法苑珠林 27.36

27.36

如雜寶藏經云。佛法寬廣濟度無涯。至心求道無不獲果。乃至戲笑福不唐捐。如往昔時。有老比丘。年已朽邁神情昏塞。見諸年少比丘種種說法。聞說四果心生美尚。語少比丘言。汝等聰慧。願以四果以用與我。諸少比丘嗤而語言。我有四果。須得好食然後相與。時老比丘聞其此語。歡喜即設種種餚饍。請少比丘求乞四果。諸少比丘食其食已。更相指麾弄老比丘語言。大德。汝在此舍一角頭坐。當與爾果。時老比丘聞已歡喜。如語而坐。諸少比丘即以皮毱打其頭上。而語之言。此是須陀洹果。老比丘聞已繫念不散。即獲初果。諸少比丘復弄之言。雖與爾須陀洹果。然其故有七生七死。更移一角。次當與爾斯陀含果。時老比丘獲初果故心轉增進。即復移坐。諸少比丘復以毱打頭。而語之言。與爾二果。時老比丘益加專念。即證二果。諸少比丘復弄之言。汝今已得斯陀含果。猶有往來生死之難。汝更移坐。我當與爾阿那含果。時老比丘如言移坐。諸少比丘復以毱打。而語之言。我今與爾第三之果。時老比丘聞已歡喜。倍加至心。即時復證阿那含果。然故於色無色界受有漏身。無常遷壞念念是苦。汝更移坐次當與爾阿羅漢果。時老比丘如語移坐。諸少比丘復以皮毱撩打其頭。而語之言。我今與爾彼第四果。時老比丘一心思惟即證阿羅漢果。得四果已甚大歡喜。設諸餚饍種種香華。請少比丘報其恩德。與少比丘共論道品無漏功德。諸少比丘發言滯塞。時老比丘方語之言。我已證得阿羅漢果已。諸少比丘聞其此音。咸皆謝悔先戲弄罪。是故行人宜應念善。乃至戲弄猶獲實報。況至心也。

As the Za baozang jing says: The Buddha-Dharma is vast, and its deliverance boundless. When one seeks the Path with an earnest mind, there is none who does not attain the fruit; even in jest, merit is not in vain. As in past times, there was an old bhikṣu, advanced in years and muddled in wits. Seeing young bhikṣus preaching the Dharma in various ways, he felt admiration upon hearing them speak of the four fruits. He said to the young bhikṣus, 'You are all intelligent; please bestow the four fruits upon me.' The young bhikṣus mocked him and said, 'We have the four fruits, but we must have good food before giving them to you.' Hearing these words, the old bhikṣu was delighted and immediately prepared various fine dishes, inviting the young bhikṣus and begging for the four fruits. After eating his food, the young bhikṣus gestured to one another to make sport of the old bhikṣu, saying to him, 'Venerable one, sit in a corner of this room, and we will give you the fruit.' Hearing this, the old bhikṣu was overjoyed and sat as instructed. The young bhikṣus then struck his head with a leather ball and said to him, 'This is the fruit of the srotāpanna.' Hearing this, the old bhikṣu focused his mindfulness without distraction, and immediately attained the first fruit. The young bhikṣus mocked him again, saying, 'Although we gave you the srotāpanna fruit, there are still seven births and seven deaths. Move to another corner, and next we will give you the sakṛdāgāmin fruit.' Because he had attained the first fruit, the old bhikṣu's mind advanced further, and he moved to another seat. The young bhikṣus again struck his head with the ball and said to him, 'We give you the second fruit.' The old bhikṣu became even more single-minded and immediately realized the second fruit. The young bhikṣus mocked him again, saying, 'You have now attained the sakṛdāgāmin fruit, but there is still the hardship of coming and going in saṃsāra. Move your seat again, and I will give you the anāgāmin fruit.' The old bhikṣu moved his seat as told. The young bhikṣus again struck him with the ball and said to him, 'We now give you the third fruit.' Hearing this, the old bhikṣu was overjoyed, redoubled his earnestness, and immediately realized the anāgāmin fruit. [They said,] 'Yet you will still receive a defiled body in the form and formless realms, impermanent and deteriorating, every thought being suffering. Move your seat again, and next we will give you the arhat fruit.' The old bhikṣu moved his seat as told. The young bhikṣus again struck his head with the leather ball and said to him, 'We now give you that fourth fruit.' The old bhikṣu, contemplating single-mindedly, immediately realized the arhat fruit. Having attained the four fruits, he was exceedingly joyful, prepared various fine delicacies and assorted incense and flowers, and invited the young bhikṣus to repay their kindness. He discussed the factors of enlightenment and undefiled virtues with the young bhikṣus, but the young bhikṣus stammered and were at a loss for words. Only then did the old bhikṣu say to them, 'I have already attained the fruit of an arhat.' Hearing his words, the young bhikṣus all expressed regret and repented of their previous fault of teasing him. Therefore, practitioners should be mindful of goodness; if even teasing still brings real retribution, how much more so for an earnest mind!