請賓頭盧法
Method for Inviting Pindola
宋沙門釋慧簡譯
Sutra Translated by Shihui Jian of the Song Dynasty
天竺國有優婆塞國王長者，若設一切會，常請賓頭盧頗羅墮誓阿羅漢。賓頭盧者字也，頗羅墮誓者姓也，其人為樹提長者現神足故，佛擯之不聽涅槃，勅令為末法四部眾作福田。
In India, there were lay Buddhist kings and wealthy elders who, when holding Dharma assemblies, would often invite the Venerable Arhat Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja. Piṇḍola is his given name, and Bhāradvāja his family name. Because this Arhat once displayed his miraculous powers for the wealthy elder Sudatta, the Buddha expelled him and forbade him from entering Nirvana, commanding him instead to serve as a field of merit for the fourfold Buddhist community during the Age of Declining Dharma.
請時於靜處燒香禮拜，向天竺摩梨山，至心稱名，言：「大德賓頭盧頗羅墮誓，受佛教勅為末法人作福田。願受我請，於此處食。」若新作屋舍，亦應請之，言：「願受我請，於此舍床敷止宿。」若普請眾僧澡浴時，亦應請之，言：「願受我請，於此洗浴。」及未明前，具香湯淨水、澡豆楊枝，香油調和冷暖，如人浴法，開戶請入、然後閉戶，如人浴訖頃，眾僧乃入。凡會食澡浴，要須一切請僧至，心求解脫、不疑不昧、信心清淨，然後可屈。
At a quiet place, burn incense and bow in worship. Face Mount Malayā in India, and call out sincerely: "Great Virtue Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja, you were commanded by the Buddha to be a field of merit for people in the degenerate age. I respectfully invite you to come and partake of this meal that I offer here."
If building a new house, invite him as well, saying: "May you accept my invitation, and rest here overnight in this dwelling."
If organizing a communal bathing for the monks, also invite him, saying: "May you accept my invitation and bathe here."
Before dawn, prepare fragrant hot water, pure water, bath beans, and willow twigs. Mix oil with the water until it's at a comfortable temperature, as if preparing a bath for a person. Open the door, invite him in, then close it. After the time it would take for a person to bathe, allow the other monks to enter.
Whenever holding a meal or group bath, you must sincerely invite all the monks, with your whole heart seeking liberation, free from doubt and confusion, with pure faith. Only then can they be invited.
近世有一長者，聞說賓頭盧阿羅漢受佛教勅為末法人作福田，即如法施設大會，至心請賓頭盧，氍氀下遍布華，欲以驗之。大眾食訖，發氍氀華皆萎，懊惱自責，不知過所從來。更復精竭審問經師，重設大會，如前華亦復皆萎。復更傾竭盡家財產，復作大會，猶亦如前，懊惱自責。更請百餘法師，求請所失，懺謝罪過。如向上座一人年老，四布悔其愆咎。上座告之：「汝三會請我，我皆受請。汝自使奴門中見遮，以我年老衣服弊壞，謂是被擯。賴提沙門不肯見前，我以汝請欲強入，汝奴以杖打我頭破，額右角瘡。是第二會亦來，復不見前。我又欲強入，復打我，頭額中瘡。是第三會亦來，如前被打，頭額左角瘡。是皆汝自為之，何所懊惋？」言已不現，長者乃知是賓頭盧。自爾以來，諸人設福皆不敢復遮門。若得賓頭盧，其坐華即不萎。
In recent times, there was a wealthy elder who heard that the Arhat Pindola had been instructed by the Buddha to act as a field of merit for people in the latter days of the Dharma. He therefore arranged a great offering ceremony according to the teachings, sincerely inviting Pindola, spreading flowers beneath the woolen carpet to test if he would come. After the meal, when he removed the carpet, all the flowers had wilted. Distressed and blaming himself, he did not know where his fault lay. He consulted the sutra masters with renewed diligence, set up another grand offering, and again the flowers all withered. He poured out his entire fortune for a third offering, but the same thing happened. In his distress, he invited over a hundred Dharma masters, seeking to understand his error and repent of his sins. He confessed his faults to the most senior elder seated at the head, an old man. The elder told him: "I attended all three of your ceremonies as an invited guest. But each time, your servant blocked me at the door, seeing that I was old and my robes shabby, thinking I was an expelled monk. I was called 'Laiti Monk' and was refused entry. On the first occasion, because you had invited me, I tried to force my way in, and your servant struck me on the head with a staff, leaving a wound on my right forehead. On the second, I came again, was again turned away, and again tried to force my way in, receiving another blow that left a wound on the middle of my forehead. On the third occasion, I came and was struck again, leaving a wound on my left forehead. All this you brought upon yourself—why feel remorse?" Having said this, the elder vanished. Then the wealthy elder realized it was Pindola himself. From that time on, people making offerings dared no longer block their doors. If Pindola comes, the flowers on the seat will not wither.
若新立房舍床榻，欲請賓頭盧時，皆當香湯灑地、燃香油燈，新床新褥奮綿敷之，以白練覆綿上。初夜如法請之，還閉房戶，慎勿輕慢闚看。皆各至心信其必來，精誠感徹，無不至也。來則褥上現有臥處，浴室亦現用湯水處。受大會請時，或在上坐、或在中坐、或在下坐，現作隨處僧形，人求其異終不可得。去後見坐處華不萎，乃知之矣。
When constructing a new dwelling or preparing a new bed, if you wish to invite the Venerable Pindola, you should first sprinkle the ground with fragrant water and light oil lamps. Spread a new mat and blanket on the bed, cover it with white silk, and lay a fresh cotton pad on top. At the beginning of the evening, formally invite him according to the proper ritual, then close the door of the room and be careful not to act disrespectfully or try to peek. Each person should sincerely trust that he will surely come—if your devotion is genuine, he will certainly appear. When he arrives, you will find a depression on the bed where he has rested, and in the bathhouse, evidence that he has used the water. When he attends a large gathering, he may be seated in the upper, middle, or lower position, appearing as just another ordinary monk, so that no one can distinguish him. Only after he leaves, when you see that the flowers near his seat have not withered, will you know he was present.
請賓頭盧法
Method for Inviting Pindola