37.6 （六）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, Venerable Śāriputra went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. Then Śāriputra said to the World-Honored One, "I now wish to spend the summer retreat in Śrāvastī and wander and teach among the people."

The World-Honored One said, "Now is the right time." At that time, Śāriputra rose from his seat, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and then left.

Not long after Śāriputra left, a bhikṣu with slanderous intentions said to the World-Honored One, "Śāriputra has been disputing with the bhikṣus and not repenting. Now he is wandering among the people.

At that time, the World-Honored One told a bhikṣu, "Go quickly and call Śāriputra in my name.

The bhikṣu replied, "Yes, World-Honored One!"

The Buddha ordered Maudgalyāyana and Ānanda, "You should have the monks in the various rooms summoned to the World-Honored One. The reason is that Śāriputra has entered samādhi and will now roar like a lion in front of the Tathāgata."

At that time, the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's instruction, gathered before the World-Honored One. They bowed their heads at his feet and sat to one side.

At that time, the bhikṣu, having received the World-Honored One's instruction, went to where Śāriputra was and said to Śāriputra, "The Tathāgata wishes to see you."

At that time, Śāriputra went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. The Buddha then said to Śāriputra, "Not long after you left, a bhikṣu of impure conduct came to me and said, 'Śāriputra bhikṣu has been disputing with other bhikṣus and has not repented. He is wandering and teaching among the people.' Is this true?"

Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "The Tathāgata should know for himself."

The World-Honored One said, "I know myself. But now the great assembly each has doubts. You can now clarify yourself in the midst of the great assembly with your own eloquence."

Śāriputra said to the Buddha, "Since leaving the womb, I am now eighty years old. I have always thought to myself that I have never killed living beings, nor have I spoken falsely. Even in jest, I have never spoken falsely. I have also never caused disputes between others. If I am not focused, I may have done these things. But now, World-Honored One, my mind is pure. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct? It is like this earth, which can receive both pure and impure things. It receives all kinds of filth, pus, blood, and spittle without rejecting them. Yet this earth does not say it is bad or good. I am also like this, World-Honored One. My mind does not waver. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct and wander far away? Only when the mind is not focused can this happen. Now my mind is correct. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct and wander far away? It is also like water, which can cleanse both good and bad things. That water does not think, 'I cleanse this, I do not cleanse that.' It is the same here. There is no different thought. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct and wander far away? It is like a raging fire burning a mountain or field, not discriminating between good and bad, and never having any thought. I am also like this. How could I have any intention of arguing with a person of pure conduct? It is also like sweeping and mopping, which do not discriminate between good and bad, but can remove them all, never having any thought. It is like a cow without its horns, being extremely gentle and not fierce. It is easy to lead and can go wherever one wants, without any difficulty. Yes, World-Honored One! My mind is like this. It does not harm any thought. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct and wander far away? It is also like a caṇḍāla woman wearing tattered clothes begging for food in the human world, without any taboos. I am also like this, World-Honored One. I have no thought of causing disputes and wandering far away? It is also like a pot of fat leaking everywhere. A person with eyes can see the leaks everywhere. I am also like this, World-Honored One. The nine orifices leak out impurities. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct? It is like a young and beautiful woman with a dead body tied around her neck, which she detests. World-Honored One! I also detest this body, no different from that. How could I argue with a person of pure conduct and wander far away? This is not the case, World-Honored One! You should know for yourself, and that bhikṣu should also know. If there is such

At that time, the World-Honored One told that bhikṣu, "You should now repent yourself. If you do not repent, your head will break into seven pieces."

At that time, that bhikṣu was terrified and his hair stood on end. He immediately rose from his seat, bowed at the feet of the Tathāgata, and said to the World-Honored One, "I now know that I have offended Śāriputra. I only pray that the World-Honored One will accept my repentance."

The World-Honored One said, "Bhikṣu! You should repent to Śāriputra yourself. If you do not, your head will break into seven pieces."

At that time, that bhikṣu immediately bowed his head at Śāriputra's feet and said to Śāriputra, "I only pray that you will accept my repentance. I was foolish and did not distinguish the true."

At that time, the World-Honored One told Śāriputra, "You should now accept this bhikṣu's repentance and also pat his head. The reason is that if you do not accept this bhikṣu's repentance, his head will break into seven pieces."

At that time, Śāriputra patted his head and said to the bhikṣu, "I accept your repentance. Like a fool, like a deluded one. This Buddha Dharma is extremely vast. If one can repent in a timely manner, it is excellent! I now accept your repentance. Do not commit offenses again." He said this three times.

At that time, Śāriputra told the bhikṣu, "Do not commit offenses again. The reason is that there are six dharmas that lead to hell, six dharmas that lead to rebirth in heaven, and six dharmas that lead to the place of nirvāṇa. What are the six? Wishing to harm others, I give rise to this mind of harm and am overjoyed, unable to contain myself; I will teach others to harm others, giving rise to a mind of harm in the process; having harmed others, giving rise to joy in the process; I will obtain this ill-repute; not having done this, I am already anxious and worried. These are called the six dharmas that cause one to fall into evil destinies.

What are the six that lead to a good place? Namely, complete bodily precepts, complete verbal precepts, complete mental precepts, holy life force, a mind free from killing, and a mind free from jealousy. These are called the six dharmas that lead to a good place.

"What are the six dharmas that lead to nirvāṇa? Namely, the six dharmas of mindfulness. What are the six? Namely, practicing loving-kindness with the body without defilement; practicing loving-kindness with speech without defilement; practicing loving-kindness with the mind without defilement; if one obtains the requisites of livelihood, one is able to share them equally with others without stinginess; upholding the precepts without defilement, valued by the wise; such precepts are able to fully understand all wrong views, right views, and the noble ones' way out, and are able to end the root of suffering. Such views are all clearly understood. These are called the six dharmas that lead to nirvāṇa. You should now, bhikṣu, seek the means to practice these six dharmas. Thus, bhikṣu, you should train in this way."

At that time, the bhikṣu rose from his seat again and bowed at Śāriputra's feet, saying: "I now confess again, like a fool and deluded, not distinguishing the true. I only pray, Śāriputra, accept my repentance and not commit it again in the future."

Śāriputra said: "I allow you to repent! The Dharma of the noble ones is extremely vast and great. If you can change your past and cultivate the future, do not commit it again."

At that time, the bhikṣu, having heard what Śāriputra said, joyfully accepted and practiced it.