法苑珠林 34.32

34.32

又賢愚經云。波羅奈國有居士。字曰毱提。此人有子名優波毱提。後年長大家貧燋煎。父付財物居肆販賣。有邪貰䩭阿羅漢。往到其邊。而為說法教使繫念。以白黑石子。用當籌算。善念下白。惡念下黑。優波毱提奉受其教。善惡之念輒投石子。初黑偏多白者尠少。漸漸修習白黑正等。繫念不止。更無黑石。純有白者。善念已盛逮得初果。

Furthermore, the Xianyu jing says: In the country of Vārāṇasī, there was a householder whose name was Gupti. This man had a son named Upagupta. Later, as he grew older, the family became impoverished and distressed, so his father entrusted him with goods to reside in the marketplace and trade. There was an arhat named Saṇavāsa who came to his side, expounded the Dharma for him, and instructed him to tie his mindfulness using white and black pebbles as counting tallies: for a good thought, lay down a white one; for an evil thought, lay down a black one. Upagupta received his instruction, casting a pebble at every good or evil thought. At first, the black pebbles were overwhelmingly numerous and the white ones were few. Gradually cultivating, the white and black became equal. Tying his mindfulness without ceasing, there were no longer any black stones, but purely white ones. When good thoughts flourished, he attained the first fruit [of the path].