經律異相 36.21

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: