諸經要集 16.59

16.59

王聞此偈。恕偷果人罪。我為凡時尚見非法。況今成佛。汝諸弟子為下人說法。時偷果人者。我是也。又智度論云。如迦葉佛時。有兄弟二人。出家求道。一人持戒誦經坐禪。一人廣求檀越修諸福業。至釋迦佛出世。一人生長者家。一人作大白象。力能破賊。長者子。出家學道。得六神通阿羅漢而以薄福乞食難得。他日持鉢。入城乞食。遍不能得。到白象厩。見王供象種種豐足。語此象言。我之與汝俱有罪過。象即感信。三日不食。守象人怖。求覓道人。見而問言。汝作何術。令王白象病不能食耶。答曰。此象是我先身時弟。共於迦葉佛時。出家學道。我但持戒誦經坐禪。不行布施。弟但廣求檀越作諸布施。不持戒。不學問。以其不持戒誦經坐禪故。今作此象。大修布施故。飲食備具種種豐足。我但行道不修布施故。今雖得道果。乞食不能得。以是事故。因緣不同。雖值佛世猶故飢渴。

The king, hearing this verse, pardoned the fruit-stealing man's offense. When I was still a commoner, I already perceived what was contrary to the Dharma, how much more now that I have achieved Buddhahood! You disciples preach the Dharma to those of lower status. The fruit-stealing man at that time was I myself. Furthermore, the Dà zhìdù lùn says: In the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, there were two brothers who left the household life to seek the Way. One upheld the precepts, recited the sūtras, and sat in meditation. The other extensively sought out dānapatis and cultivated various meritorious deeds. By the time Śākyamuni Buddha appeared in the world, one of them was born into an elder's household, while the other became a great white elephant whose strength could crush enemies. The elder's son left the household to study the Way, attained the six spiritual superknowledges (abhijñā), and became an arhat; yet, because of his meager merit, it was difficult for him to obtain almsfood. Another day, holding his bowl, he entered the city to beg for food, but could obtain nothing anywhere. He went to the white elephant's stable and saw that the king's provisions for the elephant were manifold and abundant. He spoke to this elephant, saying: 'Both I and you are guilty of faults.' The elephant immediately felt faith and touched with remorse, did not eat for three days. The elephant keeper was terrified and sought out the man of the Way. Finding him, he asked: 'What art did you use to make the king's white elephant sick so that it cannot eat?' He answered: 'This elephant was my younger brother in a previous life. Together, in the time of Kāśyapa Buddha, we left the household to study the Way. I merely upheld the precepts, recited the sūtras, and sat in meditation, but did not practice dāna. My younger brother merely sought out dānapatis extensively and performed various acts of dāna, but did not uphold the precepts or pursue learning. Because he did not uphold the precepts, recite the sūtras, or sit in meditation, he has now become this elephant. Because he cultivated dāna extensively, food and drink are provided in every way with abundance. Because I merely practiced the Way and did not cultivate dāna, now although I have attained the fruit of the Way, I cannot obtain almsfood. For this reason, their causes and conditions were different; though meeting the Buddha's era, he still suffers from hunger and thirst.'