經律異相 5.14

5.14

In the past, there were four brāhmaṇas who had all attained supernormal powers, able to fly bodily through the air with unimpeded supernatural mobility. These four brahmacārins said among themselves: 'Those people who offer delicacies and food to the śramaṇa Gautama are reborn in heaven and never depart from the hall of blessings; those who hear his Dharma enter the gate of liberation. Today we crave heavenly blessings; we do not wish for liberation, nor do we need to hear the Dharma.' Thereupon the four men each held four flasks of sweet rock candy. The first arrived and presented it to the Bhagavat. The Buddha told the brahmacārin, reciting: 'All conditioned things are impermanent.' Hearing this, the brahmacārin covered his ears. Next, to the second man, he recited: 'This is the law of arising and ceasing.' Hearing this, the brahmacārin also covered his ears. Next, to the third man, he recited: 'Whatever is born must die.' Hearing this, the brahmacārin also covered his ears with his hands. Next, to the fourth man, he recited: 'Their cessation is bliss.' Hearing this, the brahmacārin also covered his ears. Each of them discarded [his offering] and departed. They said among themselves, 'What teaching did the śramaṇa Gautama give?' The first replied, 'I heard one line: "All conditioned things are impermanent."' The second, third, and fourth also related their own parts. Having recited this verse together, their minds were opened and understood, and they attained the path of anāgāmin. At that time, the four men realized that they had each attained realization of the path. Reproaching themselves, they returned to the Tathāgata's presence, prostrated with their heads at his feet, and stood to one side. They addressed the Bhagavat, saying: 'We only pray that the Tathāgata will permit us into the ranks of the Way, allowing us to become śramaṇas.' The Bhagavat told them: 'Welcome, bhikṣus; cultivate the pure conduct well.' At that time, the hair on their heads and beards fell off on its own, and the clothes they were wearing transformed into kāṣāyas. Directly before the Buddha, they attained the path of arhatship. (From the Wuchang jing.)