諸經要集 9.68

9.68

Furthermore, the Dharmapada-avadāna-sūtra states: When the Buddha was in the country of Śrāvastī, there was at that time a brāhmaṇa in the city approaching eighty years of age. His wealth was boundless, yet he was difficult to convert as a person, knowing nothing of morality and taking no account of impermanence. He was building yet another fine house, with a front hall and back chambers, a cool terrace and a heated room, east and west wings, and corridors of dozens of beams. Only the sun-facing eaves in front of the back chambers were not yet finished. At that time, the brāhmaṇa constantly directed and supervised the various tasks himself. With his divine eye, the Buddha saw that this old gentleman's life would not last out the day and that he was destined for the next world. Unable to know this himself, he was just then busily engaged in building and repairing; his spirit possessed no merit, which was deeply pitiable. Leading Ānanda, the Buddha went to his gate and asked after the old gentleman: 'Are you not weary? What is the purpose of building this house?' The old gentleman said, 'The front hall is for entertaining guests; the back chambers are for my own dwelling. The east and west wings are to accommodate my sons and daughters, my wealth, and my servants. In summer I will stay on the cool terrace, and in winter I will enter the heated room.' The Buddha said to the old gentleman, 'Having long heard of your venerable virtue, I have yearned to converse with you. The Buddha has an essential verse that brings benefit both in life and in death. I wish to present it to you; I wonder if that is acceptable? Would you be willing to put aside your tasks for a short while and sit down to converse together?' The old gentleman answered, 'Right now I am in great haste and have no time to sit and talk. Come again on another day, and we shall have a good conversation. As for the essential verse you mentioned, you may speak it now.' Thereupon, the Bhagavat spoke the verse: