佛祖歷代通載 3.44

3.44

(16) The Third Patriarch, Śāṇavāsa, was a native of the kingdom of Mathurā; he was also named Śāṇakavāsa. His clan was the Vaiśya; his father was Linsheng, and his mother was Jiaośeyā. He was in the womb for six years before being born. In Sanskrit, he is called Śāṇaka, which here is translated as 'Naturally Clothed'; it is the name of an auspicious nine-branched plant of the Western Regions. When an arhat or sage descends to be born, this plant grows on pure ground; when the patriarch was born, this auspicious plant appeared in response. In the past, when the Tathāgata was traveling and converting beings, he arrived in the kingdom of Mathurā. Seeing a lush green grove with dense foliage, he said to Ānanda: 'This forest ground is named Urumuṇḍa. One hundred years after my extinction, there will be a bhikṣu named Śāṇavāsa who will turn the wondrous wheel of the Dharma in this place.' A hundred years later, the patriarch was indeed born. He went forth from home, realized the Way, and received the Dharma-eye from the Venerable Ānanda to teach and guide sentient beings. When he stayed in this grove, he subdued two fire dragons, who took refuge in the Buddha's teaching; the dragons then donated the land to build a monastery. Having taught for a long time, the patriarch thought of transmitting the correct Dharma. Soon, in the kingdom of Dārika, he found Upagupta and took him as his personal attendant. He asked Gupta: 'How old are you?' He replied: 'I am seventeen.' The patriarch asked: 'Is your body seventeen, or is your nature seventeen?' He replied: 'Master, your hair is already white; is your hair white, or is your mind white?' The patriarch said: 'Only my hair is white, not my mind.' Gupta said: 'My body is seventeen, not my nature.' Śāṇavāsa knew he was a vessel of the Dharma, and three years later shaved his head and gave him the full ordination. He then told him: 'In the past, the Tathāgata entrusted the unsurpassed treasury of the correct Dharma-eye to Kāśyapa; it was transmitted step-by-step until reaching me. I now transmit it to you; do not let it be broken off. Receive my instruction and listen to my verse: It is not Dharma, nor is it mind; / There is no mind, nor is there Dharma. / When this mind and Dharma are spoken of, / This Dharma is not the Dharma of mind.' After speaking the verse, he concealed himself in Mount Elephant White, south of the kingdom of Kaśmīra. Later, in samādhi, he saw that his disciple Gupta had five hundred followers who were frequently indolent and conceited. The patriarch then went there and manifested the Dragon-Vigorous Samādhi to subdue them, reciting a verse saying: 'Thorough penetration knows neither self nor other; / The supreme sage has no length or shortness. / If you eliminate haughty minds, / You will swiftly attain arhatship.' Having heard the verse, the five hundred bhikṣus practiced according to the teaching, and all attained freedom from outflows. The patriarch then performed the eighteen transformations and used the Fire-Radiance Samādhi to incinerate his body. Gupta collected the relics and buried them on Mount Bhāṅgāra. The five hundred bhikṣus each...