法苑珠林 92.22

92.22

At that time, Saṅgharakṣita asked the merchants, 'Between water and land, by which road shall we proceed?' The merchants said, 'The water route is exceedingly distant and takes more than six months; our provisions are nearly exhausted, and we cannot make it.' Thereupon they deliberated together and decided to proceed by the overland route. Lodging mid-journey along the way, Saṅgharakṣita told the merchants, 'I must lodge apart from the assembly. When you depart at night, call out to me loudly.' The merchants respectfully agreed. Saṅgharakṣita left the assembly and lodged for the night to sit in meditation. In the middle of the night he fell asleep and rested. When the merchants departed at night, they called out to one another in turns, but Saṅgharakṣita did not awaken, and they just abandoned him and departed. As the night was about to end, a great wind and rain arose. Only then did Saṅgharakṣita awake; he raised his voice and cried out loudly, but in the end no one answered. He thought in his mind and spoke to himself: 'This was a great sin; my companions have abandoned me and departed.'