經律異相 14.22

14.22

The Buddha said to Ānanda, “One who has attained the four bases of spiritual power (ṛddhipāda) can remain alive for an entire kalpa. How long should the Tathāgata's lifespan be now?” He asked this up to three times. Ānanda, deluded by Māra, remained silent and did not respond. [The Buddha] further told Ānanda, “You may get up and go to a quiet place to contemplate.” [Ānanda] immediately arose and went into the forest. At that time, Māra Pāpīyas came to the Buddha's place and addressed him, saying, “Bhagavat, your dwelling in the world teaching and transforming, liberating people, is now complete. Those who have attained liberation from birth and death are as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. Furthermore, your age is now old; you may enter nirvāṇa.” [The Buddha] then told Māra, “After three months, I will enter parinirvāṇa.” Hearing this, Pāpīyas rejoiced and departed. Ānanda dreamt that there was a great tree covering the entire sky, on which all living creatures depended; suddenly a whirlwind arose and struck the tree, causing it to fall in the land where the Mallas dwelt, and all living beings mourned in grief. Ānanda awoke in fright, uneasy and restless. Contemplating what he had dreamt, [he thought], “Could it be that the Bhagavat wishes to enter parinirvāṇa?” He came to the Buddha's place and addressed the Buddha: “Such was the dream I just had. Could it be that the Bhagavat wishes to enter parinirvāṇa?” The Buddha said to Ānanda, “It is just as you have said; after three months, I will enter parinirvāṇa. Earlier I asked you, ‘If one has attained the four bases of spiritual power, one can remain alive for an entire kalpa; my four bases of spiritual power are exceedingly well cultivated.’ Though I asked up to three times, you did not respond. Māra came and urged me to take nirvāṇa, and I have consented.” Ānanda wept with grief and could not contain himself. The various disciples told one another, and each bearing sorrow and reverence, they came to the Buddha's place. [The Buddha said,] “Who can endure forever? What I ought to do for you, I have done; what I ought to say, I have said. You should only cultivate diligence with vigor; why grieve?” Śāriputra, hearing of the Buddha's nirvāṇa, felt deep sorrow and emotion, unable to bear seeing the Bhagavat enter extinction. He now wished to enter nirvāṇa before [him]. “I only wish the Bhagavat would grant permission!” Thus he asked up to three times. The Bhagavat told him, “You should know the proper time. All worthy ones and sages must enter extinction.” Śāriputra then straightened his robes, made offerings with the three actions (of body, speech, and mind), and walked backward as he departed. Leading the śrāmaṇera Cunda, he went to Rājagṛha and arrived at his native town. He then instructed Cunda: “Go into the city and the villages, and inform the king, ministers, old friends and acquaintances, and all the dānapatis to come together and bid farewell.” Cunda proclaimed: “The upādhyāya Śāriputra is about to enter parinirvāṇa; all who wish to see him should go promptly!” King Ajātaśatru and the fourfold assembly each hurried there. In such various ways, Śāriputra broadly administered medicine according to their ailments; among the assembly, some attained the first fruit (srotāpanna) up to the third fruit (anāgāmin), some went forth and became arhats, and others made vows seeking the Buddha path. Having heard the Dharma, they made obeisance and departed. In the final watch of the night, straightening his body and mind, keeping his mind before him, he entered the first dhyāna. Arising from the first dhyāna, he entered the second dhyāna, and sequentially in this manner entered the concentration of cessation (nirodhasamāpatti). Arising from the concentration of cessation, he entered parinirvāṇa. At that time, Heavenly King Śakra and a multitude of gods came to his place, praising and making offerings. Śakra further commanded Viśvakarman to gather various jewels to adorn a high carriage and convey him to level, broad ground. He commanded various yakṣas to go to the seashore to fetch ox-head sandalwood and pile it into a great pyre, place his body upon it, pour ghee and oil over it, and set fire to cremate (jhāpeti) it. After the fire was extinguished, Cunda collected the relics (śarīra), placed them in his alms bowl, gathered Śāriputra's three robes, carried them on his shoulder, and went to the Buddha's place. Ānanda wept in grief, saying, “The General of the Dharma Wheel has entered nirvāṇa; upon whom can I rely?” The Buddha said, “Although he has entered extinction, his five-part Dharma-body is not extinguished.”