傳法正宗記 3.60

3.60

The Mahāsattva further said to the assembly: 'This dhūta is not one to whom your peers can be compared. He reached this through cultivating the practice of Sadāparibhūta in past kalpas. Just now I suppressed him because his mind seeking the Way was overly fervent; fearing that like a string drawn too taut it would inevitably snap, I did not immediately praise him, wishing for him to proceed to the state of having nothing to attain and abide in the ground of peace and bliss.' He soon said to Bandhu: 'My words opposed you; did your mind remain unmoved?' Bandhu said: 'How would I dare be moved? I recall that seven lifetimes ago I was born in the Land of Peace and Bliss; because of devoting myself to the Way, I once served the wise man Candravimala. That man said to me: "Before long you will realize the fruit of the sakṛdāgāmin; you should be diligent and vigorous. Cultivation is like ascending to heaven: one must aspire to rise gradually and not regress. If one falls, to ascend again is even more difficult." At that time I was already eighty years old, leaning on a staff and unable to walk. It happened that Bodhisattva Mahāprabhā appeared in the world; wishing to pay homage to him, I went to his vihāra. When I had finished, Candravimala suddenly came and rebuked me, saying: "Outrageous! Why do you belittle the father and honor the son? Yesterday I saw that you were about to realize the fruit, but now you have lost it." At that time, thinking myself blameless, I did not accept his words, and immediately asked Candravimala to show where my fault lay. Candravimala said: "When you just paid homage to Mahāprabhā, how could you lean your staff against the face of a painted Buddha? Because of this, you regressed from the stage of the fruit." I considered it carefully, and it was truly as he said. After that, whatever I heard, I never doubted again. Even harsh words were like the wind passing by my ears; how much more so when the Venerable One instructs me with the True Dharma—how could I feel remorse or resentment?' The Mahāsattva soon instructed him, saying: 'The Tathāgata’s Great Dharma-Eye Treasury is now entrusted to you. You should propagate it and not allow it to be cut off. Listen to my verse:'