諸經要集 4.33

4.33

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.