法苑珠林 18.25

18.25

隋開皇初有楊州僧忘其本名。誦通涅槃自矜為業。歧州東山下村中沙彌誦觀世音經。二俱暴死。心下俱暖同至閻羅王所。乃處沙彌金高座甚恭敬之。處涅槃僧銀高座敬心不重。事訖勘問二俱餘壽。皆放還。彼涅槃僧情大恨恨。恃所誦多。問沙彌住處。於是兩辭各蘇所在。彼從南來至歧州。訪得具問所由。沙彌言。初誦觀音。別衣別所燒香呪願然後乃誦。斯法不怠更無他術。彼謝曰。吾罪深矣。所誦涅槃威儀不整。身口不淨救忘而已。古人遺言。多惡不如少善。於今取驗。悔往而返。

In the early Kaihuang era of the Sui, there was a monk of Yangzhou whose original name is forgotten. He recited the entire Nirvāṇa Sūtra by memory and prided himself on this practice. In a village at the foot of the eastern mountain of Qizhou, a novice monk recited the Guanyin Sūtra. Both died suddenly. The region beneath their hearts remained warm, and together they arrived before King Yama. [The king] placed the novice on a high golden seat and respected him greatly, while he placed the Nirvāṇa monk on a silver high seat, showing little reverence. When the matter was concluded and he investigated the remaining lifespans of both, both were released to return. That Nirvāṇa monk harboured great resentment in his heart, presuming upon the vastness of his recitation. He asked the novice where he lived. Thereupon both took their leave and each revived in his respective place. That [monk] came from the south to Qizhou, located him, and questioned him thoroughly about the reasons. The novice said, "Whenever I recite [the sūtra of] Guanyin, I change my clothes, go to a separate chamber, burn incense, and make vows, and only then do I recite it. I am never negligent in this practice, and have no other art." The other thanked him, saying, "My transgressions are deep indeed! When I recited the Nirvāṇa [Sūtra], my deportment was disordered, and my body and mouth were impure; I only recited to keep it from being forgotten. The ancients left the saying: 'Abundant evil is not equal to a little good.' Today this has been verified!" Repenting his past, he returned.