法苑珠林 85.8

85.8

As the Avataṃsaka-sūtra says: When a bodhisattva, for the sake of seeking the Dharma, was able to find one who could bestow the Dharma, that person spoke these words: 'If you can throw your body into a fire pit seven fathoms deep, I shall give you the Dharma.' Hearing this, the bodhisattva was immeasurably rejoiced and reflected thus: 'For the sake of the Dharma, I do not begrudge even my physical life, and would endure immeasurable suffering in Avīci hell and the various evil destinies; how much more so entering a tiny fire pit in the human realm to obtain the hearing of the Dharma!' According to the Sūtra on the Samādhi of Accumulating All Merits, Śākya[muni] in the distant past was an immortal with the five superknowledges named Supreme. According to the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra, when Śākyamuni Buddha was originally a bodhisattva named Delight in the Dharma, at that time there was no Buddha in the world and good words were not heard. He sought the Dharma in the four directions with unflagging diligence, yet could not obtain it at all. At that time, Māra transformed into a brāhmaṇa and spoke to him, saying: 'I have a gāthā spoken by the Buddha. If you can make paper of your skin, a pen of your bone, and ink of your blood to transcribe this gāthā, I shall give it to you.' Delight in the Dharma immediately reflected: 'Throughout lifetimes, I have lost my body countlessly without gaining this benefit.' He at once peeled off his skin and dried it in the sun, intending to transcribe the gāthā. Māra then made his form disappear. At that time, the Buddha, knowing his devoted resolve, welled up from the lower direction and expounded the profound Dharma for him; [the bodhisattva] thereupon attained the forbearance of the non-arising of dharmas.