經律異相 47.88

47.88

There was an elder who had boundless wealth. He had a vicious dog that was fond of biting people, so ordinary people could not recklessly enter his gate. There was a monk who was intelligent, wise, and possessed transcendent insight that was difficult to equal. He entered the gate to beg. It happened that the dog had gone out to sleep and did not notice when he entered. When the elder offered food, the dog woke up and only then saw him. It thought: 'I went out to sleep and did not notice the śramaṇa gaining entry. Now that he is already seated, what can be done about it? If he eats alone, when he comes out I will surely bite him to death and eat the fine delicacies he ate in his belly. If he shares his food with me, only then will I spare him.' The śramaṇa knew its thoughts, and for each morsel he ate himself, he gave one morsel to the dog. Wholesome loving-kindness arose [in the dog] toward the śramaṇa; it came forward to lick his feet, and later went out the gate to lie down. A person who had once been bitten by it chopped off its head with a sword. The dog was immediately reborn in the womb of the elder's wife. After being born, its life was short and it soon died again. It was reborn again in the home of another elder in that kingdom. When it was over ten years old, seeing a śramaṇa, it went forward to welcome him and pay homage, requesting of its parents: 'Please let him be my teacher.' Having made offerings, it soon received the scriptures and precepts. It further converted everyone in the household, both great and small, to recite the scriptures and contemplate the Path. Thereupon, it informed its parents, seeking to become a śramaṇa. Without taking full ordination (*upasampadā*), it made offerings to the preceptor (*upādhyāya*) day and night without wearying. Only after the preceptor passed away did it receive the precepts and their virtue (from the *Avadāna-sūtra in Ten Fascicles*, fascicle 6).