維摩經疏卷第三．第六 3.60

3.60

"The Buddha told Rāhula": Rāhula is translated here as "obstruction" (fùzhàng), and also called "not releasing." In the past he was once a king; a śramaṇa wished to see him, but out of attachment to pleasure [the king] would not see him for six days. Furthermore, he blocked a mouse's hole so it could not come out for six days; hence he stayed in the womb for six years before being born. Thus, based on this meaning, he is named "obstruction" and "not releasing." It is also said that he was the crown prince born in the palace. On the day [the Buddha] went forth from the household, his father, the king, feared that the royal line would be cut off and terminated, and detained him without giving permission. At that time the prince pointed his finger at his consort's belly and addressed her, saying: "Six years from now, you shall give birth to a boy." It happened just as he had spoken: he was born six years after the Buddha went forth. The people of the state and the Śākya clan all suspected: "Since the prince himself went forth and renounced the five desires, how could the consort in the palace have become pregnant? Has she not committed misconduct?" King Śuddhodana and the relatives conferred together, thinking he was not the prince's descendant. The king and the Śākyas all harbored shame and disgrace; thus they gave rise to wrath, wishing to burn Yaśodharā in a great pit of fire. Yaśodharā made a vow before the Śākyas, saying: "If this is not the prince's descendant, may I, holding my child, plunge into the fire and perish! If it is not so, may my purity be made manifest!" Having thus made the vow, she held the child and entered the fire. At that time, both mother and child were preserved; the fire turned into a cool pool, and lotus flowers lifted them out. Only then did the king, his relatives, and the ministers believe that he was the prince's child; hence he was called "Palace-born." When the Buddha, having attained enlightenment, returned to the palace, Rāhula was only five or six years old. The Tathāgata, taking him to the monastery, manifested a thousand monks who all resembled the Buddha's form; Rāhula went directly to the Buddha's side. The Buddha rubbed his head with his hand, took him back to the vihāra, and instructed Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana to ordain him. Although he succeeded in going forth, because he relied on his noble lineage, he was arrogant and took no pleasure in listening to the Dharma; he also frequently used abusive speech and mocked others. The Buddha once restrained him with the Dharma; from then on he severed it forever, and even when beaten and insulted he felt no wrath. The Buddha praised him as foremost in patience, upholding the precepts, and esoteric practice. Because he did not comprehend that renunciation has no gain, he was refuted and reprimanded. Interpreted in terms of practice, he cultivated the practice of renunciation, but Rāhula did not realize that conforming to marks is signless; true renunciation does not correspond to the Tathāgata's unconditioned merit. Therefore he was taught to cultivate the signless practice of renunciation.