經律異相 43.11

43.11

Formerly, among five hundred merchants, one was named Maitrakanyaka, who was the most senior elder. The five hundred men shared a ship to enter the sea, but a makara fish smashed their ship, and all five hundred died. Maitrakanyaka survived by riding a plank. On the shore of Bhīma, to guard against fish, he ran east and west. He saw a small path, followed it, and saw a silver city. Its trees reached to the heavens, with bathing pools between them. The city was square, surrounded by moated waters. Four women came out from the city, upright and beautiful as jade. Together the women welcomed Maitrakanyaka, saying: 'You have labored in such solitude! Great congratulations on coming here! We have long yearned to see you and will attend upon you, benevolent sir. Today this silver city belongs to you, benevolent sir. In the city there is happiness, trees reaching to the heavens, moated waters, bathing pools, pleasure pavilions, and cottages. In the city there is a palace of seven jewels, named Luoman. The palace is made of gold, silver, crystal, lapis lazuli, coral, amber, and giant clam shell. The four of us will supply your service, lying down late and rising early, bearing your instructions in mind. You may reside here; there is no need to go to other quarters.' Maitrakanyaka then entered the city with the four women, ascended the seven-jewel palace, and enjoyed himself to the utmost day after day, staying in this city for over a thousand years. Later Maitrakanyaka thought to himself: 'These four women do not want me to leave and go to other quarters; what could their intention be?' Waiting until the four women were asleep, Maitrakanyaka secretly got up, went down from the palace, exited the city, and proceeded forward. In the distance he saw a golden city, with trees and bathing pools, everything just as before. There were eight women, whose uprightness, charm, and words were all as before. Maitrakanyaka made merry to the utmost with the eight women for several thousand years. Later Maitrakanyaka reflected and suspected: 'These eight women do not want me to go to other quarters again; what could their intention be?' Waiting until the eight women were asleep during the day, Maitrakanyaka secretly got up and went forward. In the distance he saw a crystal city, with trees and bathing pools, everything just as before. Sixteen women came out from the city to welcome him, their words as before. Maitrakanyaka then made merry to the utmost with the sixteen women for several thousand years. Maitrakanyaka left again and saw a lapis lazuli city, with things also as before. Thirty-two women came out from the city to welcome him. Maitrakanyaka made merry to the utmost with the women for several thousand years. Later he exited the city and went forward. In the distance he saw an iron city, where there was nobody at all to welcome him. Maitrakanyaka entered the city gate. A ghost asked him, and Maitrakanyaka walked on. Inside the city his eyes saw a man named Guhyin, on whose head a burning iron wheel was revolving: 'Because I entered the various cities and was seated without contentment, this caused a burning iron wheel to revolve on my head.' Maitrakanyaka recalled the Luoman palace, the Xemuo palace, the Luomo palace, and the Fanyudan palace, and with tears falling he said: 'For what reason did I enter this place?' Maitrakanyaka asked the ghost of the molten iron city: 'When the burning iron wheel enters and revolves on my head, when will I be released?' The ghost replied: 'Only when someone like you comes will you be released.' The Buddha said: 'The iron wheel revolved on Maitrakanyaka's head, and only after sixty billion ten thousand years was he released. Maitrakanyaka was myself. Before I sought the Path, when I foolishly bathed and put on new clothes, I stepped on my mother's head with my foot. Therefore my head burned for a day. Because I observed the eight precepts for four months with a joyful mind, I obtained the four jewel cities of gold, silver, crystal, and lapis lazuli, with a lifespan of tens of millions of years. Therefore, worldly people do not tire of the five desires until death. Those who pursue sensual desires and are unfilial to parents and teachers will have a cart wheel tread upon them, just like Maitrakanyaka' (from the Milian jing and also from the Fobao jing).