法苑珠林 83.14

83.14

爾時世尊告諸比丘。汝等頗見此長老舒脚而睡乎。諸比丘對曰。如是悉見。世尊告曰。此長老比丘。前五百世中常為龍身。今設命終當生龍中。所以然者。無有恭敬於佛法眾。若無恭敬之心於佛法眾者。命終皆當生龍中汝等頗見修摩那沙彌年向八歲去我不遠端坐思惟不。諸比丘對曰。悉見世尊。曰此沙彌却後七日當得四神足及得四諦之法。以是之故常當勤加恭敬佛法之眾。

At that time the World-Honoured One told the monks: "Do you see this elder sleeping with his legs stretched out?" The monks replied: "Indeed, we all see him." The World-Honoured One said: "This elder monk, throughout the past five hundred lives, has constantly taken the body of a dragon (nāga). If he were to die right now, he would be born among dragons. Why is this? Because he lacks reverence for the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha. If one lacks a mind of reverence for the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha, upon death one will surely be born among dragons. Do you see the novice Sumana, nearing eight years of age, sitting upright in contemplation not far from me?" The monks replied: "We all see him, World-Honoured One." [The Buddha] said: "Seven days from now, this novice will attain the four bases of supernatural power (ṛddhipāda) and attain the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths. For this reason, you should constantly and diligently increase your reverence for the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Saṃgha."