法苑珠林 63.72

63.72

As the *Lokasthitābhidharma-śāstra* states: "Concerning the jambu tree: this tree grows on the northern edge of Jambudvīpa, on the south bank of the Nimindhara River. The base of this tree is situated right at the center of the continent. Taking the eastern and western corners from the center of the tree trunk, each is one thousand yojanas away. This tree grows fully developed, with a lovely appearance. Its branches and leaves overlap one another, lasting long without withering; neither wind nor rain can penetrate them. Layer upon layer, it rises to a height of one hundred yojanas. The lower trunk is grand and straight, with no knots or burls at all. Only at fifty yojanas do branches begin. The trunk's diameter is five yojanas across, and its circumference is fifteen yojanas. Each of its branches extends horizontally fifty yojanas; the span across the middle is one hundred yojanas, and the circumference is three hundred yojanas. Its fruit is incomparably sweet and delicious, like fine honey. The fruit is as large as an urn, while its stone is as large as the stone of an ordinary jambu fruit in this world. Upon it are the shapes of birds and beasts. The eastern and western branches bear fruits, most of which fall onto the land of Jambudvīpa, with few falling into the water. The fruits of the southern branch all fall onto Jambudvīpa. The fruits of the northern branch all fall into the river and are eaten by fish. The tree roots are entirely covered with golden sand. When the spring rains fall, it does not leak below. In summer it is not hot, and in winter there is neither wind nor cold. Gandharvas and yakṣa deities live beneath the tree. How is this known? In the past, there were two bhikṣus in Rājagṛha who possessed supernatural powers and were companions. They went to view that tree and arrived at its location. Seeing that a fruit of the tree had ripened, fallen to the ground, and split open of itself, one bhikṣu reached his hand into the stem hole up to his fingernails, yet his longest finger still did not reach the stone. Drawing his hand out, he found it stained by the fruit, his hand and fingernails completely red. The fragrance of that fruit can entice people's minds; he smelled the fruit's fragrance with his nose. The second bhikṣu asked him, 'Do you wish to eat it?' 'Venerable elder, I take no pleasure in eating it. This matter is inconceivable; it is the most extensive fetter contrary to freedom from desire. Why so? If a person who has not parted from desire smells this fragrance, it immediately stirs his mental breath and drives him mad. If outsiders who have abandoned desire smell this fragrance, they fall from their state of detachment from desire.' These two bhikṣus returned to Rājagṛha and recounted the matter as above. At that time, there was a man named Long Shanks, originally of royal lineage, bearing the surname of the Koliya clan. By the karmic retribution of past deeds, he had obtained supernatural powers: if he walked in water, before his front foot submerged, his rear foot had already moved; if he walked on blades of grass, even though the grass had not bent, he could already step forward. Hearing the Buddha speak of this tree, this man asked the Buddha, 'Can I go to the jambu tree now?' The Buddha replied, 'You can reach it.' This man bowed to the Buddha and set off toward the north. He crossed various mountains, passing seven mountains, the seventh being Mount Gold Rim. Climbing to the mountain peak and looking north, he stretched his body and gazed into the distance, but saw only pitch-black darkness. Terrified, he returned. The Buddha asked, 'Did you reach the jambu tree?' He replied, 'I did not reach it.' The Buddha asked, 'What did you see?' He answered, 'I saw only darkness.' The Buddha said, 'That dark color was the jambu tree itself.' The man again bowed at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, and once more set out toward the north. He traversed the previous seven mountains again, then crossed seven more mountains beyond, crossed six great kingdoms, and crossed seven great forests. Between the forests there were seven great rivers; he crossed these seven rivers, and crossed an āmalaka forest and a harītakī forest, arriving finally at the southern branch of the jambu tree. From the southern branch, he walked up to the northern branch. Looking down, this man saw that the water below was different from ordinary water, being clear and completely transparent without any obstruction. The man reflected: 'Can my supernatural powers be accomplished here now?' Thereupon, resting his foot on the water while his hand grasped a tree branch, as his foot touched the water, it sank like a stone; his supernatural powers could not be accomplished there. This water was as light and subtle as clarified butter, floating atop water; if one threw this water into that other water, it would sink like a stone. This man took a single fruit and returned to offer it to the World-Honoured One. The Buddha accepted this fruit, broke it into many pieces, and gave them to the great assembly. The juice of the fruit stained the Buddha's hand. The Buddha struck a mountain rock with this hand, and to this day it remains red, no different from the past—an astringent red that does not dry up, with the palm print clearly visible. Because he broke the fruit into pieces in the past, this rock is named 'Fragmented Rock'. At that time, when the Buddha converted Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa, he also took this fruit and gave it to Kāśyapa. Beyond this jambu tree are two forests shaped like a half-moon, surrounding the tree. The inner forest is named Harītakī, and the outer is named Āmalaka. When these fruits ripen, their flavor is most delicious, neither pungent nor bitter, like fine honey; in size and shape, the fruit is like a two-hu vessel. South of the Āmalaka Forest there are seven more forests, interspersed with seven rivers. The northernmost forest is named Āmra; the second, Jambu; the third, Sāla; the fourth, Tāla; the fifth, Human Forest; the sixth, Pomegranate Forest; and the seventh, Kapittha Forest. Such fruits are neither pungent nor bitter, but sweet as honey. In the Human Forest, the fruits resemble human form; if one who has abandoned desire eats this fruit, he falls from dhyāna. South of the Kapittha Forest there are six great kingdoms. The southernmost kingdom is named Gauliu; the second, Kuraba; the third, Videha; the fourth, Mahāvideha; the fifth, Uttaramanda; and the northernmost sixth, Sheximoluoye. The people within these six kingdoms are all upright and good, upholding the ten virtuous paths. When their animals die of themselves, they come of their own accord to people, who then eat their flesh. Yaks are most numerous there; people use their hair and tails to thatch roofs. That land produces wheat without needing plowing or cultivation; when this wheat ripens, it has no chaff or bran. The people of that country grind and steam it for food; the aroma and taste of that wheat are sweet and delicious like honey."