法苑珠林 38.18

38.18

又雜寶藏經云。昔舍衛國中有一長者。造立塔寺。後時命終生忉利天。其婦晝夜追憶夫故愁憂苦惱。以憶夫故常掃治夫所造塔寺。夫下觀見即來婦所。問訊安慰而語之言。汝憶我故大憂愁耶。婦即語言。汝為是誰。天尋答言。我是汝夫。以作塔寺功德因緣得生天。見汝憶我修治塔寺。故來汝所。婦言。近我。夫則答言。人身臭穢不復可近。汝復欲得為我妻者。勤供佛僧修掃塔寺。願生我天。若得生天我必當還以汝為妻。婦用夫語。作諸功德發願生天。其後命終得生天上。還為夫婦。夫婦相將來至佛所。佛為說法。夫婦並得須陀洹果。既得果已還歸天上。

Furthermore, the Saṃyuktaratnapiṭaka-sūtra says: Long ago, in the city of Śrāvastī, there was an elder who built a stūpa and monastery. Later, when his life ended, he was reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Because his wife remembered her husband day and night, she was sorrowful, anxious, and distressed. Because she remembered her husband, she constantly swept and maintained the stūpa and monastery built by him. Looking down and seeing this, the husband came to where his wife was, inquired after her, comforted her, and said to her, "Is it because you remember me that you are so deeply sorrowful?" The wife then said, "Who are you?" The deva immediately replied, "I am your husband. Because of the cause and condition of the merit of building the stūpa and monastery, I attained rebirth in heaven. Seeing you remember me and repair the stūpa and monastery, I therefore came to you." The wife said, "Come close to me." The husband then replied, "The human body is foul and impure; it can no longer be approached. If you wish to become my wife again, diligently make offerings to the Buddha and the Saṃgha, repair and sweep the stūpa and monastery, and make a vow to be reborn in my heaven. If you can obtain rebirth in heaven, I will certainly take you as my wife again." The wife followed her husband's words, performed various merits, and made a vow to be reborn in heaven. Later, when her life ended, she was reborn in heaven and became husband and wife with him again. Taking each other by the hand, the couple came to the Buddha's place. The Buddha expounded the Dharma for them, and both husband and wife attained the fruit of srotāpanna. Having attained the fruit, they returned to heaven.