四分律行事鈔資持記 3.834

3.834

In the supplementary section on rules, the first section: the first two lines describe the efficacy of the teaching, because it can accomplish goodness; 'having an origin' means originating from the teaching. The next two lines describe the supremacy of deportment, because it can accomplish causes and stimulate fruits; 'hidden causes' refers to mental karma before it takes physical form; 'manifest fruits' refers to retributive marks that can be seen. 'Root' (zong) means the foundation. 'Therefore...' onwards cites proof. Aśvajit, also called Aśvajita, is translated here as 'Horse Victory' (Ma Sheng); he had received training under the Buddha for only seven days when his deportment became complete; because he had been a monkey for five hundred past lives, he was still restless and agitated, but having gone forth for seven days, he immediately transformed his past habits; because he awakened beings through deportment, he was called foremost in deportment. Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana were friends, and made a pact: 'If one attains the nectar [of immortality], we must taste it together.' Later, Śāriputra saw Aśvajit, whose deportment was serene and dignified, and asked, 'Who is your master? What Dharma does he teach?' He replied: 'Phenomena arise from causes, and likewise cease through causes; all phenomena are empty and without an owner.' (This citation is based on the Mahīśāsaka-vinaya; some quote it as: 'All phenomena arise from causes, and also cease through causes and conditions; our Buddha, the Great Śramaṇa, constantly teaches in this way.') When Śāriputra heard this, he immediately realized the first fruit; he then transmitted it to Maudgalyāyana, who also realized the first fruit; later, together with Aśvajit, they went to the Buddha's presence and went forth. 'Transmitting the Dharma...' and so on refers to the fifth patriarch, Upagupta, whose deportment commanded such solemnity from beings that they were all converted, no different from the Buddha; but lacking the major and minor marks, the people of the time called him the 'Buddha without marks'. Furthermore, the twentieth patriarch, Jayata, maintained deportment so well that none who saw him failed to revere him; the Buddha once prophesied: 'Jayata will be the last vinaya master.' Therefore, we know that the transmission of the various patriarchs all used deportment to give rise to beings' wholesome roots. 'The records' refers to the Fu fazang zhuan. 'Therefore...' onwards concludes the preceding and introduces the following.