目犍連尊者的業果

殺父、殺母是五逆重罪，來生當墮入地獄。就算地獄的惡報結束，有幸轉生到人間，也將因這種重惡業生生世世被殺害。

神通雖然不可思議，可是神通不敵業力。目犍連尊者被佛陀譽為神通第一，其神力可偷星換月、移山倒海，可是當他過去久遠前生殺父殺母的宿世重惡業成熟，其神通也無法讓他躲避惡報。

以上一段教法是世尊在竹林精舍駐錫時所說，其事與大目犍連長老有關。

因為有一次，有一群外道（其他宗教）的徒眾舉行了一個會議，討論道：「同修們！你們知道為什麼佛陀所得到的佈施和榮譽增加了嗎？」

「是呀！真的，我們知道。那完全是大目犍連所造成的。因為他到天上去問眾天神們前生造了什麼業，然後回來告訴人家說：『他們是因為做了這些這些，所以現在才能享受這麼大的榮耀與幸福』；他又去問在地獄中的眾生所造的業，回來他又告訴人家：『他們是因為造了如此這般的業，現在才身受這麼大的痛苦。』眾人聽他所說，就將佈施和殷勤像大雨般傾注在他身上。如果我們能將他殺死，那些給他的佈施和榮譽，就是我們的了。」

這一建議獲得了大眾普遍的贊同。大家一致同意一定要將目犍連殺死。之後，他們鼓勵支持他們的人弄到了一千塊錢，叫來幾個殺過人的盜賊。他們說：「有個叫大目犍連的長老，住在黑巖地方，到那兒去把他殺了！」就把錢給了他們。

那些盜賊貪婪的拿了錢，就去包圍長老的房子，預備殺了他。

長老看見屋子被包圍，就運用神通從鑰匙孔裏鑽了出去逃走了，那天他們沒有找到長老。換了一天又來把房子包圍住，長老又發起神通穿破尖形的屋頂跳入空中。就這樣，他們在月初和月中都沒有捉到長老。但是到了將近月底的時候，長老發現被以往所造的業所阻遏，無法逃脫。於是那些盜賊捉到了他，把他的骨頭打碎的像米粒般的大小。他們以為他死了，就把他丟在一處矮樹叢中而去。

可是長老自己想道：「我在涅槃前要先見一見世尊。」他以禪定裹身，好像用一條繃帶一樣。他這樣使得身體固定強勁之後，便騰空飛起去會見世尊了。見到了世尊，行過禮後，他說：「世尊，我要入涅槃了。」

「要是那樣的話，目犍連，在你去之前為我誦法吧！因為我再也沒有像你一樣優秀的弟子了。」

他向世尊行過禮後，又騰空飛起，顯現了各種奇蹟，比如身上出水、身下出火；全身散發出莊嚴祥和的光圈，光中又現出種種神王、神鳥及神獸的影像。就和長老舍利弗入涅槃的那天所做的一樣。之後，他又背誦了佛的教法，向世尊頂禮後，飛回黑巖森林中入涅槃了。

且說長老被盜賊殺害的消息，傳遍了全印度。阿闍世國王派出探子去到處搜捕他們。那群盜賊剛好在一家酒店裏喝酒，其中有一人罵了他的同伴，並將穢物丟在他的手中。

「你這無禮的狗東西，怎麼啦！」那同伴恐嚇說：「你為什麼把髒東西丟在我手裡？」

他們正在這樣吵架的時候，被探子聽到了，就把他們抓住，報告了國王。國王就把那群盜賊叫道跟前來，對他們說：「你們殺了長老嗎？」

於是國王將五百裸形外道捉來，把他們和五百盜賊一起埋在宮廷中挖好的坑裏，一直埋到他們的肚臍。然後用稻草將他們覆蓋，放起火來。像這樣燒死他們之後，他又用鐵犁將他們犁得粉碎。

在講堂裏，比丘們都在談論，說道：「大目犍連死的不值得。」

佛陀說：「比丘們，目犍連之死對他這一生來說是不相稱的，但是和他前生的業卻很相應。」

有一次，在波羅奈城有一個高貴種姓的青年，他很孝順父母，親自為他們磨米煮飯以及治理家裏的一切事務。他們向他說：「兒呀！你想一手包辦家裏的家裏的雜務，再加上樹林裏的工作，要把你累壞了。我們給你娶房媳婦吧！」

「爸媽，我不需要。只要你們在世的一天，我都要親手侍奉你們。」

雖然他一再拒絕，可是他父母仍然堅持，還是給他娶了一個妻子。那女人才伺候了老人家幾天，就看他們不順眼了。她生氣的和她丈夫說：「跟你的父母在同一幢屋子裏住下去是不可能的。」

她發現他並不聽她的話，就趁他外出的時候將垃圾和殘粥撒在地上。他回到家，就問她：「這是怎麼一回事？」

她說：「這都是那瞎眼老人家做的事。他們除了把房子弄髒以外，什麼都不做。我沒法和他們相處。」

就這樣，她不斷講閒話的結果，這一時糊塗的青年竟和他的雙親決裂了。他向她說：「好吧！我知道該怎麼做了。」

於是，他讓他父母吃飽飯後，說道：「爸媽，您的親戚們在城裏等著您倆。我帶您去見他們吧！」

然後，他把他們放在一輛牛車上，和他們一起到了樹林的中央。到了那地方，他將韁繩放在他父親手裏，說道：「爸媽，請握住韁繩。牛會沿著車跡前進的。我要下車去了，因為這一帶有盜賊。」

走了一小段路，他改變了嗓音，發出一聲盜賊攻擊時的喊聲。他父母聽見喊聲，以為真是盜賊所發，就喊道：「兒呀，你還年輕，離開我們自己逃生吧！」他們正在這樣叫喊，他一面不斷發出盜賊的喊聲，一面就捶打他們，把他們殺死了。然後將屍體留在林中，回家去了。

佛陀講完這段過去的事跡後，接著說：「比丘們啊！目犍連造了這一椿業所得的果報，是幾十萬年地獄的煎熬，以及一百世死於被人捶撲的橫禍，和他所犯的罪是相應的。因此，目犍連之死是和他的業相應的。而那五百盜賊和那五百裸形外道也算死得其所，因為他們傷害了我無辜的弟子。凡是傷害無辜的人，必定會遭受十種不同的災難與厄運。」

佛陀顯示出目犍連前世今生的關係後，就以下面的一首偈子將法教與他們：

原文參考網址：http://wisdomquarterly.blogspot.tw/2009/12/killing-of-maha-moggallana.html

One who does harm with weapons to those who are harmless and should therefore not be harmed will soon come to one or more of these ten consequences (Verse 137):

One will be subject to severe pain, impoverishment, injury to the body (i.e., loss of limbs), serious illness (e.g., leprosy), lunacy, misfortunes following the wrath of a ruler, wrongful and serious accusations, loss of relatives, destruction of wealth, or the loss of home by fire or lightning. After the dissolution of the body, the foolish perpetrator will be reborn in the plane of continuous suffering (niraya) (Vv. 138-140).

The Story of Elder Maha Moggallana
Tipitaka.net (Dhammapada Story, Maha Moggallanatthera Vatthu)

While residing at Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses 137-140 of this book with reference to Ven. Maha Moggallana.

Once, the Nigantha [Jain] ascetics planned to have the great chief disciple assassinated. They thought that by doing away with him, the fame and fortune of the Buddha would be diminished. So [it is said] they hired some men to kill Maha Moggallana, age 84, who was then staying at Kalasila near Rajagaha.

The assassins surrounded his quarters. But Maha Moggallana, with his supernormal power [of bodily mastery], escaped through a keyhole and then through the roof. The would-be killers could not get hold of the elder for two months. When the assassins again surrounded him on the third month, Maha Moggallana, recollecting that he had yet to exhaust the woeful karma for an unwholesome deeds done by him during one of his past births, did not exercise his supernormal power.

He was caught. The assassins beat him until his bones were pulverized and left his body for dead in a bush. But the great elder, through his jhanic power, revived himself and went to see the Buddha at Jetavana. When he informed the Buddha that he would soon realize parinirvana (the final passing of an enlightened being) at Kalasila, the Buddha told him to go only after expounding the Dharma to the congregation of monastics, as that would be the last time they would see him. So Maha Moggallana expounded the Dharma and left after paying obeisance seven times to his beloved teacher the Buddha.

The news of Maha Moggallana's passing at the hands of assassins spread like wildfire. King Ajatasattu ordered his men to investigate and apprehend the culprits. The assassins were caught and burned to death.

The monastics felt great sorrow over the death and could not understand why such an exalted personage as a chief disciple of the Buddha should die at the hands of assassins.

The Buddha explained, "Monastics! Considering that Moggallana had lived a noble life in this birth, he should not have met with such a death. But in one of his past births, he had done a great wrong to his own parents, who were both blind: In the beginning, he was a very dutiful son. But after his marriage, his wife began to make trouble and suggested that he should get rid of his parents.

"He took his blind parents in a cart into a forest. And there he killed them by beating them and making them believe that it was some thief who was beating them. For that evil deed he suffered in niraya for a long time. And in this birth, his last, he has died at the hands of assassins. Indeed, by doing wrong to those who should not be wronged, one is sure to suffer for it." Then the Buddha spoke in verse (Dhp. Vv. 137-140).

　

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (137), (138), (139) and (140) of this book, with reference to Thera Maha Moggallana.

Once, the Nigantha ascetics planned to kill Thera Maha Moggallana because they thought that by doing away with Thera Maha Moggallana the fame and fortune of the Buddha would also be diminished. So they hired some assassins to kill Thera Maha Moggallana who was staying at Kalasila near Rajagaha at that time. The assassins surrounded the monastery; but Thera Maha Moggallana, with his supernormal power, got away first through a key hole, and for the second time through the roof. Thus, they could not get hold of the Thera for two whole months. When the assassins again surrounded the monastery during the third month, Thera Maha Moggallana, recollecting that he had yet to pay for the evil deeds done by him during one of his past existences, did not exercise his supernormal power. So he was caught and the assassins beat him up until all his bones were utterly broken. After that, they left his body in a bush, thinking that he had passed away. But the Thera, through his jhanic power, revived himself and went to see the Buddha at the Jetavana monastery. When he informed the Buddha that he would soon realize parinibbana at Kalasila, near Rajagaha, the Buddha told him to go only after expounding the Dhamma to the congregation of bhikkhus, as that would be the last time they would see him. So, Thera Maha Moggallana expounded the Dhamma and left after paying obeisance seven times to the Buddha.

The news of the passing away of Thera Maha Moggallana at the hands of assassins spread like wild fire. King Ajatasattu ordered his men to investigate and get hold of the culprits. The assassins were caught and they were burnt to death. The bhikkhus felt very sorrowful over the death of Thera Maha Moggallana, and could not understand why such a personage like Thera Maha Moggallana should die at the hands of assassins. To them the Buddha said, "Bhikkhus! Considering that Moggallana had lived a noble life in this existence, he should not have met with such a death. But in one of his past existences, he had done a great wrong to his own parents, who were both blind. In the beginning, he was a very dutiful son, but after his marriage, his wife began to make trouble and she suggested that he should get rid of his parents. He took his blind parents in a cart into a forest, and there he killed them by beating them and making them believe that it was some thief who was beating them. For that evil deed he suffered in niraya for a long time; and in this existence, his last, he has died at the hands of assassins. Indeed, by doing wrong to those who should not be wronged, one is sure to suffer for it."

Verse 137 He who does harm with weapons to those who are harmless and should not be harmed will soon come to any of these ten evil consequences:

Verses 138, 139 & 140. He will be subject to severe pain, or impoverishment, or injury to the body (i.e., loss of limbs), or serious illness (e.g., leprosy), or lunacy, or misfortunes following the wrath of the king, or wrongful and serious accusations, or loss of relatives, or destruction of wealth, or the burning down of his houses by fire or by lightning. After the dissolution of his body, the fool will be reborn in the plane of continuous suffering (niraya).