法苑珠林 77.11

77.11

Furthermore, the Ekottarika-āgama says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an elder in the city of Śrāvastī named Bhadiya. His household was immensely wealthy, with boundless property and treasures, and gold and silver beyond count. Although his family was wealthy, he was stingy and guarded his riches, neither wearing them nor eating [well]. His clothing and food were extremely coarse and vulgar. Nor did he give [anything] to his wife, children, relatives, male or female slaves, servants, friends, acquaintances, or to any śramaṇas, brahmins, and the like. Moreover, he gave rise to wrong views and severed his roots of goodness. However, he had no sons. After he died, all his treasures and wealth were entirely confiscated by the government. King Prasenajit personally went to collect and gather them. Having completed the collection, he returned to where the Buddha was, and addressed the Buddha, saying, 'Where was the elder Bhadiya born after his death today?' The Buddha told the king, 'The elder Bhadiya's past merit has already been exhausted, and he created no new karma. Because he gave rise to wrong views and severed his roots of goodness, at death he was born in the Raurava Hell.' When King Prasenajit heard what the Buddha said, he wept, shedding tears, and addressed the Buddha, saying, 'What karma did the elder Bhadiya perform in the past to be born into a wealthy family? And what evil did he commit that he could not enjoy the pleasures of this extreme wealth?' The Buddha told the king, 'Long ago in the distant past, after Kāśyapa Buddha entered nirvāṇa, at that time this elder was born in the kingdom of Śrāvastī as the son of a farming household. A pratyekabuddha came to his house and begged for food from him. At that time, this elder took food and gave it as alms. Having received the food, the pratyekabuddha flew away into the sky. Seeing this, the elder made this vow: "By this root of goodness, may I, in every life and place of birth, never fall into the three miserable paths and always have an abundance of wealth and treasures." After having given the alms, he subsequently gave rise to a mind of regret: "The food I just gave should have been given to my male and female slaves; it should not have been given to this bald-headed śramaṇa." The Buddha told the king, 'Because of the merit of his vow when giving food to the pratyekabuddha in the past, the elder Bhadiya always had an abundance of wealth and treasures without any lack wherever he was born. But because he gave rise to a mind of regret after giving, wherever he was born, though dwelling in wealth and honor, he could not enjoy the pleasures of this extreme wealth. Stingy and guarded, he did not clothe or feed himself, nor did he give to his wife, children, and relatives, nor did he give to his friends, acquaintances, or to any śramaṇas, brahmins, and the like. Therefore, wise ones, having heard of this causal condition, if you have wealth and possessions, you should practice dāna and not give rise to stinginess. When giving, with a sincere mind present it with your own hands. Having given, rejoice and do not give rise to a mind of regret. One who can give in this way will obtain great retribution, boundless and limitless.'