法苑珠林 85.16

85.16

Furthermore, the Damamūka-nidāna-sūtra states: When the Buddha was in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, in a grove by a marsh he clearly preached the wondrous Dharma for the devas, humans, and the four assemblies. At that time, a flock of five hundred wild geese in the sky heard the Buddha's voice, took deep delight in it, and circled around wishing to descend. A hunter spread a net, and the geese fell into it; killed by the hunter, they were born in Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. Resting upon their parents' laps like eight-year-old boys, extraordinarily handsome and radiating light like golden mountains, they reflected: 'By what cause was I born here?' They immediately recognized their past lives and the retribution of their love for the Dharma. Together holding flowers, they descended to Jambudvīpa, arrived at the place of the World-Honoured One, bowed at his feet, and said: 'Relying upon the sound of the Dharma, we were born in a wondrous heaven; we pray you instruct us once more.' The Buddha preached the Four Truths, and they attained the fruit of srotāpanna, then immediately returned to heaven.