四分律行事鈔資持記 1.171

1.171

小乘經中，初科，《般泥洹經》。東晉法顯所翻本。彼因魔王請佛涅槃，佛即許之。阿難悲惱，三請世尊住壽一劫。佛說偈云：我所說諸法，即是汝等師；又云：汝等勤精進，如我在無異。今取經意，文有少異。《遺教》。文見卷首。論釋云：示現波羅提木叉是修行大師故，示現人法住持相似故。等者，如諸經佛臨滅時，阿難請問四事。第二問云：佛滅度後，以誰為師？佛言：以戒為師。（初問依何而住？令依四念處住。三問經首安何語？令安如是我聞等。四問治惡性比丘，令默擯治之。）

Among Hīnayāna sūtras, in the first section, the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra is the version translated by Faxian of the Eastern Jin. There, because the Demon King requested the Buddha to enter nirvāṇa, the Buddha consented. Ānanda was grieved and distressed, and thrice requested the World-Honoured One to remain in the world for an eon. The Buddha spoke a verse saying: 'The various dharmas I have spoken are your teacher'; and further said: 'Strive diligently; it is no different than if I were present.' Here, adopting the intention of the sūtra, the text is slightly different. The Bequeathed Teaching: the text appears at the head of the scroll. The commentary explains: 'Because it indicates that the prātimokṣa is the great master of cultivation; because it indicates that the person and the Dharma are similar in maintaining [the teaching].' 'And so forth' refers to how, when the Buddha was about to pass into extinction, Ānanda inquired about four matters, as recorded across the sūtras. The second question asked: 'After the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, whom shall we take as teacher?' The Buddha said: 'Take the precepts as teacher.' (The first question was: Relying on what should we dwell? He instructed them to dwell relying on the four applications of mindfulness. The third question was: What words should be placed at the beginning of the sūtras? He instructed them to place 'Thus have I heard', etc. The fourth question was on how to discipline bhikṣus of evil disposition: he instructed them to discipline them by silent excommunication.)