諸經要集 4.33

4.33

又出家功德經云。昔佛在世時。佛與阿難入毘舍離城。時到乞食。有一王子字鞞羅羡那。與諸婇女在高樓上。共相娛樂。佛聞樂音語阿難言。我知此人却後七日必當命終。若不出家或墮地獄。阿難聞已即往教化。勸其出家。王子聞勸。於六日中極意受樂。至第七日求佛出家。一日一夜修持淨戒。即便命終生四天王為北天王毘沙門子。與諸婇女受五欲樂。極天之壽滿五百歲。後生忉利為帝釋子。壽天千歲。次生炎摩復為王子。壽二千歲。後生兜率亦為王子。壽四千歲。次生化樂為天王子。壽八千歲。化樂壽盡。復生第六他化自在。為天王子。與諸婇女。所受五欲於下最勝。盡天壽命萬六千歲。如是受樂。於六欲天往來七返。而無中夭。一日出家滿二十劫。不墮惡道。常生天上受福自然。最後人中生富樂家。財寶具足。壯年已過臨老厭世。出家修道成辟支佛。名毘流帝梨。廣度天人不可限量。以是因緣。出家功德無量無邊不可為喻。假使羅漢滿四天下。若有一人一百歲中。盡心供養四事無乏。乃至涅槃各為起塔。花香瓔珞種種供養。所得功德。不如有人為求涅槃一日一夜出家持戒之功德也。以斯而言。出家之法真可尊貴。不得以少財色貪著俗事。流浪生死自苦其身。

Furthermore, the Chujia gongde jing says: In the past, when the Buddha was in the world, the Buddha and Ānanda entered the city of Vaiśālī at the time for begging food. There was a prince named Bairoṣaṇa (Pi-luo-xian-na) who was on a high terrace enjoying himself with palace ladies. Hearing the sound of music, the Buddha said to Ānanda: "I know that after seven days, this person will certainly end his life. If he does not leave the household life, he will fall into hell." Having heard this, Ānanda went at once to teach and transform him, urging him to leave the household life. Hearing the encouragement, the prince indulged his desires to the utmost for six days; on the seventh day, he sought out the Buddha to leave the household life. Cultivating and upholding the pure precepts for one day and one night, his life ended, and he was born in the heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings as the son of Vaiśravaṇa, the Heavenly King of the North. Together with palace ladies, he enjoyed the pleasures of the five desires, living out the full celestial lifespan of five hundred years. Afterwards he was born in Trāyastriṃśa as the son of Śakra, with a celestial lifespan of one thousand years. Next he was born in Yāma, again as a prince, with a lifespan of two thousand years. Later he was born in Tuṣita, also as a prince, with a lifespan of four thousand years. Next he was born in Nirmāṇarati as a prince of the gods, with a lifespan of eight thousand years. When his lifespan in Nirmāṇarati was exhausted, he was again born in the sixth heaven, Paranirmitavaśavartin, as a prince of the gods. Together with palace ladies, the five desires he enjoyed were the supreme among the lower [heavens], living out the celestial lifespan of sixteen thousand years. Enjoying pleasures in this way, he transmigrated back and forth across the six desire heavens seven times without premature death. For leaving the household life for a single day, for a full twenty kalpas he did not fall into the evil destinies, constantly being born in the heavens to enjoy spontaneous blessings. Finally, in the human realm, he was born into a wealthy and joyful family, fully endowed with wealth and treasures. After his prime had passed and as he approached old age, weary of the world, he left the household life to cultivate the Way and became a pratyekabuddha named Vairūḍaka (Pi-liu-di-li), vastly delivering humans and gods beyond measure. For this reason, the merit of leaving the household life is immeasurable and boundless, beyond all comparison. Suppose arhats filled the four continents: if there were a person who for one hundred years wholeheartedly made offerings of the four requisites without lack, and even at their nirvāṇa erected stūpas for each, offering various flowers, fragrances, and necklaces—the merit obtained would not equal that of a person who, seeking nirvāṇa, leaves the household life and upholds the precepts for a single day and a single night. Judging by this, the method of leaving the household life is truly worthy of honor and esteem. One must not covet worldly matters on account of minor wealth or sensual beauty, drifting through saṃsāra and afflicting oneself with suffering.