The story of the double-headed Buddha in the Mogao Caves
This story is depicted in a section of the Ruijiao painting in the west cape of the west niche in Cave 237. The different statues are separated by stripes. In the center of the painting is the "Double-Headed Buddha", which is a two-headed, four-armed statue with a peculiar shape, and a man kneeling at each of the two corners of the foot. This painting is skillfully conceived and rich in imagination. Only with two heads and four arms to show the theme of the story, is the Moscow Grottoes inscription the most clear picture of a Buddha story.
Far away in ancient India, there were two poor people in the country of Gandhara who lived by selling their labor and doing short-term work. Although they were poor, but they believed in Buddhism. They saw the rich people chiseling caves and painting golden Buddha, offering bodhisattvas, and thought in their hearts: although we are penniless, but the piety of honoring the Buddha's heart is not worse than that of those who are rich, and we do not have the money to chisel the caves, but I hope that one day, I can pay for the painter to have the Buddha's wonderful face in the temple. In order to realize this wish soon, they get up early in the morning, drink the wind and dew, scrimp and save, work hard, hard work for more than ten years, and finally each saved up a small silver coin. They then wanted to use this silver coin to hire a painter to paint a statue of Buddha in order to realize their long-cherished wish.
On this day, a poor man with the money in his arms sought out the painter's house in great haste, and asked the painter to paint a statue of Buddha for him. He said, "Kind brother painter, I made a vow in front of the Buddha in early years, to paint a golden image of his true face, for which I have been saving up for more than ten years, and finally have this silver coin," the poor man touched the coin with body heat from his bosom and put it in the hands of the painter, earnestly requesting that, "The rich man has money to chisel the cave easy, the poor man has no money to paint the image is also difficult! It is easy for the rich to have money to make a cave, but it is hard for the poor to make a portrait without money. Perhaps I will never be able to save more money in my life, brother painter, so I have to come to beg you." The painter was touched, he knew that with this small amount of money to paint a golden face of Buddha, I am afraid that even to buy materials are not enough, but he agreed to the poor man's request.
In a few days, another poor man also found his way to the painter's house. Holding a silver coin in both hands, he fell down in front of the painter and said, "Wise and kind brother painter, this small sum of money is what I have earned through years of sweat and toil, so please use it to paint the Buddha's true face for me. As an honorarium, I know it is not enough, but I can't earn more money, in order to fulfill my wish, I only come to beg you, Buddha will bless you, and I will always be grateful for your great kindness." The painter listened to the poor man's heartfelt confidences, and, overwhelmed by his kindness, agreed.
The painter was a master of painting, so he used the two small coins to buy stone green, ochre sand and other pigments, and then he used his brilliant colorful brush to compose the picture, integrating the two poor people and his own piety into a small picture, and he felt that the brush had never been so mellow and fluent, and the composition had never been so elegant and handsome as it was now. He meditated and cleansed his mind, waving the brush in his hand like flowing clouds and water, soundly and smoothly, all in one go. A moment, a bright and realistic Buddha appeared in the temple on the white wall, the painter looked at his just completed masterpiece, simply do not believe that their own handwriting, because in the past the painting of the image of the gods has never been like this one now so solemn and kind.
The next day, the painter invited two poor people to come to the temple to worship the Buddha and see the image, and it so happened that the two poor people came to the temple at the same time. The painter proudly pointed to his new work and said, "This is the statue of Buddha you asked me to paint, how is it, still satisfied?" When the two poor men saw that there was only one image of Buddha on the wall, they looked at each other and were puzzled. Both of them thought to themselves, "I paid the painter to paint a statue of Buddha for me, how can I say that this statue belongs to two people?" The artist knew from their expressions and eyes that they were muttering in their hearts, so he said to them, "Why are you so flabbergasted? Frankly speaking, the money you two gave me is not enough to pay for the materials of this statue, we are poor brothers, we should help each other. I have painted your money along with your piety into the statue, and dissolved my skill and heart into the statue. If what I say is not a lie, the statue will surely change." The words are not yet, the statue of the Buddha showed the spirit, the miracle appeared, behind the statue of the Buddha really dazzling flash, radiating millions of golden light, forming a round of very bright and bright halo, vaguely see the statue of God's body in the Xu Xu separation, divided into two identical statue of the Buddha, the shadow but linked together, brilliant, golden and brilliant. After a while, the body gradually merged into one again, forming two Buddha's head **** in one marvelous statue.
The two poor people saw with their own eyes the Buddha's divine power, and hastened to five bodies, worship, more pious mood Buddha. They were very happy that the Buddha sensed their sincere and pure hearts, even if it only cost them a small silver coin. They were grateful for the brotherhood of the painter, and marveled at his unfathomable and magical skills. From then on, the three became good friends.
Small Shamans Suicide
Once upon a time, there was an old man who believed in Buddhism and respected the monks and nuns, and he had an only son who was at the age of young.
The old man went out to look for, sincere, and finally he found a Buddhist law deep and wide, holding strict discipline, the road of the monk, the old man led his son to see the monk, asked to take his son as a disciple. The monk saw the young man's eyebrows and eyes, straight nose and square mouth, both simple and intelligent, is a good embryo to be able to leave the house to practice, meditation and Zen, the heart is very fond of, they agreed to it. The monk personally shaved the young man's head and taught him the sutras. Soon, the old man's son officially became a Shamata. Under the monk's careful teaching, the young monk gradually realized the true meaning of Buddhism, deeper and deeper attainments, especially in the cultivation of the precepts, can transcend the red dust, abandon the seven feelings and six desires, the heart is like a well of dryness, the heart of the Buddha.
The monk's temple food and drink needs, by the city of a rich giver supply, three meals a day giver sent people to send on time, rain or shine, summer and winter, years and months never delayed. One day, a friend of the master invited his whole family, servants and concubines to be his guests. The master could not refuse, so he agreed. However, when the whole family went to the banquet, who would be left to guard the house, and who would be left to guard the servants and concubines? In the midst of the worry and difficulty, the giver's daughter asked, "Father went to be a guest, is there anything else difficult?"
"Who will be left to look after the house when we all go as guests?" Father said worriedly.
"What's so difficult about that, parents can go with the whole family at ease, and I'll stay at home to watch over the house." The daughter agreed readily.
So the giver was very happy and took his whole family to his friend's house. The giver's daughter was alone at home.
The giver was so happy when he was leaving that he forgot to ask his daughter to bring food to the temple. As the sun set in the west and the dinner hour had passed, the monk's stomach was empty and he couldn't resist the hunger, so he instructed the little sanyasi to go to the giver's house to fetch food. The monk repeatedly warned the little sanyasi to abandon all ordinary thoughts, into the family begging for food, do not crave sex, to strictly abide by the precepts of the Buddha, so as not to corrupt the reputation of the Buddha, fell into hell. The young shaman listened respectfully and retreated with a promise.
The giver's daughter alone leaning out of the window and thinking, the maiden of love vaguely felt the spring heart of the budding, face cheeks of the flush. The courtyard flowers and grasses, beautiful flowers bloomed all over, butterflies fluttered in pairs, larks chirped in pairs to the blue sky. She has never experienced loneliness and loneliness, sixteen years old, she longed for a better future in life, she complained about their parents, do not understand the daughter's mind, a large courtyard, everywhere quietly, only Zi Ran a body, she envisioned a hazy mysterious and fascinating love.
Suddenly, a soft knock on the door broke the quiet.
"Who is it!" She asked timidly.
"It's me, the little shaman, here to fetch the meal that the giver has given."
The maiden in the loneliness of her boudoir suddenly heard the voice of a young man, and an ineffable feeling surged up in her heart, she quickly opened the door, and a civilized, handsome little sanyasi stood in front of her, and she tenderly bowed her head, and in her bosom, as if she were carrying a fawn, she jumped suddenly and joyfully without stopping. The little sanya could not have imagined that the giver was a beautiful girl, and all of a sudden she was at a loss for words and blushed.
"Master," said the young shaman courteously, "the master saw that there was still no one to deliver the meal at night, and sent me to ask for it." He mumbled like he was memorizing a book, silently admonishing himself not to forget the precepts and his master's instructions, his eyes staring dully at his toes, his head not daring to lift.
"Come in, please!" The maiden's heart was like a joyful spring breeze, she couldn't hide her inner delight and love for this handsome little sanyasin, "Ah, it must be the will of the gods, pitying me for being alone and so lonely, arranging for such a lovely little sanyasin to come to me." The abundant springiness made the young girl forget her feelings, she pulled the little sanya's hand with her slender five fingers, "Brother sanya, must be starving, right? Our layman's family has a lot of things to do, my father went to be a guest, and I forgot to bring you food, forgive me, forgive me!" The young sanya by the young girl's honesty and bravery to make the ears hot and heart beating, can not help but follow the young girl into the door. The young girl like a gust of wind went, a moment and then floated back gently, brought a bowl full of fragrant rice, bowl full of dishes, whisking the air filled with the fragrance of the young girl's breath, Shamai heart a throbbing. The young girl with eyes full of tenderness carefully surveyed the small Shamai, ah, how beautiful little monk, white face, forehead wide, thick eyebrows black, mouth and nose angular, through a masculine spirit. Her fair face through a burst of redness, shallow smile in the lookout looks more charming intoxicating, she felt the beauty of their youth, which is not good for young girls spring, who is not good for young men fall in love? She felt the happiness she envisioned was right in front of her, and she y adored the childish, cute little monk in front of her.
"Little Shayi brother, youth is so beautiful, how short the night of spring, we came to this world, is it in order to recluse into the empty door, in the green lamp next to the ancient Buddha to endure the loneliness of a long time of torture? There is so much love on earth, and nature is so colorful, you are so young and beautiful, why must you quietly pass away this rare life and precious youth in the Buddha's door? My parents are away on a visit, and there is only me and you at home, can't we ...... stop the young girl from saying here, the tenderness of that bowed head, like the shyness of a water lotus flower that can't beat the cool wind. Little Shayi was touched by the innocence of the young girl, he felt, all over the body hot, he slowly raised his head, eyes flashing with passionate light. The maiden could not help but grasp the hands of the little Shamans tightly and said, "I love you, and you love me, surely, let us be together forever."
Suddenly, the little Shayi saw the hall of the Buddha's niche on the body of the Buddha's wonderful image of the golden light, like a spring of fresh water from the heart flowed through, he sobered up, he remembered the precepts of the Buddhist school, remembered the master's teachings, remembered his own vow, abide by the precepts, never be confused by the color. However, this girl is so pure, so holy, how can I harm her, I can only show my heart with one death. Thinking of this, all thoughts were dispelled within the young Shamans, and he calmly said to the young girl, "I know of your affection, but you must first clean a quiet room for me and permit me to make confession to the Buddha before kissing you."
"You promise! Excellent." The young girl's voice trembled with excitement as she quickly cleaned a quiet room and said to the little sanyasin, "You should hurry and go in to make your repentance, I will wait for you outside the door."
The little shaman went into the quiet room, faced the west, and burned incense and prayed, "O Buddha of great compassion, I set my mind to cultivate, and vowed not to violate the precepts, but I also could not bear to hurt the young girl, so I had only to die, and give up my body to seek the Dharma, and I ask for forgiveness from the Buddha." Saying this, he cut his neck and died.
The maiden waited patiently outside the quiet room, and never saw the little shaman come out, she couldn't help but call out a few times, but the room was dead silent, she was afraid in her heart, and panicked and pushed the door to go in, and she was shocked at the miserable scene; the little shaman cut his own throat, and the blood was still gurgling. She was both afraid and ashamed, and fainted on the floor.
In the evening, the master returned from a friend's house with his whole family. He called the door half a day, but did not see his daughter come out to open the door, so he was puzzled, and hastened to make his servant climb over the wall and open the gate. The whole family entered the courtyard door, split up to look for the girl, and found her cloaked hair, full of tears, fell beside the body of the little shaman, the people were shocked, and busy to wake her up. Fearing that his daughter had been abused, the giver hurriedly inquired. The young girl is difficult to say, if the Shayi transgression, false accusations of innocence, heaven and earth, things have come to this point, concealment is unable to hide, the little Shayi sacrificed his life, I am still afraid of what shame it. Thinking of this, she sobbed out the whole story, and said that for the sake of the little Saya's chastity to keep the precepts, she is willing to accept any severe punishment. The master listened to the sighing sigh, he said to his daughter: "Knowing the wrong can be corrected, there is no greater good, the little Shamai cultivated the right fruit, returned to heaven, you do not need to be alarmed and saddened. There is a law in the country; if there is a Shamen who is perilously close to a layman's home, the layman will pay a thousand dollars. Let us take one thousand dollars to atone for our sins."
The king was y touched by the monk's cleanliness and precepts when he listened to his father and daughter kneeling in front of the temple. The king himself led his ministers to the monk's house to worship the monk's body and told the whole country to hold a state funeral for the young monk. All the people of the city crowded into the street, scrambling to see, the square of the magnificent seven jewels incense car carrying the body of the little Shamans, the ministers sounding gongs and drums, monks surrounded by the car before and after the maiden stood on the high platform. The king pointed to the young girl to all the subjects and monks, said: "This girl is two eight years old, the country's color and beauty, fish and geese, the world who do not fall in love? And this little monk is young, but can transcend the ordinary, not for the color, strictly abide by the precepts, martyrdom, the world who do not respect," people heard, all sighs of admiration for the little monk's piety and sincerity.
Sudhana gave alms to the people
Anciently, there was a prince named Sudhana in the country of Yeboi, who made a temporary promise that he would give away gold, silver, treasures, clothes, and other articles to the world as long as he had them. Thus, his reputation was spread all over the world.
The king had a white elephant that was so powerful that it could withstand sixty ordinary white elephants. Whenever he fought with the enemy, he won a great victory and regarded it as the treasure of the kingdom. The enemy country suffered repeated defeats and was not willing to do so. Knowing that the Prince was kind and charitable, he recruited eight Brahmins with heavy rewards, gave them enough money, and went to the country of Yebo to ask Prince Sudhana for the white elephant.
Sudhana saw the eight Brahmins asking for the white elephant in unison, and thought to himself: "The white elephant is my father's favorite, the treasure of the country; if I give it to someone else, I will lose my position as the crown prince, and become a sinner of the country. But then he thought: he could not break his oath and lose his faith in the people. So he did not hesitate to give the white elephant to the Brahmins. The eight Brahmins were so happy to receive the white elephant that they danced around, fearing that the king would renege on his promise, and rode back on the white elephant in a blaze of speed.
Losing the white elephant, the ministers, anxious and worried, reported to the king, saying, "The crown prince's kingdom has been emptied of alms. Now he has given the precious elephant to an enemy country; what will happen if there is a war?"
According to the criminal law of his own country, if the prince gave away the elephant, he should have his eyes gouged out and his hands and feet cut off. The king was angry, but he could not torture the prince. So he ordered the prince's family to be expelled from the city and to go to Mount Dantes, which is 6,000 kilometers away from the king's city, to repent and mend their ways. Sudhana had nothing to say, so he took his wife, Mandi, and his children, and said goodbye to his parents, and gave all his wealth to the world before he drove his carriage out of the city.
The people heard that the prince was leaving the palace and came to see him off. The prince said goodbye to all of them and traveled with wine and tears, and after walking for half a day, he stopped to rest under a tree. Here, a few Brahmins came to ask for a horse, and the Prince immediately gave it to them, pulling the cart himself and continuing on his way. After a short distance, a few Brahmins came to ask for a car, the Prince again gave the car to the people. In this way, along the way, he gave the Brahmins all the clothes that his family wore and all the money that he had with him, and became a poor man with nothing.
Seeing that the prince was so generous with his alms, and wanting to test his sincerity again, the emperor also turned into a strangely ugly brahmin, and came to the prince, saying, "I've often heard that you are kind and charitable, and that you will always respond to a request, so please give me your wife, for I am a bachelor."
"Yes." The Prince was full of promises and told Mandi to follow this strangely ugly Brahmin away immediately. The Emperor led Mandi a short distance away, then turned back, handed her over to the Prince, revealed his true form, and said, "You have kept your vows, practiced extensive charity, and have a supreme character so great that even I am not as good as you! You are devoted to cultivation, your son and daughter will return to the royal palace, and then the king will send someone to take you back." After saying this, he suddenly disappeared.
Afterward, the ugly Brahmins tortured Sudhana's sons and daughters in every possible way, but when that did not go well enough, they took them to the marketplace in the king's city to sell them. The emperor guided the Brahmins to sell the two children into the king's palace. Seeing that his two
grandchildren had suffered so much and learning of the whereabouts of the Crown Prince and his wife, the king sent his minister into the mountains to welcome the Crown Prince back to his country. The people of the country embraced the prince as king. The enemy country was touched by the Prince's good behavior and offered to send white elephants
to show their repentance. From then on, the two countries were at peace, and there was no more war. Sudhana continued to give alms until he became a Buddha.
This story is painted on the east side of the roof of Cave 419 of Mogao Caves. Through the Prince of the elephant, was banished, before the trip to give, on the way to give horses, give car, give clothing, people mountain practice, mountain, give children, give wife and so on the chain of paintings, meticulous expression of the Prince of Sudhana kind spirit of charity. This serial painting, vivid plot, clever composition, painting fine, the theme is prominent, is the Mogao Caves, the same subject matter of the richest story.
Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions
The story of the Asura
One of the elephant fetus
Anciently, the country of Borneo has a vast territory, rich in produce, and a large population. The king, King Jinyan, was virtuous and kind, and the queen, Mrs. Moye, was gentle and well respected by the people. But the king and his wife were very old and had no son, so they were very worried.
One of the summer noon, the sun is hot, the weather is hot. The queen, Mrs. Moyer, was so hot that she came to the pavilion under the linden tree in the back garden to take a cool bath, and fell asleep on the bed without realizing it, and entered into a sweet dream. She dreamed that a white elephant came floating in the sky with white clouds on its feet, and a lively little boy sat on the elephant's back laughing. The white elephant descended from the sky and landed in front of the bed. The little boy suddenly jumped down from the elephant's back and burrowed into the lady's womb under his right rib. At that moment, the white elephant roared and stepped on a white cloud and went up to the sky. The queen woke up with a start and told the King of Pure Land what had happened in her dream. The king did not know whether it was lucky or not, so he invited a fortune-teller to fulfill his dream. The magician said, "It is a good sign that a child is traveling on a human fetus. Congratulations to the queen for being pregnant and to the king for having a crown prince!" The king was overjoyed and rewarded the fortune-teller.
Two, born under the tree