法苑珠林 56.8

56.8

Furthermore, the Sūtra of the Wise and the Foolish says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an elder in the kingdom of Śrāvastī whose household was immensely wealthy, with treasures beyond measure and calculation. A son was born to him whose body was golden in color, handsome and with few equals. Seeing him, his parents rejoiced beyond measure, and because of this they gave him the name Jintiān (Suvarṇadeva / “Golden Deva”). On the day of his birth, a well of water naturally emerged in his home, eight cubits across and eight cubits deep. Drawing from it met people's desires: if one needed clothes, it produced clothes; if one needed food, it produced food; gold, silver, precious gems, and everything needed could be obtained according to one's wish upon making a vow. As the boy grew up, his talents and arts became broad and accomplished. His father reflected: “My son is handsome, peerless in appearance. I must seek an eminent maiden of golden appearance and wondrous body similar to my son before I go to ask for her.” At that time, in the kingdom of J婆 (Japā?), there was a great elder who had a daughter named Golden Brightness (Suvarṇaprabhā). She was extraordinarily handsome, her body golden in color, radiant and dazzling to behold. On the day she was born, there was also a natural eight-cubit well of water, and that well could also produce various treasures, clothing, food, and drink, with everything needed being pleasing to people's wishes. Her parents also reflected: “Our daughter is handsome, an outstanding wonder among people. We must obtain an able man with a golden radiance similar to our daughter before we arrange a marriage.” The maiden's renown spread far and wide, and Jintiān subsequently took her as his wife. Later, Jintiān invited the Buddha and the Saṃgha for an offering of food. When the meal was finished, the Buddha preached the Dharma for them; Jintiān and his wife, as well as their parents, all obtained the fruit of srotāpanna. Jintiān and his wife both informed their parents, requesting to go forth from the household life, and their parents immediately gave permission. Having gone forth, husband and wife both attained the fruit of arhatship, fully endowed with all meritorious qualities. Seeing this, Ānanda said to the Buddha: “What merit did Jintiān and his wife cultivate in the past, that they were born into a noble family with golden-colored bodies and had a natural eight-cubit well that produced various things?” The Buddha told Ānanda: “Ninety-one kalpas ago in the distant past, after the Buddha Vipaśyin entered nirvāṇa, there were bhikṣus traveling to teach and convert. Arriving in a village, the villagers saw the monks and vied with one another to make offerings. At that time, there was a husband and wife who were poor, possessing not even a sheng or a dou of grain in their home. The husband, seeing others making offerings to the community of monks, wept to his wife, his tears falling upon her arm in anguish. The wife asked her husband: ‘Why are you weeping?’ The husband answered his wife: ‘When my father was alive, wealth accumulated to fill our storehouses, so abundant it was hard to measure. Arriving at my own life, I am destitute and in extreme misery. Although we had wealth in the past, we did not practice giving; today we encounter the monks, but are too poor to give anything. Not giving in previous lives has caused this current poverty; if we do not give now, the future will be even worse. Pondering this, I am distressed.’ The wife said to her husband: ‘Although we have this wish in vain, we have no coins to give. What can we do?’ The wife further said to her husband: ‘Try going to the old dwelling to search thoroughly all around; perhaps you might find something.’ The husband then went to look and found one gold coin, which he brought to his wife. At that time, the wife had a bright mirror, and they also found a vase. They filled the vase with pure water, placed the coin inside the vase, and set the mirror on top. With one mind, the husband and wife offered it to the monks, made a vow, and departed. On account of this merit, from that time onward for ninety-one kalpas they did not fall into the evil destinies. In the heavens and among humans, they were always husband and wife, their bodies golden in color, enjoying blessings and joy. Now, having encountered me, they have gone forth from the household life and attained the Way.”