經律異相 4.13

4.13

阿難問葬。佛言。我葬之法。如轉輪聖王。先以香湯浴身。劫貝裹體。次以五百張白疊纏之。內金棺中。灌以麻油。復以金棺置鐵槨內。栴檀香槨。次繞其外。積眾香薪厚衣其上。而闍維之。薪盡火滅。收取舍利。於四衢道。起立塔廟。表剎懸幡。使見者思慕。多所饒益。佛言。有四種人應為起塔。一如來。二辟支佛。三聲聞。四轉輪王。皆應香華幡蓋伎樂供養。佛於雙樹間。鋪置床座。以頭南首面向北方。所以然者。佛法流布。當久住北方。佛自牒僧伽梨。右脇如師子王。累足而臥。阿難又問。閻浮提界有幾種葬。佛言。無數。我此國土。有水葬火葬塔塚之葬。振旦國人葬送之法。金銀珍寶刻鏤車乘。飛天伎樂鈴鍾歌詠。用悅終亡。身帶衣服。盛置棺槨。妙香芬苾。千百萬眾送于山野。莊嚴處所。人民見者莫不歡欣。振旦邊王。所領人民。欲葬之時成持棺槨。內石室中。疾病之日開看骸骨。洗浴求福使病得愈。又有命終無有棺槨。直取屍骸置高閣上。疾急之時。下屍呪願。以求福祐。佛言。我法中學欲修福時。當勤精進。行六波羅蜜。護持十善。可得生天。向無上道（出灌頂經第六卷又出長阿含經第一卷）。

Ānanda asked about the funeral. The Buddha said: “The method of my funeral shall be like that of a wheel-turning sage king: first wash the body with scented water, wrap the body in cotton cloth, and next bind it with five hundred layers of fine white wool. Place it inside a golden coffin, and pour sesame oil over it. Then place the golden coffin inside an iron outer coffin, and encircle the outside of that with a sandalwood outer coffin. Pile up fragrant firewood thickly upon it, and cremate it (jhāpeti). When the wood is consumed and the fire extinguished, collect the śarīra and erect a stūpa at the crossroads, erecting a pillar and hanging banners, so that those who see it will feel longing and affection, bringing them great benefit.” The Buddha said, “There are four kinds of persons for whom stūpas should be erected: first, a Tathāgata; second, a pratyekabuddha; third, a śrāvaka; and fourth, a wheel-turning king. All should be worshipped with fragrant flowers, banners, parasols, and music.”

Between the twin trees, the Buddha arranged a couch, placing his head to the south and facing north. The reason for this is that the Buddha’s Dharma, in its dissemination, would long abide in the north. The Buddha folded his saṃghāṭī robe, lay on his right side like a lion king, with his feet resting one upon the other. Ānanda also asked: “In the realm of Jambudvīpa, how many kinds of funerals are there?” The Buddha said: “Innumerable. In this land of mine, there are water burials, fire burials, and burials in stūpas and tombs. The funeral customs of the people of the land of Cīnasthāna (Zhendan) use gold, silver, rare gems, and carved chariots, with flying celestials, musical performers, bells, and chants to please the deceased. The body is dressed in clothes and placed into inner and outer coffins with exquisite fragrance. Thousands and millions of people escort it to the mountain wilds to adorn the place; the people who see it are all filled with joy. When the kings on the borders of Cīnasthāna and the people they govern wish to conduct a funeral, they take the coffin and place it inside a stone chamber. On days of sickness, they open it to view the skeleton, washing it and seeking blessings so that the illness may be cured. There are also those who, upon dying, have no inner or outer coffin, but directly take the corpse and place it upon a high pavilion; in times of urgency and illness, they bring the corpse down and chant prayers to seek blessing and protection.” The Buddha said: “When those who learn in my Dharma wish to cultivate merit, they should be diligent and energetic, practicing the six pāramitās and upholding the ten wholesome deeds; thus they may be born in heaven and advance toward the unsurpassed Way.” (From the sixth fascicle of the Guanding jing and the first fascicle of the Dīrgha Āgama).