The Cause and Effect of Liao Zhai
v1 Chapter 15: Cut meat to feed the eagle
Many of the existences in Buddhism look like clouds and mists, but they are unpredictable. This makes me really annoying. It just so happens that the virtuous brother is also proficient in this way. I don’t know if I have the honor to talk with the virtuous brother and prove it. ! "
Bai Ziyu said excitedly.
"This is of course no problem, but the younger brother only knows a little about the Dharma. If you can't help the older brother, don't blame it."
"Don’t blame, don’t blame, brother virtuous, listen to the first question, elder brother, I once saw such an allusion in the Buddhist scriptures, saying that a long time ago, there was a person who cared for sentient beings and was compassionate for all. King Saboda, who is widely practiced in giving good dharma, is always able to appreciate the people’s needs, listen attentively, and supply as he wishes, and never hesitate.
One day, Emperor Shi Tianwang’s birthday is about to end, and he feels gloomy.
At this time, all the heavenly dragons, ghosts and gods saw this, and asked one after another: "Why are you so sad?"
Di Shi answered: "My life is about to end, and the signs of death have already appeared.
Now that the Dharma has fallen, I am afraid that there will be no more benevolent Bodhisattva living in this world. I don't know where I will go in the future, so I feel worried! "
The dragons, ghosts and gods of the heavens said: "There is a King Sapota in the world who practices the bodhisattva's Taoism extensively on weekdays. He maintains perfect precepts, has lofty virtues, is kind to sentient beings, and benefits sentient beings. If you return to him, you will be able to grow the Dharma body and remove all doubts!"
In order to test King Sapota, King Sapota ordered Vishou Karma, the king of the border guard: "Today, this king wants to test whether King Sapota is really compassionate, thinking of all living beings, and even if he is a bodhisattva who practices faithfully. Taoist.
Please turn into a dove, I will turn into a big eagle, chasing after you, chasing to the seat of King Saboda, the dove you transformed into a face of fear and fear, begging the king for protection, if Sa King Poda is indeed kind and will definitely accept your return, so that you can quickly know the truth. "
After the words are finished, Pishou Karma turns into a pigeon, and the Emperor Shi Tianwang becomes a big eagle, fiercely following the pigeon and chasing after it.
The pigeon flew in panic all the way to the Throne of Saboda. When he saw King Saboda, it hurriedly got under the king's arm and begged King Saboda to protect his life.
At the same time, the big eagle, who was closely behind, also came to the front of the temple. He saw the pigeon that was about to arrive, protected by King Saboda under his sleeves, and said fiercely: "I have been hungry for several days. It's unbearable, I have no patience. The pigeon by your side is the delicacy I found, return it to me quickly!"
King Sapota saw this and slowly replied: "I once made a vow to save all sentient beings and protect all sentient beings.
Today, I should save this pigeon. How can I return it to you so that you can kill your life to worship the internal organs for food and clothing? "
Great Eagle is even more unwilling to show weakness, and retorted: "King, you said that you want to save all sentient beings, but if you cut off my food today, I won't be able to live as well. Am I not belonging to all sentient beings?"
King Saboda then asked the big eagle kindly: "What kind of food do you need to fill your hunger? As long as I can spare the pigeon's life, I will try my best to meet your needs!"
"I only eat the freshly killed, hot meat!" Daying said mercilessly.
King Saboda thought: "It requires eating freshly killed hot meat, but if I kill one to save one, it is also unreasonable; since I have sworn to save all sentient beings, I should save sentient beings by myself. "
So King Saboda drew a knife immediately, cut off a piece of his own body, and gave it to the eagle to exchange the life of the pigeon.
At this time, the big eagle said again: "King, you should treat all beings equally. Although I belong to the animal life, I should not be biased. If you want to exchange this meat for the life of the pigeon, should you use a scale to see both? Are the weights equal?"
King Saboda asked others to bring a scale, put the pigeon on one end, and the cut meat on the other end...
A strange thing happened. No matter how King Saboda kept cutting off his body, until the flesh on his body was about to be cut off, he still couldn't equal the weight of the pigeon on the other end of the scale.
At this time, King Saboda tried his best and staggered to his feet, trying to climb onto the weighing pan with his whole body in exchange for pigeons.
Suddenly, because of lack of energy, he fell to the ground and lost consciousness.
After waking up, King Saboda rebuked himself: "In order to save all sentient beings, I must stand up bravely. All sentient beings have fallen into the sea of sorrow. I vowed to save everything. Why am I still so slack and confused? ! The suffering I have now is far less than the suffering of all beings in hell.
Now that I have wisdom, meditation, precepts, diligence and other good deeds, if I still cling to the short-term impermanence of the suffering of the body, how can I save the central depression and suffering of hell? Of all beings? "
Regardless of the pain of being cut off and bleeding, King Sapota kept making great wishes.
wanted to stand up, and fell to the ground again and again, still trying to stand up! Fall and rise again, fall and rise again!
When the eagle saw that King Sapota was doing this, he asked: "Now you should know that you regret it? Let it go! Your own life is the most important thing. The pain is in your own body. Who will suffer for you! I still I advise you to be smart and hand over the pigeon to me obediently. This way, you may still be able to save your life, continue to enjoy your natural blessings, and be the king of a country!"
"I don't regret it at all! I have lost countless lives due to the endless calamity, but it has not benefited all living beings. Now I am willing to swear to the Buddha in this body." King Sapota replied resolutely.
Suddenly, miraculously, King Saboda stepped onto the weighing pan in a spirited manner, balancing both ends instantly.
King Saboda shouted happily: "I did it! I did it! The scale is finally balanced! The pigeon is finally rescued!"
At this time, the sky and the earth are shaking, the sea is raising waves, the dead trees are also blooming beautiful flowers, and the sky is raining perfume rain and fragrant petals. Seeing this scene of sacrificing life-saving good deeds, the goddess all chanted together: "If you are a true Bodhisattva, you will become a Buddha early."
At this time, the big eagle restored the original appearance of Emperor Shitianwang, and stood in front of the king and said: "You did such a rare and precious thing today, what do you want to get?"
King Sapota replied: "I am dedicated to saving all sentient beings. I do not seek honor and happiness, but I only wish to enlighten and become Buddha as soon as possible."
"You just cut your muscles and your bones hurt, don't you have the slightest regret?"
"No."
"I only saw your body trembling, and your breath would be exhausted, but you never regretted it. What's the proof for this?"
King Saboda replied: "I have no regrets in my heart from beginning to end; if what I said is true, let my body immediately recover as before!"
As soon as King Sapota finished speaking, the body really immediately recovered to its original appearance, and it truly fulfilled the great compassionate wish of saving all sentient beings.
At this moment, everyone and the sky are celebrating, jumping for joy, chanting good deeds, sighing that there has never been.
King Sapota is the predecessor of Buddha Shakyamuni’s practice of Bodhisattva in the past.