[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大唐西域記](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087) › 5.27 # 大唐西域記 5.27 大唐西域記 5.27 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [5.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.27) 無著講堂故基西北四十餘里，至故伽藍，北臨殑伽河，中有塼窣堵波，高百餘尺，世親菩薩初發大乘心處。世親菩薩自北印度至於此也，時無著菩薩命其門人，令往迎候。至此伽藍，遇而會見。無著弟子止戶牖外，夜分之後，誦《十地經》。世親聞已，感悟追悔：「甚深妙法，昔所未聞，誹謗之愆，源發於舌，舌為罪本，今宜除斷。」即執銛刀，欲自斷舌。乃見無著住立告曰：「夫大乘教者，至真之理也，諸佛所讚，眾聖攸宗。吾欲誨爾，爾今自悟。悟其時矣，何善如之？諸佛聖教，斷舌非悔。昔以舌毀大乘，今以舌讚大乘，補過自新，猶為善矣，杜口絕言，其利安在？」作是語已，忽不復見。世親承命，遂不斷舌。旦詣無著，諮受大乘。於是研精覃思，製大乘論，凡百餘部，並盛宣行。 > how then can you expect him to come to you to communicate his condition?" Asanga answered, "That is settled; but with respect to Maitreya, what is his appearance and what the law he declares?" He said, "No words can describe the marks and signs (the personal beauty) of Maitreya. With respect to the excellent law which he declares, the principles of it are not different from those (of our belief). The exquisite voice of the Bodhisattva is soft and pure and refined; those who hear it can never tire; those who listen are never satiated." To the north-west of the ruins of the preaching-hall of Asanga about 40 li, we come to an old sangharama, bordering the Ganges on the north. In it is a stupa of brick, about 100 feet high; this is the place where Vasubandhu first conceived a desire to cultivate the teaching of the Great Vehicle. He had come to this place from North India. At this time Asanga Bodhisattva commanded his followers to go forward to meet him. Having come to the place, they met and had an interview. The disciple of Asanga was reposing outside the open window (of Vasubandhu), when in the after part of the night he began to recite the Dasabhumi Sutra. > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World > Vasubandhu having heard it, understood the meaning, and was deeply grieved that this profound and excellent doctrine had not come to his ears in time past, and he laid the blame on his tongue as the origin of his sin of calumniating (the Great Vehicle), "and so," said he, "I will cut it out." Seizing a knife, he was about to do so, when he saw Asanga standing before him, who said, "Indeed the doctrine of the Great Vehicle is very profound; it is praised by all the Buddhas, exalted by all the saints. I would teach it to you, but you yourself now understand it; but now, at the time of understanding it, what good, in the presence of this holy teaching of the Buddhas, to cut out your tongue? Do it not, but (rather) repent; and as in old time you abused the Great Vehicle with your tongue, now with the same member extol it. Change your life and praise yourself; this is the only good thing to do. There can be no benefit from closing your mouth and dying." Having said this he disappeared. Vasubandhu, in obedience to his words, gave up his purpose of cutting out his tongue. On the morrow morning he went to Asanga and accepted the teaching of the Great Vehicle. On this he gave himself up earnestly to think on the subject, and wrote a hundred and more treatises in agreement with the Great Vehicle, which are known everywhere, and are in great renown. From this going east 300 li or so on the north of the Ganges, we arrive at 'O-ye-mo-khi (Hayamukha). > — Samuel Beal 1884, Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World - [Previous: 5.26](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.26) - [Next: 5.28](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.28) - [Up: 5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5) ## Translations (1) - [Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087~en-beal.5.2.5) — Samuel Beal 1884, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.27](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2087.5.27) · Pramāṇa