景德傳燈錄 2.23

2.23

第二十祖闍夜多者。北天竺國人也。智慧淵沖化導無量。後至羅閱城敷揚頓教。彼有學眾唯尚辯論。為之首者名婆修盤頭（此云遍行）常一食不臥六時禮佛。清淨無欲為眾所歸。尊者將欲度之。先問彼眾曰。此遍行頭陀能修梵行可得佛道乎。眾曰。我師精進何故不可。尊者曰。汝師與道遠矣。設苦行歷於塵劫皆虛妄之本也。眾曰。尊者蘊何德行而譏我師。尊者曰。我不求道亦不顛倒。我不禮佛亦不輕慢。我不長坐亦不懈怠。我不一食亦不雜食。我不知足亦不貪欲。心無所希名之曰道。時遍行聞已發無漏智歡喜讚歎。尊者又語彼眾曰。會吾語否。吾所以然者。為其求道心切。夫弦急即斷故吾不贊。令其住安樂地入諸佛智。復告遍行曰吾適對眾抑挫仁者得無惱於衷乎。曰我憶念七劫前。生常安樂國。師於智者月淨。記我非久當證斯陀含果。時有大光明菩薩出世。我以老故策杖禮謁。師叱我曰。重子輕父一何鄙哉。時我自謂無過請師示之師曰。汝禮大光明菩薩。以杖倚壁畫佛面。以此過慢遂失二果。我責躬悔過以來。聞諸惡言如風如響。況今獲飲無上甘露而反生熱惱邪。惟願大慈以妙道垂誨。尊者曰。汝久植眾德當繼吾宗。聽吾偈曰。

The twentieth patriarch, Jayata, was a man from northern India. His wisdom was profound and vast, and his teaching and transformation of beings was immeasurable. Later, he arrived at Rājagṛha to expound the sudden teaching. There was an assembly of students there who valued only debate; their leader was named Vasubandhu (which means "pervasive traveler"), who constantly took only one meal a day, never lay down, and worshipped the Buddha at the six periods of the day. Pure and free of desires, he was someone to whom the crowd turned. The venerable one, wishing to liberate him, first asked that assembly: "Can this ascetic pervasive traveler, by practicing celibacy, attain the Buddha Path?" The assembly said, "Our teacher is vigorous; why could he not?" The venerable one said, "Your teacher is far from the Path. Even if he practices austerities across dust-like eons, it is all the root of falsehood." The assembly said, "What virtues and conduct does the venerable one possess to mock our teacher?" The venerable one said, "I do not seek the Path, nor am I confounded. I do not pay homage to the Buddha, nor am I arrogant. I do not sit for long periods, nor am I indolent. I do not take one meal a day, nor do I eat indiscriminately. I am not contented, nor am I greedy. When the mind has no longing, this is called the Path." Hearing this, the pervasive traveler gave rise to undefiled wisdom, rejoiced, and praised him. The venerable one further said to that assembly, "Do you understand my words? Why I did this was because his mind for seeking the Path was too intense. When a string is drawn tight, it snaps; therefore I did not praise him, so that he might abide in the place of peace and joy and enter the wisdom of all Buddhas." He then addressed the pervasive traveler: "Just now, before the crowd, I restrained and brought you low; did it bring distress to your heart?" He replied: "I recall seven eons ago, I was born in the realm of Constant Peace and Joy. I took the wise one Candraviśuddha as my master. He predicted that before long I would attain the fruit of a sakṛdāgāmin. At that time, Bodhisattva Mahāprabhā appeared in the world. Being old, I leaned on a staff to pay homage. My master rebuked me: 'To respect the son while slighting the father—how utterly base!' At the time, I thought I was without fault and asked the master to point it out. The master said: 'When you paid homage to Bodhisattva Mahāprabhā, you rested your staff against the wall-painting of the Buddha's face. Through this fault of arrogance, you lost the second fruit.' Ever since I blamed myself and repented of my fault, I have heard all harsh words as wind and echo. How much less, having now drunk the supreme sweet dew, would I in turn produce affliction? My only wish is that your great compassion grant instructions in the wondrous Path." The venerable one said: "You have long planted many virtues; you shall inherit my lineage. Hear my verse:"