釋氏稽古略 1.376

1.376

The Ninth Patriarch, the Venerable Vasumitra: a native of the kingdom of Dhātuka. His family name was Vaiśāla. When the Eighth Patriarch was traveling to convert beings, he reached the household of Vaiśāla. The father, an elder, paid homage and asked what he required. The patriarch said, 'I seek an attendant.' The elder said, 'I have a son named Vasumitra; he is already fifty years old, yet his mouth has never spoken, and his feet have never walked.' The patriarch said, 'As you say, he is truly my disciple.' When Vasumitra heard this, he suddenly rose, bowed, and spoke a verse: / 'My father and mother are not my kin; / Who is the closest kin? / The Buddhas are not my Way; / What is the supreme Way?' / The patriarch replied: / 'Your words are kin to your mind; / Parents cannot compare. / Your conduct accords with the Way; / The minds of all Buddhas are just this. / Seeking outward for a Buddha with form / Bears no resemblance to you. / If you wish to know your original mind, / It is neither united nor apart.' / Having heard the verse, Vasumitra straightaway walked seven paces. The patriarch said, 'This son's compassionate vow is vast and great; fearing that the affectionate bonds with his parents would be difficult to sever, he therefore did not speak and did not walk.' The elder thereupon gave him up to leave the household. The patriarch conferred upon him the complete precepts and entrusted to him the Dharma eye. Having obtained the Dharma, he traveled to convert beings in Central India. He conferred the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye upon his disciple, the Venerable Pārśva, with a verse: / 'The true principle is fundamentally nameless; / Dependent on names, the true principle is revealed. / Having received the genuine, real Dharma, / It is neither true nor false.' / Having [transmitted] the Dharma, he immediately entered the samādhi of cessation and entered parinirvāṇa. The assembly cremated him with scented oil and sandalwood, collected the relics, and built a stūpa at Nālandā Monastery. This corresponded to the era of King Jing of Zhou (Zhengzong ji).