法苑珠林 22.29

22.29

Furthermore, the *Saṃyukta-avadāna-sūtra* states: In the past there were two brothers who possessed great influence and wealth, with immeasurable property. When their parents passed away, they had no one to rely upon. Although they were brothers, their aspirations and thoughts were entirely different: the elder brother loved discussions of the Dharma, while the younger brother loved the family enterprise. Seeing that his elder brother did not attend to the household affairs, the younger brother constantly resented him, saying, “Being brothers whose parents died early, one should diligently think of making a living, yet you abandon the family enterprise to follow śramaṇas and listen to Buddhist scriptures. Can śramaṇas give you clothing, wealth, and treasures? The family grows increasingly poor and our property diminishes daily; people ridicule us for neglecting the household. Continuing the work of one’s parents is true filial piety.” The elder brother replied, “Observing the five precepts and ten virtuous deeds, making offerings to the Three Jewels, and transforming one’s parents through the Dharma—this is true filial piety. The sacred and the secular are naturally opposed. What the Way delights in, the world dislikes; what the world treasures, the Way disdains. The difference in deliberations between the wise and the foolish is like light and darkness. Therefore, the wise person leaves darkness behind and approaches light, attaining the truth through the Way. What you now delight in is a falsehood full of suffering and affliction; how could you fail to recognize its bitter misery?” Harboring anger, the younger brother shook his head in disbelief. Seeing this, the elder brother said to him, “You crave household affairs and value wealth; I love the scriptures and the Way, valuing wisdom as a treasure. Now I wish to abandon the household and take refuge in the field of merit. Considering that one’s life resides in this world as fleetingly as drifting dust, impermanence arrives abruptly and one becomes bound by sins. Therefore, I renounce the world, avoiding danger to attain safety.” Seeing his elder brother's resolve to pursue the principles of the Way, the younger brother remained silent and gave no reply. The elder brother then left home to become a śramaṇa. Striving vigorously day and night, practicing dhyāna and contemplation, his conduct conformed to the scriptural teachings, and he realized the fruits of the path. Hearing of this, the younger brother became even more enraged. The younger brother coveted the family enterprise and never practiced the Dharma. Later, when his life ended, he fell into rebirth as an ox, exceedingly plump and large. A merchant purchased him to transport and trade salt. After several round trips, the ox became exhausted and could no longer move forward. Collapsing in distress on an upward slope, he lay prostrate, unable to rise. The merchant beat him, but he could only shake his head slightly. At that time, the elder brother was traveling by flight through the sky. Seeing his younger brother from afar, he said to him, “Where are your fields and houses now, that you have cast yourself down to fall among the oxen and beasts?” He immediately used his supernatural power to illuminate and reveal [the ox's] former life. The ox recognized his past, and weeping tears, reproached himself: “Because of my evil conduct—stinginess, greed, and jealousy—not believing in the Buddha's Dharma, slighting the noble saṃgha, and defying my elder brother's words with stubborn self-will, I have fallen among oxen, exhausted, worn out, and miserable. How can remorse avail me now?” Knowing his thoughts, the elder brother was filled with grief and pity. He related the whole story to the owner of the ox. Hearing it, the merchant offered the ox as a gift. The brother then led the ox back to the monastery, causing him to be mindful of the Three Jewels and feeding him at regular times. When his life came to an end, he was born in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. At that time, all the merchants thought to themselves, “Engaged in business, we are unable to practice generosity and do not understand the principles of the Way; when we die, we fear the same will happen to us.” Thereupon they jointly renounced their homes, abandoned their wives and children, discarded their prized possessions, and became śramaṇas. Striving unremittingly, they all attained the path. Viewed from this perspective, worldly wealth and treasure bring no benefit to humanity; honoring the Three Jewels and cultivating one’s person to study the Way brings peace life after life.