佛說光明童子因緣經

At that time, the elder Quang Minh (Radiant Light) performed deeds of loving-kindness, giving alms for the benefit and joy of others. Having given his alms, he did not let his relatives know of it, but silently went to the place of the Buddha. Having arrived, with his head and face he bowed at the feet of the World-Honored One and addressed the Buddha, saying:

"May the Buddha, the World-Honored One, bestow upon me the wholesome benefit. I wish to go forth into the homeless life within the Dharma of the Buddha, to receive the full ordination, to become a Bhikṣu, and to cultivate purely the holy life. May the Buddha, in his great loving-kindness, accept me."

The Buddha said:

"It is excellent! Come into my Dharma and diligently cultivate the holy life."

When the Buddha had finished speaking, the hair and beard of the elder Quang Minh fell away of their own accord, and he took on the appearance of a Bhikṣu, his body clad in the saṃghāṭī robe, holding the alms bowl.

For seven days and nights his mind abode in right mindfulness, purely cultivating the holy life, his conduct and dignified bearing being as that of one who had been a hundred years in the rains-retreat.

The Buddha drew the saṃghāṭī robe over the crown of the head of the Bhikṣu Quang Minh, and his faculties were tranquil and still, his mind single-pointedly and rightly abiding.

At that time, in the open sky there was a voice of praise that said:

"Now, in the time of the Buddha, the Bhikṣu Quang Minh has fulfilled the aim of his vow; moreover he has given rise to a resolve firm and strong. He contemplates the five paths of birth and death, of saṃsāra, revolving and turning without ever ceasing. The deeds of sentient beings are each of a different kind, and they fall into birth and death. Only the True Dharma of the Buddha is able to bring liberation."

Having contemplated thus, he saw the Dharma of the Four Noble Truths, understood clearly birth and death, and departed far from the conceptions of craving and attachment of the three realms. He regarded precious treasures and pure gold as he would mud and earth, severed all the afflictions, and realized the fruit of the Arhat, complete in the three knowledges and the six superknowledges, supreme and unequaled, flying through the open sky with sovereign mastery according to his will. He was not attached to any of the praise and worldly gain of the world. The devas, Śakra, and Brahmā all came to make offerings to him.

At that time, the assembly of Bhikṣus in the gathering, seeing this matter, gave rise to doubt and together addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One! By what cause and condition did this Bhikṣu Quang Minh, before he went forth, enjoy heavenly merit in the human realm? And having entered the Buddha's Dharma, no sooner had he gone forth than he removed all afflictions and realized Arhatship?"

The Buddha said to the Bhikṣus:

"This Bhikṣu Quang Minh has now ripened the wholesome roots of his former lives and has obtained the benefit thereof; it is certainly so. Therefore the Bhikṣu Quang Minh, by reason of wholesome conditions of former lives, has obtained such a fruit.

"Moreover, Bhikṣus, you should know that the karmic deeds and their fruits and retributions are all on account of the cause that one has oneself made; they are not brought to fulfillment by the external earth-element. Nor are they on account of earth, water, wind, or fire; nor are they brought to fulfillment by the aggregates, the bases, or the elements. The wholesome and the unwholesome are alike: one receives the fruit and retribution by reason of one's own karma."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke a verse for the Bhikṣus, saying:

"The karma created by all sentient beings,
Even through a hundred kalpas, is never lost.
At whatever time the causes and conditions come together,
Accordingly will one receive the fruit and retribution."

The Buddha said to the Bhikṣus:

"Listen attentively! By reason of causes and conditions of a past age, ninety-one kalpas ago, there was a Buddha who appeared in the world, named Vipaśyin Tathāgata, Worthy of Offerings, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the World, Unsurpassed One, Tamer of Men, Teacher of Gods and Humans, Buddha, World-Honored One. That Buddha, together with an assembly of six million two hundred thousand Bhikṣus, traveled throughout the city of the great country of Mãn Ðộ Ma Ðể, and stayed in one place.

"The king of that country was named Mãn Ðộ Ma. The king had faith in the True Dharma and governed the country by means of the True Dharma. The land was vast and great, the people were strong and mighty, wealthy, joyful, and at peace, free from the calamities of disease, suffering, hunger, and thirst; there was also no warfare, enmity, harm, theft, or terror. The people were harmonious and concordant, complete in auspicious marks.

"In that city there was an elder named Tích Tài (Accumulated Wealth), who had faith in the True Dharma. That household was wealthy, with treasures beyond measure, equal to those of Vaiśravaṇa, the Heavenly King. At that time the elder, learning that the Tathāgata Vipaśyin and his assembly of Bhikṣus had come into the city, immediately thought: 'I wish to invite the Buddha and the assembly of Bhikṣus, and to offer them food, drink, and lodging for three months.' Having thought thus, he went to the place of the Buddha. Having arrived, with his head and face he made obeisance at the feet of the Buddha, then withdrew and sat to one side.

"At that time the Buddha Vipaśyin, in accordance with the elder's intention, instructed him in the wholesome and beneficial Dharma, expounding the essential points.

"When the elder Tích Tài had heard the True Dharma, he rose from his seat, arranged his garments properly, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and addressed him, saying:

"'World-Honored One, now I invite the Buddha and the assembly of Bhikṣus to my home. I wish to offer, for three months, food, drink, and lodging. All necessities I shall supply in full. May the Buddha, in his loving-kindness, accept my invitation.'

"The Buddha Vipaśyin was silent.

"The elder Tích Tài, seeing that the Buddha was silent, knew that he had accepted his invitation, and his heart was greatly delighted. With his head and face he bowed at the feet of the Buddha, then left the assembly of the Buddha and returned to his own home.

"At that time, King Mãn Ðộ Ma, hearing that the Buddha Vipaśyin and the assembly of six million two hundred thousand Bhikṣus had come to the city of his country, immediately thought: 'Now I shall invite the Buddha and the assembly of Bhikṣus into my palace, and offer food, drink, and lodging for the three months of the rains-retreat. All necessities I shall supply accordingly.' Having thought thus, together with his close attendant ministers he went to the place of the Buddha.

Having arrived, with his head and face he bowed at the feet of the Buddha, then withdrew and sat to one side. At that time the Buddha, in accordance with the king's wish, instructed him in the wholesome and beneficial, expounding the essential Dharma. When the king had heard it, he rose from his seat, joined his palms toward the Buddha, and addressed him, saying:

"'World-Honored One! Now I invite the Buddha and the assembly of Bhikṣus into my palace. I wish to offer food and drink during the three months of the rains-retreat. All necessities—food and drink, garments, medicines, and bedding—I shall supply according to need, making offerings and serving you. May the Buddha, in his loving-kindness, accept my invitation.'

"The Buddha said:

"'Great King! I have already accepted the invitation of the elder Tích Tài first.'

"The king said:

"'May the Buddha come to the palace, and I shall offer food and drink. I shall issue an order to the elder Tích Tài.'

"The Buddha said:

"'Great King! According to the Dharma, one should not go against the first invitation.'

"King Mãn Ðộ Ma, with his head and face, bowed at the feet of the Buddha Vipaśyin, then forthwith left the assembly of the Buddha and returned to the palace. The king dispatched a messenger to the house of the elder Tích Tài, conveying the king's command, saying:

"'You should know that the king has invited the Buddha Vipaśyin and the assembly of Bhikṣus first. You may prepare food as an offering on another day.'

"The elder Tích Tài said to the messenger:

"'May the king have compassion; I have invited the Buddha and the assembly of Bhikṣus first.'

"The messenger returned and reported to the king. The king again dispatched a messenger to say to the elder:

"'Now you dwell within my country; by reason it is fitting that you let me make my invitation first.'

"The elder said to the messenger:

"'If the Great King says that, within the king's country, the king must be allowed to invite first, in reason this is truly not correct. May the king not create an obstacle.'

"The messenger returned and reported thus. The king again dispatched a messenger to say to the elder:

"'You should know this: even supposing you have already made your invitation, I will not create an obstacle. But if you can prepare fragrant and delicious food, the Buddha will come of his own accord.'

"When the elder Tích Tài had heard this, that very night, using fragrant firewood he kindled fires and cooked all manner of clean food and drink, fragrant and delicious in flavor. King Mãn Ðộ Ma, within the palace, also prepared food and drink.

"When the early morning came, in the elder's house seats and couches were spread out, dignified, fine, and beautiful, together with vessels of clean water. When the arranging was finished, he sent a man to the place of the Buddha to announce, saying:

"'The food and drink are now prepared, and the time to eat has also come. May the Buddha come and attend. Now is the proper time.'

"At that time the Buddha Vipaśyin, together with the assembly of Bhikṣus, at the proper time donned their robes, took up their alms bowls, and went to the house of the elder Tích Tài to receive the offering.

"Having arrived, the Buddha first washed his feet and then sat upon a fine and lofty seat. The assembly of Bhikṣus each likewise washed their feet and sat in order. The elder Tích Tài, with palms joined in reverence, first bowed at the feet of the Buddha. Having done so, he himself took up the fragrant and delicious food and offered it up to the Buddha, the World-Honored One, then in turn offered it to the Bhikṣus.

"When the Buddha and the assembly of Bhikṣus had finished their meal, they put away their robes and bowls, washed their hands clean, and in turn sat in silence. The elder Tích Tài also sat reverently before the Buddha, listening attentively to the Buddha expound the Dharma.

"Then the Buddha Vipaśyin, in accordance with the capacity of the elder Tích Tài, instructed him in what was wholesome and beneficial, expounding the essential Dharma. When the elder had heard the Dharma, he was greatly delighted and bowed at the feet of the Buddha. When the elder Tích Tài had finished making his offering, the Buddha left his house.

"At that time, King Mãn Ðộ Ma was still within the palace preparing food and drink, wishing to surpass the elder. The king said to his close ministers:

"'Within my palace, my kinsmen and consorts are very numerous. Who among them can prepare food more fragrant, delicious, and of finer quality than the elder Tích Tài?'

"The close ministers said:

"'The Great King must forbid those who sell firewood. Then the elder will have no firewood with which to cook fine food to offer the Buddha.'

"The king did as they said, and issued an order forbidding the sale of firewood. If anyone insisted on selling it, he would be driven out of the country.

"When the elder Tích Tài heard that there was an order forbidding people to sell firewood, anger arose in his heart, and he said:

"'In my house I already have fragrant wood—what need have I of firewood? Am I to burn my own body, then?'

"The elder, in his house, took fragrant wood and used fragrant oil to kindle fires and cook food. The fragrance spread throughout the great city.

"King Mãn Ðộ Ma, smelling this fragrance, asked his close ministers:

"'From where does this fragrance come, drifting hither?'

"The close ministers said:

"'This fragrance comes from the house of the elder Tích Tài, who has taken fragrant wood to kindle fires and cook food and drink; thus those fragrances drift to this place.'

"When the king heard this, he knew that the Buddha had accepted the invitation to go to the elder's house, and grieved and distressed, he said to his close ministers:

"'How is it that within my palace there is no fragrant wood?'

"The close ministers said:

"'In the marketplace there is no fragrant wood—how did he come to have it? The Great King should know that the elder Tích Tài, though his household is wealthy, has no son. After he passes away, there will be no heir to succeed him. All his possessions will belong to the king.'

"Though King Mãn Ðộ Ma heard this said, still he was not glad.

"The attendant ministers said:

"'The Great King should not grieve and be distressed. You should invite the Buddha to receive your offering on another day, as you have wished. Your servants will have a means to surpass that elder.'

"When the close ministers had spoken thus, they then, within the inner city of Mãn Ðộ Ma, swept clean all the sand, stones, gravel, and all filthy things; they sprinkled it with fragrant sandalwood water, scattered fragrant water, burned all manner of fragrant incense, hung down jewels of true pearls, made all manner of banners and pennants, and hung streamers everywhere. They scattered all kinds of flowers, just as in the Garden of Delight in the heavenly realm, no different.

They adorned the seats, very vast and great, with all manner of fine treasures, complete with all manner of food fragrant, delicious, and of supreme quality, pure in fragrance and color, delicious in flavor as that of the heaven of Sudhā (the deva-nectar). Such food was indeed fit to be offered to the most honored one of the three realms.

"When the arranging was finished, the close ministers reported to the king, saying:

"'This great city, within and without, is all clean, and all things are dignified and adorned. The finest food is all prepared. May the king invite the Buddha to come and receive the offering of the meal.'

"At that time, King Mãn Ðộ Ma, seeing this, was very glad at heart, and forthwith dispatched a messenger to the place of the Buddha Vipaśyin to announce, saying:

"'May the Buddha come and attend; the meal is prepared. Now is the proper time.'

"At that time the Buddha Vipaśyin and the assembly of Bhikṣus donned their robes, took up their alms bowls, and went to the palace of King Mãn Ðộ Ma to receive the offering.

"Having arrived, the Buddha first washed his feet and sat upon a fine, lofty seat. The assembly of Bhikṣus also washed their feet and sat in order.

"King Mãn Ðộ Ma took up an auspicious jeweled vessel, and from the Buddha on down, offered water to wash to one and all. By the spiritual power of the Buddha, there was an auspicious dragon who stood in the midst of the open sky, holding a hundred parasols to shelter the crown of the head of the Buddha, the World-Honored One, and of the Bhikṣus. The king's chief consort held a fan made of gold and jewels, dignified, fine, and beautiful, standing in attendance at one side of the Buddha.

"The other palace consorts also held jeweled fans, standing in attendance beside the Bhikṣus.

"King Mãn Ðộ Ma bowed at the feet of the Buddha. Having done so, he took up the fragrant, delicious, and finest food, and reverently offered it to the World-Honored One, and afterward offered it to the Bhikṣus.

"At that time, the elder Tích Tài, knowing that the Buddha had also gone to the invitation of King Mãn Ðộ Ma, forthwith sent a man to the king's palace to secretly observe how the arranging of the food and drink had been done, whether fine or poor.

"This man went to the place of the king, and seeing all the surpassingly excellent matters there, forgot himself, and stayed on without returning.

"The elder sent a second man to go; he too did not return.

"At last the elder himself went to that place.

"Having arrived at the king's palace, and seeing the offerings complete in every way, he thought: 'In the king's palace the arranging is like this—I know not by whom it was done? In my house there is no one able to do such a thing.'

"Having thought thus, he returned to his own home and said to the keeper of his storehouse:

"'You may take gold, silver, and jewels and hang them upon the gate. If anyone comes asking for anything, give it; but do not bring them in. I do not wish to meet them.'

"When the elder Tích Tài had spoken thus, he went into his house, sat still in one place, sorrowful and dejected. At that time, Śakra, the Lord of the Gods, observing with his divine eye, saw this matter and thought: 'Now in this realm the elder Tích Tài makes offerings of alms to the Buddha Vipaśyin; he is the foremost among donors, and has faith pure and clear. I should transform my own body to come to his aid.'

"Having thought thus, Śakra, the Lord of the Gods, concealed his body and manifested the appearance of a brahmin, went to the place of the elder Tích Tài, and said to the gatekeeper:

"'Go and inform the elder: there is a brahmin of the Kauśika lineage at the gate who wishes to see the elder.'

"The gatekeeper said:

"'The elder has instructed: "If anyone comes asking, give them what they need, but do not bring them in." You are a brahmin! If you want anything, you should take it and go—why then do you demand to see the elder?'

"The brahmin said:

"'I do not ask for any goods; I only wish to ask to see the elder. You should, for my sake, quickly go in and report clearly.'

"The gatekeeper went in and announced, saying:

"'There is a brahmin of the Kauśika lineage at the gate who wishes to see the elder.'

"The elder said:

"'You may tell the brahmin: if he is asking for anything, he should take it and go—why then does he demand to see me?'

"The gatekeeper went out and spoke thus again.

"The brahmin said:

"'I ask for nothing. I only wish to be able to see the elder.'

"The gatekeeper again went in and announced to the elder. The elder consented to let that man come in to see him.

"When the brahmin had come in, he said to the elder:

"'Why are you sorrowful and unhappy? Is there something that grieves you?'

"Then the elder spoke a verse, saying:

"The brahmin said:

"'Speak clearly the cause of your grief, and I shall dispel that matter for you.'

"When the elder had spoken the whole cause, Śakra, the Lord of the Gods, then withdrew the appearance of a brahmin and manifested again his own body, saying to the elder: 'I am Śakra, the Lord of the Gods. I shall send the deva-son Viśvakarman to come and help you prepare fragrant and delicious food as an offering to the Buddha.'

"Having spoken, he vanished back to the heavenly palace and issued a command to the deva-son Viśvakarman, saying:

"'Go to the house of the elder Tích Tài and secretly help him prepare food as an offering to the Buddha—is that not good?'

"The deva-son forthwith obeyed the command of Śakra, the Lord of the Gods, and using his spiritual power descended to help the elder. He transformed it into a great city, making everything pure and clear, and arranged all manner of precious utensils, adorned fine and beautiful as the realm of the heavens. The jeweled seats of the heavens and the fine food of the heavens were all complete. There was the dragon king Airāvaṇa standing in the open sky, holding a hundred parasols to shelter the crown of the Buddha's head.

"The auspicious dragons each held a parasol to shelter the crown of the heads of the Bhikṣus. There were heavenly maidens holding fans of gold and jewels, dignified and most lofty, standing in attendance beside the Buddha. The other heavenly maidens held jeweled fans, standing beside the Bhikṣus.

"At that time the elder Tích Tài took up all manner of fragrant and delicious food and reverently offered it up to the Buddha and the Bhikṣus.

"At that time, King Mãn Ðộ Ma said to a messenger:

"'Go to the house of the elder Tích Tài, and secretly observe how that house has arranged its food and all manner of adornments?'

"The messenger obeyed the command, went to that house, and saw all the dignified adornments; having looked, he forgot to return. The king again sent another to go; he too forgot to return. The crown prince went; he too did not return. At last the king himself went to that place and secretly stood outside the gate.

"At that time the Buddha Vipaśyin, knowing that the king was outside, then said to the elder:

"'Earlier you spoke ill words to King Mãn Ðộ Ma; this is indeed a transgression! Now the king is outside the gate of your house; you should quickly go out and beg his pardon for your fault.'

"The elder then went outside, and seeing the king, begged pardon for his fault and ushered the king in. When the king had entered the house, he saw all the fragrant and delicious food and all manner of dignified, fine, and beautiful adornments of the heavens. Having seen them, he forgot entirely the matter of before.

"The king said to the elder:

"'You have offered the Buddha such supremely lofty things. If you could make such offerings to the Buddha and the Bhikṣus every day, then there would be nothing to compare with it.'

"The elder Tích Tài, his heart giving rise to purity, bowed before the feet of the Buddha and made a vow, saying:

"'May I, by reason of the merit and virtue of making offerings to the Buddha and the Bhikṣus, and of the wholesome roots I have made, hereafter obtain wealth and sovereignty, complete in all things. Wherever I am born, may I enjoy heavenly merit within the human realm, give rise to no excessive craving, depart far from the karma of greed, and obtain the wholesome and beneficial Dharma. Within the True Dharma of the Buddha, may I follow the Buddha and go forth into the homeless life.'

"When he had made this vow, the Buddha Vipaśyin and the assembly of Bhikṣus came to the elder's house and dwelt there for the three months of the rains-retreat."

At that time, the Buddha Śākyamuni said to the Bhikṣus:

"What do you think? At the time of the Dharma-assembly of the Buddha Vipaśyin, the elder Tích Tài was no other person—he is now precisely this Bhikṣu Quang Minh. Because at that time he spoke ill words to King Mãn Ðộ Ma, he did not escape the retribution: for five hundred lifetimes he, together with his mother, was burned by fire.

Even in this present life it has likewise been so. Yet because he had earlier planted wholesome roots in the time of the Buddha Vipaśyin and made a great vow, it has now ripened, so that he became a wealthy elder, complete in all things, enjoying heavenly merit within the human realm, performing wholesome and beneficial deeds and even deeds of mighty power. Together they were in the time of the Buddha Vipaśyin, and at last he is now within my Dharma, having gone forth to study the Way, severing all the afflictions and realizing Arhatship.

"Bhikṣus! By reason of this, you should know that all sentient beings, if they create one black karma, must surely undergo one black retribution. If they create one white karma, they will surely receive one white retribution.

"Therefore, Bhikṣus! Whether the karmic cause is black or white, each and every retribution surely is never lost. You must know that all of it is on account of what one has oneself done. Bhikṣus, you should cultivate and study in accordance with this."

When the Buddha had finished speaking this sutra, the assembly of Bhikṣus, having heard what the Buddha said, were all greatly delighted, and faithfully received it and respectfully practiced it.

THE SUTRA SPOKEN BY THE BUDDHA ON THE CAUSES AND CONDITIONS OF THE YOUTH QUANG MINH (RADIANT LIGHT)

End of Fascicle 4