觀彌勒上生兜率天經贊 1.66

1.66

The Commentary says: Above, the general causes for the delivery of the sūtra were explained; below, the specific conditions for the delivery of the sūtra are explained. Within this there are five: first, putting forth the tongue and emitting light; second, the presence of many transformation Buddhas; third, the transformation Buddhas teaching the Dharma; fourth, Śākya's own statement; fifth, Maitreya's comprehension. This is the first. About to teach a profound sūtra, he first puts forth his tongue to clarify that bestowing prediction upon Maitreya to deliver those with affinity is not false speech. Among the thirty-two marks, as for the mark of a broad and expansive tongue, at ordinary times the mark of the tongue merely covers the circle of the face up to the hairline; when exercising supernatural powers, it may cover the great trichiliocosm or even immeasurable [realms]. The Dàzhìdù lùn states: The Buddha and Ānanda were going from Śrāvastī to a Brāhmaṇa city. At that time, the lord of the Brāhmaṇa city believed in and belonged to non-Buddhists. Hearing that the Buddha intended to come, he immediately established a restriction: 'Whoever gives food to the Buddha or speaks with the Buddha shall be fined five hundred gold coins.' Later, when the Buddha arrived and entered the city to beg for food, everyone closed their doors, and the Buddha and Ānanda came out with empty bowls. They saw an old slave woman holding a broken earthenware vessel, carrying out foul, fermented rice gruel to discard it outside the gate. Seeing the Buddha's marks and features and that he came with an empty bowl, she thought of giving. The Buddha, knowing her intention, extended his bowl, begging from her the discarded fermented gruel. With a pure mind, the old slave woman offered it to the Buddha. Having received the offering, the Buddha said to Ānanda: 'Because of this offering, for fifteen kalpas this slave woman will enjoy blessings and happiness in heavens and among humans, not falling into evil destinies. Afterwards, she will attain a male body, leave home to study the Way, and become a pratyekabuddha.' At that time, beside the Buddha was a brāhmaṇa. Hearing these words of the Buddha, he said to the Buddha: 'You are the crown prince of King Śuddhodana; why do you speak falsely for the sake of food?' Then the Buddha put forth his tongue, covering his whole face up to the hairline, and said to him: 'Have you ever seen a person with such a tongue speak falsely?' The brāhmaṇa said: 'If a tongue covers the nose, one still does not speak falsely, how much less when covering the face up to the hairline.' Thereupon he gave rise to faith and said to the Buddha: 'I do not understand now how a small offering brings a great reward.' The Buddha then told him: 'Have you ever seen a rare thing or not?' The brāhmaṇa said: 'I once traveled and saw a nyagrodha tree whose shade completely covered five hundred carriages.' The Buddha then asked: 'How large was the tree's seed?' He replied: 'As large as one-third of a mustard seed.' The Buddha said further: 'Who will believe you?' The brāhmaṇa said: 'It is true, World-Honoured One! My eyes saw it; it is not false.' The Buddha then told him: 'I see that this woman with a pure mind offered to the Buddha and attains a great fruit and reward. It is just like this tree: from a small cause comes a great reward.' At that time, the brāhmaṇa's mind was opened and his understanding unfolded, and he repented before the Buddha. The Buddha taught the Dharma for him, and he attained the fruit of srotāpanna. Immediately he raised his hands and loudly proclaimed: 'All people! The gate to the deathless is open; why do you not come out?' When the people heard this, they all sent five hundred gold coins to the king, inviting the Buddha to receive offerings, thereby breaking the restriction. The king and his ministers also took refuge in the Buddha; the Buddha taught the Dharma for them, and all attained the fruit of the Way. Therefore, now putting forth his tongue manifests the bestowing of the future prediction, indicating that when sentient beings practice and vow to reach that place they will certainly attain rebirth, manifesting that he does not speak falsely. The Prajñā-commentary explains 'not speaking falsely' by stating that regarding prophecies he has never spoken falsely. Emitting a thousand rays of light represents that each of the small thousand worlds has a transformation Buddha, in order to shatter the darkness of ignorance of sentient beings.