法苑珠林 58.25

58.25

Also, the *Sūtra of the Wise and the Foolish* says: At that time, in the kingdom of Śrāvastī, there was a brahman named Śikṣita. His household was exceedingly wealthy, but he had no children. He went to the six teachers to ask the reason. The six teachers replied: "Your signs show no children." The husband and wife were grieved and distressed. They went to ask the World-Honoured One. The World-Honoured One told them: "You will have a son, complete with blessings and virtue, who will go forth from the household life when grown." Śikṣita was delighted to hear this and said: "If only I can have a son, what hardship is there in his studying the Path?" He then invited the Buddha and the saṃgha to a meal at his home the next day. At that time, the World-Honoured One silently consented. The next day, when the time arrived, the Buddha and the saṃgha went to his home. Having eaten, they returned. Along the road, they strolled past a marsh with clear, sweet spring water; the Buddha and the bhikṣus went to rest there. At that time, the bhikṣus each washed their bowls. A monkey came and begged Ānanda for his bowl. Fearing it would break, Ānanda did not wish to give it. The Buddha told Ānanda: "Quickly give it to him, do not worry." Following the instruction, he gave it. Having obtained the bowl, the monkey carried it to a honey tree, filled the bowl with honey, and came to offer it to the Buddha. The Buddha told him: "Remove the impurities from it." The monkey immediately picked out the bees and grubs, making it completely pure and clean. The Buddha then told him: "Mix it with water." As instructed, he added water, mixed it thoroughly, and offered it to the World-Honoured One. Having accepted it, the World-Honoured One distributed it among the saṃgha, and they all drank together, with enough for everyone. The monkey leapt and danced for joy, fell into a large pit, and immediately died. His consciousness entered the womb in the home of Śikṣita. The wife then realized she was pregnant. When the months and days were full, she gave birth to a boy, handsome and rare to match. When he was born, the vessels in the home were naturally filled with honey. Śikṣita and his wife were overjoyed beyond measure. They spoke to physiognomists; the physiognomists predicted good fortune, and because honey was an auspicious omen on the day of his birth, he was named Madhuvasiṣṭha. When the boy grew up, he took leave of his father, went forth, and attained the fruit of an arhat. He wandered through human settlements with the bhikṣus; whenever they were thirsty and exhausted, he would toss his bowl into the air, and it would naturally fill with honey, so that the multitude drank together and all were fully satisfied. Ānanda addressed the Buddha: "What were the causes and conditions for his being born among monkeys?" The Buddha told Ānanda: "Long ago in the past, at the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, there was a young bhikṣu who saw another śramaṇa leaping across a ditch and said: 'That person is so agile, he looks just like a monkey!' The śramaṇa said to him: 'I have realized the four fruits and completed everything.' Hearing this, the youth's hair stood on end; throwing his five limbs to the ground, he begged for mercy and repented. Because he repented his fault, he did not fall into hell; because he mocked the appearance of an arhat, he was constantly born as a monkey for five hundred lifetimes. Because he had previously gone forth and maintained the prohibitive precepts, he was now able to meet me, be bathed in pure transformation, and exhaust all suffering."