法苑珠林 80.40

80.40

又賢愚經云。時諸比丘咸皆生疑。賢者阿難。本造何行獲斯總持。聞佛所說一言不失。俱往佛所而白佛言。賢者阿難。本興何福。而得如是無量總持。唯願世尊。當見開示。佛告諸比丘。乃往過去阿僧祇劫。有一比丘。度一沙彌常以嚴勅。教令誦經。日日課限。其經足者。便以歡喜。若其不足。苦切責之。於是沙彌常懷懊惱。讀經雖得復無食調。若行乞食。疾得食時。讀經便足。乞食若遲。讀則不充。若經不足當被切責。心懷愁悶啼哭而行。時有長者見其洟泣。前呼問之。何以懊惱。沙彌答曰。長者當知。我師嚴難勅我讀經。日日課限。若具足者。即以歡喜。若其不充。苦切見責。我行乞食。若疾得者讀經即足。若乞遲得讀便不充。若不得經便被切責。以是事故我用愁耳。於時長者即語沙彌。從今已後常詣我家。當供養食令汝不憂。食已專心勤加讀經。於時沙彌聞是語已。得專心意勤加讀經。課限不減日日常度。師徒於是俱用歡喜。佛告比丘。爾時師者定光佛是。沙彌者今我身是。時大長者供養者今阿難是。乃由過去造是行故。今得總持無有忘失。

Furthermore, the Damamūka-nidāna Sūtra states: At that time, all the bhikṣus gave rise to doubt: "Through what practice did the worthy Ānanda originally obtain this dhāraṇī, never forgetting a single word of what the Buddha spoke?" Together they went to the Buddha's presence and addressed him, saying, "What merit did the worthy Ānanda originally produce to obtain such immeasurable dhāraṇī? We only pray that the World-Honoured One will explain and reveal it." The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "Countless asampkheya kalpas ago, in the past, there was a bhikṣu who had ordained a novice (śrāmaṇera). He always instructed him with strict commands to recite the scriptures, setting a daily quota. If he completed the scriptures, he was delighted; if he fell short, he severely reprimanded him. Thereupon, the novice was constantly distressed: though he managed to read the scriptures, he lacked provisions of food. When he went begging for food, if he obtained food quickly, his reading of scriptures was sufficient; if begging was slow, his reading fell short. If the scriptures were insufficient, he would be severely reprimanded, so he walked along weeping with a sorrowful heart. At that time, an elder saw him weeping and came forward to ask him, 'Why are you distressed?' The novice replied, 'Elder, you should know: my master is strict and demanding, commanding me to read scriptures with a daily quota. If it is fulfilled, he is pleased; if it is not fulfilled, I am severely reprimanded. When I go out begging for food, if I obtain it quickly, my recitation of scriptures is sufficient; if begging takes long, my recitation falls short. If I do not complete the scriptures, I am severely reprimanded. For this reason, I am sorrowful.' Thereupon the elder said to the novice, 'From now on, come to my house regularly; I will provide you with food so that you need not worry. After eating, apply your mind single-mindedly to reading the scriptures diligently.' Upon hearing these words, the novice was able to apply his mind single-mindedly to reading the scriptures diligently. His quota did not diminish, and he maintained his regular daily practice. Master and disciple were both delighted thereby." The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "The master at that time was Dīpaṃkara Buddha; the novice was my present self; and the great elder who made the offerings was Ānanda. Because he performed this deed in the past, he has now obtained dhāraṇī without forgetfulness."