傳法正宗記 2.78

2.78

The Venerable Puṇyayaśas was a native of the kingdom of Pāṭaliputra, surnamed Gautama. His father was named Ratnakāya, known as an elder. Formerly, Ratnakāya had seven sons, each with his own inclination. The first was named Puṇyaprabha, who liked studying immortal arts. The second was named Puṇyakanaka, who liked constant silence and tranquility. The third was named Puṇyacandra, who liked wrestling and fighting. The fourth was named Puṇyottama, who liked giving and recollecting the Buddha. The fifth was named Puṇyamāṣa, who liked killing and was addicted to wine. The sixth was named Puṇyadatta, who was indulgent in desires. The seventh was Puṇyayaśas, who was dispassionate and had neither likes nor dislikes; his mind was neither tranquil nor disordered, neither ordinary nor sacred. He once said: "If I encounter a great being seated in a bodhimanda, I will go there to draw near and rejoice in his presence." When the Venerable Pārśva arrived in his kingdom to promote Buddhist affairs, the Venerable One went to his gathering; his responses were swift as echoes, and his words all reached principle. He indeed attained the true Dharma-eye from the Venerable Pārśva, and thereupon traveled to transform beings, the reach of his virtue touching no fewer than tens of millions of people, while those who attained the holy fruitions exceeded five hundred. Later he arrived in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, where an elder came hastening to his gathering. The Venerable One said to his assembly: "Do you know who this is that comes? The Buddha of old prophesied: 'About six hundred years after my demise, there will be a sage named Aśvaghoṣa who will arise in the kingdom of Vārāṇasī, preach the Dharma in the city of Pāṭaliputra, crush heterodox paths, and deliver countless beings.' This is that person today. Furthermore, I dreamed at night that the great ocean overflowed in one corner; just as I was about to breach it, its waters gushed forth and moistened all realms. This one who comes now is that great ocean; he will leave home under me to rescue people with the Dharma, which is the moistening waters." Thereupon Aśvaghoṣa paid reverence, stepped forward, and asked: "I wish to know the Buddha; what is he?" The Venerable One said: "You wish to know the Buddha; that which is not known is he." He said: "Since the Buddha is not known, how can one know he is?" The Venerable One said: "Since you do not know the Buddha, how do you know he is not?" He said: "This is the meaning of a saw." The Venerable One said: "That is the meaning of wood." He then asked: "What is the meaning of a saw?" Aśvaghoṣa said: "Going level with the master." He then asked: "What is the meaning of wood?" Yaśas said: "You are split by me." Aśvaghoṣa thereupon awakened to the superior meaning, and joyfully asked to leave home. Yaśas delivered him and gave him the full precepts. In the assembly, two hundred people realized the fourth fruition because of this. Later he instructed Aśvaghoṣa, saying: "You shall turn the wheel of the Dharma and become the twelfth-generation patriarch. The Tathāgata's great treasury of the Dharma-eye of old I now entrust to you. Transmit it. Listen to my verse:"