傳法正宗記 3.32

3.32

Rāhulata was a native of the country of Kapila. His family name was Brahma. After the cause of his family's tree-ear was clarified, he left home under the Mahāsattva Deva and attended upon him on the way to the city of Pāṭaliputra, where he soon received the entrustment of the true Dharma. Thereafter, the Mahāsattva also led disciples, widely carrying out teachings and conversions. Before long, he reached the south of the city of Śrāvastī and approached the Golden Water River. He promptly said to his disciples: 'Do you know? Just now, the reflections of five Buddhas appeared in the middle of the stream. When I scooped up its water, it had an extraordinary taste. Five hundred li up the source of this river, there must be a consummate person residing. Indeed, the Tathāgata formerly prophesied: "In the subsequent five hundred years, there will be a holy one named Saṃghanandi who will appear in this place and succeed as the seventeenth patriarch." ' He then led the assembly upstream. Upon arriving, he indeed saw Nandi in dhyāna meditation within a stone cave. They waited for him for a total of three weeks. When he emerged from meditation, the Mahāsattva asked him: 'Is your body in meditation, or is your mind in meditation?' Nandi answered, 'Both my body and mind are in meditation.' He asked again, 'If both mind and body are in meditation, how can there be an entering or emerging?' Nandi answered, 'Although there is entering and emerging, the mark of meditation is not lost; just as gold in a well, the essence of the gold is ever quiescent.' He asked again, 'If gold is in the well, or if gold comes out of the well, gold has neither motion nor rest; what thing enters or emerges?' Nandi answered, 'Speaking of gold's motion and rest, what thing enters or emerges? If one allows that gold enters and emerges, gold is neither motion nor rest.' He asked again, 'If gold is in the well, what is it that emerges?' Nandi answered, 'If gold emerges from the well, that which remains is not gold; if gold is in the well, that which emerges is not a thing.' He asked again, 'This thesis is not correct.' Nandi answered, 'That principle is not established.' He asked again, 'This thesis of yours will fall.' Nandi answered, 'That thesis of yours is not established.' He asked again, 'Since that thesis of mine is not established, my thesis is established.' Nandi answered, 'Although my thesis is established, phenomena are not "me".' He asked again, 'My thesis is already established, because I have no self.' Nandi answered, 'Because you have no self, what thesis does it further establish?' He asked again, 'Because I have no self, it therefore establishes your thesis.' Nandi then said, 'Benevolent One, under what sage did you study to attain this selflessness?' The Mahāsattva said, 'My master, the Mahāsattva Kāṇadeva, realized this selflessness.' Nandi said, 'I bow my head to Master Deva and to what has emerged from the Benevolent One. Because the Benevolent One is selfless, I wish to take the Benevolent One as my master.' The Mahāsattva said: 'Since I am already selfless, you must see my "I" as your "I". If you take me as your master, know that my "I" is not an "I".' Nandi's mind was instantly opened wide; he then bowed his head and spoke a gāthā, saying: