經律異相 44.72

44.72

Five hundred young boys joined as companions. Every day they played together, going to the river, gathering sand to build stūpas, each saying that his stūpa was fine. Although they had wholesome intentions, due to their past lives their merit was slight. At that time, it suddenly rained, the river swelled violently, and they were swept away and drowned. The Buddha told the assembly: "The five hundred boys were born in Tuṣita heaven, and all together resolved their minds to practice the bodhisattva path." The Buddha emitted light, allowing their parents to see where their sons were. From afar, the Buddha called the five hundred young boys to come. Immediately, they all arrived and stayed in midair. Scattering flowers upon the Buddha, they bowed down, prostrated, and said: "Relying on the Bhagavat's grace, though our bodies have perished, we were able to see Maitreya." The Buddha said: "Splendid! You resolved your minds to know the most genuine Way and built stūpa monasteries; because of this, you were born in heaven, saw Maitreya, and received teachings of the Dharma." When the Buddha preached the sutra for them, all were joyful and established in the stage of non-retrogression. Each said to their parents: "Do not grieve anymore; strive diligently to cultivate yourselves with the Dharma." The parents all brought forth the intention for the Way. Bowing their heads at his feet, they circumambulated the Buddha three times, and then suddenly vanished and returned to Tuṣita heaven. (Taken from the Sūtra of Births, fascicle 4.)