佛祖歷代通載 3.38

3.38

(13. Guisi) The Second Patriarch, Ānanda, was a native of Rājagṛha. His clan was the Kṣatriya; his father was King Droṇodana, who was an uncle of the Buddha. In Sanskrit, he is called Ānanda, which here is translated as 'Joyous Celebration' or 'Rejoicing'. Because he was born on the night the Tathāgata achieved awakening, he was named after the occasion. With his vast learning, broad comprehension, and unobstructed wisdom, the Bhagavān considered him foremost in retaining the teachings, often praising him. Moreover, as he had accumulated great merit in past lives, he received and held the storehouse of the Dharma just like water poured from one vessel to another, so the Buddha appointed him as his attendant. Later, King Ajātaśatru said to him: 'O virtuous one! The two revered teachers—the Tathāgata and Kāśyapa—have both entered nirvāṇa, and because of my many obligations, I was not able to witness either. When you, virtuous one, enter parinirvāṇa, I pray that you will deign to bid me farewell.' Ānanda gave his consent. Later, he reflected: 'My body is fragile and impermanent, just like a mass of foam; how much more so in old age—how could it last long?' He also recalled: 'King Ajātaśatru has an agreement with me.' He then went to the royal palace and announced: 'I intend to enter nirvāṇa, and have come solely to take my leave.' The gatekeeper said: 'The king is asleep and must not be disturbed.' Ānanda said: 'When the king awakes, inform him on my behalf.' At that time, the king saw in a dream a jeweled canopy adorned with the seven treasures, around which thousands of myriads of beings gathered in reverence. Suddenly, a violent wind and rainstorm broke its handle, and the precious gems and necklaces all crashed to the ground. In great shock and dismay, he awoke, and the gatekeeper reported the incident in full. When the king heard these words, he cried aloud and wept bitterly, his lamentations moving heaven and earth. He immediately went to the city of Vaiśālī, where he saw Ānanda seated cross-legged in the middle of the Gaṅgā River. The king bowed and recited a verse, saying: 'I bow my head to the Honored One of the three realms, / Who has abandoned me to come here. / Rely for a moment on the power of your compassionate vows, / And do not enter parinirvāṇa just yet.' At that time, the King of Vaiśālī was also at the riverbank, and he too recited a verse, saying: 'Why has the Venerable One so hastily / Returned to the ground of complete cessation? / Pray pause for a brief moment, / And accept our offerings.' Then Ānanda, seeing that the kings of both kingdoms had come to entreat him, spoke a verse, saying: 'May the two kings abide in serene goodness; / Do not harbor sorrowful longing. / Nirvāṇa is pure for me, / For within it, existence is no more.' Ānanda then reflected: 'If I favor one kingdom and enter parinirvāṇa there, the various kingdoms will fight and quarrel; this would not be right. I should deliver sentient beings with impartiality.' He then prepared to enter complete cessation in the middle of the Gaṅgā River. At that moment, the mountains, rivers, and great earth shook in six ways. Five hundred ṛṣis in the Snowy Mountains, witnessing this auspicious sign, flew through the air to arrive there. Bowing at Ānanda's feet, they knelt and said: 'Through the Elder, we ought to realize the Buddha-Dharma. We pray you extend great compassion and liberate us.' Ānanda silently accepted their plea. He immediately transformed the Gaṅgā River completely into golden ground, and preached the great Dharma to the assembly of ṛṣis. Ānanda further reflected: 'The disciples previously liberated by me ought to assemble here.' In an instant, five hundred arhats descended from the sky to confer the monastic going-forth and full ordination upon the ṛṣis. Among the assembly of ṛṣis were two arhats: the first named Śāṇavāsa, and the second named Madhyāntika. Knowing they were vessels of the Dharma, Ānanda told them: 'In the past, the Tathāgata transmitted the great eye of the Dharma to Mahākāśyapa. Kāśyapa entered meditative absorption and transmitted it to me. Now that I am about to pass away, I transmit it to you. Having received my teaching, listen to this verse: Originally there was a Dharma transmitted; / Having transmitted it, it is said there is no Dharma. / Each must awaken on his own; / Once awakened, there is no lack of Dharma.' Having finished transmitting the treasury of the Dharma-eye, Ānanda leaped into the sky and displayed the eighteen transformations. Entering the Wind-Vigorous Samādhi, he divided his body into four parts: one part was offered to the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, one to the palace of the Nāga King Sāgara, one to the King of Vaiśālī, and one to King Ajātaśatru. Each built a jeweled stupa to make offerings to it. This was the tenth year of King Li, the guisi year.