經律異相 5.22

5.22

Long ago, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, there was a mountain forty to fifty li from the city. Five śramaṇas dwelled in the mountain practicing the Way. In the early morning they would leave the mountain to beg for food among the people; when the meal was finished, they returned to the mountain, arriving only at nightfall. Going back and forth, they were utterly exhausted and unable to sit in meditation. They contemplated right concentration in this way for years, yet could not attain the Way. The Buddha, pitying them for their toil without gain, transformed into a practitioner and went to their place. He asked the practitioners: “Living in seclusion to cultivate the Way, are you not exhausted?” The śramaṇas said: “We reside here, very far from the city. The body of the four great elements requires food. Going back and forth day after day, we have been fatigued for years and unable to cultivate the Way; we can only end our lives just like this.” The practitioner told them: “One who practices the Way takes the precepts as the root and restraining the mind as the practice. One holds the body cheap and values truth, casting off the decaying body and life. Food is only to sustain the body. Guard your intent in right concentration, internally cultivate calming and insight, and by extinguishing the mind attain the Way. If you nourish the body and indulge desires, how can you escape suffering? May you practitioners not go out tomorrow; I will provide for you, so that you may rest for a day.” The five śramaṇas were greatly delighted, marveling at this unprecedented offer. Settling their minds, they no longer worried about going out. At noon the next day, this transformed practitioner brought food. When they had finished eating, at peace and with minds calm and serene, the transformed practitioner spoke a verse for them and then manifested the marks, radiance, and appearance of the Buddha's body. The five śramaṇas were deeply shaken in spirit; all contemplated the precepts and immediately attained the fruit of arhatship (from the third fascicle of the Dharmapada Avadāna Sūtra).