經律異相 48.93

48.93

In the southeast corner of the city of Rājagṛha, there was a cesspool. The gutters and ditches within the city were foul and defiled, and excrement and urine all flowed into it, stinking so much that one could not approach it. There was a great bug born within the cesspool; its body was several tens of feet long, without hands or feet, and it wriggled, bobbing up and down, playing in the cesspool. Spectators numbered in the thousands. Ānanda, on his alms round, saw it and went over to look; the bug then bounded about, causing the waves to surge and churn. He reported everything to the Buddha. The Buddha, together with the monks, went to the pool. When the multitude saw the Buddha, each thought to themselves, "Today the Tathāgata will surely explain to the assembly the origin and end of this bug to resolve everyone's doubts; will that not be wonderful?" The Buddha said: "After the parinirvāṇa of Vipaśyin Buddha, there was a stūpa-monastery at that time. Five hundred monks were passing through the monastery. Seeing them, the monastery prior was filled with great joy and invited them to stay for three months of offerings, and the assembly all accepted the invitation. The prior devoted all his mind to providing food, with nothing lacking. Later, five hundred merchants who had gone to sea to gather jewels passed by the stūpa-monastery on their return. Seeing the five hundred monks diligently practicing the Path, they all gave rise to the resolve [for awakening], joyfully consulted together, and said, 'A field of merit is difficult to encounter; we should provide a humble offering.' They then informed the monastery prior. The prior replied, 'My three-month invitation still has five days left before it is fulfilled; only then may [others] provide extensive offerings.' The merchants said, 'We must leave and cannot wait until it is finished.' The five hundred merchants each renounced one pearl, obtaining five hundred maṇi-pearls, and entrusted them to the prior, enjoining him, saying, 'Daily provide for the Saṅgha with our pearls.' The monk assented, and then accepted them all. Later, he gave rise to an unwholesome mind, intending to keep them solely for himself, and ultimately made no offerings. The assembly of monks asked, 'Prior, previously the merchants gave pearls, which should have been used to provide offerings; why dismiss them?' The prior said, 'They were given only to me! If you want to rob me, I can give you dung! If you do not leave at once, I will cut off your hands and feet and cast you into a dung pit!' The assembly pitied his folly, and each departed in silence." (Extracted from the fourth fascicle of the ten-fascicle *Avadāna-sūtra*.)