傳法正宗記 3.34

3.34

Having spoken the gāthā, he bowed again and resolutely sought to be ordained. The Mahāsattva said: 'Your mind is self-mastered and not bound to my place; why must you rely on anything to seek liberation?' The Mahāsattva then raised his golden bowl with his right hand up to the Brahmā heaven, fetched heavenly fragrant rice, and told the assembly to eat it together. But the assembly suddenly felt aversion and disgust, and none were able to partake of it. The Mahāsattva said: 'That you decline and cannot eat is not due to my stinginess; it is your karma taking its natural course.' He then directed Nandi to share his seat and eat together with him. The assembly doubted this again, suspecting that master and disciple were confounded without distinction of status. The Mahāsattva, knowing this, said: 'That you could not eat was entirely due to this. He who now shares my seat is none other than the Tathāgata Sālarāja of the past. Responding to beings, he descended in bodily trace and will become the seventeenth patriarchal master. In the Glorious Kalpa, you also once reached toward the three fruitions, but you have not yet achieved pure taintlessness. Although you have just drawn close to me, how could you have greatly perceived your nature? It is truly fitting that you single-mindedly take refuge in this Benevolent One. Furthermore, after my extinction, he will be the leader of the great assembly. Another master will appear, named Gayāśata, which you should also know.' The assembly said, 'We dare not disbelieve the Great Master's spiritual power, but we still harbor some doubt regarding his claim that he was a past Buddha.' Because the minds of the assembly were not yet subdued toward him, Nandi said to Rāhulata: 'When the World-Honoured One was in the world, the earth was flat and even, free from mounds and hills, rivers and trenches; the waters were all sweet and delicious, the vegetation lush, and the lands abundant; people were without the eight sufferings and practiced the ten virtues. Since he manifested extinction in the Twin Trees, nearly a thousand years have now passed; the world has become ruins, the trees withered, people have little utmost faith, and their right mindfulness is slight and weak; they do not apply themselves to wonderful awakening, but only delight in spiritual powers. Although I do not personally do such things, what difficulty would there be in doing so?' He immediately extended his right hand into the earth down to the vajra-wheel boundary, took amṛta water, and, holding it in a lapis lazuli vessel, brought it into the assembly to distribute to everyone. Those who drank it felt their minds become ever more tranquil. Thereupon the assembly all submitted in deferential admiration, made prostrations, and repented their faults. The Mahāsattva later instructed him, saying: 'I am now old and shall not remain long in the world. The great Dharma-eye of the Tathāgata is now entrusted to you. Listen to my gāthā:'