Promise 承諾

 

Two Naïve Children's Promise Receives a Prediction from the Buddha

天真孩童的承諾，竟得到佛陀授記緣覺果位！

Long, long ago,

the Buddha resided in Rajagaha (王舍城).

 

One day, he led a group of monks to Rajagaha.

 

Along the way, they passed through a quiet forest, where many ferocious wild beasts lurked.

The Buddha rested briefly under a tree before continuing on his way.

 

As he walked, Ananda saw a fork in the road ahead.

 

He immediately put his palms together and asked the Buddha,

 "Venerable One, there are two roads to Rajagaha.

 

One road is straight, but it is teeming with wild beasts and very dangerous.

 

The other road, though winding, is without danger.

 

Which road should we take?" The Buddha smiled and said,

 

"The Tathagata has no fear;

 

let us take the straight road." So the group took the straight road.

At that moment, two children were playing by the roadside.

 

They immediately saw the Buddha's majestic form and felt a sense of peace and joy.

 

Then, one child, holding a small drum,

and the other a bow and arrow,

 

skipped and hopped over, respectfully bowing to the Buddha and saying,

Promise _ ___ May __.  ___.

Q1, The Buddha (     )

(A)孔子 (B)耶穌  (C)佛陀

Q2, smile (     )

   (A)微笑 (B)大笑 (C)嘲笑

Q3, under a tree (     )

    (A)樹下 (B)樹上 (C)山下

 

"We wish to follow you, to be your guards, and protect you." The Buddha gently asked, "How will you protect me?" One child said, "If wild beasts come, I will beat the drum to scare them away." The other child said, "I will use my bow and arrow to shoot them away." The Buddha was very pleased, for he knew that these two children were making this vow with pure hearts. So, the Buddha kindly told them,

 

"Children, you do not need to protect me. Your good vows have been fulfilled; you may go back." At that moment, the Buddha emitted a majestic light, the radiance illuminating the entire three thousand great chiliocosms, finally returning to his hairline. This signified that the two children would attain perfect enlightenment in the future. Ananda asked the Buddha, "Master, why do you smile and radiate light?" The Buddha replied, "These two children just now developed pure and joyful hearts towards me. Therefore, for thirteen great kalpas,

 

they will continuously be reborn in the human and heavenly realms, enjoying happiness. Afterwards, they will obtain human bodies, renounce worldly life, and practice the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment in a quiet place, finally attaining perfect enlightenment. One will be called the 'Fearless Perfect Enlightenment,' and the other will be called the 'Ancient Perfect Enlightenment.' This is the reason for my radiant smile."