Sutra of King Dingsheng's Causes and Conditions, Volume 1

Translated by the Tripitaka Master of the Western Regions, Court Official and Dharma Master, the Purple-Robed Monk Shi Hu and others,

The Buddha, the World-Honored One, was once staying in the Jetavana Grove, Anathapindika's Park, in the city of Shravasti. At that time, King Prasenajit of Kosala came to visit the Buddha. Upon arriving, he bowed his head at the feet of the World-Honored One, then stepped back and sat to one side. He addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, when you were seeking the supreme, perfect enlightenment in the past, how did you practice generosity and perform virtuous deeds?"

The Buddha said: "Great King, let us set aside events from the distant past. I recall, during this present virtuous kalpa, when I sought the supreme perfect enlightenment and practiced the perfection of giving. Listen carefully to the cause and conditions of this event, and I will now explain it to you.

"Great King, at the beginning of this kalpa, human lifespans were immeasurable. At that time, there was a king named Pushada. Suddenly, a soft, painless growth like a bubble appeared on the crown of his head, as soft as fine cotton. When it ripened, it naturally split open, and a child was born. He possessed the most excellent appearance, handsome and pleasing to behold. His body was golden in color, his head bore a whorl of hair like a beautiful canopy, his arms were long and well-proportioned, his forehead broad and even, his eyebrows long and elegant, his nose high and straight, and his entire form was complete and perfect, adorned with the thirty-two marks of a great being.

"After the child was born, he was brought into the palace. The king had sixty thousand consorts and attendants. When these women saw the child, their breasts spontaneously flowed with milk, and each said: 'I will nurture the prince.' Thus, he was given the name 'I-Nurture.' Some also said: 'Since this prince was born from the crown of the head, he should be called Crown-Born.' Therefore, he was known both as Crown-Born and as I-Nurture."

At that time, Crown Prince Dingsheng, while still in his childhood, spent his days in play and amusement through the reign of six Indras. When he reached the age of a prince, another six Indras passed. One day, the prince left the royal palace and leisurely toured the city streets, observing the people and their lives. Later, King Pushaduo suddenly fell ill. His attendants offered him flowers, fruits, herbs, and medicines for treatment, but despite their diligent efforts, his condition did not improve. The king then commanded his ministers, saying, "Quickly prepare to anoint the crown prince as king." The ministers accepted the order and immediately sent a messenger to the prince, telling him, "Your father is ill and his condition is not improving. He summons you to come quickly and be anointed as king." However, before the messenger could return, the king had already passed away. The ministers then sent another messenger in haste to inform the prince, saying, "Your father has passed away. Come quickly to be anointed as king." At that moment, Crown Prince Dingsheng thought to himself, "My father has already passed away—what use is there in rushing now?"

At that time, there was a city called Vaishali. The city was surrounded by dense groves of trees that people found delightful. In these groves, there lived five hundred ascetics, who were practicing meditation and had mastered the five supernatural powers. But many birds—especially herons and storks—lived in those groves, and their constant squawking and noise disturbed the ascetics’ meditation.

One of those ascetics, named “Ugly Face,” grew angry. He used a curse to break the wings of all those herons and storks. The crippled birds then crept along the ground, dragging themselves to the gate of King Mandhata’s palace.

The king happened to be going out when he saw them gathered near the gate. He asked his attendant, “Why are these herons and storks all gathered by the gate?”

The attendant replied, “Your Majesty, the birds were nesting in the groves, and their noise disturbed the ascetics’ meditation. An ascetic named Ugly Face grew angry and cursed them, breaking their wings. Now they have crawled here to gather at your gate.”

The king said, “Why do these ascetics have no compassion for living beings? I order them to leave my territory at once.”

His officials went to the ascetics and delivered the king’s command. On hearing this, the ascetics thought, “This great king rules the entire four continents and has supreme power. We should follow his order and go live in a grove on the slopes of Mount Sumeru.”