中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 1.31

1.31

Next to the north there is a large courtyard called the Courtyard of the Upāsakas. Its gate opens to the southern lane, and within it is a hall. When upāsakas and other laypeople first enter the saṅghārāma, they stop first in this courtyard. There are four bronze bells, each weighing three thousand catties, shaped like those cast by King Jing of Zhou in this land; on all four sides are relief figures of white silver. They also depict scenes of the Tathāgata when he was crown prince riding horses and demonstrating feats of strength. The loops of the bells are cast in the form of bronze dragons with immortals riding upon their backs, holding golden mallets in their hands striking down upon the bells; their sound is heard throughout one Jambudvīpa. The sound is distinguished by the four seasons: in spring it is like a celestial zither, and in its sound it expounds the Śrāvaka Dharma of the Four Truths; in summer it is like a celestial mouth organ, and in its sound it expounds the Bodhisattva Six Perfections and the Bodhisattva Four Truths; in autumn and winter it is like celestial thunder, and in its sound it expounds the Dharma of the Buddhas' initial attainment of the Way. These large bells were each made by one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Spirits and gods hid them beneath the ground of the main courtyard of Jetavana, and when the appropriate conditions arise, they appear. When the upāsakas and others hear the sound of the bells, they immediately comprehend the essential Dharma expounded by the Tathāgata. In spring they attain the three fruits [of the Śrāvaka]; in summer they attain the forty preliminary stages before the grounds; in autumn and winter they realize and attain the second bhūmi.