法苑珠林 82.90

82.90

Furthermore, the Dharmapada-avadāna-sūtra says: In the past, before Rāhula attained the Way, his mind and nature were crude and coarse, and his speech had little truthfulness. The Buddha ordered Rāhula: "Go to the Xiandi Monastery and dwell there; guard your mouth, restrain your thoughts, and diligently cultivate the scriptures and precepts." Rāhula accepted the instruction, bowed, and departed. Dwelling there for ninety days, he felt shame and repented incessantly day and night. The Buddha went to see him. Rāhula joyfully stepped forward, bowed to the Buddha, and arranged a rope couch for him to sit on. The Buddha sat cross-legged on the rope couch and said to Rāhula: "Take the basin, fetch water, and wash my feet." Rāhula accepted the instruction and washed the Buddha's feet. When the washing was finished, the Buddha said to Rāhula: "Do you see the foot-washing water in the basin or not?" Rāhula said to the Buddha: "Indeed, I see it." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "Can this water be used for food and drink or not?" Rāhula said: "It cannot be used again. Why? This water was originally pure, but now, because of washing feet, it has received dust and dirt; therefore, it cannot be used again." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "You are also like this. Although you are my son and the grandson of a king, having renounced worldly glory and wealth to become a śramaṇa, you do not reflect on diligence, nor do you restrain your body and guard your mouth. The filth of the three poisons fills your breast. You are just like this water, which cannot be used again." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "Discard the water in the basin." Rāhula discarded it at once. The Buddha said to Rāhula: "Although the basin is empty, can it be used to hold food and drink or not?" He said to the Buddha: "It cannot be used again. Why? Because it bears the name of a foot-washing basin and has previously held impurity." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "You are also like this. Although you are a śramaṇa, your mouth has no truthfulness, your mind and nature are stubborn and unbending, you do not reflect on diligence, and you have previously incurred ill repute. You are also like a foot-washing basin, unfit to hold food." The Buddha tapped the basin with his toe; immediately it rolled and tumbled, bounding and falling several times before stopping. The Buddha said to Rāhula: "Do you cherish this basin or fear that it might break?" Rāhula said to the Buddha: "A vessel for washing feet is a cheap thing; though in my mind I would prefer it not break, I do not care for it deeply." The Buddha said to Rāhula: "You are also like this. Although you are a śramaṇa, you do not restrain your body and mouth; your crude words and evil speech cause much injury. You are not loved by the multitude, nor are you cherished by the wise. When your body dies and your consciousness departs, you will revolve in the three wretched realms, bringing suffering and distress upon yourself, unloved and uncherished by the immeasurable Buddhas, worthies, and sages—just as you say you do not cherish the basin." When Rāhula heard this, he felt shame and terror. "It is like a war elephant: though its two tusks, two ears, four legs, and tail—nine weapons—are fully equipped, it must first protect its trunk. Why? Because the elephant's trunk is soft and fragile; if struck by an arrow, it dies immediately. When a person commits the nine evils, he must only guard his mouth. Why guard the mouth? He must fear the three wretched realms. If he commits all ten evils and does not guard his mouth, it is like an elephant damaging its trunk. A person who commits the ten evils does not consider the poisonous pain and bitter hardship of the three wretched realms." He then spoke a verse: