景德傳燈錄 2.9

2.9

The sixteenth patriarch was Rāhulata, a native of the country of Kapila. In the course of his teaching and conversion, he reached the city of Śrāvastī. There was a river named the Golden Water, whose taste was remarkably delicious. In its midstream, the reflections of five Buddhas appeared. The Venerable One addressed the assembly, saying: 'The source of this river is five hundred leagues away. There is a sage, Saṃghanandi, dwelling in that place. The Buddha recorded that after one thousand years, he should inherit the holy rank.' Having spoken, he led the assembly of learners against the current upstream. Arriving there, they saw Saṃghanandi sitting peacefully in samādhi. The Venerable One waited with the assembly for three times seven days before [Saṃghanandi] arose from samādhi. The Venerable One asked, 'Is your body in samādhi, or is your mind in samādhi?' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'Both body and mind are in samādhi.' The Venerable One asked, 'If both body and mind are in samādhi, how can there be coming out and going in?' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'Although there is coming out and going in, the characteristic of samādhi is not lost. It is like gold in a well: the substance of gold is ever tranquil.' The Venerable One said, 'Whether gold is in the well or gold comes out of the well, gold is devoid of movement or stillness. What thing comes out and goes in?' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'To speak of gold moving or being still: what thing comes out and goes in? If one permits gold to come out and go in, gold is neither movement nor stillness.' The Venerable One said, 'If gold is in the well, what gold is it that comes out? If gold comes out of the well, what thing is it that remains?' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'If gold comes out of the well, that which remains is not gold. If gold is in the well, that which comes out is not a thing.' The Venerable One said, 'This meaning is not so.' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'That principle is not established.' The Venerable One said, 'This meaning should fall.' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'That meaning is not accomplished.' The Venerable One said, 'Since that meaning is not accomplished, my meaning is accomplished.' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'Although my meaning is accomplished, phenomena are not mine.' The Venerable One said, 'My meaning is already accomplished because I am without a self.' [Saṃghanandi] replied, 'Since you are without a self, what meaning is accomplished again?' The Venerable One said, 'Because I am without a self, your meaning is accomplished.' [Saṃghanandi] asked, 'O benevolent one, under what sage did you study to attain this selflessness?' The Venerable One said, 'My teacher Kāṇadeva realized this selflessness.' [Saṃghanandi] said, 'I bow to master [Kāṇa]deva, and it proceeds to the benevolent one. Because the benevolent one is selfless, I wish to take the benevolent one as my master.' The Venerable One said, 'Because I am already selfless, you must see my self. If you take me as your master, know that I am not my self.' Nandi's mind was opened wide, and he at once sought liberation. The Venerable One said, 'Your mind is inherently free; it is not bound by me.' Having spoken, he raised his golden bowl with his right hand aloft to the Brahmā palace, took their fragrant rice, and was about to feed the great assembly. But the great assembly suddenly gave rise to disgust. The Venerable One said, 'This is not my fault, but your own karma.' He then bade Saṃghanandi to share the seat and eat together with him. The assembly was surprised once more. The Venerable One said, 'That you cannot eat is entirely due to this. You should know that the one sharing the seat with me is none other than the Tathāgata King of the Śāla Tree of the past, who descended in bodily trace out of compassion for beings. You people, too, were in the Ornamented Kalpa ones who had reached the third fruit yet had not realized the influx-free.' The assembly said, 'Our teacher's supernormal powers are indeed believable, but that he is a Buddha of the past is something we secretly doubt.' Saṃghanandi, knowing the arrogance of the sentient beings, then said: 'When the World-Honoured One was in the world, the earth was flat and even, free of hills, mounds, rivers, and ditches. The waters were all sweet and delicious, the vegetation lush and flourishing. The realms were abundant and plentiful, free of the eight sufferings, practicing the ten virtues. Since the double trees showed extinction more than eight hundred years ago, the world has become ruins and mounds, trees withered and exhausted. People lack supreme faith, and right mindfulness is flimsy. They do not believe in tathatā, loving only supernormal powers.' Having spoken, he slowly stretched forth his right hand into the earth down to the Diamond Wheel, took the water of nectar (amṛta), and brought it to the assembly in a lapis lazuli vessel. Seeing this, the great assembly at once admired him, repented their faults, and bowed. Thereupon the Venerable One commanded Saṃghanandi and transmitted to him the correct Dharma eye, uttering a gāthā: