法苑珠林 85.8

85.8

如華嚴經云。菩薩為求法故能施法者。作如是言。若能投身七仞火坑。當與汝法。菩薩聞此歡喜無量。作是思惟。我為法故尚不惜身命。於阿鼻地獄諸惡趣中受無量苦。況入人間微小火坑而得聞法。依集一切功德三昧經云。釋迦過去久遠作五通仙人。名曰最勝。依智度論云。釋迦文佛本為菩薩時。名曰樂法。時世無佛不聞善語。四方求法精進不懈。了不能得。爾時魔變作婆羅門。而語之言。我有佛所說一偈。汝能以皮為紙。以骨為筆。以血為墨。書寫此偈。當以與汝樂法。即時自念。我世世喪身無數不得是利。即自剝皮暴之令乾。欲書其偈。魔便滅身。是時佛知其志心。即從下方踊出為說深法。即得無生法忍。

As the Avataṃsaka-sūtra says: When a bodhisattva, for the sake of seeking the Dharma, was able to find one who could bestow the Dharma, that person spoke these words: 'If you can throw your body into a fire pit seven fathoms deep, I shall give you the Dharma.' Hearing this, the bodhisattva was immeasurably rejoiced and reflected thus: 'For the sake of the Dharma, I do not begrudge even my physical life, and would endure immeasurable suffering in Avīci hell and the various evil destinies; how much more so entering a tiny fire pit in the human realm to obtain the hearing of the Dharma!' According to the Sūtra on the Samādhi of Accumulating All Merits, Śākya[muni] in the distant past was an immortal with the five superknowledges named Supreme. According to the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra, when Śākyamuni Buddha was originally a bodhisattva named Delight in the Dharma, at that time there was no Buddha in the world and good words were not heard. He sought the Dharma in the four directions with unflagging diligence, yet could not obtain it at all. At that time, Māra transformed into a brāhmaṇa and spoke to him, saying: 'I have a gāthā spoken by the Buddha. If you can make paper of your skin, a pen of your bone, and ink of your blood to transcribe this gāthā, I shall give it to you.' Delight in the Dharma immediately reflected: 'Throughout lifetimes, I have lost my body countlessly without gaining this benefit.' He at once peeled off his skin and dried it in the sun, intending to transcribe the gāthā. Māra then made his form disappear. At that time, the Buddha, knowing his devoted resolve, welled up from the lower direction and expounded the profound Dharma for him; [the bodhisattva] thereupon attained the forbearance of the non-arising of dharmas.