大般涅槃經集解 7.44

7.44

Daosheng states: The reason for entrusting it to a śrāvaka is to clarify that one must possess combined understanding, and only then attain the path. Kāśyapa went forth before the Buddha, taking the buddhas of the ten directions as his teachers. When the Buddha attained the path, he became the Buddha's disciple; foremost in ascetic practices and having accomplished profound understanding, he could certainly guide and instruct later learners, so it was entrusted to him. Sengliang states: This answers the words requesting instruction. The bequeathed Dharma that teaches you is now left behind. Sengzong states: Previously they requested him to abide with words of inversion; now he clarifies that there is someone entrusted, so why worry that inversions will not be eliminated? Baoliang states: This is the third exhortation. Within this there are three intentions: First, he rejects the intention of their first request, saying: just cultivate superior cultivation; what benefit is there in following extinction? Second, he points out the person to rely upon: since Kāśyapa is the place of reliance, it is no different from when the Buddha is in the world; why worry that there is no basis for wishing to cultivate superior cultivation? Someone explains: this Kāśyapa is precisely the one of the thirty-four questions. We say this should not be so; he is simply the senior elder among the śrāvakas. Hence the six-fascicle [version] says: 'Because of the śrāvaka vehicle, he cannot circulate it, but it is not that he cannot at all. Being the Buddha's great disciple, he did not come at that time.' Thus we know he was originally a person who embodied permanence.