諸經要集 4.32

4.32

Furthermore, the Fu fazang jing says: In the past, the venerable arhat Jāyanta went with his disciples to the city of Takṣaśilā. Having arrived at that city, he looked sorrowful and displeased. Advancing a little farther, he saw a crow on the road and smiled with joy. A disciple asked the master, "Please tell us the cause of this." The venerable one replied: "When I first reached the city, beneath the city gate I saw a hungry ghost child who said to me in distress: 'My mother entered the city to seek food for me. It has been five hundred years since we parted. Famished, exhausted, and destitute, my death is not far off. If you enter the city, Venerable One, and see my mother, please tell her of my suffering and ask her to return quickly.' As soon as I entered the city, I saw that mother and fully related her child's message. The ghost mother answered me: 'Since I entered this city, five hundred years have passed, yet I have never been able to obtain even a single person's spittle. Having recently given birth, my physical strength is frail and weak. Even if I obtained a little spittle, the other ghosts would snatch it from me. Just now I encountered someone and happened to get a little spittle. I wish to leave the city to share it with my child. But beneath the gate there are many powerful ghosts and spirits, and being terrified, I dare not go out. I only pray that the Venerable One will escort me out of the city.' I then led her out so that she could eat together with her child. I then asked the ghost, 'How long has it been since you were born here?' The ghost answered me, 'I have seen this city form and disintegrate seven times.' Hearing the ghost's words, I grieved and lamented that the suffering undergone in saṃsāra is so long-lasting, which is why I looked sorrowful. As for that crow: ninety-one kalpas ago in the past, a Buddha appeared in the world named Vipaśyin. At that time, I was the son of an elder and wished to leave the household life. At that time, leaving the household life would certainly lead to attaining arhatship. My parents would not permit it and forcibly betrothed me to a wife. After obtaining a wife, I again sought to leave the household life. My parents said to me: 'If you give birth to a son, we will let you go.' I immediately obeyed their instruction, and later a boy was born. When he reached the age of six, I wished to leave again. My parents instructed the child to embrace my legs, weeping and crying: 'Father, if you abandon me, who will look after and sustain me? You must kill me first, and only then may you leave!' Seeing this at that time, passion and attachment arose in my mind, and I said to the child: 'For your sake, I will not leave the household life after all.' Because of that child, for ninety-one kalpas from then on, we drifted through the five destinies without ever seeing each other again. Now, viewing with the eye of the Way, I see that this crow is that very son of mine from before. Pitying his ignorance and long dwelling in saṃsāra, I smiled. For this reason, if someone hinders another from leaving the household life, the karmic retribution for this person will be to remain constantly in the evil destinies, enduring extreme suffering with no release. When the retribution in the evil destinies is finished, if born among humans, they will be born blind without eyes. Therefore, when the wise see someone who wishes to leave the household life, they should diligently use expedient means to encourage and assist them to succeed, and not create obstacles."