法苑珠林 56.9

56.9

Furthermore, the Udāna-śāstra (Chuyao jing) says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, in the kingdom of Kapilavastu there was a uterine brother of Maudgalyāyana who was very wealthy, possessed of the seven treasures, with storehouses overflowing, and slaves and attendants beyond reckoning. At that time, Maudgalyāyana frequently went to his brother's home and told his brother: “I hear that you are stingy and envious, not fond of practicing dāna. The Buddha always teaches that giving obtains countless retributions; if you give now, you will obtain immeasurable merit.” Hearing his elder brother's instruction, the brother opened his storehouses and practiced dāna, and established a new storehouse wanting to receive its retribution. Before ten days had passed, his wealth and treasures were exhausted; the old storehouses were completely empty, and the new storehouse had yielded no retribution. In anguish, the younger brother said to his elder brother: “Previously I saw my elder brother instruct that giving obtains great retribution, so I did not dare disobey your teaching. To all who came begging, I emptied the storehouses and gave completely. The old storehouses are all empty, yet the new storehouse has received no retribution. Could it be that I was misled by my elder brother?” The elder brother said: “Stop, stop! Do not utter such words, lest non-Buddhists of wrong views hear these crude remarks. If meritorious blessings were to have physical form, the realm of empty space could not contain them. I shall now provisionally show you a slight retribution.” With his supernatural power, he took his younger brother by the hand to the Sixth Heaven. There they saw a palace made of the seven treasures, with fragrant winds, bathing pools, and storehouses overflowing beyond measure, and tens of millions of jade maidens attending, pure females with no males. He then asked his elder brother: “What palace is this, so towering and magnificent?” Maudgalyāyana told his brother: “Go ask them yourself.” The younger brother went in person and asked the heavenly maidens: “What palace is this, composed of the seven treasures, towering and grand, suspended in empty space? Who possesses the merit to receive retribution within it?” The heavenly maidens replied: “In Jambudvīpa, in the kingdom of Kapila, there is a disciple of Śākyamuni Buddha of supernatural power named Maudgalyāyana. He has a virtuous younger brother, a great wealthy elder; because he is fond of giving, he will later be born in this place to be our lord and husband.” Hearing this, the younger brother rejoiced, and a good mind arose within him. Returning to his elder brother, he reported the matter in detail. Maudgalyāyana told him: “Does a person's giving have retribution, or does it have no retribution?” Harboring shame, the younger brother repented to his elder brother. Later, returning home, he cultivated merit even more; after his life ended, he was immediately born in the heavens to receive this fruit and retribution.