法苑珠林 87.27

87.27

Furthermore, the Saṃyuktāgama says: [The Buddha] had Sudatta receive the three refuges, so that he was ultimately reborn in heaven. When someone was pregnant, he would have the unborn child receive the three self-refuges. After it was born and gained discernment, he would again teach it the three refuges. If male or female slaves or guests were pregnant and bore children, they were taught in the same way. When buying male or female slaves, if they could receive the three refuges and the five precepts, only then would he buy them; if they could not, he would not buy them. Even when begging loans or borrowing on interest, they had to receive the three refuges before he would give to them. If someone gave material goods to the Three Jewels, upon hearing from the World-Honoured One, he would pronounce their name and make an aspirational prayer so that they would attain rebirth in heaven. The Buddha said: "Excellent! The Tathāgata possesses unsurpassed discernment; he thoroughly knows the expedients whereby all attain rebirth in heaven." Thus we know that the efficacy of the three refuges is supreme, and one cannot but receive them. Furthermore, the Dharmapada-avadāna-sūtra says: In the past, the five virtues departed from Śakra, the lord of gods, and he knew that his life was coming to an end and that he was destined to descend to be reborn in the mundane world, entering the womb of a donkey at a potter's house. Knowing that his blessings were exhausted, he was filled with immense sorrow. He reflected to himself: "In the tridhātu, the only one who can rescue people from distress and disaster is the Buddha." Thereupon he rushed to the Buddha's abode, bowed his head in homage, prostrated himself on the ground, and with single-minded devotion took the three self-refuges in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Holy Saṃgha. Before he had even risen, his spirit suddenly departed and entered the womb of a mother donkey at the potter's house as its foal. At that time, the donkey slipped its tether, ran among the unfired clay vessels, and shattered them. Its master beat it, instantly injuring the fetus. His spirit immediately returned to his old body, the five virtues were restored, and he was once again the lord of gods. The Buddha awoke from samādhi and praised him, saying: "Excellent, lord of gods! At the very point of losing your life, you were able to take refuge in the Three Venerable Ones. Your karmic retributions are already finished, and you shall not suffer further toil and hardship." At that time, the World-Honoured One spoke in verse: