38.6 （六）

Thus have I heard:

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

At that time, many bhikṣus entered Śrāvastī to beg for alms. They heard outside the palace gate of King Prasenajit that many people were crying out, all complaining, "There is a bandit named Aṅgulimāla in the kingdom, who is extremely cruel and has killed countless living beings. He has no compassion for any sentient beings. The people of the kingdom all detest him. He takes people's lives every day and makes a garland of their fingers. Therefore, he is called 'Finger Garland'. We only wish that the great king would go and fight him."

At that time, the many bhikṣus, having begged for alms, returned to the Jetavana Monastery. They put away their robes and bowls, took their sitting mats on their shoulders, went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed their heads at his feet, and sat to one side. Then the many bhikṣus said to the World-Honored One, "We, the many bhikṣus, entered Śrāvastī to beg for alms. We saw many people crying out at the palace gate of the king, saying, 'Now there is a bandit named Aṅgulimāla in the king's kingdom. He is cruel to people, has no compassionate mind, kills all sentient beings, and causes the people to die and the country to be empty because of him. He also takes people's fingers to make a flower garland.'"

At that time, the World-Honored One, having heard the bhikṣu's words, immediately rose from his seat and walked away in silence.

At that time, the World-Honored One went to where he was. Those who were gathering firewood, carrying grass, plowing, and tending cattle and sheep, saw the World-Honored One approaching on the road and said to the Buddha, "Ascetic! Ascetic! Do not go that way. Because there is a bandit named Aṅgulimāla who stays on that road. Whenever people want to take that road, they must gather in groups of ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty, and still cannot pass by. They are all captured by Aṅgulimāla. The śramaṇa Gautama is alone without companions. If he is touched and disturbed by Aṅgulimāla, he will not be able to handle it." Although the World-Honored One heard these words, he still advanced and did not stop.

At that time, Aṅgulimāla's mother brought food to where Aṅgulimāla was. At that time, Aṅgulimāla had this thought: "Is my garland of fingers complete?" At that time, he counted the fingers, but it was not complete. He counted them again, but there was only one person's finger missing. At that time, Aṅgulimāla looked around to the left and right, seeking a living person to kill in order to obtain the finger. But looking in all directions, he still did not see anyone. He then thought: "My teacher has taught that if one can kill one's mother, one will definitely be reborn in heaven. My mother has come here in person now. I can kill her, obtain the finger to complete the number, and be reborn in heaven."

At that time, Aṅgulimāla held his mother's head with his left hand, drew his sword with his right hand, and said to his mother, "Wait a moment, mother." At that time, the World-Honored One had this thought: "This Aṅgulimāla will commit the five heinous crimes." He then emitted a light from the mark between his eyebrows, illuminating the forest on the mountain. When Aṅgulimāla saw the light, he again said to his mother, "What is this light that illuminates this mountain forest? Is it not the king gathering his troops to attack me?"

At that time, the mother said, "You should know now that this is not the light of the sun, moon, or fire, nor is it the light of Śakra or Brahmā."

At that time, the mother spoke this verse:

This is not the light of fire, nor the sun, moon, Śakra, or
Brahmā. The birds and beasts are not startled, their harmonious calls are extraordinary
This light is extremely pure, bringing immeasurable joy to people. It must be
the most honored and supreme one, the Ten-Powered One, who has come here
Among the gods and humans, with the divine eye, he sees the world
Therefore, he wishes to liberate your body. The World-Honored One has come here.

At that time, Aṅgulimāla heard the Buddha's voice and was overjoyed, unable to contain himself. He said, "My teacher also instructed me, saying, 'If you can kill your mother and also kill the śramaṇa Gautama, you will definitely be reborn in the Heaven of Brahmā.'"

At that time, Aṅgulimāla said to his mother, "Mother, please wait. I will first take the śramaṇa Gautama and kill him, then I will eat him."

At that time, Aṅgulimāla immediately released his mother and went after the World-Honored One. Seeing the World-Honored One coming from afar, he was like a mass of gold, illuminating everywhere. Seeing this, he laughed and said, "This śramaṇa is certainly in my hands now. I will definitely kill him, there is no doubt. If any people want to take this path, they all gather in a large crowd and take this path; but this śramaṇa has no companions. I will now take him and kill him."

At that time, Aṅgulimāla immediately drew his sword from his waist and went against the World-Honored One. At that time, the World-Honored One then returned along the same path, walking slowly. Aṅgulimāla ran after him but still could not catch up with the Tathāgata. At that time, Aṅgulimāla said to the World-Honored One, "Stop, stop, Śramaṇa!"

The World-Honored One said, "I am indeed stopping, but you are not stopping."

At that time, Aṅgulimāla ran and spoke this verse from afar:

Going and then saying to stop, speaking to me of not stopping
please explain this meaning to me, that stopping and my not stopping.

At that time, the World-Honored One replied in verse:

The World-Honored One has said to stop, not harming anything at all
You now have a mind to kill, not free from the root
of evil. I abide in the mind of loving-kindness, compassionately protecting all
people. You plant the suffering of hell, not free from the root of evil.

At that time, when Aṅgulimāla heard these verses, he thought: "Am I really doing evil? But my teacher told me, 'This is a great sacrifice, with great rewards. If you can kill a thousand people and make a garland of their fingers, you will fulfill your wishes. Such a person, after death, will be reborn in a good place in heaven. If you kill your mother and the śramaṇa Gautama, you will be reborn in the Brahma heaven.' At that time, the Buddha used his spiritual power, and my consciousness was awakened. The books of the brāhmaṇas also say, 'The Tathāgata's appearance in the world is very rare, appearing only once in many eons. When he appears in the world, he liberates those who are not liberated and frees those who are not free. He teaches the Dharma to destroy the six views. What are the six? For those who say there is a self, he teaches the Dharma to destroy the six views; for those who say there is no self, he also teaches the Dharma to destroy the view of no self; for those who say there is a self and no self, he also teaches the Dharma of the view of self and no self; he also observes and teaches the Dharma of observation; he also teaches the Dharma of no self, and also the Dharma of neither self nor not self. If the Tathāgata appears in the world, he teaches the Dharma to destroy the six views.' Also, when I was running, I could catch up with elephants, horses, and carriages, and also people. But this śramaṇa walks slowly, yet today I cannot catch up with him. He must be the Tathāgata."

At that time, Aṅgulimāla spoke this verse:

You have now spoken these subtle verses for my sake. The evil
one now recognizes the truth, all due to your spiritual power. I
immediately discarded my sword and threw it into a deep pit. Now
I pay homage to the śramaṇa's footprints and seek to become a śramaṇa.

At that time, Aṅgulimāla immediately went before the Buddha and said, "World-Honored One! Please allow me to become a śramaṇa."

The World-Honored One said, "Welcome, bhikṣu!" At that moment, Aṅgulimāla became a śramaṇa and put on the three Dharma robes.

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

Now that you have shaved your head, you should also remove your afflictions
By extinguishing afflictions, you will attain great fruits, and no more worries or suffering.

When Angulimala heard these words, his defilements were instantly extinguished, and he attained the pure Dharma eye. At that time, the World-Honored One led the bhiksu Angulimala back to the Jetavana Monastery in the city of Shravasti.

At that time, King Prasenajit gathered the four divisions of his troops, intending to attack the bandit Angulimala. The king then thought, "I should go to the World-Honored One and fully inform him of this matter. If the World-Honored One has anything to say, I shall follow it." At that time, King Prasenajit immediately gathered the four divisions of his army and went to where the World-Honored One was. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet and sat to one side. At that time, the World-Honored One asked the king, "Great King! Where are you going today? Your body is covered in dust and dirt.

King Prasenajit said to the Buddha, "In my country, there is a bandit named Angulimala who is extremely cruel and has no compassion for any sentient beings. He has caused the countryside to be desolate and the people to scatter. It is all because of this bandit. He now kills people and takes their fingers as a garland. He is a wicked ghost, not a human being. I now wish to exterminate this person.

The World-Honored One said, "If the Great King sees Angulimala with a firm mind of faith, leaving home to study the path, what will the king do about it?"

The king said to the Buddha, "What should be done? I will only serve and make offerings, paying homage according to the time. However, World-Honored One! He is an evil person, without the slightest bit of goodness. He always kills. How could he have the mind to leave home and study the path? It is impossible!"

At that time, Angulimala was sitting cross-legged not far from the World-Honored One, with his body and mind upright, focusing his thoughts in front of him. The World-Honored One then extended his right hand and pointed to the king, saying, "This is the thief Angulimala."

Hearing these words, the king became fearful and his hair stood on end. The World-Honored One said to the king, "Do not be afraid. You can go forward and he will surely enlighten your mind."

At that time, the king heard the Buddha's words and immediately went before Angulimala. He said to Angulimala, "What is your surname now?"

Angulimala said, "My surname is Gaga, and my mother's name is Satisfaction."

At that time, the king bowed at his feet and sat to one side. The king then asked, "May you delight in this true Dharma, without laziness, practicing pure and clean holy conduct to attain the end of suffering. I will provide for you for as long as I live, with robes, food and drink, bedding and furnishings, and medicine for illness and weakness."

At that time, Angulimala remained silent and did not reply. The king then rose from his seat, bowed his head at his feet, and returned to where the World-Honored One was. He bowed his head at the feet, sat to one side,

At that time, the king again said to the Buddha, "To subdue the unyielding and tame the untamed is truly amazing and extraordinary! Never before has there been such a thing as being able to subdue an extremely evil person. I only wish that the Great Honored One would accept the command and live forever, nurturing the people. By the grace of the World-Honored One, we have escaped this calamity. The affairs of the country are many, and I wish to return to the city."

The World-Honored One said, "The king knows the time." At that time, the king rose from his seat, bowed his head at the feet, and then left.

At that time, Angulimala practiced as an ascetic, wearing a robe made of rags, begging for alms from house to house at mealtimes, going in a circle. He wore a coarse and ugly robe made of patched rags, and also sat in the open, not covering his body. At that time, Angulimala practiced in a quiet place. The reason why a noble son leaves home to study the Way is to cultivate the unsurpassed pure practice: to end birth and death, establish the pure practice, accomplish what is to be done, and no longer accept rebirth, knowing it as it is. At that time, Angulimala then became an arhat, with the six supernatural powers and clear insight, free from defilements, having already become an arhat.

At mealtime, he put on his robe, took his bowl, and entered the city of Shravasti to beg for alms. At that time, there was a woman in labor with great difficulty. Seeing this, he thought, "The suffering of sentient beings is indeed great, and the suffering of bearing a fetus is endless." At that time, after Angulimala had eaten, he put away his robe and bowl, put his sitting mat on his shoulder, went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the feet, and sat to one side. At that time, Angulimala said to the World-Honored One, "Just now, I put on my robe, took my bowl, and entered the city of Shravasti to beg for alms. I saw a woman with a heavy pregnancy. At that time, I thought, 'The suffering of sentient beings is indeed great.'"

The World-Honored One said, "Now go to that woman and say, 'Since I was born from the sages, I have never killed any living being.' With this sincere statement, may the fetus in the mother be unharmed."

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

At that time, Angulimala put on his robe, took his alms bowl, entered the city of Shravasti, went to the woman, and said to her, "Since I was born from the sages, I have never killed any living being. With this sincere statement, may the fetus be freed." At that time, the fetus in the woman's womb was freed.

At that time, Angulimala was begging for alms in the city. The men, women, and children saw him and said to each other, "This is Angulimala, who has killed countless beings. Now he is begging for alms in the city.

At that time, the people in the city each threw tiles and stones at him, or cut him with knives. His head and eyes were injured, his clothes were torn, and blood flowed and stained his body. He then left the city of Shravasti and went to where the Tathāgata was. At that time, the World Honored One saw from afar that Angulimala's head and eyes were injured, and his clothes were stained with blood. Having seen this, he said, "You should endure this now. The reason is that this sin should be endured for a long time.

At that time, Angulimala came to where the World Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. At that time, Angulimala spoke this verse in front of the Tathāgata:

Firmly listen to the Dharma, firmly practice the Buddha's teachings, and be
firm in befriending good friends, then one will attain the state of
extinction. I was once a great bandit named Angulimala, drifting in the
current, but was rescued by the Venerable One. Now I observe the
practice of taking refuge, and also observe the basis of the Dharma
Now I have attained the three insights and accomplished the Buddha's practice
I was originally named Harmless, but I killed countless beings. Now I
am truly called Truthful, not harming anyone. Even if one's body, speech
and mind are without any thought of harming, this is called non-harming
let alone giving rise to thoughts. An archer can tune his bow
a waterman can tame water, a skilled craftsman can tame wood, and
a wise person can tame his own body. Some are subdued by
whips and sticks, some are subdued by words, but I have never
used weapons. Now I have subdued myself. If one commits evil in
the past but stops and does not commit it again, this illuminates
the world, like the moon emerging from the clouds. If one commits
evil in the past but stops and does not commit it again
this illuminates the world, like the sun emerging from the clouds. Whether
a monk is old, young, or strong, practicing the Buddha's teachings, this
illuminates the world, like the moon emerging from the clouds. Whether a
monk is old, young, or strong, practicing the Buddha's teachings, this illuminates
this world, like the sun emerging from the clouds. Now I experience
little pain, and know contentment in eating and drinking. I have completely
escaped all suffering, and the past causes have now ended. I will
no longer experience the traces of death, nor do I delight in
life. Now I am just waiting for the right time, joyfully and without confusion.

At that time, the Tathāgata approved of what Angulimala said. Seeing that the Tathāgata had approved, Angulimala immediately rose from his seat, bowed at the feet of the World Honored One, and then withdrew.

At that time, the bhikṣus addressed the World-Honored One, saying, "What meritorious deeds did Angulimāla perform in the past, that he is now intelligent and wise, with a handsome face, rare in the world? What unwholesome actions did he commit, that he has now killed countless beings? What meritorious deeds did he perform, that he has now encountered the Tathāgata and attained the path of arahantship?"

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus, "Long ago, in the past, in this Bhadrakalpa, there was a Buddha named Kāśyapa Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, who appeared in the world. After Kāśyapa Tathāgata passed away, there was a king named Mahāphala who ruled over the kingdom and governed Jambudvīpa. At that time, that king had eighty-four thousand palace ladies and concubines, each without any children. At that time, King Mahāphala made offerings to the tree spirits, mountain spirits, sun, moon, stars, and all around, wishing for sons and daughters. At that time, the king's chief queen became pregnant. After eight or nine months, she gave birth to a son who was handsome and rare in the world. At that time, the king had this thought: 'I have been without any children for so long, and now I have finally given birth to a son. I should name him and let him enjoy the five desires.'

At that time, the king summoned all the ministers who were able to read physiognomy and said to them, 'Now that I have given birth to this child, I will name him.' At that time, the ministers, having heard the king's command, said to the king, 'This prince is extremely wonderful, handsome and incomparable, with a face like the color of a peach blossom. He will certainly have great power and strength. We should name him Mahābala.' At that time, the physiognomists had named the prince and each rose from their seats and left.

At that time, the king loved and pitied this prince, never leaving his presence. When the prince was about eight years old, he went with his ministers to his father's place to pay respects and ask about his well-being. The father king again thought, 'This prince is extremely extraordinary.' He then said to him, 'Now, how about I arrange a marriage for you?' The prince said to the king, 'I am still young, why get married?' At that time, the father king temporarily stopped and did not arrange a marriage for him. After another twenty years, the king again said, 'I want to arrange a marriage for you.' The prince said to the king, 'No need to arrange a marriage.' At that time, the father king told the ministers and people, 'I have been without any children for a long time, and only now have I given birth to a son. Now he is unwilling to take a wife, pure and flawless.' At that time, the prince's name was changed to Vimalakīrti.

At that time, Prince Vimalakīrti was about thirty years old. The king again ordered the ministers, 'I am now old and weak, and have no other children. Now I only have Prince Vimalakīrti. Now the high position of the king should be passed on to the prince. But the prince does not enjoy the five desires. How can he govern the affairs of the country?' The ministers replied, 'We should use skillful means to make him enjoy the five desires.' At that time, the father king immediately struck the bell and drum, and ordered the people in the country, 'Whoever can make Prince Vimalakīrti enjoy the five desires, I will bestow upon them a thousand gold coins and various treasures.'

At that time, there was a woman named Rati, who was well-versed in the sixty-four arts of seduction. When that woman heard the king's order, 'Whoever can make the prince practice the five desires will be bestowed with a thousand gold coins and various treasures,' she went to the father king and said, 'If I can make the prince practice the five desires, please give me a thousand gold coins and various treasures.' The father king replied, 'If you can indeed do so, I will greatly reward you and not go back on my word.' The woman then asked the king, 'Where does the prince sleep?' The king replied, 'In the eastern hall. There are no women there, only a male attendant.' The woman said, 'I only wish that the great king would order the inner palace not to restrict me, and allow me to come and go as I please!'

At that time, the seductive woman immediately cried out twice during the night, by the side of the prince's door. When the prince heard the woman's crying, he ordered his attendant, 'Who is this crying here?' The attendant replied, 'It is a woman crying by the door.' The prince said, 'Go and ask why she is crying.' The attendant went and asked why she was crying. The seductive woman replied, 'My husband has abandoned me, that is why I am crying.' The attendant returned and reported to the prince, 'This woman is abandoned by her husband and fears thieves, that is why she is crying.' The prince said, 'Take this woman to the elephant stable.' When she arrived there, she cried again. He then took her to the horse stable, and she cried again. The prince again told his attendant, 'Bring her here.' He then took her into the hall, and she cried again. The prince himself asked, 'Why are you crying again?' The seductive woman replied, 'Prince! Women are single and weak, and are extremely fearful, that is why I am crying.' The prince said, 'Come up on my bed, you will be safe.' At that time, the woman remained silent, and did not cry either. Then the woman immediately took off her clothes, took the prince's hand, and placed it on her chest. She immediately startled him, and gradually aroused his desire. With the arising of desire, she then approached him.

At that time, Prince Vimalakīrti went to his father the king the next morning. When the king saw the prince's countenance, which was different from usual, he said, 'What you desire has been accomplished?' The prince replied, 'As the great king has said.' At that time, the father king was overjoyed and could not contain himself. He said, 'What wish do you seek? I shall grant it to you.' The prince replied, 'The wish granted, do not regret it later, I shall make my wish.' The king said, 'As you say, I will not regret it. What wish do you seek?' The prince said to the king, 'Great king! Today you rule over the entire Jambudvīpa, all freely. All the unmarried girls within the Jambudvīpa, first come to my house, and then be married.' The king said, 'As you say.' The king then ordered the people of the country, 'All the girls who have not left the house, first let them go to Prince Vimalakīrti, and then marry them.'

At that time, there was a girl named Sumana in the city, who was next to go to the king. At that time, the daughter of the Sumana householder walked naked and barefoot among the people, without any shame. When the people saw her, they talked to each other, 'This is the daughter of the householder, whose reputation is widely known. How can she walk naked among people, no different from a donkey?' The girl said to the people, 'I am not a donkey, you people are donkeys. Have you ever seen a woman who is ashamed of another woman? All the beings in the city are women, only Prince Vimalakīrti is a man! If I go to Prince Vimalakīrti's door, I will put on clothes.' At that time, the people in the city said to each other, 'What this girl says really enters our minds. We are indeed women, not men. Only Prince Vimalakīrti is a man. We should now practice the ways of men.'

At that time, the people in the city each prepared their weapons, put on armor and held staffs, went to the father king, and said to the father king, 'We seek two wishes, please allow them.' The king said, 'What are the two wishes?' The people said to the king, 'If the king wants to live, he should kill Prince Vimalakīrti; if the son wants to live, he should now kill the king. We cannot bear to serve Prince Vimalakīrti and disgrace the country's laws.'

At that time, the father king spoke this verse:

For the sake of the family, one forgets one person; for the sake of the village, one forgets one family
for the sake of the country, one forgets one village; for the sake of the body, one forgets the world.

At that time, the father king, having spoken this verse, said to the people: 'Now is the right time, according to your wishes.' At that time, the people took Prince Vimalakīrti and bound his hands, taking him to outside the city, each saying to each other: 'We should all together strike and kill him with tiles and stones. Why should one person kill him?'

At that time, when Prince Vimalakīrti was about to die, he said: 'I also make a vow. The people who unjustly kill me, but my father king granted me a wish. I now accept death without daring to refuse. May I repay this enmity in the future. May I also meet a true arhat and quickly attain liberation.' At that time, the people took the prince and killed him, then each went their separate ways.

"Bhikṣus! Do not view it thus. The great fruit king of that time is none other than Aṅgulimāla. The courtesan of that time is now his wife. The people of that time are now the eighty thousand people who died. The pure prince of that time is now the bhikṣu Aṅgulimāla. At the time of death, he made this vow. Now he has repaid the enmity, and none can escape his hand. Due to this cause and condition, he has killed countless people. Later, he made a vow to meet the Buddha, and now he has attained liberation and become an arhat. This is the meaning. You should remember and practice it."

At that time, the World-Honored One told the bhikṣus: "Among my disciples, the one with the most intelligent and swift wisdom is none other than the bhikṣu Aṅgulimāla."

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