釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 5.28

5.28

Furthermore, when Āryadeva first appeared in the world, having subdued the non-Buddhists, people had faith and reverence, and those whom he crossed over into the renunciant life were beyond counting. Thereupon he gathered the assemblies of the seven classes of disciples, both householders and renunciants, as well as kṣatriyas, brahmins, and others. In the midst of the great assembly he mounted the lion throne, and tears fell like rain. At that time, the great assembly all silently thought: "Could it be that the Buddhadharma is about to perish and the non-Buddhists will rise again? Could it be that the country is in great turmoil and an epidemic is spreading?" The Bodhisattva, knowing the thoughts in the assembly's minds, wiped his tears with a fine white woolen cloth, straightened his robes and demeanor, raised his right hand, and said: "It is not that the Buddhadharma is about to perish and the non-Buddhists are going to rise, nor is it that the country is troubled and an epidemic is spreading; I grieve only that the Buddha sun has hidden its radiance, the sages' moon has set, and within the kāṣāyas there is nothing at all." When the great assembly heard these words, each felt sorrowful and broke into loud weeping. At that time, varied flocks of flying birds fell tumbling from the sky, all crying out in lamentation. Then the Bodhisattva comforted the great assembly with a gentle and compassionate voice, uttering verses: