傳法正宗記 2.56

2.56

The Venerable Buddhanandi was a native of the kingdom of Kāmarūpa, surnamed Gautama. At his birth, an uṣṇīṣa protruded from the crown of his head, radiating brilliance outward. By nature exceptionally intelligent, he could commit texts to memory at a single glance. At the age of fourteen, he longed to leave home, dedicating himself solely to cultivating pure conduct. When the Venerable Vasumitra came to his country, Buddhanandi approached him one morning with questions, was thoroughly convinced by his superior truth, and thereupon relied on him as his teacher. Soon he received the entrustment of the Dharma, and he too led disciples in extensive travels to transform beings. When he first arrived in the country of Tiga, prior to this a son had been born into a Vaiśya family of that realm, named Buddhamitra. Though already fifty years of age, his mouth had never spoken, nor had his feet ever walked. His parents could not fathom the cause, and both grieved over him. Someone asked practitioners of meditation in that kingdom, but the meditators could not resolve it, telling the parents: "A great being transmitting the Buddha's mind-seal will arrive here before long; you may ask him." When the Venerable One entered the kingdom and passed by the gate of the Vaiśya house, a white light suddenly appeared, radiating above their dwelling. The Venerable One pointed to it and said to his assembly: "In this house there must be a sage. With no spoken words from his mouth, he is truly a vessel of the Great Vehicle. Not walking the four crossroads, he knows what is defiled. He will surely succeed me in greatly flourishing the teaching. Among those he delivers, five hundred will attain sagehood." He further said: "That the light penetrates upward signifies that he will receive the Dharma from me; that the light illuminates downward signifies that he will bring forth an extraordinary person. The one brought forth by him will be named Bhikṣu Pārśva, whose mind is as vast as the earth, and who shall succeed me as the third generation." Thereupon the master of the Vaiśya household came out and asked where he had come from and what he required. The Venerable One said: "I have come seeking a person, not requiring any goods." The master said: "How could our house have an extraordinary person worthy of your seeking? We have only one son, who neither speaks nor walks, already fifty years of age. If the Venerable One desires him, we will certainly not begrudge him to you." Buddhanandi said: "What you have spoken of is precisely what I seek." His parents immediately brought the son and gave him over. When the Venerable One brought him to the monastery, the son suddenly spoke on his own, took seven steps, joined his palms, and spoke a verse, asking: