法苑珠林 16.48

16.48

Furthermore, the New Vibhāṣā-śāstra says: 'I have heard that the Venerable Mahākāśyapa entered Rājagṛha for his final almsround. Not long after eating, he climbed Mount Kukkuṭapāda. The mountain has three peaks like the upturned feet of a cock. The Venerable One entered within them, sat cross-legged, and made a vow of truth, saying: 'May this body of mine, together with my patchwork robe, bowl, and staff, remain for a long time without decaying, until after fifty-seven koṭis and sixty hundred thousand years have passed, when Maitreya, the Tathāgata, Arhat, Samyaksambuddha, appears in the world to perform the Buddha's work.' Having made this vow, he promptly entered parinirvāṇa. At that time, those three peaks joined together into one, concealing the Venerable One as he sat dignified and motionless. When Maitreya Buddha appears in the world, he will lead immeasurable humans and devas to this mountain, and tell the assembly, saying: 'Do you wish to see Kāśyapa, the foremost great disciple among the disciples endowed with dhūta virtues of Śākyamuni Buddha?' The entire assembly will all say: 'We wish to see him.' Maitreya Tathāgata will then pat the summit of Mount Kukkuṭapāda with his right hand. Instantly the peak will split open and turn back into three parts. At that time, Kāśyapa, holding his hempen patchwork robe, bowl, and staff, will emerge from within and ascend into empty space. Immeasurable devas and humans, witnessing this miraculous transformation, will praise it as unprecedented, and their minds will become pliable and gentle. Maitreya, the World-Honoured One, will preach the Dharma according to their capacities, and all will attain sight of the truths.' If there were no such thing as leaving behind an apparitional transformation, how could this occur? Some say there is such a thing as leaving behind an apparitional transformation. Question: If so, why did the World-Honoured One not leave behind an apparitional body after nirvāṇa to maintain the Dharma and preach? Answer: Because what was to be done had already been completed—meaning all whom the Buddha was to save had already been saved, and those not yet saved are saved by the noble disciples. Some say there is no such thing as leaving behind an apparitional transformation. Question: If so, how could Kāśyapa's matter occur? Answer: Because he was sustained by devas and spirits of faith and reverence. Some say Kāśyapa had not yet entered parinirvāṇa at that time, and only attains extinction at the time of Maitreya Buddha. This is not reasonable; it is better to say it does not exist rather than to say he sat silently for a long time, dwelling in vain. Those who speak thus hold that there is such a thing as leaving behind an apparitional transformation; therefore Mahākāśyapa had already entered nirvāṇa.