經律異相 8.34

8.34

In the past there were two bodhisattvas whose aspirations were pure and whose conduct was immaculate. Inwardly quiescent and free of desire, their outward appearance was like heavenly gold. Chipping out stone to make a chamber, they lived in seclusion and quieted their aspirations, wearing rush garments, sleeping on grass mats, and drinking spring water. Pure and without worldly striving, their aspirations were like empty space. Fully accomplishing the four dhyānas, they attained the wisdom of the five supernormal knowledges. Ordinary persons, Śakra, ṛṣis, sages, and all the devas, nāgas, ghosts, and spirits without exception bowed their heads to them. They dwelled in the mountains and marshes for over sixty years, pitying sentient beings and reverently honouring the Three Honoured Ones. One was named Diqiluo, and the second was named Nalai. Diqiluo rose at night to chant sūtras, and becoming utterly exhausted, lay down to rest. Nalai was also chanting sūtras at the time and mistakenly stepped on Diqiluo's head. Diqiluo immediately got up and said, "Who stepped on my head? When tomorrow morning's sun rises, your head shall split into seven pieces!" Nalai said, "It was a mistake that I stepped on your head; why make such a grave curse? Even mere vessels may bump into one another; how much more so for people living together for years not to make an error! If your words hold true, when tomorrow's sun rises my head must split. I shall hold back the sun and not allow it to rise!" The sun consequently did not rise, and for five days the entire kingdom was plunged into darkness. Torches were relied upon constantly, official duties were neglected, and sovereign and subjects were terrified and bewildered. The king assembled all his ministers and invited various Daoists. The king asked, "Where lies the blame for the sun not rising?" Among the Daoists was one with the five supernormal knowledges, who said, "Two Daoists in the mountains have had a slight dispute and have restrained it from rising." The king asked, "What can be done?" He replied, "If the king leads his ministers and the people, great and small alike, to hasten there, bow their heads, and make peace between them, they will surely become compassionate and harmonious." The king then issued an edict and went to the mountains and marshes, kowtowing and saying, "The abundance of the state and the peace of the people are the grace of the two venerable ones. Yet now you are in discord, and the entire land is deprived of its order. The fault lies with me; the common people are blameless. We pray that you will pity and pardon us." Nalai said, "Let the king persuade and instruct him to untie his mind. When his mind is untied, I shall release the sun to rise." The king went to Diqiluo's place and declared Nalai's intent. That very day, taking thought of him, Diqiluo smeared his head with clay and released the sun to rise. The clay head immediately split into seven pieces, and Nalai remained unharmed. The king, his ministers, and the common people were all overjoyed. The two Daoists expounded extensively to the king on governing the state: he should encourage the people with the four immeasurables of inexhaustible benevolence, uphold the five precepts, and practice the ten wholesome deeds. The king and his ministers and people all accepted the precepts together. The king returned to his realm and issued an edict, saying: "Let everyone, regardless of noble or base station, abide by the scripture of the five precepts and ten wholesome deeds, taking it as the standard for the kingdom." From that time onward, the king's bounty reached even the grasses and trees, and his ministers were loyal and pure. The Buddha told the monks: "Nalai was my very self; Diqiluo was Maitreya." (Extracted from the seventh fascicle of the Duwuji ji).