經律異相 42.5

42.5

and asked, "Whose power is it?" The Buddha said, "It belongs to all of you jointly. In the past, in the city of Rājagṛha, there was a weaver. The weaver had a wife, a son, the son also had a wife, and there was one male servant and one female servant. At one time, they were eating together. A pratyekabuddha came to beg for food. Each wanted to give away their own portion. The pratyekabuddha said, 'Your wholesome intentions have each already made the gift. You may each reduce a little; it will not be little for you, and it will be sufficient for me.' They then complied together. After the pratyekabuddha finished eating, he displayed various supernatural transformations in the air and only then departed. When the weaver's family members ended their lives, they were reborn in the Cāturmahārājakāyika heaven up to Paranirmitavaśavartin, passing through them back and forth seven times; by the remnant of their merit, they were born here." When Meṇḍhaka heard this, he immediately invited the Buddha and the saṅgha to cultivate limitless giving, saying, "Whatever you may require, at any time, however much, take it all from me." The monks did not dare accept. They reported it to the Buddha, and the Buddha said, "I permit you to accept as you wish." Later, when monks traveled and sought provisions, he sent an envoy carrying gold and silver to follow them wherever they went. Much remained left over, which was brought back to the elder. The elder said, "I have already given it away; it should not be brought back." (Extracted from the Mahīśāsaka Vinaya; the Dharmaguptaka and Sarvāstivāda Vinayas both contain this text).