法苑珠林 52.28

52.28

[The brahmacārin] spoke again to his slave: “Your master is already dead; why do you not weep?” The slave likewise spoke a parable, saying: “My master and I were joined by conditions. I am like a calf following behind a large ox; when someone slaughters the large ox, the calf standing by its side cannot preserve or save the life of the large ox. Sorrow, grief, weeping, and wailing bring no benefit whatsoever.” Having heard this, the brahmacārin felt stirred within and reproached himself, completely bewildered: “I heard that this country practices filial piety, performs service, and reveres the Three Jewels, and therefore I came from afar wishing to pursue learning. Having arrived here, it is wholly unprofitable!” He further asked a traveler, “Where is the Buddha? I wish to go and question him.” The traveler replied, saying, “He is nearby at the Jetavana vihāra.” The brahmacārin went at once to the Buddha's presence, bowed his head in homage, and sat to one side. Pressing his palms together and lowering his head, he remained silent without saying anything. The Buddha knew his thoughts and said to the brahmacārin, “Why do you bow your head, sorrowful and unhappy?” The brahmacārin said, “My wishes have not been fulfilled, running contrary to my original intention; therefore I am unhappy.” The Buddha asked the brahmacārin, “What have you lost that makes you sorrowful and unhappy?” The brahmacārin answered, saying, “I came from the country of Rājagṛha wishing to pursue learning. Having arrived here, I saw five persons without reciprocation.” The Buddha asked the brahmacārin, “What are the five without reciprocation?” The brahmacārin said, “I saw a father and son, two people, plowing the field and sowing seed. The son died on the ground, yet the father felt no sorrow, and young and old in the entire household showed no grief or lamentation at all. This is great unnaturalness.” The Buddha said, “It is not so; it is not as you say. These five persons are the most truly reciprocating. They know the body is impermanent and not one’s own possession. Even the ancient sages could not escape this affliction. Why should ordinary people wail loudly and weep softly to no benefit for the dead? Worldly people lack true understanding and cycle through birth and death without rest.” The brahmacārin’s mind opened and his thoughts were unlocked. [He said,] “Hearing the Buddha's teaching is like recovering from illness, like the blind gaining sight, like finding light in the dark.” Thereupon the brahmacārin attained the stage of the Path. All deaths do not warrant weeping; to extinguish death and guard life is not a matter of sorrow or grief. The body of the deceased returns to the earth; the living cultivate and maintain their livelihoods. If one wishes to benefit the departed, one should invite the Buddha and the Saṃgha, burn incense and make offerings, recite the sūtras, and make prostrations day after day; furthermore, being able to give alms to the Three Jewels is the most essential.” The brahmacārin bowed his head in homage to the Buddha and joyfully put it into practice.