佛說光明童子因緣經

At that time, the venerable Daśabala Kāśyapa went to the place where the alms-bowl had been set down. Having seen this, he went to the house of the householder Prabhā (Quang Minh) and asked the householder:

– Why have you set down a precious bowl beside the road?

The householder Prabhā related to the venerable one the cause that had occurred before. Daśabala Kāśyapa reflected: "I have heard that formerly the householder Subhadra (Thiện Hiền) committed the karma of killing because he believed in the heretics. Now here the householder Prabhā is performing meritorious deeds; I ought not to abandon this bowl, but should manifest spiritual power so as to fulfill completely the aspiration of the householder Prabhā."

Having so reflected, he used his spiritual power to stretch out his right arm, just as a strong man bends and stretches his arm, and in but a moment took that precious bowl and brought it back to his own place.

When the bhikṣus saw Daśabala Kāśyapa bringing the precious bowl, they all together asked:

– Venerable one! Where did you obtain this bowl?

Daśabala Kāśyapa related to the bhikṣus what had occurred before. The bhikṣus said:

– Venerable one! You manifested spiritual power for the sake of this bowl. Is this in accord with the proper rule?

Daśabala Kāśyapa said to the bhikṣus:

– It is as though in accord with the proper rule, and as though not in accord with the proper rule. I have already done it, so what is to be done now?

Then the bhikṣus reported this matter to the Buddha. The Buddha said to the bhikṣus:

– If it is not the right time and not the right place, and brings no benefit, one must not arbitrarily manifest the marks of spiritual power. To manifest it improperly will give rise to faults.

At that time the World-Honored One, using spiritual power, conjured four bowls:

1- A bowl of gold,

2- A bowl of silver,

3- A bowl of vaiḍūrya (beryl),

4- A bowl of sphaṭika (crystal).

Having conjured four bowls, he again conjured four more bowls:

1/ The first bowl of stalactite stone,

2/ The second bowl of red copper,

3/ The third bowl of white copper,

4/ The fourth bowl of wood.

Having conjured them, he set out and arranged the first four bowls in order. The latter four bowls were likewise arranged. In each bowl there was fragrant, delicious food of the finest quality, set out in one place, so that the bhikṣus could take of it as they wished, each person receiving what was fitting.

After the Buddha withdrew his spiritual power, the bowls again vanished.

Thereafter, the householder Prabhā enjoyed the merit-blessings of the heavenly realm, and auspicious marks appeared.

Strange and marvelous events continually appeared.

At that time, between the two countries of Campā and the city of Rājagṛha, there was a boundary pillar adorned with strands of silk, and beneath it were two bowls: one bowl of tin and one bowl of earthenware. These bowls had been blessed with vows beforehand and placed at the boundary between the two countries. Not far off, there was a tollhouse. The merchants brought their goods to pay taxes to the king. There was a man in charge of collecting the taxes who had a full complement of children and kinsfolk, wealth and silks, yet did not cultivate wholesome deeds. Suddenly this man died at the place of tax collection and became a great evil yakṣa, also dwelling there guarding the tollhouse.

One night, his sons dreamed and saw the yakṣa, who said:

– Hang a large bell upon that boundary pillar. When the merchants pass through the tollhouse, if any of them has taxable goods that he conceals and does not pay tax upon, this bell will of itself ring out. The tax collector, coming to know of it, will then detain them and inspect them, and only after the tax has been obtained will he let them go.

When the sons had seen this dream, early the next morning they went together with their kinsfolk to the place of the tollhouse, found the boundary pillar, and accordingly, following the dream, hung the bell upon it.

At that time in the country of Campā there was a brahmin household, whose name was Manindatta (Mạn Ninh Đát Mộ), who made his living by trade. One day he was sitting together with his wife in one place. The wife said to her husband:

– I stay at home managing the household affairs. The money you earn is only enough for our daily needs. Are things to go on like this forever? You should go into the market and buy truly fine cotton thread. I will weave it into a fine piece of cloth for you to take to the market and sell. Would that not be more profitable?

The brahmin, following his wife's words, bought thread and brought it home. The wife then set up the loom and wove it into a piece of cloth so soft and fine that none could compare with it. The warp and weft threads were skillfully and evenly done, all of them exquisite. The wife diligently wove a fine piece of cloth and then said to her husband:

– The cloth has been woven and is finished, fine and soft, worth a thousand pieces of gold. You may take it to the market to sell. If anyone offers the full price of a thousand pieces of gold, then sell it to him. If they do not offer the full price of a thousand gold pieces, then according to the circumstance you should say gently: "Here no one can make so fine and exquisite a cloth as this." Having proclaimed thus, take it elsewhere to sell.

At that time the brahmin Manindatta, as his wife had instructed, took this exquisite cloth and went to sell it in the market. In the end there was no one who offered the full thousand pieces of gold. Remembering his wife's words, he then proclaimed:

– In the great city of Campā, no one can make so exquisite a cloth as this.

Having said this, he returned and discussed it with his wife:

– There is no one who offers this price. We should take it to another country, where there will be people who know its worth.

Having said this, they bade each other farewell.

Then the brahmin took a piece of cloth that had been worn before, together with the newly woven cloth, and hid them within the shaft of a parasol; and quietly following the merchants, he gradually departed from his own country.

Just as they arrived at the city of Rājagṛha, the merchants passed through the tollhouse between the two places. Having reached that spot, they gathered their goods together in one place. At that time the tax collector inspected them one by one. The merchants presented their goods and paid the taxes to the king. Among them, only the brahmin Manindatta, having earlier concealed the cloth within the parasol shaft, stood off to one side and refused to come forward to pay the tax.

On one side of the tollhouse the boundary pillar had earlier been planted, and the bell hung upon it of itself gave forth a sound. The tax collector then knew that within the company there was someone evading the tax, and so he said to the leader of the merchants:

– The bell upon this pillar is not stirred by the wind blowing, nor struck by any person, yet of itself it gives forth a sound. I know that within your company there is someone concealing goods and not coming forward to pay the tax. Is it not so?

The tax collector then detained them and inspected them, but found that within this company there was no one concealing or evading payment of the tax. The merchants, now certain that there were no further goods upon which tax had not been paid, all wished to continue on. The bell again gave forth a sound four times in this manner, and again they inspected carefully, yet still could not find anyone evading the tax.

The leader of the merchants said to the tax collector:

– Within my company there is no one evading the tax; surely it must be that some other company has slipped past ahead.

Having said this, they then deliberated together:

– Among these there is a brahmin who is concealing goods and not paying tax.

In the end, that tax collector went to the place of the brahmin Manindatta, seized him and would not let go, determined to find the goods that evaded the tax.

The brahmin said:

– Why do you grasp my hand? You have clearly seen that there are truly no goods evading the tax. I am not concealing the least bit of goods unpaid. If I had any, I would already have come forward to pay the tax.

When he had said this, the bell again gave forth a sound. Then the tax collector, focusing upon the brahmin, inspected him most carefully, and then said:

– O brahmin! Why do you persist in concealing goods and refuse to pay the tax? Now this bell has given forth a sound many times—this is a strange thing. You should know that beneath this boundary pillar there is a heavenly deity giving protection. You should bring forth your goods and pay the tax; do not commit so evil a deed as this.

The brahmin said:

– I believe that there truly is a heavenly deity giving protection.

Having said this, he took the fine cloth out from within the parasol shaft, handed it to the tax collector, and said:

– This is the goods upon which I evaded the tax. Take it.

The tax collector received this cloth and then said to the brahmin:

– It is not that I take it to present to the king, nor do I take it for myself, but that I offer it in worship to the heavenly deity.

Having said this, he took the cloth and hung it upon the pillar, and said to the brahmin: - I have hung up the cloth as an offering to the deity. If you wish to take it, then take it yourself!

The brahmin then took that cloth, brought it to a deserted place, and likewise concealed it within the parasol shaft as before, and then continued on, gradually entering the city of Rājagṛha.

The brahmin took out that cloth and displayed it for sale in the market, hoping that someone would offer the full price of a thousand pieces of gold. He went everywhere, but in the end there was no one who offered that full price. The brahmin proclaimed:

– In the great city of Rājagṛha there is no one who can recognize the worth of this fine cloth.

Just as he was proclaiming thus, the householder Prabhā, riding upon a precious elephant, was returning from the king's palace to his own house. Suddenly hearing such words, he was greatly astonished, and so he stopped and asked the brahmin:

– Why do you speak words of disparagement within this city?

That brahmin did not reply.

The householder Prabhā said:

– You should clearly state the cause of this matter.

The brahmin said:

– I have brought from my own country two fine pieces of cloth to sell here. If anyone offers the full price of a thousand pieces of gold, then I will sell. I have gone everywhere, but there is no one who offers that full price.

The householder Prabhā said:

– You may bring them so that I can examine them carefully.

The brahmin then followed the householder to his house, and took out that cloth to show the householder. The householder, having examined it, then recognized its worth, and said to the brahmin:

– These two pieces of cloth, one is new and one is old. For the old one I will pay you five hundred pieces of gold.

The brahmin said:

– At the price the householder offers, it cannot be sold.

The householder Prabhā said:

– I see that this cloth is old; it must be washed and cleansed before it becomes new.

The householder then took the old cloth and, from atop a high tower, threw it down through the air. That cloth, being heavy, fell straight down to the ground.

The householder Prabhā said to the brahmin:

– I wish to examine carefully the remaining new cloth.

The brahmin took the new cloth and handed it to the householder. The householder, having examined it, did likewise as before. Cast down through the air, that cloth, being light and fine, only slowly came down to the ground.

The brahmin gave rise to faith and esteem, and said:

– The householder Prabhā has great majestic power. This fine cloth, both new and old, I offer to you, and will not take that price. You should accept it.

The householder replied:

– My house is wealthy. You have undergone hardships; I cannot accept these goods of yours without cause. Now I will pay you a thousand pieces of gold for each, and you give me these two pieces of cloth.

The brahmin received the gold pieces and carried them back to his home.

The householder Prabhā took the old cloth and gave it to a servant. Afterward he took the new cloth and made it into a new kerchief for everyday use. The householder, having used the kerchief, then put it out to dry in the sun.

At that time King Bimbisāra, together with his attendants, had just ascended to the palace, when suddenly a strong wind blew that kerchief and it fell down before the king. King Bimbisāra said to his attendants:

– Where has this fine cloth flown from? Only royalty would use such a thing.

The attendant said:

– Your Majesty, I have heard it said: Seven days before a Wheel-Turning Sage-King is about to ascend the throne, heaven rains down gold. Now that you have ascended the throne, heaven rains down fine cloth, and before long it will also rain down gold.

The king said:

– You do not understand. I have heard the Buddha's prophecy: the householder Prabhā, while among humankind, enjoys the merit-blessings of the heavens. This fine cloth is a thing that Prabhā uses; the wind has blown it here. We may invite him to come here to hand it back.

The householder Prabhā then came before the king. The king said:

– Householder! Formerly the Buddha prophesied that you, while among humankind, would enjoy the merit-blessings of the heavens. This fine cloth is yours; I return it to you.

The householder Prabhā bowed and reached out his hand to receive that cloth. Having received it and seen that it was indeed his own, he then said to the king:

– This is a clean kerchief that I use at home; I had just put it out to dry in the sun, and the wind blew it here. This matter is indeed true.

The king said to the householder:

– The Buddha prophesied that you would enjoy the merit-blessings of the heavens, with auspicious marks appearing. The Buddha's words are surely true; the matter is just so.

He again said to the householder:

– Now that your auspicious marks are such, why do you not invite the king to come to your house and look it over once?

The householder said:

– Now I am fortunate; I beg to invite the king to my house.

The king said:

– Householder! You should return ahead and prepare the various foods and drinks.

The householder said:

– Great King! One who enjoys the merit-blessings of the heavens, without needing to make anything, naturally has it. It is most fortunate to invite the king to my house.

King Bimbisāra, together with his close ministers, went to the house of the householder Prabhā. The householder led the way for the king to his house.

The king saw, outside the gate, a servant girl guarding the gate, whose appearance was most beautiful, and so he paused for a moment. The householder said:

– Why does the Great King pause here and not go on?

The king said:

– Householder! I saw your wife, and so I paused here.

The householder replied:

– This is a servant girl guarding the gate; she is not my wife.

The king went on to the middle gate, and saw a servant girl guarding the gate, and the king again paused and did not go on. The householder said:

– Why does the king again pause and not go on?

The king replied as before. The householder said:

– That is not my wife, but a servant girl guarding the middle gate.

The king then advanced to the inner gate, and saw upon the ground maṇi-jewels, flowing water, fish, and various kinds of insects. The king took it to be a pond, and so again paused for a moment.

The householder said:

– Why does the Great King pause here and not go on?

The king replied:

– There is water here, and so I do not go on.

The householder said:

– Great King! There is no water here; this ground is of maṇi-jewels.

The king said:

– Householder! If it is jeweled ground, why are there the marks of flowing water, with fish and insects?

The householder said:

– Great King, carved upon it are the forms of turning wheels, fish, insects, and so forth. Because the radiance of the maṇi-jewels is reflected, it appears thus.

Although the king heard this, he did not yet believe it, and so he drew the ring from his hand and threw it down upon the ground. The ring struck the ground and gave forth a sound, and only then did the king believe that it was ground of maṇi-jewels.

King Bimbisāra entered the house and sat upon the lion-throne. The householder's wife came out to bow in greeting to the king, and suddenly shed tears.

The king asked:

– Householder! Why does your wife, upon seeing the king, shed tears?

The householder said:

– Great King, my wife bows in greeting to the king; how would she dare to shed tears? It is because the king's robes carry the smell of wood-smoke that her eyes smart and she sheds tears. Great King, thus it is that one who enjoys the merit-blessings of the heavens, whatever food or drink he wishes to eat, the wish-fulfilling jewel naturally causes it to appear.

King Bimbisāra remained at the householder's house for seven days, and forgot to return to the king's palace. At that time the fellow ministers came together to the place of the Crown Prince Ajātaśatru and said:

– For seven days the king has been at the house of the householder Prabhā. The affairs of state in the country have been neglected. The Crown Prince should go and invite the king to return to the palace.

The Crown Prince Ajātaśatru then went to the house of the householder Prabhā, and said to his royal father:

– Why has my royal father forgotten to return to the palace? The affairs of state in the country have been neglected.

The king said:

– I have been one day at this house; the affairs of state in the country—can you not govern in my stead?

The Crown Prince said:

– My royal father should know, you have been at this house for seven days already.

When the king heard this, he looked at the householder Prabhā and asked:

– Is this truly so?

The householder said:

– It is so, Great King! Seven days have already passed.

The king said:

– Householder! In your house, by what phenomenon do you distinguish day from night?

The householder replied:

– By the flowers closing and the flowers opening, we distinguish day from night.

By the strange birds singing and the birds not singing, we distinguish day from night. By the radiance of the maṇi-jewels appearing and not appearing, we distinguish day from night.

But there may be flowers that close yet it is not night, and flowers that open yet it is not day.

The radiance of the jewels may be hidden yet it is not night, and the radiance of the jewels may appear yet it is not day.

The strange birds may be silent yet it is not night, and the strange birds may sing yet it is not day.

When King Bimbisāra heard this matter, he said to the householder Prabhā:

– I believe the Buddha's words to be true and not false. The Buddha has said: you, among humankind, enjoy the merit-blessings of the heavens. The matter is indeed just as it truly is.

When King Bimbisāra had said this, he left the householder's house.

When the Crown Prince Ajātaśatru was about to leave the house, he secretly took a maṇi-jewel named Piānhéng (Phiến-hằng) and handed it to an attendant to keep. After returning to the king's palace, he summoned that person and said:

– I gave you the maṇi-jewel; you should bring it here. I wish to examine it carefully.

The attendant opened his hand, wishing to present it to the Crown Prince, but did not see that jewel, and so said:

– I do not know where that jewel has been lost!

Then the Crown Prince took up a mallet and struck the attendant. The householder Prabhā, by the merit-power of the heavenly realm, came to know of this matter, and so came and asked the Crown Prince:

– Why did you take up a mallet and strike this attendant?

The Crown Prince replied:

– Just now at your house, I secretly took a maṇi-jewel and handed it to this attendant, and now it has suddenly vanished. I had taken it by theft, and this man has stolen it again. His offense is even graver, and so I struck him with the mallet.

The householder said:

– You took my jewel; this is not called theft. Now that it is not to be seen, neither is it that someone else has stolen it. This jewel has returned to my house. Why? - Only one who enjoys the merit-blessings of the heavens can make use of it. If the Crown Prince wishes for anything, I will present it to you, begrudging nothing at all.

The Crown Prince Ajātaśatru gave rise to a doubting mind, thinking: "At present, with regard to this householder, I do not yet wish to take anything. After my father—King Bimbisāra—has died, only then will I seek to obtain all the wealth and precious goods that are his."

Having so thought, the Crown Prince Ajātaśatru conspired with Devadatta and laid a plot to kill his royal father.

After killing his father, he himself performed the consecration ceremony and ascended the throne. When he had ascended the throne as king, he then summoned the householder Prabhā and said:

– The householder is my elder brother. I wish to come to your house, and wherever there is anything I need, you should provide it to me.

The householder Prabhā reflected: "King Bimbisāra governed the world by the true Dharma. This man is cruel and moreover tyrannical, killing his own royal father. He himself performed the consecration to ascend the throne as king. Now before me he speaks words of arrogance, wishing to dwell at my house; I too should comply. If I act contrary to him, this man will thereupon harm my clan."

Having so thought, he said:

– Great King! I know that in your heart there is something you desire. I hope that you will come to my house, and wherever there is anything you need, take and use it as you wish. Afterward I will go to the king's palace.

King Ajātaśatru said:

– If it can be thus, it is most excellent.

When the king had finished deliberating, he went first to the householder's house. The householder in turn went to the king's palace.

The householder possessed the surpassing auspicious marks of gods and humans. Wherever the householder went, the storehouses of precious goods all followed him there.

King Ajātaśatru, at the householder's house, saw the storehouses of precious treasures appear seven times and vanish seven times. The Crown Prince thought: "The storehouses of precious goods in this house all follow him; I cannot obtain them. I should devise another scheme: secretly send a number of evil men, loading a cart, to go to the house of the householder Prabhā and steal the precious treasures."

When those men had arrived there, they devised a cunning scheme to watch for an opportunity to steal the precious treasures.

At that time the householder Prabhā was atop a high tower, with his close servant girls. Then the servant girls saw the men in that cart, and they knew them to be evil men, come to watch for an opportunity to steal the precious treasures.

When the servant girls saw them, they laughed, pointed at them, and said:

– These are evil thieves.

When the householder heard the laughter and talk, he suddenly understood the matter clearly.

Those thieves lay hidden the whole night. By early morning, many people together saw them, and all said:

– King Ajātaśatru is a rebellious and evil man, who killed his royal father. Now he has again sent evil men to steal the precious treasures from the householder's house.

When King Ajātaśatru learned of this matter, he sent a man to the place of the householder Prabhā to say:

– Why does the householder slight and disparage my many men?

The householder Prabhā, knowing the king's intent, then ordered the evil men all driven away.

The householder thought: "King Ajātaśatru is most rebellious and evil, having killed his royal father. Will he not hereafter also commit deeds of killing against me? I recall the prophecy the Buddha gave before: that within the Buddha's Dharma I would go forth from home and study the Way, cut off all the afflictions, and realize arhatship. I should go forth from home and follow the Buddha."

Having so thought, he then took his storehouses of treasures and used them to perform deeds of compassion, giving and benefiting others.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SUTRA OF THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF THE YOUTH PRABHĀ

End of Scroll 3