法苑珠林 64.47

64.47

As the Buddha said in the *Sūtra of Bodhisattva Sūryaprabha*: The Buddha said, “In the past, in Jambudvīpa, there was a king named Jñānabala who constantly performed Buddhist duties and had deep faith in the Three Jewels. At that time, there was a monk named Paramaśraddhā whose mind constantly maintained samādhi and who had pity on sentient beings. The king wished to see this monk without ever tiring. On this monk’s thigh, a large and malignant ulcer developed, which medicines in the country could not cure. The king was filled with grief and deep compassion, and shed tears. At that time, twenty thousand consorts wept and grieved together. When the king was sleeping, a deva came in a dream and said to the king, ‘If you wish to cure this monk’s illness, you must obtain the flesh and blood of a living person for him to drink and eat, and he will be cured.’ The king awoke startled and dismayed, thinking, ‘This monk’s illness is severe, yet it requires such medicine, which by law is difficult to obtain.’ He inquired of his ministers. The king’s eldest prince, whose name was Jñānanirodha, addressed the king, ‘Do not grieve, and do not be sorrowful. Blood and flesh are of the utmost baseness and insignificance.’ He returned to his fasting chamber, took a knife and cut his own thigh, took the flesh and blood, and offered them to the monk. The monk consumed them, whereupon the ulcer was cured, and his body was restored to ease. When the king heard of his recovery, he was greatly overjoyed and glowing, his attention fixed on the monk without thinking of his son’s pain. Because of this joy, with sincere dedication on each side, the crown prince was also healed naturally (truly because his conduct was aligned with the Buddha-mind, his physical wound was restored).”