經律異相 44.56

44.56

Formerly, three men were traveling together for trade. Each received a share of five million and more. There was one coin remaining: if given to one person, it would be unfair; to break and divide it would not do. At that time, a monk was begging for alms. The three said together, 'Let us give it to the monk.' Each said, 'Very good!' Together, their hands held it and gave it. The monk made an aspirational prayer: 'May you obtain its blessing in both this life and future lives.' They were reborn together in Rājagṛha, each gaining immense wealth: one was in charge of mining gold in the mountains, one was in charge of plowing fields to obtain gold, and one was in charge of drawing gold from water, all enjoying the blessings of their past generosity. Hearing of this, the king of the country thought, 'The people and things of my country all belong to me.' He led troops to the mountain to mine it, but the gold turned into stone. He went to another family's land to plow for gold, but the gold turned into dirt. He went to another family's well to draw gold, but the gold turned into tiles. He could obtain nothing. The king asked the Buddha, 'This gold belonging to the three men should by rights be mine, yet when I go to take it, it transforms, and I cannot get this gold. What merit did these men have in past lives to bring about such blessing now?' The Buddha explained it in full: 'It is not the king's property; the king should not take it.' (From the Za piyu jing, fascicle 3)