Sutta 30: The story of the Water Buffalo

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

Sutra of the Births, Volume 4

shēng jīng juǎn dì sì

xī jìn sān cáng zhú fǎ hù yì

fú shuō shuǐ niú jīng dì sān shí

sheng jing juan di si

xi jin san cang zhu fa hu yi

fu shuo shui niu jing di san shi

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0093c15] TTranslated by Dharmarakṣa, Tripitaka Master of the Western Jin Dynasty

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park, in Śrāvastī, with a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty bhikṣus. At that time, the Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: "In a past age, there was a solitary wilderness. At that time, there was a Water Buffalo King (水牛王 [shui niu wang]) dwelling therein, grazing on grass and drinking spring water. The Water Buffalo King (水牛王 [shui niu wang]), with his dependents, arrived at a certain place. He was alone in front, with a beautiful countenance and majestic power, his renown extraordinary, endowed with patience and gentleness, and his movements were dignified and calm. There was a macaque (獼猴 [mi hou]) living by the roadside. When it saw the Water Buffalo King (水牛王 [shui niu wang]) with his dependents, anger arose in its heart, and jealousy took hold. It then raised dust,瓦石 [wa shi] (tiles and stones), and threw them, reviling and insulting him. The Water Buffalo (水牛 [shui niu]) remained silent, enduring it without retaliation. Not long after, another group of Water Buffalo Kings (水牛之王 [shui niu zhi wang]) came following behind. The macaque (獼猴 [mi hou]) saw them and likewise cursed, raised dust, and threw瓦石 [wa shi] (tiles and stones). The latter group, seeing the former Water Buffalo King (牛王 [niu wang]) remain silent and not retaliate, emulated his patience, their hearts joyful, walking gracefully and calmly, accepting the insults without resentment. Not long after these dependents had passed, another Water Buffalo Calf (水牛犢 [shui niu du]) came following behind, accompanying the herd of cattle. Thereupon, the macaque (獼猴 [mi hou]) pursued it, cursing, reviling, and treating it with disdain. This Water Buffalo Calf (水牛犢 [shui niu du]) harbored resentment and was displeased. Seeing the former types endure without resentment, it also learned and emulated patience and gentleness. Not far from the path, amidst a large cluster of trees, there was a Tree Spirit (樹神 [shu shen]) dwelling within. It saw the Water Buffaloes (水牛 [shui niu]), although insulted, endure without anger. It asked the Water Buffalo King (水牛王 [shui niu wang]): 'Why is it that you, when seeing this macaque (獼猴 [mi hou]) wantonly curse, raise dust, and throw瓦石 [wa shi] (tiles and stones), instead endure patiently and remain silent? What is the meaning of this? What is your intention?' It also asked in verses:

"'Why do you endure
The unrestrained macaque (獼猴 [mi hou])?
Beyond its ferocity,
You view all suffering and joy equally.
Those who came later are also benevolent and gentle,
Sitting and rising calmly;
All are able to endure insults,
And they then passed by.
Their horns silently endure blows,
Establishing the downfall of all,
Also showing the meaning of fear,
Silently, there is no one who retaliates.'"

[0093c15] wén rú shì:

yī shí fú yóu shě wèi qí shù gěi gū dú yuán, yǔ dà bǐ qiū zhòng qiān èr bǎi wǔ shí rén jù. ěr shí fú gào zhū bǐ qiū: “nǎi xī qù shì yǒu yì kuàng yě xián jū, bǐ shí yǒu shuǐ niú wáng dùn zhǐ qí zhōng, yóu xíng shí cǎo ér yǐn quán shuǐ. shí shuǐ niú wáng yǔ zhòng juàn shǔ yǒu suǒ zhì còu, dú zài qí qián, yán mào shū hǎo wēi shén wēi wēi, míng dé chāo yì rěn rǔ hé yǎ xíng zhǐ ān xiáng. yǒu yī mí hóu, zhù zài dào biān, bǐ jiàn shuǐ niú zhī wáng yǔ juàn shǔ jù, xīn shēng fèn nù, xìng yú jí dù, biàn jí yáng chén wǎ shí, yǐ bèn zhì zhī, qīng màn huǐ rǔ. shuǐ niú mò rán, shòu zhī bù bào. guò zhì wèi jiǔ, gèng yǒu yī bù shuǐ niú zhī wáng, xún cóng hòu ér lái. mí hóu jiàn zhī, yì fù mà lì, yáng chén wǎ shí dǎ zhì. hòu yī bù zhòng, jiàn qián niú wáng mò rán bù bào, xiào zhī rěn rǔ, qí xīn hé yuè, ān xiáng yǎ bù, shòu qí huǐ rǔ, bù yǐ wèi hèn. shì děng juàn shǔ guò qù wèi jiǔ, yòu yǒu yī shuǐ niú dú, xún cóng hòu lái, suí zhú qún niú. yú shì mí hóu, zhú zhī mà lì, huǐ rǔ qīng yì. shì shuǐ niú dú, huái hèn bù xǐ, jiàn qián děng lèi rěn rǔ bù hèn, yì fù xué xiào, rěn rǔ hé róu. qù dào bù yuǎn, dà cóng shù jiān, shí yǒu shù shén, yóu jū qí zhōng, jiàn zhū shuǐ niú, suī bèi huǐ rǔ, rěn ér bù chēn, wèn shuǐ niú wáng: ‘qīng děng hé gù? dǔ cǐ mí hóu, wěi jiàn mà lì, yáng chén wǎ shí, ér fǎn rěn rǔ, mò shēng bù yīng. cǐ yì hé qù? yǒu hé děng yì?’ yòu fù yǐ jì, ér wèn zhī yuē:

“ ‘qīng děng hé yǐ gù?　　rěn fàng yì mí hóu,
　　guò dù yú xiōng è,　　děng guān zhū kǔ lè.
　　hòu lái yì rén hé,　　zuò qǐ ér ān xiáng,
　　jiē néng shòu rěn rǔ,　　bǐ děng xún guò qù.
　　zhū jiǎo mò wō zhàng,　　jiàn lì zhòng duò luò,
　　yòu shì kǒng jù yì,　　mò wú jiā bào zhě.’

[0093c15] wen ru shi:

yi shi fu you she wei qi shu gei gu du yuan, yu da bi qiu zhong qian er bai wu shi ren ju. er shi fu gao zhu bi qiu: "nai xi qu shi you yi kuang ye xian ju, bi shi you shui niu wang dun zhi qi zhong, you xing shi cao er yin quan shui. shi shui niu wang yu zhong juan shu you suo zhi cou, du zai qi qian, yan mao shu hao wei shen wei wei, ming de chao yi ren ru he ya xing zhi an xiang. you yi mi hou, zhu zai dao bian, bi jian shui niu zhi wang yu juan shu ju, xin sheng fen nu, xing yu ji du, bian ji yang chen wa shi, yi ben zhi zhi, qing man hui ru. shui niu mo ran, shou zhi bu bao. guo zhi wei jiu, geng you yi bu shui niu zhi wang, xun cong hou er lai. mi hou jian zhi, yi fu ma li, yang chen wa shi da zhi. hou yi bu zhong, jian qian niu wang mo ran bu bao, xiao zhi ren ru, qi xin he yue, an xiang ya bu, shou qi hui ru, bu yi wei hen. shi deng juan shu guo qu wei jiu, you you yi shui niu du, xun cong hou lai, sui zhu qun niu. yu shi mi hou, zhu zhi ma li, hui ru qing yi. shi shui niu du, huai hen bu xi, jian qian deng lei ren ru bu hen, yi fu xue xiao, ren ru he rou. qu dao bu yuan, da cong shu jian, shi you shu shen, you ju qi zhong, jian zhu shui niu, sui bei hui ru, ren er bu chen, wen shui niu wang: 'qing deng he gu? du ci mi hou, wei jian ma li, yang chen wa shi, er fan ren ru, mo sheng bu ying. ci yi he qu? you he deng yi?' you fu yi ji, er wen zhi yue:

" 'qing deng he yi gu? ren fang yi mi hou,
guo du yu xiong e, deng guan zhu ku le.
hou lai yi ren he, zuo qi er an xiang,
jie neng shou ren ru, bi deng xun guo qu.
zhu jiao mo wo zhang, jian li zhong duo luo,
you shi kong ju yi, mo wu jia bao zhe.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0094a14] "The Water Buffalo (水牛 [shui niu]) replied, speaking in verses:

"'If I am lightly reviled and insulted,
It will certainly be inflicted upon others.
They will retaliate,
Only then will they encounter harm.'"

[0094a14] “shuǐ niú bào yuē, yǐ shuō jì yán:

“ ‘yǐ qīng huǐ rǔ wǒ,　　bì dāng jiā tā rén,
　　bǐ dāng jiā bào zhī,　　ěr nǎi dé dǐ huàn.’

[0094a14] "shui niu bao yue, yi shuo ji yan:

" 'yi qing hui ru wo, bi dang jia ta ren,
bi dang jia bao zhi, er nai de di huan.'

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0094a17] "Not long after the Water Buffaloes (水牛 [shui niu]) had passed, a large group of Brahmins (梵志 [fan zhi]) and Immortals (仙人 [xian ren]) came along the path. At that time, the macaque (獼猴 [mi hou]) also cursed, reviled, treated them with disdain, raised dust, and threw瓦石 [wa shi] (tiles and stones). The Brahmins (梵志 [fan zhi]) immediately seized it, trampled it to death with their feet, and it instantly perished. Thereupon, the Tree Spirit (樹神 [shu shen]) again recited a verse:

"'Evil does not decay,
Calamity ripens and then one encounters harm.
When evil is fulfilled,
All calamities do not perish.'"

[0094a17] “zhū shuǐ niú guò qù wèi jiǔ, yǒu zhū fàn zhì dà zhòng qún bèi xiān rén zhī děng, shùn dào ér lái. shí bǐ mí hóu, yì fù mà lì, huǐ rǔ qīng yì, yáng chén wǎ shí, yǐ bèn zhì zhī. zhū fàn zhì děng, jí shí bǔ zhuō, yǐ jiǎo tà shā zhī, zé biàn mìng guò. yú shì shù shén jí fù sòng yuē:

“ ‘zuì è bù fǔ xiǔ,　　yāng shú nǎi zāo huàn,
　　zuì è yǐ mǎn zú,　　zhū yāng bù làn huài.’ ”

[0094a17] "zhu shui niu guo qu wei jiu, you zhu fan zhi da zhong qun bei xian ren zhi deng, shun dao er lai. shi bi mi hou, yi fu ma li, hui ru qing yi, yang chen wa shi, yi ben zhi zhi. zhu fan zhi deng, ji shi bu zhuo, yi jiao ta sha zhi, ze bian ming guo. yu shi shu shen ji fu song yue:

" 'zui e bu fu xiu, yang shu nai zao huan,
zui e yi man zu, zhu yang bu lan huai.' "

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

[0094a24] The Buddha addressed the bhikṣus: "Do you wish to know who the Water Buffalo King (水牛王 [shui niu wang]) was at that time? It was I. When I was a Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]), I fell into sin and became a Water Buffalo (水牛 [shui niu]), the King of Cattle (牛中王 [niu zhong wang]). I constantly practiced patience and cultivated the Four Immeasurable Minds (四等心 [si deng xin]) — loving-kindness (慈 [ci]), compassion (悲 [bei]), joy (喜 [xi]), and equanimity (護 [hu]) — thereby attaining Buddhahood. The other Water Buffaloes (水牛 [shui niu]) and their dependents are these bhikṣus. The Water Buffalo Calf (水牛之犢 [shui niu zhi du]) and the Brahmins (梵志 [fan zhi]) and Immortals (仙人 [xian ren]) are the pure lay disciples (清信士 [qing xin shi]) who study at home. The macaque (獼猴 [mi hou]) assembly is the Nigaṇṭha (尼犍 [ni jian]) teacher who caused harm. The story, from beginning to end, is complete and ultimate. Each obtained what they practiced. Good and evil do not perish, like a shadow following a form, or an echo responding to a sound."

[0094a24] fú gào zhū bǐ qiū: “yù zhī ěr shí shuǐ niú wáng zhě, jí wǒ shēn shì. wèi pú sà shí duò zuì wèi shuǐ niú, wèi niú zhōng wáng, cháng xíng rěn rǔ, xiū sì děng xīn——cí,, bēi,, xǐ,, hù, zì zhì dé fú. qí yú shuǐ niú zhū juàn shǔ zhě, zhū bǐ qiū shì yě. shuǐ niú zhī dú, jí zhū fàn zhì xiān rén zhě, zé qīng xìn shì jū jiā xué zhě. qí mí hóu zhòng, zé dé hài ní jiān shī. běn mò rú shì, jù zú jiū jìng, gè huò suǒ xíng. shàn è bù xiǔ, rú yǐng suí xíng,, xiǎng zhī yīng shēng.”

fú shuō tù wáng jīng dì sān shí yī

[0094a24] fu gao zhu bi qiu: "yu zhi er shi shui niu wang zhe, ji wo shen shi. wei pu sa shi duo zui wei shui niu, wei niu zhong wang, chang xing ren ru, xiu si deng xin--ci,, bei,, xi,, hu, zi zhi de fu. qi yu shui niu zhu juan shu zhe, zhu bi qiu shi ye. shui niu zhi du, ji zhu fan zhi xian ren zhe, ze qing xin shi ju jia xue zhe. qi mi hou zhong, ze de hai ni jian shi. ben mo ru shi, ju zu jiu jing, ge huo suo xing. shan e bu xiu, ru ying sui xing,, xiang zhi ying sheng."

fu shuo tu wang jing di san shi yi