經律異相 40.35

40.35

There were four brahmacārin brothers, each of whom had attained the five supernormal knowledges. In seven days, their lives were all to come to an end. They conferred among themselves: 'With the power of the five supernormal knowledges, we can overturn heaven and earth, touch the sun and moon with our hands, move mountains, and halt streams. There is nothing we cannot do. How could we be unable to avoid this retribution of death?' One said: 'I will enter the great ocean, neither emerging above nor reaching the bottom, but staying right in the middle. How could the killing demon of impermanence know where I am?' One said: 'I will enter Mount Sumeru and seal its exterior behind me so that no trace appears. How could the killing demon of impermanence know where I am?' One said: 'I will rise lightly and conceal myself in empty space. How could the killing demon of impermanence know where I am?' One said: 'I will hide inside the great marketplace. The killing demon of impermanence, taking whatever person it finds, will not necessarily seek me.' When the four had finished conferring, they went together to bid farewell to the king: 'Only seven days remain of our lifespans. We now wish to flee for our lives, hoping to escape, after which we will return to pay our respects to you. We only wish that you cultivate virtue.' Thereupon they parted and departed. When the seven days were completed, each of them died, like ripe fruit falling. The market supervisor reported to the king: 'A brahmacārin has suddenly died in the marketplace.' The king was awakened [to the truth] and said: 'Four people sought to avoid their retribution, and one is already dead. How could the other three alone escape?' The king immediately prepared his carriage and went to the Buddha's place. Having paid homage and sat back, he said: 'Recently there were four brahmacārin brothers, each having attained the five supernormal knowledges. Knowing their lives were at an end, they all sought to avoid it together. I wonder whether they were able to escape or not?' The Buddha told the great king: 'Humans have four things from which they cannot escape: first, in the intermediate state, one cannot but take birth; second, having been born, one cannot but undergo old age; third, having aged, one cannot but undergo illness; fourth, having fallen ill, one cannot but undergo death.' (Extracted from the Dharmapada, fascicle 3)