法苑珠林 44.35

44.35

Furthermore, the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra states: Question: The Buddha has universal compassion for all; why did he dwell solely in Rājagṛha and not dwell in other cities? Answer: He also dwelt in other cities, but seldom; yet he mostly dwelt in Rājagṛha and Śrāvastī. As for the other cities, they were borderlands, and moreover, mleccha lands had many evil people whose roots of goodness were not yet mature; hence he did not dwell in them. Furthermore, because the Buddha recognized gratitude, he mostly dwelt in these two cities. Question: For what reason of recognizing gratitude did he mostly dwell in these two cities? Answer: The country of Kośala was the land of the Buddha's physical birth; and as the Buddha was the Dharma Lord of the great city of Śrāvastī, he was also in this city. Question: If he mostly dwelt in Śrāvastī out of recognizing gratitude, Kapilavastu was close to the place of the Buddha's birth; why did he not dwell there? Answer: The Buddha had no remaining habit-energies, and being near his kinsmen was also without entangling thoughts. However, the Śākya disciples had mostly not yet abandoned desire; if they were close to their kinsmen, then thoughts of attachment would arise. Because of repaying gratitude to the land of his birth, he mostly dwelt in Śrāvastī. For all sentient beings long for their birthplace, as the verse says: