中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 1.41

1.41

West of the western gate, it is divided into six courtyards. The first courtyard at the south on the eastern side is called the Courtyard of the Noble Eightfold Path for Śaikṣas of the Three Vehicles from Other Lands. It has east and west gates, and its halls, chambers, groves, and ponds are fully equipped with all implements. There is a bell capable of holding twenty dan, shaped like those produced in Jinzhou in this land; its body has eight facets, and below there are one hundred and twenty corners, each corner bearing one hundred and twenty precious gems. The shape of the bell is in three sections: the lower section is of yellow gold forming the mouth, with deep blue lapis lazuli in relief; the middle section has white silver with crystal in relief; the upper section is made of a mixture of agate and celestial gold. On the loop, gold is fashioned into the shape of a two-headed elephant, and also into the shapes of the Thirty-three Devas. These devas reside on the elephant's head; their forms are five feet tall, wearing silver celestial crowns made of green crystal, and each deva holds a white whisk in hand. When the time arrives, the elephant trumpets and calls, and the assembly of figures raise their whisks and dance, singing the song of the 'Noble Eightfold Path', the lyrics of which were composed by Śakra Devānām Indra. The melodies comprise eighty-four thousand melodies, and the lyrics also comprise eighty-four thousand lyrics. Each melody cures the afflictive illness of sentient beings. After the Thirty-three Devas sing these songs and dance on one side, they then raise their whisks and sing and perform the lyrics of the 'Bodhisattva Six Perfections'; when finished, the bell spontaneously rings, its sound heard throughout a middle chiliocosm. Expounded in its sound is: 'The bodhisattva practices the Noble Eightfold Path, cuts off afflictions, and with each and every knowledge factor practices the Noble Eightfold Path.' Bodhisattvas hearing the bell all advance in their stages. In Rājagṛha and Śrāvastī there were eight thousand child-bodhisattvas, eight years of age, who came to this courtyard three times a day to hear the Buddha expound the Dharma. When the Dharma was expounded, the sound of the bell transformed into a celestial zither, peerlessly pure. Those cultivating the eightfold correctness heard this sound, and listening to the Buddha's preaching, they opened up to understanding of their own accord. This bell was made by the king of the Tuṣita Heaven during the time of Krakucchanda Buddha. After that Buddha's parinirvāṇa, the Sumeru mountain spirit gathered it into the Diamond Cave. When Śākyamuni Buddha appeared in the world, it arrived at Jetavana to make offerings. When the three months of the summer retreat arrive, eight hundred billion celestial youths from the twenty-eight heavens, each playing celestial music, descend from heaven to this courtyard to listen to the Buddha expound the Dharma. Year after year without interruption, down to the present day the devas still arrive, playing celestial music and dance. When the Buddha was approaching parinirvāṇa, he addressed the celestial youths, saying: 'Because I ordained women, my True Dharma has been diminished by five hundred years. After my parinirvāṇa, evil bhikṣuṇīs will fail to observe the eight gurudharmas and quickly destroy my Dharma. You should constantly come here and play celestial music, causing my True Dharma to dwell long in the world.' Hearing this, the celestial youths all wept, unable to contain themselves, and all said: 'We would not dare disobey your command. How could evil bhikṣuṇīs in the future cause you such concern? We shall come here year after year to make offerings, not wishing the Dharma to be destroyed on their account.'