Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (235)

Śākyamuni Buddha's Previous Incarnation

Original text: 时无边称王。从天退已。初闻人间。饮食气味。不能堪任。犹如酥油。沃热沙中。时作爱王。见其顿弊。不能止住。有何善说。我于来世。作何宣传。时无边称王。语作爱王曰。我从昔来。富贵自在。王四天下。一切所须。皆得如意。升忉利天。帝释分座。贪无厌故。从天退下。如上众事。当如是说。作是语已。即便命终。佛言大王。往昔无边称王者。岂异人乎。今我身是。是故当知。诸根如幻。境界如梦。系心正观。勿生疑惑。

Explanation: At this time, King of Boundlessness (Anantarāja) had just fallen back from the heavenly realm, and upon first smelling the odors of food and drink in the human world, he could not bear them—just like ghee pouring and melting into hot sand. Seeing that King of Boundlessness's body had suddenly become weak and frail, King Udayana knew he did not have long to live, and asked him: "What last words do you have? How shall I proclaim you in the future?" King of Boundlessness said: "From the past until now, I have been wealthy and at ease, ruling over the four continents; everything I needed was obtained as I wished. After ascending to Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, Śakra shared half of his seat with me, but because of my insatiable greed, I fell back from heaven. The matters above should be related exactly as such." After King of Boundlessness finished speaking these words, he passed away.

Finally, Śākyamuni Buddha said: "Great King, this King of Boundlessness of the past—was he anyone other than myself? It is my very own body today. Therefore, you should know that the faculties are like illusions and the sense realms are like dreams. Gather the mind in one place, contemplate with right mindfulness, and do not give rise to doubt."