Tenth Section: The Past Cause of Ascetic Practices
Heard like this:
At one time, the Buddha was at Anavatapta Spring, accompanied by five hundred great bhikṣus, all of whom were Arhats, possessing the six supernatural powers, except for one bhikṣu, who was different. It was Ananda.
At that time, the Buddha said to Śāriputra, “In the past, near the city of Pataliputra, there was a town called ‘Multi-beast,’ where lived a Brahmin who was the royal historian, the foremost in the kingdom. He had a son who had naturally formed flame-shaped hair, so he was named ‘Flame-hair.’ Flame-hair was of proper appearance, possessing the thirty major marks of a great person. He was well-versed in all the Brahminical texts, books, prophecies, and arts, and had mastery in various disciplines, including the external path’s rules and arithmetic. At that time, there was a potter named Benefit-happiness, who had been a childhood friend of Flame-hair. They respected and cherished each other, always thinking of each other. Benefit-happiness, a diligent, brave, compassionate, and filial person, had parents who were both blind. He provided for them without ever falling short. Although Benefit-happiness was a potter, he never dug the land or allowed others to do so; he only used soil from broken walls, collapsed riverbanks, and earth from relics caused by mouse, using these to make pottery, which was unmatched in quality. If men and women wanted to buy, they only needed to place grains, wheat, hemp, or beans on the ground and take away the pottery. He never bargained over prices and never took gold or silver, only accepting food as payment for his work.
“Near Multi-beast, there was the monastery of Kashyapa Tathagata, where he resided with a group of twenty thousand great Bhikkhus, all of whom were Arhats. Benefit-happiness said to Flame-hair, ‘Shall we go and see Kashyapa Tathagata?’ Flame-hair replied, ‘Why should we go to see this bald-headed ascetic? He’s just a bald-headed person; what attainment could he have? The Buddha’s way is so difficult to achieve!’ This was said three times. On the next day, Benefit-happiness said to Flame-hair, ‘Shall we go bathe in the river?’ Flame-hair replied, ‘Yes, we should.’ After they bathed and put on their clothes, Benefit-happiness raised his right hand and pointed far off, saying, ‘Kashyapa Tathagata’s monastery is not far from here; shall we go and see him?’ Flame-hair replied, ‘Why should we go to see this bald-headed ascetic? How can a bald-headed ascetic have the Buddha’s path? The Buddha’s way is so difficult to achieve!’ Then, Benefit-happiness grabbed Flame-hair’s clothes and pulled him, saying, ‘Let’s go see the Buddha. He is nearby.’ Flame-hair, however, took off his clothes and fled. Benefit-happiness chased after him, grabbed his belt, and said, ‘At least come and see the Buddha, and we can return right after.’ Flame-hair loosened his belt again and fled, saying, ‘I do not want to see this bald-headed bhikṣu.’ Benefit-happiness grabbed Flame-hair’s head, and said, ‘At least, go to see Buddha together, just once.’”
“The Buddha told Śāriputra: ‘At that time in the country of Pataliputra, it was forbidden to grab someone’s head, and anyone who did so would be executed. Flame-hair was frightened and thought to himself, “Why is this potter so determined to grab my head?” Benefit-happiness said, “No matter what, I will not let go until you see the Buddha.” Flame-hair thought to himself, “This is not a small matter, something good must be happening, otherwise, why would he risk for his own life?” Flame-hair then said, “Let go of my head, and I will go with you.” Benefit-happiness let go, and Flame-hair, fixing his head ornament and putting on his clothes, followed him to where Kashyapa Buddha was.”
“Benefit-happiness paid homage to the feet of Kashyapa Tathagata, sitting to one side, while Flame-hair stood and merely greeted with a raised hand, then sat down beside him. Benefit-happiness placed his palms together and said to Kashyapa Buddha, ‘This Flame-hair is the son of the royal historian from Multi-beast, and he has been my friend since childhood. However, he does not recognize the Three Nobles, does not believe in the Three Jewels, has not seen the Buddha, has not heard the Dharma, and does not offer to the Sangha. I hope that the World-Honored One will enlighten him and help him overcome his ignorance, so that he may come to believe in the Buddha’s teachings.’” “Flame-hair carefully observed the World-Honored One, from head to toe and from toe to head. Upon seeing the Buddha’s majestic appearance, dignified countenance, serene senses, and harmonious demeanor, he noticed the Buddha was adorned with the thirty-two major marks of a great person, with eighty minor marks adding beauty to his posture. His grace was like the flowers of the Sala tree, his body like Mount Sumeru, with no one able to see the top of it, his face like the full moon, radiant like the sun, and his body’s color like a golden mountain. After seeing the Buddha’s majestic appearance, Flame-hair thought to himself: ‘The description of the Buddha’s features I have read in the Brahminical texts matches what I now see, except for two things.’”
“Then, Flame-hair recited a verse and asked:
‘I have heard of the thirty-two marks of a great person.
This noble person, the most exalted of men, but there are two marks I do not see.
Are his private organs hidden in his belly, like a horse’s?
Is his tongue long and wide, able to cover his face and reach his forehead?
I ask that he stick out his tongue to demonstrate, so that my doubts may be cleared.
If I see it, I will know if it aligns with the scriptures I have read.’”
“At that moment, Kashyapa Tathagata manifested the mark of the long tongue, covering his face and oval on top of the head, and also covering both of his ears. He licked his head seven times with his tongue, then withdrew it into his mouth. The light from his tongue illuminated the vast world, blocking out the light of the sun and moon, and even blocking out the light of Akaniṣṭha heaven. Then the light looping around him seven times before entering through his head. Kashyapa Tathagata, using his divine power, revealed the hidden genital organs, resembling those of a horse, but only Flame-hair could see them—no one else could. Flame-hair, the boy, saw the Buddha’s thirty-two marks completely and clearly, with not one missing. His heart rejoiced, and he could not contain his excitement.”
“Kashyapa Tathagata taught the Flame-hair boy. What did he teach? He taught about the actions that cause a Bodhisattva to cut off their merits:
‘What actions cause a Bodhisattva to cut off their merits? It is bad actions of the body, bad speech, and bad thoughts. The body does what it should not do, the mouth says what it should not say, and the mind thinks what it should not think. What happens when a Bodhisattva’s body does what it should not do? When the Bodhisattva eventually becomes a Buddha, their form will be small and short. This is the result of the Bodhisattva’s body doing what it should not do. What happens when a Bodhisattva speaks what they should not speak? Later, when they leave home and practice, they will face great hardships before becoming a Buddha. This is the result of the Bodhisattva speaking what they should not speak. What happens when a Bodhisattva thinks what they should not think? When the Bodhisattva becomes a Buddha, the bhikṣus will often quarrel and have discord. This is the result of the Bodhisattva thinking what they should not think. Noble son! These are the three great bad deeds of a Bodhisattva, and you must avoid them.’”
At this, the Flame-hair boy stepped forward, bowed to the feet of the Buddha, knelt, and clasped his hands together, saying to the Buddha:‘I now repent for the actions of my body, speech, and mind that should not have been done, said, or thought. May the World-Honored One accept my repentance, and from now on, I will never commit these faults again.’ He repented three times. Kashyapa Tathagata silently accepted the repentance. Flame-hair and Benefit-happiness stood up, bowed to the feet of the Buddha, and then left to return.
“On the way, Flame-hair suddenly thought of the consequences of the three bad actions, and said to Benefit-happiness:‘You have lost what you should gain, and you have no benefit, not any benefit at all. I no longer wish to see you or hear your name.’ Benefit-happiness asked: ‘Why so?’
Flame-hair said: ‘You have already heard the profound Dharma treasure from Kashyapa Buddha, so why do you remain at home and not practice?’
Benefit-happiness replied: ‘Do you not know? My parents are old and blind, and I must support them. How can I leave home? I have long wanted to practice, but if I leave, my parents will die. That is why I cannot leave.’
Flame-hair said to Benefit-happiness: ‘When I heard from Kashyapa Buddha about the three actions that cut off the merits of the Bodhisattva, I no longer wish to stay at home. I wish to return to the Buddha and request to become a bhikṣu.’
Benefit-happiness responded: ‘Well done! Well done! Has Flame-hair’s mind become so strong? Then go right now and return to the Buddha. This is because it is difficult to encounter the Buddha in this world.’
Flame-hair embraced Benefit-happiness, circled him three times, clasped his hands in apology, and said: ‘If my body, speech, or thoughts have offended you, I ask for your forgiveness. Thank you for guiding me to the true path.’”
Then, Flame-hair recited a verse of praise:
‘You are my good friend, a friend in the Buddha Dharma, with no attachment to desire.
You have guided me onto the true path, and such a friend is praised by the Buddha.’
“After Flame-hair recited this verse, he circled Benefit-happiness three times and returned to the place where Kashyapa Buddha was residing. He bowed to the feet of the Buddha, knelt down, clasped his hands, and said to the Buddha: ‘May I shave my head and enter the path of the monastic life, receiving the full precepts from Kashyapa Tathagata?’” The Buddha said to Śāriputra, “At that moment, Kashyapa guided Flame-hair to take the full monastic precepts.”
The Buddha continued, “Do you know who Flame-hair was at that time? It was me. Flame-hair’s father is now my father, King Suddhodana. The young boy Benefit-happiness at that time, is the celestial being named ‘Vessel.’ When I was the prince, one midnight, when the palace women were asleep, he came to me and said, ‘The time has come for you to leave home and practice the way.’ It was him. Śāriputra, this Benefit-happiness was my spiritual teacher, who frequently encouraged me to ordain.”
The Buddha continued to Śāriputra, “I once spoke harsh words to Benefit-happiness, saying, ‘Kashyapa Buddha, this bald-headed ascetic, how can he be a Buddha? The Buddha’s path is difficult to attain!’ Because of this harsh speech, for six years, I endured great suffering in my practice, thinking that I could achieve Buddhahood through such extreme austerities. Śāriputra, during that time, I ate only a grain of sesame, a grain of rice, a grain of soybean, and a grain of mung bean every day. I endured hunger, thirst, cold, heat, rain, and the torment of insects, my body became emaciated. I believed that by enduring these hardships, I would attain Buddhahood, but in fact, I gained nothing from it. Śāriputra, the reason I practiced such severe austerities for six years was to repay the negative karma from my past actions, and only after doing so could I attain the state of supreme, perfect enlightenment.”
At this, the Buddha recited a verse about his past karma:
“In the past, I was Flame-hair, and said to Benefit-happiness:
‘How can this bald-headed ascetic be a Buddha? The Buddha’s path is so difficult to attain!’
Because of this karma, for six full years,
I trained in harsh austerities, hoping to achieve Buddhahood.
However, the Buddha’s path cannot be attained through such austerities.
This was not the right way, but I followed it. All of this is the result of my own actions and their consequences.’
The cycle of cause and effect will never vanish, nor will it disappear into thin air.
We should protect these three types of cause and effect and not violate the moral conduct of body, speech, and mind.
Now, I have become the honored Buddha, the leader of the three realms,
And in the Anavatapta Spring, I personally recount the karmic causes of my past lives.”
The Buddha then said to Śāriputra, “Look at the Tathagata. All evil has been eradicated, all virtues are complete. The Heavenly beings, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas all beings desire to be guided to the other shore. Yet, even I cannot avoid the retribution for past wrongs. How much more so for ignorant beings who have not yet attained the Way? Śāriputra! You should diligently protect the three practices of body, speech, and mind. Śāriputra, thou should learn this!”
“When the Buddha spoke about the past karma of the Tathagata, eleven thousand Heavenly Princes attained the fruit of Stream-entry; eight thousand Nāgas all accepted the Five Precepts; and five thousand yakshas took refuge in the Three Jewels.
The Anavatapta Nāga King joined his palms and said to the Buddha:”World-Honored One! Please accept my offering at the spring above, and teach the law of past karmas so that when I become a Buddha in the future, I will not suffer from such karma. Let all my evil deeds be extinguished, and may I become a pure and clean Tathagata.”
The Buddha replied to Anavatapta Nāga King: “If you wish to fulfil such a wish, you should diligently guard your body, speech, and mind, ensuring they do not fall into error. Only in this way will all your evil deeds be extinguished, and you will become a pure and clean Tathagata.”
Anavatapta Nāga King, upon hearing the Buddha’s words, rejoiced greatly and offered heavenly sandalwood fragrance to the Buddha and the five hundred arhats.
The Buddha then taught the Dharma that comforts the hearts of beings to the Heavenly beings, Nāgas, and spirits, “What is the Dharma that comforts the heart? It is the practice of generosity, the practice of keeping precepts, the way to be reborn in the heavenly realms, the practice of renouncing desires, the practice of avoiding the three evil paths, the practice of no defilements, and the practice of purity.”
After finishing his teachings, the Buddha, along with the bhikkhus, left the lotus seat. The bhikkhus surrounded the Buddha, flying through the air, rising to the height of seven tala trees, with miraculous powers. They flew like birds soaring among the clouds, and slowly returned to the Bamboo Grove Monastery in Rajagriha.
After the Buddha finished his teaching, Śāriputra, the five hundred arhats, Anavatapta Nāga King, and the eight groups of deities and spirits all joyfully accepted them, and practicing accordingly.
Dharma Torch 