法苑珠林 12.52

12.52

Mahākāśyapa said: "You have these six duṣkṛta offenses; you must confess every one before the Saṃgha." Ānanda said: "Yes, I shall comply with the instruction of the Elder Mahākāśyapa and the Saṃgha." Thereupon, Ānanda knelt long with joined palms, bared his right shoulder, removed his leather shoes, and performed deśanā for the six duṣkṛta offenses. Mahākāśyapa, within the Saṃgha, took Ānanda by the hand and led him out, saying to Ānanda: "Completely cut off your defilements, and only then return and enter. So long as residual fetters remain unsevered, you must not come!" Having spoken thus, he closed the door. At that time, the arhats conferred together, saying: "Who is capable of reciting and compiling the Vinaya-piṭaka?" The Elder Aniruddha said: "Śāriputra was the second Buddha, and he had an excellent disciple named Gavāmpati (in the language of Qin, 'cow-rumination'), who is gentle, harmonious, and refined. Constantly abiding in seclusion, his mind rests in calm tranquility; he knows the Vinaya-piṭaka. Currently he resides in the heavenly realm, dwelling in the Grove of the Śirīṣa Trees. Send an envoy to invite him to come." Mahākāśyapa said to a junior bhikṣu: "It is your turn to serve as the Saṃgha's envoy." The junior bhikṣu was overjoyed; receiving the Saṃgha's command, he said to Mahākāśyapa: "When I arrive there, what matter should I declare?" Mahākāśyapa said: "When you arrive there, tell Gavāmpati: 'Mahākāśyapa and the other defilement-free arhats have all assembled in Jambudvīpa; the Saṃgha has a great matter of the Dharma. You should come swiftly.'" This junior bhikṣu bowed his head to the feet of the Saṃgha, circumambulated them three times to the right, and like a garuḍa soared into the sky. Arriving at Gavāmpati's dwelling, he bowed his head and made obeisance, then related Mahākāśyapa's previous instruction to Gavāmpati. At that time Gavāmpati felt doubt in his mind and said to this bhikṣu: "Is the Saṃgha summoning me over some dispute? Has there been no schism in the Saṃgha? Has the sun of the Buddha passed into extinction?" The bhikṣu said: "The Buddha has already passed into extinction." Gavāmpati said: "The Buddha's extinction came too swiftly; the eye of the world is extinguished! Where now is our preceptor Śāriputra, the general who followed the Buddha in turning the wheel of the Dharma?" He replied: "He entered nirvāṇa beforehand." Gavāmpati said: "The great teacher and the Dharma-general have each departed; what is to be done? Where is Mahāmaudgalyāyana now?" The bhikṣu said: "He too has passed into extinction." Gavāmpati said: "The Buddha's Dharma is on the verge of scattering; sentient beings are pitiable! The great personages have passed away." In this manner, he inquired one by one about all the arhats. Gavāmpati said: "I have lost the great masters free from desire, who have all already passed into extinction. I can no longer descend to Jambudvīpa; I shall abide here and enter parinirvāṇa." Having spoken these words, he manifested eighteen transformations, and from his own heart emitted fire that burned his body. From his body issued water, which flowed down in four streams to Mahākāśyapa's dwelling. Within the water was a voice reciting this verse: