法苑珠林 50.32

50.32

Furthermore, the *Collection of Essentials from Various Sūtras* says: There was a man who went into the forest to chop wood and lost his way. At that time, there was a heavy rain; at dusk, hungry and cold, he was about to be harmed by venomous insects and beasts. This man entered a stone cave. A large bear saw him, and he fled out in fear. The bear said to him, 'Do not be afraid; this dwelling is warm, and you may lodge in it.' At that time it rained continuously for seven days, and [the bear] constantly provided this man with sweet fruits and delicious water. After seven days the rain stopped, and the bear led this man out to show him the path. The bear said to the man, 'I have a body of sinful karma and many enemies among people. If anyone asks, do not say you saw me.' The man replied, 'I will not.' As this man walked forward, he met some hunters, who asked, 'Where have you come from? Have you seen any beasts?' He replied, 'I saw a large bear that showed me kindness; I cannot point it out to you.' The hunters said, 'You are one of humankind; looking at us as fellow humans, why should you spare a bear? Now, having once lost your way, when would you ever return? If you point it out to us, we will give you a large share.' This man had a change of heart, and immediately led the hunters to the bear's dwelling. The hunters killed the bear and gave him a large share. As this man stretched out his hands to take the meat, both of his forearms fell off. The hunters said, 'What sin do you have?' He replied, 'This bear looked after me as a father looks after a child. My betraying its kindness now brings this sinful retribution.' The hunters were terrified and did not dare eat the meat; they took it to offer to the Saṃgha. The elder monk was an arhat, and said to the junior monks, 'This was a bodhisattva. When he appears in the world in the future, he will attain Buddhahood. Do not eat this meat.' They immediately built a stūpa to make offerings to it. When the king heard of this matter, he issued an order throughout the country: 'Do not allow anyone who betrays kindness to dwell here.' (The *New Vibhāṣā-śāstra* says: At that time, the elder monk perceived that the meat was the flesh of a bodhisattva; together they took fragrant firewood, burned the meat, gathered the remaining bones, erected a stūpa, and bowed in reverence and made offerings to it, just as they would serve a Buddha stūpa.)