Buddha Sakyamuni told his disciples another long-standing story at Lingjiu Mountain——
A long time ago, five hundred businessmen went to sea together to collect treasures from a remote island.
They sailed at sea for several months, filling the cabin with all kinds of treasures they acquired.
So, they turned around and returned to the mainland. Perhaps they disturbed and injured Poseidon while collecting treasures, and Poseidon appeared on their route.
Under the dance of Poseidon, the storm suddenly rises, the thunder shakes, the sea waves surge like a frightened horse running wildly, and the waves roll like the top of a mountain! Strong winds rolled huge waves, covering the sky and the earth, dark clouds wrapped in lightning, the sky collapsed and the earth collapsed...
The boat the merchants were riding was like a small leaf, swaying and bumping between the peaks and deep valleys formed by the waves, and there was always the danger of capsizing! They were so frightened that their faces were pale, but there was nothing they could do...
According to legend, Poseidon hates the bloody corpses of humans the most. Whenever he sees them, he will run away in disgust.
However, who would take the initiative to give up his life? They just cried in the storm, waiting helplessly for the last moment when the ship was overturned by huge waves and buried under the sea...
Among these five hundred businessmen, there was a practicing Bodhisattva.
He thought: The purpose of my seeking Buddhahood is to save all sentient beings. To sacrifice one's life to save others is the bodhisattva's most compassionate wish. Now, if the Poseidon cannot be driven away, the ship will sink and everyone will die, and everyone will be buried in the belly of the fish!
But how to drive away the sea god? The only way is to sacrifice one's life to become a benevolent person!
The Bodhisattva leaned against the side of the ship and said to the merchants: "You all hold hands and support my body."
Although everyone did not understand his intention, they still followed his instructions. The Bodhisattva turned around and faced the sea. Facing the sea god who was showing his teeth and claws, he took out a sharp knife and stabbed himself in the neck——
The blood spurting out from his neck was like a rainbow, spreading to the rough sea...
Poseidon was disgusted when he saw the blood and immediately ran away.
The sea calmed down again, and a whole boat of people was finally saved. However, the Bodhisattva also died, and his body gradually became cool and cold.
The businessmen hugged his body, wept bitterly, and felt extremely remorseful: At that critical moment, everyone knew that the Poseidon hated human corpses with blood, but why was it that only the Bodhisattva sacrificed his life to save people? Why can't I stand up for myself?
You know, if no one takes the initiative to sacrifice themselves, everyone will also sink to the bottom of the sea and be drowned alive!
People's consciences were discovered, and they began to reflect deeply and blame themselves painfully. They beat their chests and feet, shouted to heaven and earth, and prayed to God...
People's sincerity finally moved the god of heaven in the upper world, the Lord of the Trayast and Li Heaven - Shiti Huanyin.
Inspired by the Bodhisattva's great compassion for sacrificing himself to save others, he descended to the boat and said to the merchants: "This Bodhisattva with supreme moral character is rare in the world. He will definitely become a sage and a great man in the future." Tathagata. So, he will naturally come back to life now."
So Shakti Hengyin took out the elixir from the Trayasa Heaven Palace, poured half of it into the Bodhisattva's mouth, and smeared the other half on his incision.
The Bodhisattva really woke up.
The powerful Shiti Hengyin transformed into a large number of rare treasures, the value of which exceeded the original treasures of the merchants by millions of times, all of which were dedicated to the Bodhisattva.
Then, Shi Tihengyin summoned a gentle wind and blew their boat back to the homeland smoothly.
The eager relatives of the businessmen couldn't believe it when they saw their relatives returning.
People expressed their gratitude to the Bodhisattva one after another.
The Bodhisattva gave all the treasures given by Shakti Hengyin to the poor families.
From then on, people in this country lived in harmony, helped each other, and lived a peaceful, harmonious and happy life.
After Buddha Sakyamuni finished telling this story at Wangshecheng Lingjiu Mountain, he said to everyone: "Do you know? The Bodhisattva who sacrificed his life to save everyone is my predecessor; the Emperor of Heaven, Sakyamuni, is Maitreya; and the five hundred masters , the five hundred Arhats you are here with."
At this time, Ananda stood up from the crowd and asked the Buddha: "World Honored One, you have always practiced Bodhisattva practice with Maitreya throughout your life. Why do you always save people from danger, while Maitreya can always bring happiness to people?" With joy?”
The Buddha smiled and said: "Because the karma of all living beings is incredible, the power of Bodhisattva's vows is also incredible. Maitreya and I have different vows, so there will be some subtle differences in the process of saving all living beings."
Ananda asked again: "World Honored One, please tell us another story."
The Buddha nodded and said: "It turns out that I often tell you about the past. Today, I want to change my appetite and tell you about the future."
Therefore, Sakyamuni's voice was like a gentle spring breeze, blowing in the hearts of the monks...
That is the future world. There will be no rugged mountains or criss-crossing abyss in the world. The earth will be as flat as a mirror and covered with soft grass, like a robe of heaven. At that time, because people had pure hearts, kind hearts, and noble morals, they received great blessings.
They are tall, have extremely long lifespans, are kind-hearted, and have elegant manners. They have neat and beautiful looks and do not suffer from any disability or disease.
In this beautiful world, everyone practices the ten good deeds and puts an end to evil deeds, making the society harmonious and peaceful, and everyone feeling happy.
The holy king who manages this world is named "Shengjia".
In his country, there was a Brahmana family who gave birth to a boy named "Maitreya".
This little Maitreya's body is naturally golden, has thirty-two characteristics, eighty kinds of wonderful qualities, and exudes a peaceful and cool light.
When Maitreya grew up, he became a monk and practiced Buddhism, achieving supreme enlightenment - achieving Buddhahood.
He held three Dharma meetings in Hualin Garden to save all sentient beings with upper, middle and lower faculties. At the first meeting, 9.6 billion people became Arhats; at the second meeting, 9.4 billion people became Arhats; According to the Dharma, 9.2 billion people have become Arhats.
Since the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, these people who have been saved are all people who have made offerings to the Three Jewels, fasted and observed the precepts, burned incense and worshiped the Buddha. They are either at home or a monk, and they are all people who have a predestined relationship with Sakyamuni and Maitreya Buddha. .
When Maitreya heard this, he stood up from his seat, walked to Sakyamuni Buddha, bowed to the ground, knelt down, and said to the Buddha: "I am willing to be Maitreya Buddha in that life."
Shakyamuni Buddha reached out and touched the top of his head and said: "Good, good, just as you wish, you will be born in that world and become Maitreya Buddha and Maitreya Tathagata. The things I just said are needed to save all sentient beings. You go and educate.”
At this time, a bhikkhu named "Ashe Duo" also came out of the crowd, knelt down and said to Sakyamuni Buddha: "I am willing to be a holy king in that life."
Shakyamuni Buddha sighed silently and said: "Ashita, you have spent the long night in vain, and you always like to cycle in the world of life and death. Why don't you seek renunciation?"
Ashi was stunned for a moment and murmured: "I don't know why I didn't seek to become a Buddha, but instead made a vow..."
At that time, people were confused. The Buddha predicted that Maitreya would become a Buddha in the future. Why was he still called Maitreya?
What is the reason for this?
Ananda had an exquisite mind and understood everyone's thoughts, so he asked the Buddha on behalf of everyone: "World Honored One, Maitreya will become a Buddha in the future, why is he still called Maitreya? There must be a reason."
Shakyamuni Buddha nodded and said: "It's a long story. In a long time ago, or in our world, there was a great king named Tamariuzhi..."
King Tamaluzhi was very wise, so many small countries in the world took the initiative to seek his protection.
He rules a total of 84,000 small countries, among which there is a very wealthy medium-sized country whose king is Bosage.
At that time, Fu Shafu was born and lived in the country of Bosage.
King Bosage and his ministers were devoted to making offerings to Buddha Fusha and the monks, and had no time to pay a pilgrimage to King Tamalyuji, and they also did not pay tribute or send greetings.
The great king Tamariuzhi didn't understand what was going on, so he sent an envoy to inquire about the situation.
The envoy asked: "In recent years, you have neither paid tribute nor exchanged seals. As a minister, isn't it unreasonable to do so?"
Bosage quickly said: "In the past few years, Fusha Buddha has been in our country. The ministers and I have been flattering him day and night. We really don't have time to go to the king."
After the envoy reported, the ministers of the Tamariuzhi all said that Bosaiqi was using strong words to cover up his arrogance and suggested that the king send troops to attack. So Tamariuzhi gathered the army and led it personally to fight.
When Tamariuchi's army was about to reach his small country, Bosage was very frightened.
He quickly came to Fusha Buddha and asked for his blessing.
Fusha Buddha said: "You don't have to worry. You can go and see King Tamozhi in person and explain the real situation, and he will understand you."
When Bo Sage heard what the Buddha said, he put his heart back in his stomach. He came to the king's tent with a peaceful expression, not timid at all, as if he had eaten the heart of a bear or the courage of a leopard.
King Tamaluz was also surprised by his calm demeanor and asked: "On what basis do you dare to violate the rules and not come to perform Hajj?"
Bosage said: "I heard the ancient sages said that it is difficult for a person to hear the Dharma in his life, it is even harder to be born in the era when the Buddha was born, and it is even harder to see the Buddha! Now, Fusha Buddha is In my small country, Buddhism is spread and all sentient beings are transformed. How can we not seize the time to listen to the Buddha’s teachings? So we don’t have time to travel thousands of miles to pay homage to you, the great king.”
Tamariuzhi was very reasonable and said: "Okay, what you said makes sense, but even if you don't have time, why have you stopped paying tribute?"
Bosage said: "Buddha Fusha has many disciples. They are all monks who keep the precepts and are pure. They are a field of blessing for the world. If you make offerings to them, you can gain supreme merit. Therefore, all our financial resources in the country have been donated to them. In fact, There is no extra property to pay tribute.”
Tamariuzhi is a person with good roots. After listening to Bosage's words, he had already developed a magical yearning for Fusha Buddha in his heart, and immediately led the Grand Duke and ministers to pay homage to Fusha Buddha.
When they arrived at the Buddhist temple, Buddha Fusha was sitting in meditation with his disciples.
