法苑珠林 31.44

31.44

Furthermore, the Old Sūtra of Miscellaneous Parables states: Formerly, five monks were travelling together when they encountered snow. They stopped at a shrine of the gods to pass the night. Within the house was a carved statue of a deity, venerated by the people of the country. Four of the travelers said: “It is bitterly cold tonight. We can take this wooden figure and burn it to cook our food.” One person said: “This belongs to people; it must not be ruined.” So they left it intact and did not break it. The demon living in this chamber habitually devoured humans, and whispered to himself: “I will only devour that one man. That single man fears me; the other four are fierce and cannot be provoked, so I will let them go.” The one who had not dared to break the image heard the demon's words in the night, rose, and called to his companions to leave. The other four said: “Why not chop up the statue to make a fire and cook?” So they took it and burned it. The man-eating demon was terrified and ran away at once. When a person learns the Way, it is also just like this: one must always maintain a steadfast mind and never be timid or weak, allowing demons to take advantage and bring harm to oneself. Hence the Vimalakīrti Sūtra states: “Just as when a man is frightened, non-human spirits take advantage of him.” Furthermore, the Bodhisattva-garbhastha Sūtra states: At that time, the World-Honoured One said to the Bodhisattva Jñānaśuddhi: “A bodhisattva bound to one last birth may, through skillful means, take birth in a lowly household in order to demonstrate the eradication of the fetters of ignorance. He remained ten months in the womb, and on the day of birth, he manifested without hands or feet. His parents saw him, considered him a demon, and cast him out into the wilderness so no one would see him. A few days later, the mother was pregnant again. When the full ten months were complete, she gave birth to a son who was wondrously handsome and rare in the world; but he was born by day and died by night. The parents wailed, beating their chests toward heaven: ‘Why do the mountain gods and tree gods not pity us? First we bore a son without hands or feet, and cast him into the wilderness. Now we bore a son incomparably handsome, resembling a heavenly god, yet he was born by day and died by night! Our hearts are torn asunder; what can we do?’ After several more months, the mother again became pregnant. When the ten months were complete, she gave birth to a son with three heads, eight legs, four eyes, and eight arms. Those who saw him had their hair stand on end. The parents and kin abandoned him and wished to leave, but the bodhisattva skillfully manifested [his power], preventing them from leaving. The parents asked: ‘Are you a god? Or are you a dragon, demon, or spirit?’ At that time, the newborn son addressed his parents in verse, saying: