人天眼目 5.3

5.3

Wang Jinggong asked Chan Master Fohui Quan: "Where does the Chan school's so-called 'World-Honoured One holding up a flower' appear in the canonical texts?" Quan said, "The collection of sūtras also does not record it." Gong said, "When I was recently in the Hanlin Academy, I happened to see the three fascicles of the Sūtra on the Questions of the Mahābrahmā King to the Buddha for Resolving Doubts. Upon perusing it, what is recorded in the text of the sūtra is very detailed: The Brahmā King arrived at Vulture Peak, offered a golden flower to the Buddha, gave up his body as a seat, and requested the Buddha to preach the Dharma for sentient beings. The World-Honoured One mounted the seat and held up the flower to show the assembly. The millions of humans and gods were all at a loss. Only the Golden Ascetic broke into a subtle smile. The World-Honoured One said: 'I have the treasury of the true Dharma eye, the marvelous mind of nirvāṇa, the true mark of formlessness; I entrust it to Mahākāśyapa.' Because this sūtra mostly discusses kings serving the Buddha and making requests, it was kept secret and hidden, unheard of by the world."