經律異相 43.41

43.41

In the time of Dīpaṃkara Buddha, five hundred merchants entered the sea to seek jewels. One among them harbored treacherous thoughts and considered, “I will now kill all the merchants and take the precious jewels for myself alone.” At that time, in Jambudvīpa there was a great caravan leader named Great Compassion. While he was asleep in a dream, the sea deity told him: “Among the merchants there is a bandit who wishes to kill his five hundred companions and take the treasures for himself alone. If this deed comes to pass, he will fall into hell. Now, benevolent guide, you should employ a skillful means so that the merchants do not die and the bandit incurs no guilt.” The guide contemplated for seven days, and found no other expedient means: “I must simply kill this evil man. If I tell the merchants, they will surely all become enraged and kill him together, and thus all fall into evil destinies. If I kill him alone, I shall bear the punishment myself. I would rather endure the suffering of hundreds of thousands of kalpas myself than let all the merchants be harmed, or let this one bandit fall into hell.” He first preached the Dharma to him, causing his heart to be joyful and ecstatic, and then he fell asleep. The Buddha said: “The guide Great Compassion, moved by great compassion toward the merchants, killed this one bandit through skillful means. After his life ended, he was reborn in the twelfth heaven, the Ābhāsvara heaven. Great Compassion at that time was myself. By this expedient means, I bypassed a thousand kalpas of birth and death. The five hundred merchants on the same ship were none other than the five hundred Buddhas who arise in this Bhadrakalpa.” (From the Huishang pusa jing, 1 scroll.)