釋迦譜 4.19

4.19

'Therefore, monks, do not be indolent. It was through non-indolence that I personally attained correct awakening; the measureless multitude of goods is also attained through non-indolence. Of all the myriad things, none endure permanently.' This was the final utterance spoken by the Tathāgata. Thereupon the World-Honoured One immediately entered the first dhyāna. Emerging from the first dhyāna, he entered the second dhyāna. Emerging from the second dhyāna, he entered the third dhyāna. Emerging from the third dhyāna, he entered the fourth dhyāna. Emerging from the fourth dhyāna, he entered the concentration of the sphere of empty space. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of empty space, he entered the concentration of the sphere of consciousness. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of consciousness, he entered the concentration of the sphere of nothingness. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of nothingness, he entered the concentration of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he entered the concentration of the cessation of perception and feeling. At that time Ānanda asked Aniruddha: 'Has the World-Honoured One already entered parinirvāṇa?' Aniruddha said: 'Not yet, Ānanda. The World-Honoured One is now in the concentration of the cessation of perception and feeling. Formerly, I heard directly from the Buddha that only after emerging from the fourth dhyāna does [a Buddha] enter parinirvāṇa.' At that time, the World-Honoured One emerged from the concentration of the cessation of perception and feeling and entered the concentration of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, he entered the concentration of the sphere of nothingness. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of nothingness, he entered the concentration of the sphere of consciousness. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of consciousness, he entered the concentration of the sphere of empty space. Emerging from the concentration of the sphere of empty space, he entered the fourth dhyāna. Emerging from the fourth dhyāna, he entered the third dhyāna. Emerging from the third dhyāna, he entered the second dhyāna. Emerging from the second dhyāna, he entered the first dhyāna. Emerging from the first dhyāna, he entered the second dhyāna. Emerging from the second dhyāna, he entered the third dhyāna. Emerging from the third dhyāna, he entered the fourth dhyāna. Emerging from the fourth dhyāna, the Buddha entered parinirvāṇa. Just at that time, the great earth shook and trembled; all the devas and people of the world were greatly terrified. All places of dark obscurity where the light of the sun and moon cannot shine received great illumination, so that each could see the other, and they said among themselves: 'People have been born over there!' The light was ubiquitous, eclipsing the lights of the heavens. At that time, the gods of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven, in the midst of the sky, scattered māndārava flowers, utpala flowers, padma flowers, and others over the Tathāgata and over the great assembly. They also rained down celestial powdered sandalwood over the Buddha and the great assembly. After the Buddha attained extinction, the Brahmā king, Śakra Devānām Indra, the deity Kumbhīra, the Guhyaka vajra-bearer, the Buddha's mother Māyā, the deities of the twin trees, the deities of the śāla grove, the Four Heavenly Kings, the king of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven, the king of the Yāma heaven, the king of the Tuṣita heaven, the king of the Nirmāṇarati heaven, and the king of the Paranirmitavaśavartin heaven each composed verses. The monks, grief-stricken and fainting, threw themselves to the ground, like a severed snake writhing and turning in confusion, not knowing where to go. Sobbing, they said: 'How swift is the Tathāgata's extinction! How fast is the great Dharma eclipsed! Sentient beings face long decline; the eye of the world is extinguished.' At that time, Aniruddha addressed the monks: 'Stop, stop! Do not grieve. The gods above might reprove us.' Then the monks asked Aniruddha: 'How many gods are above?' Aniruddha said: 'They fill empty space; how could they be reckoned? They are all pacing and milling about in the sky, wailing, beating their breasts, weeping, and saying: "How swift is the Tathāgata's extinction! Sentient beings face long decline; the eye of the world is extinguished."'