中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 2.19

2.19

Ānanda, following the sequence of the questions, answered: 'When he first attained enlightenment, he delivered the five Kaṇḍinas in the Deer Park, and then preached the Dharma.' He answered: 'When the Buddhas were first assembled on the ordination platform, among all the Buddhas, Sumerupradīparāja was the most senior. Śākyamuni Buddha asked: "By what method did the Buddhas of the past instruct the bhikṣus to ascend the platform and perform the poṣadha? What was used as tallies to ascend the platform?" As above, when the Buddhas of the past performed the poṣadha, vajra was used for the tallies. The bhikṣus used them in fragrant water, wishing that the mind upholding the precepts be like vajra-wisdom, discerning each affliction and evil perception one by one so as to eradicate them completely. As for the appearance of the tallies, they should be made from sandalwood and other fragrant woods. Inner or outer gems, bamboo, and hollow grass must not be used. Moreover, they must not be painted or lacquered, lest living beings be harmed; to adorn them, they should be stored in plain boxes. The longest tally is one and a half of the Buddha's spans; the shorter is one span. Before the recitation of the precepts, one must first repent one's transgressions. After having confessed face-to-face, the karmadāna appoints a bhikṣu with a fine voice to recite the Scripture of the Bequeathed Teaching, and all the bhikṣus kneel on both knees to listen, as if before the Dharma Buddha. When he has finished reciting before them, the karmadāna then prepares the recitation of the precepts. The assembly must first wash their feet, sprinkle the ground with fragrant water, and make no noise; only then are the tallies brought forth to the front of the sthavira. When the sthavira has received them, the karmadāna pours water, and the sthavira bathes the tallies, first with clear water and next with fragrant decoction, wiping them dry with a clean towel, not letting them make any sound or fall to the ground. (If they make a sound, it troubles the ghosts and spirits. If a tally falls to the ground, it harms the beings dwelling on the earth and also harms the bhikṣus. If Māra hears the sound of a tally or hears one fall, he rejoices greatly, disturbs the bhikṣus, and also harms them unto death.) For this reason, during the recitation of the precepts, the bhikṣus must remain silent and must not speak disorderly words; they should contemplate the impermanence of the world and swiftly transcend birth and death. The karmadāna takes the tallies, goes to the bulletin board and stands, strikes the mallet, and calls the śrāmaṇeras to enter, having them recite the five virtues and ten items; only then does he make the usual announcements. Or after reciting the "Introduction to the Precepts", he calls the śrāmaṇeras to leave, finishes reciting the precepts according to the Dharma, and the karmadāna again commands the scripture master to recite the Bequeathed Teaching to completion, and only then do they disperse.' He also answered: 'Ordination was first received when the five "Come, bhikṣus!" Kaṇḍinas underwent the jñapti-caturtha-karman in the Deer Park. In the Kalandaka Bamboo Grove Monastery, for the bhikṣu Nandi of Kauśāmbī, among the ten monks there was one who had committed a grave offense. After Nandi had received ordination, he asked the Buddha: "Have I obtained the precepts or not?" The Buddha asked the śrāmaṇera: "Before receiving the precepts, did you know that he had committed the offense or not?" He replied: "I knew." The Buddha said: "You have not obtained the precepts; those who did not know have obtained them." For Nandi's sake, the Buddha assembled the Sangha at the Jetavana ordination platform to confer them again.' He also answered: 'As for the earth and sand of the precept stūpa, they may be made as circumstances permit.' He also answered: 'Regarding ordination for bhikṣuṇīs, if there are initially no nuns, the monks alone may confer it. If nuns arrive later, they must go before both assemblies of monks and nuns to receive it again. If the number of monks and nuns is sufficient, free from seeing, hearing, or suspicion, they can serve [to confer it].' Such was the sequence. When Ānanda finished answering, the water in the pool reappeared, white in color like milk, but it had lost the taste of milk, symbolizing that the True Dharma of the Buddha was waning and gradually growing thin and weak, like the parable of water and milk in the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. When the compilation was fully completed, the great bell and the jeweled tower flew up to Tuṣita, and the nāgarāja took away the jade paving and silver sand around the pool, whereupon the water dried up.