分別功德論 2.28

2.28

The earlier ten points of mindfulness of the Buddha were a general exposition, intended for sentient beings of sharp faculties. The later exposition is to analyse and explain their meanings for sentient beings of dull faculties. "Reputation" means later becoming a wheel-turning cakravartin. "Attaining great recompense" means later becoming Śakra Devānām Indra. "All good things universally arriving" means later obtaining the retribution of Brahmā. "Attaining the taste of the deathless" means later becoming a pratyekabuddha. "Reaching the unconditioned place" means later obtaining the fruit of an arhat. In the earlier explanation of the ten points of mindfulness, there were not these five phrases; the reason these various retributions are added now is to clarify that the meaning of mindfulness of the Buddha has a profound and subtle principle. The Buddha stated: when the disciples attain parinirvāṇa, all do so by repaying past conditions and then taking nirvāṇa. Maudgalyāyana was beaten, Śāriputra had dysentery; in this way, each of the five hundred disciples attained extinction through their past conditions. Only Ānanda was best at taking nirvāṇa. When Ānanda was about to enter nirvāṇa, he first manifested auspicious omens of light. There was a brahmacārin who studied mathematics from Ānanda; seeing that Ānanda's facial complexion was luminous, he told King Ajātaśatru: "Ānanda's facial complexion is extraordinary; is he about to take nirvāṇa?" The king immediately sent people to pursue and search for Ānanda. Ānanda had already led five hundred disciples midway to the bank of the Ganges, and boarded a boat intending to cross over. Just when he reached midstream, the king had arrived at the shore. Vaiśālī, hearing that Ānanda was coming, also sent five hundred youths to welcome him. Wishing to satisfy the desires of both countries, he used his supernormal power to stop the boat in midstream. At that time he delivered two disciples: the first was named Majjhantika, and the second was named Mahinda. He told Majjhantika: "You must go to Kaśmīra to foster and manifest the Buddha's Dharma. That land does not yet have the Buddha's Dharma; make it well spread." He told Mahinda: "You must go to the island-country of Siṃhala to foster and prosper the Buddha's Dharma." Having completed the entrustment, he performed eighteen transformations, produced fire to burn his body, and divided his relics in half, allowing both parties to obtain them for worship. This was due to the power of mindfulness of the Buddha, and therefore he attained mastery.