諸經要集 8.13

8.13

Furthermore, the Ekottarika-āgama says: "The karmic reward of filial piety and making offerings to one's parents is equal to the merit of a bodhisattva in his final lifetime [before buddhahood]." Furthermore, the Liudu ji jing says: In the past, the Bodhisattva was an estate manager of immense wealth, possessing hundreds of millions. He constantly revered the Three Jewels and turned with loving-kindness toward all sentient beings. Observing the marketplace, he saw a turtle and felt deep pity for it. He asked its price, whether it was expensive or cheap. The owner of the turtle, knowing that the Bodhisattva possessed the virtue of loving-kindness and compassion, answered, "One million." The Bodhisattva replied, "Very good." He took the turtle home and released it by the water. Watching it swim away, with mingled sorrow and joy he vowed: "May all beings be delivered safely from difficulties just as you are now!" He broadly raised great vows, and all the Buddhas praised him. Later that night, the turtle came and gnawed at his gate. Surprised by the noise at the gate, [the Bodhisattva] went out and saw it. The turtle spoke to the Bodhisattva, saying, "I have received your heavy bounty and my body has been preserved; I have nothing with which to repay your kindness. As an aquatic creature, I know the rise and fall of waters. A great flood is about to arrive, which will surely bring tremendous catastrophe. Please quickly prepare a boat, and when the time comes I will meet you." He replied, "Very good." The next morning he went to the palace gate and reported the matter to the king. Because the Bodhisattva had long had a reputation for goodness, the king trusted and relied on his words, moving the populace from low-lying areas to high ground. When the time arrived, the turtle came, and the floodwaters arrived. [The turtle said,] "Quickly board and load the boat. Follow where I go, and you may escape calamity." The boat followed behind it. There was a snake that rushed toward the boat. The Bodhisattva said, "Take it." The turtle said, "Very good." He also saw a floating fox and said, "Take it." The turtle said, "That is also good." He then saw a drowning man, who was slapping his cheeks, crying out to heaven, and begging: "Pity me and save my life!" [The Bodhisattva] said, "Take him." The turtle said, "Beware of taking him! Ordinary men are deceitful, and few remain faithful to the end. They turn their backs on kindness, pursue power, and love to commit wicked rebellion." The Bodhisattva said, "If you rescue crawling creatures, yet I despise a human being, how could that be benevolence? I cannot bear to do so." Thereupon he took him aboard. The turtle said, "You will regret this!" They eventually reached a fertile land. The turtle took its leave, saying, "My debt of gratitude is fulfilled; I ask to withdraw." [The Bodhisattva] replied, "When I attain the Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksaṃbuddha, I will surely deliver you." The turtle said, "Very good." The turtle withdrew, and the snake and fox each departed. The fox made its dwelling in a burrow, where it discovered a hundred pounds of fine purple-burnished gold hidden by ancient people. Overjoyed, it said, "I must repay that kindness!" The fox returned and reported, "I, a small creature, received your bounty and had my meager life saved. A creature that lives in a burrow, I sought a burrow to dwell in safety and found a hundred pounds of gold. This burrow is not a tomb, nor a home; it was not robbed, nor was it stolen. It has come about through my utmost sincerity. I wish to offer it to the virtuous one." The Bodhisattva deeply reflected: "If I do not take it, it will simply be discarded to no purpose. It can be distributed in dāna to poor folk. Would it not also be good if sentient beings were aided?" He then went and took it. The rescued man saw it and said, "Give me half!" The Bodhisattva immediately bestowed ten pounds upon him. The rescued man said, "You dug up a tomb and robbed gold—a crime that deserves death! Why will you not give me half? If you do not divide it in half and give it to me, I will surely inform the magistrates!" [The Bodhisattva] replied, "I wish to give it equitably to the poor and destitute. For you to want to monopolize it—is that not partial?" The rescued man then reported him to the magistrates. The Bodhisattva was arrested and imprisoned, with no one to appeal to. He simply took refuge in the Three Jewels, stopped up his faults, blamed himself, and compassionately vowed: "May sentient beings quickly be freed from the eight difficulties and have no resentment or knot of enmity, as I do today." The snake and the fox met and said, "What can be done about this matter?" The snake said, "I will rescue him." It then held a miraculous medicine in its mouth, unlocked the gate, and entered the prison. Seeing the Bodhisattva, whose complexion and appearance were bruised and emaciated, it felt sorrowful and heartbroken. It said to the Bodhisattva, "Keep this medicine with you. I will bite the prince's finger; its poison is extremely deadly, and no one will be able to cure it. When you, virtuous one, announce yourself and apply the medicine, he will instantly recover." The Bodhisattva remained silent. The snake acted as it had said. The prince's life was on the verge of ending. The king issued a decree: "Whoever can save him shall be enfeoffed as prime minister, and I will share the governance with him." The Bodhisattva reported this to the king, and upon applying the medicine [the prince] immediately recovered. Overjoyed, the king asked the reason for this, and [the Bodhisattva] set forth the entire story from beginning to end. The king was filled with regret, blamed himself, and said, "How very blind I have been!" He immediately executed the rescued man, proclaimed a great amnesty throughout his kingdom, enfeoffed [the Bodhisattva] as prime minister, took him by the hand into the palace, and sat with him to discourse on the Buddha-Dharma, thereby bringing about great peace. The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: "The estate manager was myself; the king was Maitreya; the turtle was Ānanda; the fox was Śāriputra; the snake was Maudgalyāyana; and the drowning man was Devadatta. Thus was the Bodhisattva's practice of dāna in the perfection of compassionate wisdom."