T0523 Five Kings / 佛說五王經

The original translator is unknown and is now cataloged in the Eastern Jin records.

In the past, there were five kings whose kingdoms were near one another. They frequently visited one another and never waged war or launched invasions. They were all close friends.

Among them, the eldest king was named King Universal Peace. He practiced the conduct of Bodhisattva, while the other four younger kings often engaged in unwholesome deeds. King Universal Peace felt compassion for the four younger kings and wished to liberate them. One day, the great king invited them to his palace to enjoy entertainment together. For seven days and seven nights, from morning until night, they indulged in music, singing, and dancing. After the seven days had passed, the four younger kings said to the great king: “We still have many affairs of state to handle. Please allow us to take our leave.”

The great king then ordered his attendants: “Prepare the carriages and horses. Let the ministers and people accompany the four kings to see them off.”

When they had reached halfway along the road, the great king, feeling compassion and seeking to guide them, asked: “Please, each of you, tell me what your life’s wish is.”

One king said: “I wish to roam and take pleasure in the fields during the third month of spring, when the trees are lush and the flowers bloom on every branch.”

Another king said: “I wish always to be a king, with fine saddled horses, dignified attire, brilliant towers and palaces, surrounded by officials and citizens, with bells and drums resounding. When I go out or return, passersby will gaze upon me in admiration.”

Another king said: “My wish is different. I wish to have good wives and good sons, all of exceptional appearance, so we may share in the joys of family together.”

The fourth younger king said: “My wish is also different. I wish for my parents to always be present, and to have many brothers, wives, and children, enjoying fine garments and exquisite food, playing music and wearing simple, elegant clothing, delighting in one another’s company.”

After the four kings had spoken their respective wishes, they turned and asked the great king: “And what is your wish?”

The great king replied: “Let me first speak about your wishes before I tell you my own. One of you said you wished to roam and take pleasure in the fields during the third month of spring, when the trees are lush and flowers bloom. But when autumn arrives, the trees and flowers wither and fall. This is not a lasting joy.

“Another said, ‘I wish always to be a king, with fine saddled horses, dignified attire, brilliant towers and palaces, surrounded by officials and citizens, with bells and drums resounding. When I go out or return, passersby will gaze upon me in admiration.’ Yet since ancient times, emperors and kings, though grand and joyful, once their blessings are exhausted, wars break out among states, and in an instant the kingdom is ruined and the people perish. This, too, is not lasting joy.

“Another said, ‘I wish to have good wives and good sons, all of exceptional appearance, and share in the joys of family together.’ But once wife or sons fall ill, sorrow and worry will certainly follow. This, too, is not lasting joy.

“Another said, ‘I wish for my parents to always be present, and to have many brothers, wives, and children, enjoying fine garments and exquisite food, playing music and wearing simple, elegant clothing, delighting in one another’s company.’ But if misfortune strikes and one is arrested by officials and imprisoned, with no one to save or care for them, it would be miserable indeed. This, too, is not lasting joy.”

The four kings then asked: “So what is your wish, great king?”

The great king answered: “My wish is to be unborn and undying, without suffering or affliction, without hunger or thirst, without cold or heat, to be free and at ease in life and death.”

The four kings asked: “Where can such happiness be found? You must surely have a wise teacher who has guided you!”

The great king replied: “The revered title of my teacher is ‘Buddha.’ He now resides nearby at the Jetavana Monastery.”

When the four kings heard this, they were overjoyed and went together to see the Buddha. They bowed in reverence to the World-Honored One and withdrew to sit to one side. The great king knelt, joined his palms, and addressed the Buddha: “In this life, we have obtained human bodies, yet we are foolish and lacking in wisdom. We have been engrossed in the pursuit of worldly pleasures, unaware of the retribution of good and evil. We now beseech the World-Honored One to expound for us the noble truth of suffering.”

The World-Honored One said: “You must listen carefully, and I shall explain it to you. Human life in this world is constantly oppressed by immeasurable kinds of suffering. Today, I shall briefly speak to you about the eight kinds of suffering. What are these eight? They are: the suffering of birth, the suffering of aging, the suffering of illness, the suffering of death, the suffering of being separated from those one loves, the suffering of seeking what one cannot obtain, the suffering of encountering those one hates, and the suffering of worry, sorrow, and affliction.

“What is the suffering of birth? When a person dies, he does not know which realm his consciousness will go to. Before rebirth occurs, one experiences the intermediate existence. Within three sets of seven days, if he encounters karmically related parents engaging in intercourse, he will descend into the womb. In the first seven days, the embryo is like thin curdled milk; in the second seven days, like thick curd; in the third seven days, like coagulated butter; in the fourth seven days, it resembles a lump of flesh. When the head and limbs begin to form, a wind enters the womb and stirs the embryo’s body, causing the six sense faculties to extend and develop. The embryo resides in the mother’s womb, beneath the stomach and above the intestines. If the mother drinks a cup of hot water, the fetus feels as if it is in the boiling cauldron hell; if she drinks a cup of cold water, the fetus feels as if it is in the icy hell. When the mother eats her fill, the food presses on the fetus, causing unbearable pain. When the mother is hungry and her belly is empty, the fetus suffers the torment of being suspended upside down like a hungry ghost. When the ten months of gestation are complete and birth approaches, the baby’s head turns toward the birth canal and feels as though caught between two great mountains, suffering excruciating pain. The mother is in danger; the father is anxious. When the infant is born and its body lands on the grass, its tender skin feels as if being cut by knives, and so it cries out in pain upon entering the world. Isn’t this suffering?”

Everyone replied: “This is indeed great suffering.”

“What is the suffering of aging? A person is raised by his parents and gradually grows into adulthood, taking pride in his strength and recklessly lifting and carrying without assessing his ability. He endures cold when it is cold, and heat when it is hot. He lets himself go hungry and overindulges when full, without moderation. Once old age arrives, hair turns white, teeth fall out, vision dims, hearing declines, youth is gone, and decay has set in. The skin loosens, the face wrinkles, joints ache, walking is painful, and even sitting brings no comfort. The mind is burdened with sorrow and distress, memory weakens, and forgetfulness is frequent. The day of death draws near, and nasal discharge flows as one speaks. Daily living requires the care of others. Isn’t this suffering?”

The great king replied: “It is indeed great suffering.”

“What is the suffering of illness? The human body is composed of four great elements—earth, water, fire, and wind. If even one of these is out of balance, one may suffer from one of one hundred and one diseases; if all four are imbalanced, one may suffer from four hundred and four diseases simultaneously. When the earth element is imbalanced, the body feels heavy; when the water element is imbalanced, the body swells; when the fire element is imbalanced, one feels feverish; and when the wind element is imbalanced, the limbs ache as if beaten with rods. The four elements may increase or diminish at random, causing weakness and loss of control in hands and feet. Energy is depleted, and all movement depends on others. The lips dry, tendons rupture, nostrils crack, vision fades, and hearing disappears. One lies upon the unclean discharge of one’s own body, the mind filled with distress, speech sorrowful. Even though relatives attend to him day and night and prepare fine meals, the patient has no appetite. Isn’t this suffering?”