法苑珠林 86.8

86.8

Furthermore, the Mahālaṃkāra-śāstra states: “If a person pursues learning, even if he breaks his conduct, through the power of learning he can quickly turn back. For this reason, one should diligently pursue learning. I once heard in the past that there was an erudite monk dwelling in an araṇya. At that time, a widow came frequently to this monk’s dwelling to listen to his preaching of the Dharma. Then, the learned monk gave rise to defiled attachment toward this widow. Because of his defiled attachment, all his wholesome qualities gradually became weak and feeble. Driven by a worldling’s mind and defilements, he made a pact with this woman. The woman said: ‘If you can renounce the path and return to lay life now, I will follow you.’ Thereupon the monk immediately renounced the path. Having renounced the path, he was unable to endure the afflictions of the worldly life; his body grew frail and emaciated, and he did not understand how to make a living, nor did he know how to make little effort and obtain great wealth. He then pondered: ‘By what means can I now earn a livelihood?’ He further thought: ‘Only slaughtering sheep for hire requires very little exertion and also yields a modest profit.’ Having thought this, he sought out such a place. Because a worldling’s mind easily decays, he engaged in this livelihood and became close companions with butchers. While he was selling meat, an acquaintance who was a mendicant practitioner of the path happened to meet and see him on the road. Having seen him, the mendicant recognized him: his hair was disheveled, he wore blue-black clothes, and blood was on his body just like a rākṣasa of Yama; the steelyard for meat he held was completely smeared with blood. He was seen weighing meat and intending to sell it to people. Seeing him, the monk sighed deeply and thought: ‘The Buddha’s words are true: the mind of a worldling is light, restless, and never still, exceedingly easy to turn about. Formerly I saw this man diligently cultivating learning and upholding the prohibitions and precepts; how could he suddenly do such a thing today?’ Having thought this, he spoke a verse: