23.3 （三）耳

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at the Thunder Sound Pond in the country of Campā.

At that time, Venerable Vīradatta was in a quiet place, cultivating the Dharma on his own, not abandoning the twelve practices of austerity, walking back and forth day and night, not apart from the teachings of the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment. Whether sitting or walking, he always practiced the true Dharma. In the early, middle, and late watches of the night, he constantly encouraged himself, not letting up for a moment. However, he was still unable to attain liberation from the defilements of desire. At that time, the place where Venerable Vīradatta walked back and forth was damaged by his feet, and blood flowed out, filling the sides of the road, like a place where cattle were slaughtered. Crows and magpies ate the blood, but he was still unable to attain liberation from the defilements of desire. At that time, Venerable Vīradatta thought: "Among the disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha who practiced austerities and diligently advanced, I am the foremost. However, my mind is still not liberated from the defilements. Moreover, my family business has much wealth and treasures. I should give it up and return to being a layperson, and use the wealth to widely give alms. But now, being a renunciant is very difficult and not easy!"

At that time, the World-Honored One, knowing from afar the thoughts in Vīradatta's mind, immediately soared through the sky to the place where he was walking back and forth, spread out his sitting mat, and sat down. At that time, Venerable Vīradatta went before the Buddha, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side.

At that time, the World-Honored One asked Vīradatta, "Why did you have such thoughts just now? 'Among the disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha who practiced austerities and diligently advanced, I am the foremost. However, my mind is still not liberated from the defilements. Moreover, my family business has much wealth and treasures. I should give it up and return to being a layperson, and use the wealth to widely give alms. But now, being a renunciant is very difficult and not easy.'"

Vīradatta replied, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The World-Honored One said, "I will now ask you a question. Answer me as you see fit. Vīradatta, when you were at home, were you good at playing the zither?"

Vīradatta replied, "Yes, World-Honored One! When I was at home, I was good at playing the zither."

The World-Honored One said, "Vīradatta, if the strings are too tight, will the sound of the zither be harmonious and pleasant?"

Vīradatta replied, "No, World-Honored One!"

The World-Honored One said, "Vīradatta, if the strings are too loose, will the sound of the zither be harmonious and pleasant?"

Vīradatta replied, "No, World-Honored One!"

The World-Honored One said, "Vīradatta, if the strings are neither too tight nor too loose, will the sound of the zither be harmonious and pleasant?"

Vīradatta replied, "Yes, World-Honored One! If the strings are neither too loose nor too tight, the sound of the zither will be harmonious and pleasant."

The World-Honored One said, "It is the same here. Those who are too diligent are like those who play too much; those who are lazy fall into wrong views; those who are able to be in the middle are those who progress. In this way, they will soon become those who are free from taints."

At that time, after the World-Honored One had spoken the subtle Dharma to Bhikṣu Vīradatta, he returned to the side of the Thunder Sound Pond.

At that time, Venerable Vīradatta contemplated the World-Honored One's instructions, not letting go for a moment, and practiced the Dharma in a secluded place. The reason for the noble sons leaving home to study the path, shaving their beards and hair, and practicing the unsurpassed pure conduct is that they have exhausted birth and death, established the pure conduct, accomplished what was to be done, and will no longer accept existence, knowing it as it is. Venerable Vīradatta then attained arahantship.

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "Among my śrāvakas, the foremost disciple in diligent practice and austerity is none other than Bhikṣu Vīradatta."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully received and upheld it.