諸經要集 7.30

7.30

After the Buddha spoke this verse, he told the bhikṣus: 'In the distant past, countless ages ago, there was a bhikṣu with the five supernatural powers named Viryabala (Vigor-Strength). Under a tree in the mountains, he sought the path in quiet solitude. At that time, four beasts attached themselves to his side and were always safe and secure: first was a dove, second was a crow, third was a poisonous snake, and fourth was a deer. These four beasts searched for food by day and returned to rest at night. One night, the four beasts asked among themselves: "Among the sufferings of the world, which is the gravest?" The crow said: "Hunger and thirst are the most painful. At the time of hunger and thirst, the body is feeble, the eyes are dark, and the consciousness is restless; one throws oneself into nets regardless of sharp blades. None of our deaths occur for any other reason. From this perspective, hunger and thirst are suffering." The dove said: "Lust is the most painful. When sexual desire blazes, there is no consideration of anything else; endangering the body and losing one's life all stem from this." The poisonous snake said: "Dveṣa is the most painful. Once the venomous intention arises, it makes no distinction between kin and stranger; it can kill others and can also kill oneself." The deer said: "Fear and terror are the most painful. In the forests and wilds, my heart is ever anxious, dreading hunters, jackals, and wolves. At the faintest sound, I flee into ravines and cliffs; mother and child abandon each other, hearts and livers trembling violently. From this perspective, fear and terror are suffering." Hearing this, the bhikṣu replied to them, saying: "What you have discussed are merely the branches; you have not penetrated the root of suffering. Among all the sufferings under heaven, none exceeds having a body. The body is a vessel of suffering, with boundless anxieties and terrors. It is for this reason that I abandoned worldly life to study the path, extinguished thoughts and cut off ideation, felt no greed for the four great elements, and wished to cut off the source of suffering with my resolve set on nirvāṇa. Therefore, know that the body is the great root of suffering." Thus the secular texts say: "No great disaster is worse than having a body."'