釋迦譜 4.8

4.8

The Dīrghāgama says: The Buddha sat alone with Ānanda in Vaiśālī. During the latter summer retreat, an illness arose in the Buddha's body, and his whole person was in pain. The Buddha told Ānanda, "Whoever cultivates the four bases of supernatural power, frequently practicing and cultivating them, always mindful without forgetting, can, if they so desire, remain alive without dying for a kalpa or more. Ānanda, the Buddha has already practiced the four bases of supernatural power extensively; the Tathāgata could stay for a kalpa or more, dispelling darkness for the world so that gods and humans obtain peace." At that time Ānanda remained silent and did not respond. Thus it happened three times. Ānanda was obscured by Māra, dim and unenlightened. The Buddha told Ānanda, "You should know that it is time." Receiving the instruction, Ānanda paid homage to the Buddha and departed. Not long thereafter, the Māra Pāpīyān came and said to the Buddha, "Does your mind not wish to enter parinirvāṇa?" The Buddha told Pāpīyān, "Stop, stop! I myself know the proper time. The Tathāgata will not take nirvāṇa now." Pāpīyān again said to the Buddha, "Formerly, when the Buddha first attained true awakening, I urged the Tathāgata at that time, saying he could enter parinirvāṇa. Then the Tathāgata replied, 'I must wait until my disciples are gathered and transformed.' Now is precisely the time; why do you not pass into extinction?" The Buddha said, "Stop, stop, Pāpīyān! The Buddha himself knows the proper time; he will not remain long. Three months from now, in the place of my origin, Kuśinagara, between the twin trees in the grove of śāla trees, I will pass into extinction." Then the demon thought that the Buddha does not speak falsely; leaping with joy, he suddenly vanished. The Buddha then, at the Cāpāla Stūpa, with his mind collected in samādhi, relinquished his lifespan and maintained his vitality. At that moment the earth shook greatly; the people were terrified and their hair stood on end. The Buddha emitted a great light, and there was no place of darkness that was not illuminated, so that all could see one another. The worthy Ānanda's heart was startled and his hair stood on end; he walked swiftly to the Buddha, bowed his head to the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha, "How strange, this earthquake! What is the cause?" The Buddha told Ānanda, "In the world, there are eight causes for an earthquake. The earth rests upon water, water rests upon wind, and wind rests upon empty space. Sometimes a great wind arises of itself in empty space; then the great water is stirred, and then the entire earth shakes. This is the first. Furthermore, sometimes a bhikṣu or bhikṣuṇī who has attained the Way, or a great god of great power, contemplates the nature of water as predominant and the nature of earth as minor, and wishing to test their own power, the entire earth shakes. This is the second. When a bodhisattva descends his spirit into his mother's womb, the earth shakes greatly. This is the third. When a bodhisattva is born from the right side, the entire earth shakes. This is the fourth. When a bodhisattva first attains true awakening, this is the fifth. When he first turns the unsurpassed wheel of the Dharma, this is the sixth. When the Buddha's teachings are drawing to a close and he wishes to relinquish his lifespan, the entire earth shakes. This is the seventh. When the Tathāgata is about to enter the realm of nirvāṇa without remainder, at the time he enters parinirvāṇa the earth shakes greatly. This is the eighth." At that time the World-Honoured One told Ānanda, "Let us go together to the Fragrant Stūpa and command all the present bhikṣus to assemble. Not long from now, three months hence, the Tathāgata will enter parinirvāṇa." When the bhikṣus heard this, they were all stunned, fainting away and losing their senses, throwing themselves onto the ground and crying aloud with raised voices, "How swift it is that the Buddha passes into extinction!" Rolling on the ground and wailing, they could not contain themselves. The Buddha told the bhikṣus, "Stop, all of you! Do not cherish sorrow and grief. Among heaven, earth, humans, and things, there is none born that does not end. Wishing that conditioned things should not change—there is no such thing. The heavenly demon Pāpīyān came earlier to urge me, and I said that three months hence I will enter parinirvāṇa." At that time the worthy Ānanda placed his right knee upon the ground, pressed his palms together, and said to the Buddha, "We pray only that the World-Honoured One will remain for a kalpa and not pass into extinction." At that time the World-Honoured One remained silent and did not respond. Thus he requested three times. The Buddha told Ānanda, "You personally heard from the Buddha that the Buddha has already practiced the four bases of supernatural power extensively, practicing without forgetting, and could remain alive without dying for a kalpa or more, bringing great benefit so that gods and humans obtain peace. Why did you not urge the Tathāgata at that time to cause him not to pass into extinction? Now that you speak of it only at this time, is it not too late? I have already relinquished my lifespan, already discarded it and spat it out. Wishing to cause the Tathāgata to violate his own words—there is no such thing."