經律異相 37.29

37.29

Formerly there was a very wealthy household with six people and male and female slaves; their gold, silver, and precious jewels were beyond count. The Buddha and Ānanda were begging for alms in the streets. When the Buddha reached their gate, the father, mother, sons, wives, and grandsons were overjoyed and leaped with delight; they invited the Buddha in to sit, spread wool carpets on the ground, and their eating utensils were all made of gold and silver. The Buddha said, "In a past life, these people encountered an era of famine. The household was destitute, and they gathered only vegetables to sustain their lives. Just as their broth was cooked, a man of the Dao outside came begging for food. Seeing the śramaṇa, the parents said, 'I give him my portion.' The sons and grandsons each gave him their portions, yielding to the mother so she could eat. The six people simultaneously made up their minds, each going without food for a day, regretting only that their poverty prevented them from giving a fine offering. By the merit of this, they were reborn in the heavens and among humans, always enjoying peace and an abundance of wealth. Because their resolves were equal, they formed karmic affinities together life after life. Now they have met again. Father, mother, sons, elders, and young ones all uphold the five precepts at once, and at the end of their lives they will be born in heaven and receive immeasurable blessings. Now, if they encounter the Buddha, all will attain arhatship." (Extracted from the first fascicle of the Miscellaneous Sūtra of Parables.)