法苑珠林 49.70

49.70

Also, the Zābaozāng jīng says: In the past, the World-Honoured One said to the monks: 'You should know that in the past, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, an unwholesome custom was prevalent in the world. When a father reached sixty years of age, he was given a rush mat and made to guard the gates. At that time, there were two brothers. The elder brother said to the younger brother: "Give the father a rush mat and make him guard the gate." In the house there was only one rush mat. The younger brother cut it in half and gave it to the father, saying to him: "The elder brother gives it to you, father; it is not what I give. The elder brother instructed that you be made to guard the gatehouse." The elder brother said to the younger brother: "Why did you not give the whole mat, but cut it in half and gave it to him?" The younger brother answered the elder brother, saying: "We only have one mat; if I did not cut it in half and give it, where could we obtain another later?" The elder brother asked the younger brother: "To whom else do you wish to give it?" The younger brother said: "How could I not save it for you, elder brother?" The elder brother said: "Why give it to me?" The younger brother said: "When you grow old, your son will also place you at the gate." Hearing these words, the elder brother was shocked and said: "Will I also be treated like this?" The younger brother said: "Who will take your place?" He then said to the elder brother: "Such an evil practice ought to be eliminated together." The brothers went together to the prime minister, and related these words to him. The prime minister answered, saying: "Indeed it is so. We, too, will all grow old." The prime minister memorialised the king. The king approved these words and issued an edict throughout the realm to care for parents with filial piety, ending the former unrighteous practice and forbidding it from occurring again.'