法苑珠林 78.41

78.41

"In the Bhadrakalpa, in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, a Buddha appeared in the world named Kāśyapa. In that Dharma of his, there was a Tripiṭaka bhikṣu who led five hundred disciples traveling through other countries. While debating together among a great assembly, there was a difficult question that he could not answer satisfactorily. He immediately became angry and turned to revile them harshly: 'You have no understanding at all, yet you forcefully interrogate me like a water buffalo butting into people!' At that time, all the disciples assented to his words, and each dispersed. Due to the karmic cause and condition of this harsh speech, for five hundred lifetimes he was born among water buffaloes, and the cattle herders accompanied him, persisting even until today without yet having escaped." The Buddha told the bhikṣus: "If you wish to know that Tripiṭaka bhikṣu, he is this ferocious water buffalo in the herd today. Those who were disciples at that time are these five hundred cattle herders today." When the Buddha explained the causes and conditions of this water buffalo, each guarded their own bodily, verbal, and mental karma, grew disgusted with birth and death, and attained the four fruits of a śramaṇa; some brought forth the aspiration for supreme bodhi, and having heard what the Buddha said, joyfully practiced it.