法苑珠林 77.15

77.15

Furthermore, the Rucika Elder Sūtra (Luzhi zhangzhe jing) says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, there was an elder in the city of Śrāvastī named Rucika. His household was immensely wealthy, with boundless property and treasures, like Vaiśravaṇa. Because in the past he had given to a superior field of merit, he obtained this retribution. However, when he gave, he was unable to do so with a sincere mind; therefore, though he was now wealthy, his mind was persistently lowly and vile. The clothes he wore were dirty, worn out, and impure. For food, he used chaff and wild greens to stave off his hunger. When thirsty, he only drank water. When traveling, he rode in a decaying cart, toiling diligently to manage his family estate just like a slave. He was constantly ridiculed by the people of the world. Later, at one time, the people in the city held a great festival. They adorned their residences, hung silk banners and canopies, sprinkled the ground with perfumed water, and scattered various famous flowers. With various adornments, music, singing, and dancing, they enjoyed pleasures just like the gods. Seeing this, Rucika gave rise to the thought: 'Since they are rejoicing in assembly, I should also do so.' He immediately hurried back home, opened his storehouse himself, and took out five coins. Having gotten them, he reflected: 'If I eat at home, my mother, wife, and relatives cannot be fully provided for. If I go to another's house, I fear the host will take it.' Thereupon he used two coins to buy roasted grain flour, two coins to buy wine, and one coin to buy onions. From inside his house, he took a handful of salt, wrapped it in his lapel, and carried it outside the city. He headed under a tree. Having arrived under the tree, he saw many crows and birds, and feared they would come and seize it. He then went among the tombs, but there saw many dogs, so he immediately fled again. Reaching a vacant and quiet place, he put the salt into the wine, mixed it with the flour, and drank it, occasionally biting into an onion. Having never drunk wine before, he immediately became very drunk. Having become drunk, he got up, danced, and sang aloud. The words of his song said: