170. （一七〇）鹦鹉经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the World-Honored One, having passed the night, put on his robe in the morning, took his alms bowl, and entered Śrāvastī to beg for food. While begging for food, he went to the house of the householder's son Parrot. At that time, the householder's son Parrot had gone out for some business and was not at home. At that time, in the householder's son Parrot's house, there was a white dog that was eating from a golden bowl on a large bed. Then, the white dog saw the Buddha coming from afar, and upon seeing him, it barked. The World-Honored One said to the white dog, "You should not do that. You should go from licking to barking." Having heard this, the white dog became extremely angry, came down from the bed, and sorrowfully lay down by a pile of wood.

Later, the householder's son Parrot returned home and saw his white dog extremely angry, having come down from the bed and sorrowfully lying down by a pile of wood. He asked his family members, "Who has disturbed my dog, causing it to become extremely angry, come down from the bed, and sorrowfully lie down by a pile of wood?"

The family members replied, "We have not disturbed the white dog at all, causing it to become extremely angry, come down from the bed, and sorrowfully lie down by a pile of wood. Householder's son, you should know that today the śramaṇa Gautama came here to beg for food. The white dog saw him and chased after him, barking. The śramaṇa Gautama said to the white dog, 'You should not do that. You should go from licking to barking.' Because of this, householder's son, the white dog became extremely angry, came down from the bed, and sorrowfully lay down by a pile of wood."

Having heard this, the householder's son Parrot became greatly angry, wanting to falsely accuse the World-Honored One, wanting to slander the World-Honored One, wanting to bring down the World-Honored One. Thus, wanting to falsely accuse, slander, and bring down the śramaṇa Gautama, he immediately left Śrāvastī and went to Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the World-Honored One was teaching the Dharma surrounded by a great assembly in front and behind. The World-Honored One saw from afar the householder's son Parrot coming and said to the bhikṣus, "Do you see the householder's son Parrot coming?"

They replied, "We see him."

The World-Honored One said, "The householder's son Parrot has just died. In the time it takes to bend and stretch an arm, he will definitely be reborn in hell. Why is that? Because he was extremely angry towards me. If sentient beings, due to anger in their minds, have their bodies destroyed and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell."

Then the householder's son Parrot went to where the Buddha was and said to the World-Honored One, "śramaṇa Gautama! Do you come to my house now to beg for food?"

The World-Honored One replied, "I am now going to your house to beg for food."

"Gautama! What did you say to my white dog that made my white dog so angry that it came down from the bed and lay down sadly by the pile of wood?"

The World-Honored One replied, "This morning, I put on my robe, took my bowl, and entered Śrāvastī to beg for food. I went to your house to beg for food. The white dog saw me coming from afar, and when it saw me, it barked. I said to the white dog, 'You should not do that. You went from licking to barking.' That is why the white dog was so angry that it came down from the bed and lay down sadly by the pile of wood."

The parrot-feathered ascetic asked the World-Honored One, "In the past life, what was the white dog to me?"

The World-Honored One said, "Stop! Stop! Ascetic, do not ask me about this. If you hear it, you will surely be displeased."

The parrot-feathered ascetic asked the World-Honored One three times, "In the past life, what was the white dog to me?"

The World-Honored One also said three times, "Stop! Stop! Ascetic, do not ask me about this. If you hear it, you will surely be displeased."

The World-Honored One again said to the ascetic, "You have asked me three times, and I have not stopped you. Ascetic, know that the white dog in the past life was your father, named Duti."

When the ascetic Parrot heard these words, he became even more greatly enraged. He wanted to falsely accuse the World-Honored One, slander the World-Honored One, and bring down the World-Honored One. He falsely accused, slandered, and brought down the śramaṇa Gautama, saying to the World-Honored One, "My father Duti practiced great giving and held great sacrificial offerings. When his body perished and his life ended, he was reborn in the heaven of Brahmā. For what reason was he reborn in this lowly dog?"

The World-Honored One said, "Your father Duti was reborn in this lowly dog due to this increased arrogance.

Brahmins with increased arrogance are reborn in these six
places: chickens, dogs, pigs, wolves, donkeys, and the five hells.

"If you do not believe what I say, you can return and tell the white dog, 'If you were my father in the past, the white dog should return to the large bed.' The white dog will certainly return to the bed. 'If you were my father in the past, the white dog should eat from the golden bowl.' The white dog will certainly eat from the golden bowl. 'If you were my father in the past, show me the places where you have hidden gold, silver, crystal, and precious treasures that I do not know about.' The white dog will certainly show you the places where you have hidden gold, silver, crystal, and precious treasures that you do not know about."

Then the parrot-feathered youth, having heard what the Buddha said, accepted it well, recited it, circumambulated the World-Honored One, and returned to his home. He said to the white dog, "If you were my father in the past, the white dog should return to the large bed." The white dog then returned to the large bed. "If you were my father in the past, the white dog should eat from the golden bowl." The white dog then returned to eat from the golden bowl. "If you were my father in the past, show me the places where my father has hidden gold, silver, crystal, and precious treasures that I do not know about." The white dog then came down from the bed and went to the place where it had previously stayed. It dug at the four legs of the bed with its mouth and feet. The parrot-feathered youth then obtained a great deal of treasure from that place.

Then the parrot-feathered youth, having obtained the treasures, was extremely delighted. He touched his right knee to the ground, joined his palms towards Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma, and raised his voice three times to praise the World-Honored One, saying, "The words of Śramaṇa Gautama are not false. The words of Śramaṇa Gautama are true. The words of Śramaṇa Gautama are as they are." Having praised him three times, he left Śrāvastī and went to Jetavana Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the World-Honored One was surrounded by an immeasurable great assembly in front and behind, teaching the Dharma. The World-Honored One saw from afar the parrot-feathered youth coming and said to the bhikṣus, "Do you see the parrot-feathered youth coming?"

They replied, "We see him."

The World-Honored One said, "The parrot-feathered youth has now passed away, in the time it takes to bend and stretch an arm, he will surely go to a good place. Why is that? He has great good intentions towards me. If sentient beings, because of good intentions, have their bodies destroyed and their lives end, they will surely go to a good place and be reborn in the heavens."

At that time, the parrot-feathered youth went to where the Buddha was, exchanged greetings, and sat to one side. The World-Honored One said, "What do you think, youth? Is what I said about the white dog like this or not like this?"

The parrot-feathered youth said, "Gautama! It is indeed as you have said. Gautama! I also wish to ask something. Please listen before I speak."

The World-Honored One said, "Ask as you please."

"Gautama! For what reason and cause do those beings, having all received human bodies, have high and low, the wonderful and the not wonderful? Why is this? Gautama! I see those with short lives and those with long lives, those with much illness and those with little illness, those who are not upright and those who are upright, those who lack dignity and those who have dignity, those who are of lowly families and those who are of noble families, those who lack wealth and those who have wealth, and those who have bad wisdom and those who have good wisdom."

The World-Honored One replied, "Those beings, due to their own actions, obtain retribution through their actions, relying on actions, based on actions, and in accordance with their actions, they are placed in high and low, the wonderful and the not wonderful."

The parrot-feathered ascetic said to the World-Honored One, "The words of the śramaṇa Gautama are concise and not extensively explained. I cannot understand them. May the śramaṇa Gautama explain them extensively for me, so that I may understand the meaning."

The World-Honored One said, "Ascetic, listen attentively and consider it well. I shall explain it extensively for you."

The parrot-feathered ascetic said, "Yes, I shall listen attentively."

The Buddha said, "Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having a very short lifespan? If men and women kill, are cruel and vicious, drink blood, have malicious intent, and lack compassion towards all beings, including insects, they will experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, their lifespan will be very short. Why is this? This path leads to a short lifespan, namely, men and women who kill, are cruel and vicious, and drink blood. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having a very long lifespan? If men and women give up killing, abandon killing, put down weapons, have a sense of shame and conscience, have compassion, and benefit all beings, including insects, they will experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, their lifespan will be very long. Why is this? This path leads to a long lifespan, namely, men and women who give up killing and abandon killing. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having many illnesses? If men and women touch and harass sentient beings, using their fists, sticks, stones, or weapons to harass sentient beings, they will experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, they will have many illnesses. Why is this? This path leads to many illnesses, namely, men and women who touch and harass sentient beings. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women being free from illness? If men and women do not touch and harass sentient beings, not using their fists, sticks, stones, or weapons to harass sentient beings, they will experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, they will be free from illness. Why is this? This path leads to freedom from illness, namely, men and women who do not touch and harass sentient beings. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having an ugly appearance? If men and women are quick-tempered and irritable, they become very angry when they hear little, and they give rise to hatred, sorrow, and much anger. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, they will have an ugly appearance. Why is this? This path leads to an ugly appearance, namely, men and women who are quick-tempered and irritable. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having a beautiful appearance? If men and women are not quick-tempered and irritable, they do not become very angry when they hear soft, coarse, or strong words, and they do not give rise to hatred, sorrow, or much anger. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, they will have a beautiful appearance. Why is this? This path leads to a beautiful appearance, namely, men and women who are not quick-tempered and irritable. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having no dignity? If men and women are jealous within, they become jealous when they see others receiving offerings and respect. If they see others having something, they want it for themselves. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, they will have no dignity. Why is this? This path leads to no dignity, namely, men and women who are jealous within. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having great dignity? If men and women are not jealous, they do not become jealous when they see others receiving offerings and respect. If they see others having something, they do not want it for themselves. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, they will have great dignity. Why is this? This path leads to dignity, namely, men and women who are not jealous. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women being born in a low caste? If men and women are arrogant and very conceited, they do not respect those who should be respected, do not honor those who should be honored, do not value those who should be valued, do not serve those who should be served, do not make offerings to those who should be made offerings to, do not give the path to those who should be given the path, do not give seats to those who should be given seats, do not bow to those who should be bowed to, and do not pay respects to those who should be paid respects to. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, they will be born in a low caste. Why is this? This path leads to being born in a low caste, namely, men and women who are arrogant and very conceited. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women being born in a noble family? If men and women are not arrogant and very conceited, they respect those who should be respected, honor those who should be honored, value those who should be valued, serve those who should be served, make offerings to those who should be made offerings to, give the path to those who should be given the path, give seats to those who should be given seats, bow to those who should be bowed to, and pay respects to those who should be paid respects to. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, they will be born in a noble family. Why is this? This path leads to being born in a noble family, namely, men and women who are not arrogant and very conceited. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having no wealth? If men and women are not generous and do not practice giving, they do not give food, clothing, garlands, perfumes, dwellings, beds, lamps, and servants to śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, the poor, the orphaned, and those who come from afar to beg. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, they will have no wealth. Why is this? This path leads to having no wealth, namely, men and women who are not generous and do not practice giving. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having much wealth? If men and women are generous and practice giving, they give food, clothing, garlands, perfumes, dwellings, beds, lamps, and servants to śramaṇas, brāhmaṇas, the poor, the orphaned, and those who come from afar to beg. They experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, they will have much wealth. Why is this? This path leads to having much wealth, namely, men and women who are generous and practice giving. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having bad wisdom? If men and women do not often go to ask about matters, and if there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas with good virtue, they do not often go to ask about the meaning: 'Venerables, what is good, what is not good? What is blameworthy, what is not blameworthy? What is excellent, what is not excellent? What is white, what is black? Where do white and black arise? What meaning has present retribution, what meaning has future retribution?' If they ask but do not practice, they experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely go to a bad place and be reborn in hell. If they are reborn as humans, they will have bad wisdom. Why is this? This path leads to having bad wisdom, namely, men and women who do not often go to ask about matters. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences. Ascetic, what causes and conditions lead to men and women having good wisdom? If men and women are able to often go to ask about matters, and if there are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas with good virtue, they often go to ask about the meaning: 'Venerables, what is good, what is not good? What is blameworthy, what is not blameworthy? What is excellent, what is not excellent? What is white, what is black? Where do white and black arise? What meaning has present retribution, what meaning has future retribution?' If they ask and are able to practice, they experience the consequences of these actions. When their bodies perish and their lives end, they will definitely ascend to a good place and be reborn in heaven. If they are reborn as humans, they will have good wisdom. Why is this? This path leads to having good wisdom, namely, men and women who are able to often go to ask about matters. Ascetic, you should know that this karma has such consequences.

"Ascetic, you should know that karma that leads to a short lifespan will definitely result in a short lifespan, karma that leads to a long lifespan will definitely result in a long lifespan, karma that leads to much illness will definitely result in much illness, karma that leads to little illness will definitely result in little illness, karma that leads to ugliness will definitely result in ugliness, karma that leads to beauty will definitely result in beauty, karma that leads to lack of dignity will definitely result in lack of dignity, karma that leads to dignity will definitely result in dignity, karma that leads to a low caste will definitely result in a low caste, karma that leads to a noble caste will definitely result in a noble caste, karma that leads to lack of wealth will definitely result in lack of wealth, karma that leads to much wealth will definitely result in much wealth, karma that leads to bad wisdom will definitely result in bad wisdom, and karma that leads to good wisdom will definitely result in good wisdom. Ascetic, this is what I said before, that beings are born due to their own karma, they obtain retribution due to karma, they depend on karma, they rely on karma, and beings are placed in high or low places according to their karma."

"Parrot Mānava Dutiya said: "World-Honored One! I understand. Well-Gone One! I know. World-Honored One! I now take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. May the World-Honored One accept me as a lay follower. From today onward, I take refuge for life until the end of my life. World-Honored One! From today, entering the Dutiya family is like entering the families of lay followers in this Śrāvastī region. May the Dutiya family gain long-term benefits, gain benefit, peace, and happiness.

The Buddha spoke thus. Parrot Mānava Dutiya and countless others, having heard the Buddha's teachings, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.