經律異相 36.24

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.)