法苑珠林 87.76

87.76

Furthermore, the Mahālaṃkāra-śūtra-śāstra states: 'I once heard in the past that there was a monk who was constantly robbed by bandits. One day, he firmly locked his doors. The bandit came again, knocked at the door, and called out. The monk answered, "When I see you, I am filled with great terror. You may reach your hand in through that window, and I will give you the goods." The bandit then put his hand through the window. The monk bound it to a pillar with a rope. Holding a staff, the monk opened the door and struck him once, saying to him, "Take refuge in the Buddha!" Out of fear, the bandit immediately followed his words and took refuge in the Buddha. He struck him a second time and said to him, "Take refuge in the Dharma!" Fearing death, the bandit again said, "I take refuge in the Dharma." When struck the third time, the monk again said to him, "Take refuge in the Saṅgha!" At that time, out of fear, the bandit again said, "I take refuge in the Saṅgha." He then thought to himself: "Just how many refuges does this man of the Way have? If there are many more, I will surely not be spared!" His body exhausted and in pain, he immediately sought to leave the household life. Someone asked him, "Previously you were a bandit committing all kinds of evil acts; for what reason have you left the household life to cultivate the Way?" He answered that person, saying, "I also observed the benefit of the Buddha-Dharma and only then left the household life. On that day, I met a good spiritual friend who struck me three times with a staff, leaving me with only a faint remnant of life unextinguished. The Tathāgata, the World-Honoured One, is truly omniscient! If he had taught his disciples four refuges, my life would have ended right there. The Buddha foresaw this matter from afar, and therefore taught the monk to strike the bandit three times so that I would not die. For this reason he spoke only of the three refuges, and did not speak of four refuges."'