福力太子因緣經

At that time, the Blessed One rose from his seat, went to the Andha Forest, and sat at the foot of a tree. He remained there the whole day, dwelling serenely in meditation.

At that time, the assembly of bhikṣus in the forest gathered together in a certain house and sat in proper order. They were the Venerable Ānanda, the Venerable Śroṇa Koṭiviṃśa, the Venerable Aniruddha, the Venerable Śāriputra...

When all these assemblies of bhikṣus had fully gathered, they began to speak with one another:

"By cultivating what do the people of the world attain abundant benefit?"

The Venerable Ānanda said:

"If one cultivates the practice of physical form and appearance, one will attain abundant benefit."

The Venerable Śroṇa Koṭiviṃśa said:

"If one cultivates the practice of diligence, one will attain abundant benefit."

The Venerable Aniruddha said:

"If one cultivates skillful means, one will attain abundant benefit."

The Venerable Śāriputra said:

"If one cultivates the practice of wisdom, one will attain benefit."

When they had spoken thus, the venerable ones reflected further: "We have set forth differing opinions, not the same as one another, yet each of these opinions has been established as supreme. If we bring these matters to the Blessed One and inquire of him, he will surely expound them to us, and we will uphold and practice according to his teaching. Why is this?

Because the Blessed One is the Teacher who can sever all our doubts, and therefore he is the One of Great Compassion. Just as the light of the sun dispels the gloom of darkness, so he uses All-Knowing Wisdom to break through doubt, to release the net of suffering and rescue sentient beings, causing all to return to the right path. The Buddha regards all beings as his own only child.

In all dharmas he is sovereign, and he employs all dharmas to bring benefit (to the multitude of beings). The honored Great Muni is able to put an end to the doubts of all. He always dispels every uncertainty of ours.

Therefore we should go and inquire of him."

When the bhikṣus had thus deliberated among themselves, they wished to go and meet the Buddha. At that time the Blessed One, who was in the forest, using his pure divine hearing surpassing that of all others, heard the bhikṣus gathered together discussing such matters. He rose from meditation and went to where the bhikṣus were. The bhikṣus came forth to welcome the Blessed One, prepared a seat, and respectfully invited the Buddha to be seated. He said to the bhikṣus:

"Bhikṣus, just now I heard you discussing together: 'By cultivating what do the people of the world attain abundant benefit?' First, Ānanda said that cultivating physical form and appearance would attain abundant benefit; Śroṇa Koṭiviṃśa said that cultivating diligence would attain abundant benefit; Aniruddha said that cultivating skillful means would attain abundant benefit; Śāriputra said that cultivating wisdom would attain abundant benefit.

When you had spoken thus, you bhikṣus reflected further: 'We have set forth differing opinions, not the same as one another, yet each of these opinions has been established as supreme. If we bring these matters to the Blessed One and inquire of him, he will surely expound them to us, and we will practice according to his teaching.' Is this matter so, or is it not?"

The bhikṣus said to the Buddha:

"Blessed One, it is truly so. We gathered together to discuss this matter. We humbly beseech you to open up and explain, resolving our doubt for us."

Then the Blessed One, on account of this arising condition, spoke a verse:

Form and appearance, craftsmanship, and diligence—

Among these, wisdom is supreme.

If sentient beings cultivate the causes of merit,

They will attain a fruit of merit boundlessly great.

Having spoken that verse, the Buddha said to the bhikṣus:

"Bhikṣus, suppose there is a person who, with respect to form and appearance... cultivates accordingly; it is not the case that in all circumstances and at all times one attains abundant benefit. But one who cultivates the power of merit, in whatever circumstance and at whatever time, attains abundant benefit.

"Bhikṣus, apart from this power of merit, I do not see a single dharma by which sentient beings, cultivating accordingly, attain abundant benefit. Why is this? Bhikṣus, I recall that in the past there was a king named Eye Power, who dwelt in the royal city, governed his country well, whose majestic power was vast, who was at peace and prosperous, and whose people flourished. The king had a queen named Vast Radiance, of exceedingly beautiful appearance, so that everyone delighted to gaze upon her.

"One day, the queen and the king met together in joyful play, and thereby she gave birth to a child of beautiful form whom everyone delighted to behold. Because he possessed surpassing beauty, excelling that of others, complete with the marks of a heavenly being—for life after life this prince had planted the causes and conditions for beauty, and thus was endowed with exquisite form and appearance—he was given the name Form Power.

"Then, in time thereafter, the queen gave birth to three more children: The first was endowed with the practice of diligence. The second was endowed with skillfulness. The third was endowed with wisdom.

"Furthermore, bhikṣus, at last Queen Vast Radiance conceived a child. On that day, in the king's palace there suddenly fell down from the heavens various kinds of precious treasures. Moreover, various jeweled canopies, adorned and wondrously subtle, appeared at the same time, covering over the king and queen.

"When King Eye Power beheld such a rare event, he was greatly astonished in his heart, and at once summoned the physiognomists and asked them:

"'What is the meaning of these extraordinary, rare signs?'

"The physiognomist replied:

"'Great King, you should know that the queen has conceived a child who is a sage; this child possesses great merit, is endowed with majestic virtue and good renown.'

"When the king had heard this, he was exceedingly delighted. After this, Queen Vast Radiance reflected and said:

"'Excellent! Now I wish to sit upon a supreme and wondrous lion throne, with a white parasol overhead and a jeweled fly-whisk.'

"The queen reported this intention to the king, and the king's heart gave rise to joy. He commanded all the people within and without the palace and city, everywhere, to make all things adorned and pure as the queen wished, and all was carried out accordingly.

"Again one day the queen reflected and said:

"'Now I shall go to where there is much gold, silver, and precious treasure, and there, taking and using as I please, I shall select gold and silver to bestow upon all people, so that they are fully supplied with wealth and treasure, and none shall be in want.'

"When the king heard of this, he complied with the queen's wish.

"One day the queen again reflected and said:

"'How blissful! Now I wish to set free all those who are bound and imprisoned.'

"When the king heard of this, he complied with the queen's wish, and commanded that within and without all those bound and imprisoned be set free.

"One day the queen reflected and said:

"'How joyful! Now I wish to stroll in the garden grove.'

"When the king heard of this, he yielded to the queen's wish, and ordered the garden grove cleaned so the queen might stroll and view it.

"One day the queen reflected and said:

"'How joyful! Now I shall stand before all the people in this palace.'

"On account of this thought, the queen uttered words of truth:

"'If I truly possess meritorious recompense, I humbly beg the heavenly beings to quickly grant me a supreme lion throne, adorned and wondrously subtle. If I am able to sit upon this throne, I shall proclaim the essentials of the Dharma to all people.'

"When the queen had spoken thus, the devas suddenly manifested rare signs.

"Then King Eye Power, in the palace, hearing of this matter, at once commanded that throughout the whole interior and exterior of the royal city all be made clean and adorned. All the people put on clean garments and beautiful ornaments, and each, bearing flower garlands and precious incense, gathered at the royal palace. Queen Vast Radiance, adorned with the most excellent and wondrously subtle of fine things, surrounded by her attendant consorts and retinue, came forth before all the people, her auspicious marks adorned like those of a heavenly maiden. All the people came to behold her and gave rise to joy.

"Then the queen, giving rise to a mind of loving-kindness toward all sentient beings, gazed up into the empty sky and, by that true sustaining power, spoke a verse:

Lord of devas, lord of humans, and liberation—

These are the three powers of merit, most supreme.

Now, by this true power of merit,

I pray the heavens quickly bestow a lion throne.

"When the queen had spoken the verse, the heavens suddenly sent down a supremely wondrous lion throne and scattered beautiful flowers. The devas in the sky rejoiced greatly. The people, beholding this exceedingly extraordinary and rare event, all gave rise to delight and joy, and together praising it, spoke a verse:

How rare—great merit, great power!

All the people now make offering;

What the human realm seeks, the heavens accomplish;

Only the heavenly power of merit is supreme.

"Then Queen Vast Radiance, giving rise to a joyful mind, ascended the lion throne. When the queen mounted the throne, the earth quaked in six ways. That lion throne sprang up from the ground and stood in the empty sky, about the height of seven persons. Moreover, there were precious treasures, adorned and supremely wondrous, and canopies spread to cover over the throne. The people, beholding this excellent and supreme sign of the power of merit, gave rise to joyful hearts, and each, bearing flower garlands and precious incense, reverently joined their palms and offered them up to the queen. Their minds gained ever greater benefit and ease, and they sat down before the throne, listening to and upholding the teaching that the queen proclaimed.

"When King Eye Power beheld such an event, he greatly rejoiced. Together with his close ministers, he reverently joined his palms and sat down in proper order. Queen Vast Radiance spoke a verse:

One should cultivate the causes of merit;

Practicing thus, do not let it be interrupted.

Giving in accord with what brings benefit and ease,

By means of the treasury of merit one attains wondrous bliss.

"When the queen had finished speaking the verse, in the empty sky there spontaneously came a voice of praise:

"'You have spoken well now, well have you spoken words most lofty.'

"In the empty sky there sounded forth music lovely and wondrously subtle. When King Eye Power and all the people heard the verse spoken, the heavens spontaneously let fall garments and adorned articles, which descended upon the body of each person. The king and all the people took these fine garments and offered them up to the queen, and all together uttered words of praise:

"'Well spoken, well spoken!'

"Right then, the queen, from the lion throne in the sky, slowly descended and rested safely upon the ground. The heavenly music ceased, and again human music sounded forth. The king and all the people gave rise to reverence, made full offerings, and rejoiced greatly. Then Queen Vast Radiance returned into the palace! After the queen had entered the palace, that lion throne vanished into the sky. The people, having clearly beheld the auspicious signs as above, rejoiced and praised:

"'How wondrous—the power of merit is complete, the majestic virtue is great! How wondrous—the power of merit is a sweet and delicious fruit!'

"Then the queen, in the palace, putting an end to all deluded thoughts and reflections, until the full ten months were complete, gave birth to the prince just as dawn appeared. The prince was of upright and dignified form, whom everyone delighted to behold. At that time the earth quaked in six ways, and in the king's palace, spontaneously from the empty sky, the heavens rained down seven kinds of precious treasure. Within and without the royal city, and everywhere in all places, there rained down all manner of fine heavenly garments, and the heavens rained down flowers exceedingly beautiful and pleasing. The trees everywhere bore fruit and burst into bloom; an auspicious rain drifted lightly, sprinkling down place by place, and a gentle breeze blew softly throughout every region.

"As soon as the prince was born and placed upon the ground, at once the Four Great Heavenly Kings, using their majestic spiritual power, caused the earth to split open, and there sprang up a lion throne made of fine precious things, adorned, to bear up the prince. The Heavenly Lord Śakra used a wondrously subtle heavenly parasol and rained down precious fly-whisks to shelter the prince overhead. The Trāyastriṃśa devas either scattered fine heavenly garments and jeweled canopies, rained down all kinds of precious treasure, or adorned garments, or beautiful ornaments, or fresh blue-green heavenly flowers, or garlands of flowers and scented powders and scented unguents, or heavenly music that sent forth clear and melodious singing.

"The Heavenly Son Viśvakarman, using his heavenly spiritual power, caused that everywhere within and without the city there remained none of the thorns, brambles, stones, or gravel, but instead it was spread with embroidered silk, adorned with strings of precious gems, and there were erected precious and wondrously subtle banners and pennants. Everywhere was sprinkled the pure scented water of sandalwood; vases of the finest flowers were arranged all around in a circle; flowers of all kinds were scattered; and all things that bring joy to people were arrayed.

Moreover, a hundred great elephants came of their own accord from the open plains into the king's palace and stood in the stables. Also a hundred oxen came to the fields; without the use of plowing or harrowing, of their own accord, in accord with the season, all the seeds would ripen by themselves. Furthermore, beneath the lion throne there were five great treasuries filled with jewels and treasure; one might open the storehouse doors and take and use at will, and they would never be exhausted.

"Furthermore, all those sentient beings who held enmity, at that moment, in but an instant, all turned toward minds of loving-kindness. At that time, the prince, by the power of his past lives, having given rise to majestic virtue and spiritual penetration, then surveyed the four directions and spoke a verse:

One should cultivate the causes of merit;

Practicing thus, do not let it be interrupted.

In accord with the time, delighting to perform giving,

By means of the treasury of merit one attains wondrous bliss.

"At that time, in the empty sky there were besides a number of devas who, seeing this matter of vast power of merit, spiritual penetration, and rare and extraordinary majestic virtue, gave rise to joy, and their bodies and minds delighted. Therefore they roused the majestic power of merit and spoke a verse:

The Four Great Heavenly Kings, the heavenly sons,

The heavenly lord of the Trāyastriṃśa heavenly palace—

Those powers of merit are precious beyond measure;

Beholding such surpassing merit, they give rise to joyful bliss.

"Then King Eye Power, together with his consorts, guards, retinue, and veteran great ministers..., having clearly beheld such excellent and supreme auspicious signs, were all astonished and said:

"'How wondrous! The prince has great power of merit. How wondrous! The prince is endowed with great renown. Now, born among humans, such auspicious, vast, and supreme signs of the heavenly realm have appeared all at once.'

"The king rejoiced and greatly loved his son. He commanded the keepers of the storehouse:

"'You are to open my storehouses, bring out all the gold, silver, and precious treasure. I shall give in charity and bless all the people, causing them all to obtain wealth and treasure in full. Let everyone, for my sake, praise wondrous goodness and perform deeds of merit; thereafter I vow that life after life I shall accumulate supreme, auspicious merit. Now I shall give the prince a name.'

"The king said to his close ministers:

"'Now what name should we give the prince?'

"The great ministers who attended him replied:

"'Great King, when the prince was just born, many auspicious and supreme signs of the power of merit appeared. Therefore the prince should be named Merit Power.'

"The king then issued the command to name the prince Merit Power, and entrusted the prince to eight wet nurses: two were charged with carrying him in their arms, two with nursing him, two with bathing him, and two with playing with him. These eight wet nurses cared for the prince at the proper times, nurturing him, nursing him, bathing him, and playing with him... In addition there were fine musical instruments, and all things were provided and supplied in full for his enjoyment, in the hope that the prince would quickly grow up.

"Like a pure lotus flower dwelling in a pond, the prince gradually grew up, studied the various texts, and investigated the profound and wondrously subtle meanings under masters of the Kṣatriya lineage, and even with respect to all the learned and all the branches of learning he gained thorough mastery. Yet the prince was deeply faithful, virtuous and good, pure within, and his every action always harbored a compassion that benefited himself and benefited others. With respect to dharmas he was sovereign; pitying and rescuing sentient beings, he performed acts of giving and never hoarded anything. The prince relinquished everything, and there was not the slightest thing that he did not give up.

"If there were a śramaṇa, a brāhmaṇa, the poor and solitary, those in want who begged for food, or someone who came to beg for the flesh and blood of his own body, then at that time the prince, toward those who came to beg, would at once give rise to a mind of loving-kindness, contemplating as empty space, and reflect: 'How joyful! Now I shall cause those who come to beg to be fully satisfied, giving in accord with their wishes—how much more so gold, silver, precious treasure, food, garments, flower garlands, scented unguents, all kinds of bedding... and all needful things. I vow that all that I conceive in thought shall appear, so that I may give it in charity to all who come to beg, causing my aspirations to be perfectly fulfilled.'

"Because the prince was complete in merit and virtue, his renown spread throughout the whole continent of Jambudvīpa, down to the dragon palaces below and up through the realm of the Brahmā heavens above; all heard it."