By what circumstance did you bring this about?’ The parrot answered: ‘I came above the palace and uttered a very fine cry; the king loved and respected me, took me, and always keeps me by his side.’ Hearing this, the owl harboured jealousy, thinking to itself: ‘I too should cry out to surpass you, and the king will also love and favour me.’ While the king was sleeping, the owl cried out. The king awoke with a start, his hair standing on end in terror. The king asked those around him: ‘What sound is this that startles and terrifies me?’ An attendant said: ‘It is a bird of evil voice named an owl.’ The king sent out a large host to disperse and search for it; they captured it and presented it to the king. The king ordered his attendants to pluck out its feathers alive. With severe pain throughout its body, it walked away on foot. The other birds asked: ‘By what circumstance did you bring this about?’ The owl, enraged, answered the birds: ‘It was precisely on account of the parrot that I suffered this affliction!’” The Buddha said: “A good voice invites blessing; an evil voice brings disaster. The sinful retribution came from himself, yet he was angry at the parrot instead. The king of that past time was Yinyue; the parrot was my own person; and the owl was Pūraṇa Kāśyapa.” (Extracted from the Sūtra on the Elder Yinyue.)
36.18
8. Jiuliu, Starving, Meets a Tree Deity and Thereby Obtains Faith and Understanding
36.19
In the past, there was an elder named Jiuliu who did not believe in the retribution for good and evil in this life or the next. He travelled with five hundred people to engage in trade. Before reaching another country, they ran out of food for three days. Walking forward, he saw from afar a grove of trees and thought it was a dwelling. Arriving there, he saw a tree deity and immediately bowed to him. The man was starved and exhausted; the deity raised his hand, and from the tips of his five fingers food, drink, and sweet water naturally issued forth and were given to him. When Jiuliu was sated, he wept aloud again. The deity asked why. He replied: “My five hundred companions are all terribly hungry and thirsty.” The deity had them summoned, and again gave them food and drink, so that both men and horses were satisfied. Jiuliu asked the deity: “What blessing did you originally have to bring this upon yourself?” The deity said: “In the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, I was a poor man who constantly polished mirrors at the city gate. Whenever śramaṇas went in and out, I always took pleasure in pointing out places for alms-gathering as well as stupas and vihāras, doing so on more than one occasion. When my lifespan ended, I was born here, naturally receiving blessings without any deficiency.” The elder's mind was awakened, and he practiced great generosity, feeding eight thousand people daily; the water from washing the rice flowed out of the city gate, enough to float a boat. Later, he was born into the second heaven as a flower-scattering deva. (Extracted from the second fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Sūtra of Parables.)
36.20
9. Rinanguan, Wealthy with Billions, Was Stingy and Ungiving, and Was Later Born Poor and Blind
36.21
In the past, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, there was an elder named Rinanguan. He was extremely wealthy with rare treasures, but as a person he was stingy and jealous. Before the sun set, he would constantly instruct the gatekeeper: “Do not let beggars enter.” Rinanguan's son, Candana, was also stingy and greedy. Later, when Rinanguan's life ended, he was reborn in the same country as the son of a blind woman. Her husband said to his wife: “You have a grave illness, and now you are pregnant again; I have no clothing or food, so leave on your own.” The woman went out the door, found a large enclosed wall, and stayed within it. In the ninth month she gave birth to a son, who was also blind in both eyes. She raised him by begging for food. When he reached seven years of age, his mother sorrowfully said: “If only someone would give me a little food to relieve hunger, as rain relieves thirst!” Hearing his mother speak, the boy went begging and arrived at his son's house. At that time, the gatekeeper had stepped out for a moment, and the boy entered the courtyard. Hearing the voice, Candana called the gatekeeper to question him. Fearing punishment, the gatekeeper seized the blind boy and hurled him outside the gate, injuring his head and breaking his arm. Hearing this, the mother ran over [crying]: “What unprincipled person did this?” At that time, the deity of the gate said to them: “This pain you suffer is still a small matter; the greater pain is yet to come. Because in your past life you possessed wealth but did not give, you have met with hardship; when you die, the torment will be even more bitter.” The onlookers heard the voice. The Buddha asked Ānanda: “What sound is that?” Ānanda related the matter in detail, [saying]: “May the Buddha take pity!” When they arrived at this boy's place, having finished their meal, the Buddha went to look at the blind boy and rubbed his head with his hand. The boy's eyes immediately opened and saw, and his broken injuries were healed on the spot. He thereby recognised his past life. The Buddha asked: “Were you the elder named Rinanguan in your past life, or not?” He replied: “I was.” The Buddha said to Ānanda: “When people dwell in the world, their foolishness is exceedingly pitiful: in a single lifetime, father and son do not recognise each other!” At that time, the Buddha spoke a verse to dispel their misconceptions:
36.22
“Some seek children, others seek wealth;
Concerning these two matters,
They suffer deep sorrow, distress, and pain,
Yet the fruit is obtained by others.
One cannot preserve one's own body,
How much less children and wealth!
Just like the summer heat,
One rests in the shade under a tree,
And in a moment must depart again:
In the world, nothing is permanent.” (Extracted from the Rinanguan jing.)
36.23
10. An Elder Produces the Bodhisattva Mind and Leads Poor People to Obtain Rare Treasures
36.24
In the past, there was an elder who gave rise to the bodhisattva mind. He gathered poor people, five hundred in all, provided them with clothing and provisions, and took them to sea to gather treasures. They stayed the night at a large mountain. While the crowd was groggy with sleep, only the elder sat alone, observing. At night, he saw a person emerge from the mountainside whose radiant glow was uncommon; his face was handsome, but his mouth resembled a pig's mouth. Amusing himself with music, he wandered around the hillside. The elder asked: “Who are you, sir?” Hearing the voice, he said in astonishment: “I am a person enjoying blessings, allotted to dwell here.” The elder asked: “Your bodily form is handsome; why is your mouth alone like this?” He replied: “Because I committed verbal offences, constantly taking pleasure in divulging secrets.” The deva-man asked: “Who are you, sir?” He replied: “I am an elder from a kingdom. Sorrowful over poverty and destitution, wishing to make people safe and secure, I led this crowd to sea to gather treasures, and also wish to transport treasures to benefit Jambudvīpa.” The deva-man said: “Could you be a bodhisattva?” The elder said: “I have given rise to the bodhisattva mind to rescue and deliver all from the diseases of lust, anger, and delusion; those not yet crossed over, I shall cross over.” The deva-man said: “Excellent!” He then escorted them to the treasure site, and they returned heavily laden. (Extracted from the fifth fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Sūtra of Parables.)
36.25
11. An Elder Later Becomes Poor and Borrows Gold to Make Offerings; While Plowing, He Encounters a Thousand Cauldrons of Inexhaustible Use
36.26
In ancient times in the country of Jibin, there was an elder who was originally very wealthy. After his parents passed away, he constantly provided for several religious persons. Within several years his household verged on poverty, and he had nothing left. He grieved bitterly when he thought of cultivating merit for his parents. His wife said to her husband, "It is better to toil diligently for one lifetime and attain everlasting liberation afterward, bringing boundless merit to your parents far and wide." The elder said, "Indeed." Taking the two of them [as surety], he temporarily borrowed one hundred liang of gold, agreeing that when the gold was spent, they would go to work off the debt. Having obtained the gold, he gave it in charity, and only when it was completely spent did they go to work. The husband was sent to plow the fields, and the wife cooked in the kitchen. While plowing, he struck a large rock resembling the lid of a millstone. He opened it to look, and saw one thousand cauldrons of gold. He immediately covered it up again and did not even return to eat. The elder sent his wife to bring food to her husband; the husband then carried the gold and returned home on his own. The next day, he weighed out the gold and simply repaid the debt. The master and his wife returned home; they gave charity for their parents of seven lifetimes, and used it without exhausting it for the rest of their lives. (Extracted from the first fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Sūtra of Avadānas)
36.27
12. The Fragrant-Bodied Elder's Wife Is Seized by the King
36.28
In ancient times there was a king who was covetous of sensual pleasures and whose actions were contrary to the Way. Whenever he heard of a beautiful woman, he would immediately go and seize her; the whole country suffered on this account. There was an elder of boundless wealth, lofty talent, and broad attainments, whose wife was upright and beautiful. The ministers reported this to the king. When the king heard of it, his heart was moved, and he dispatched messengers to seize her by force. Her husband was grieved and distressed; he then abandoned his household to practice as a śramaṇa. A fragrance emitted from his mouth that perfumed forty li, and his entire body had the scent of sandalwood. The king saw that he had no descendants, so he confiscated all his family property. The king made the wife his principal queen. In that country, fine lotus flowers blossomed—blue, yellow, red, and white, very large, fragrant, and pure. The king respected the lady, and took them to give to her first. When the lady received the flowers, she became even more sorrowful and moved. The king asked, "You are now the mother of an entire country. We respect each other without failing each other. What displeases your heart that you are so unhappy?" The lady said, "I dare not be unhappy. I only recall that the fragrance of my former husband's body and mouth surpassed all these flowers. Secretly longing for old feelings, I could not help but be saddened." The king did not believe her words and sent for him. The former husband had already attained arhatship; with supernormal powers he flew through the air, and an array of fragrances emitted from his body, pervading the whole country. The king had him bathed and repeatedly wiped down, but his bodily fragrance grew even stronger. The king questioned the Buddha about this. The Buddha said, "In the past, there was a poor man who was destitute and without an occupation, selling firewood to support himself. When he returned from gathering firewood, he had not yet reached the city gate before it was already closed. Outside the gate there was a monastery where monks were chanting scriptures at night. The man lodged there and sat listening to the scriptures, burning incense and offering praise until dawn. Because of this, for five hundred lifetimes he did not fall into evil destinies, always being born in the heavens with a fragrant and pure body and mouth." (Extracted from the fourth fascicle of the Ten-Fascicle Sūtra of Avadānas)
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- 經律異相 — Classical Chinese